The COVID-19 Pandemic Has Changed The Recruiting Game!
By Sophie Salem, Staff Writer
Sports recruiting is the most important time of the year for student athletes. From a young age, recruitment is the moment many high school athletes have been waiting for. From early mornings to tireless nights, athletes work harder than ever to get recruited and play their sport in college. However, COVID-19 has affected recruitment tremendously. The entire sports community has been forced to make difficult decisions in response to the pandemic and are left wondering what these changes mean for their future. So, how are these athletes getting recruited despite the restrictions of a virtual world?
The answer is not that simple, and every sport is functioning a little bit differently. In order to slow the spread of COVID-19, athletes must resist contact, meaning all contact sports must stay on hold for the moment.
Ever since March, most athletes haven't been able to play a single game. To recruit players, showcase tournaments are commonly held in which recruiters observe athletes and assess their skills. Due to the pandemic, these showcases have been cancelled, making it strenuous for high school athletes to reach out to colleges and play for recruiters. There is uncertainty for everyone during this time which is why the NCSA has chosen to postpone all recruitment until Jan. 1, 2021. But, coaches and recruits are adjusting to this unprecedented situation and are changing their ways. Recruiters recommend that highschool athletes communicate with college coaches regularly and show interest in their programs. By staying in touch, athletes can prove that they are an asset to the team and ask thoughtful questions. Nonetheless, other states have started to play again so athletes are able to send updated highlights to coaches and recruiters. As COVID-19 cases have significantly decreased in other states, college recruiters are actually able to come out and see athletes play in person.
London Wilkes (’21) is currently going through the recruitment process to continue her soccer career. As an athlete in California, she has had to put off visiting schools until now, but is eager to get back on the field again.
“This is very frustrating to athletes here [in California] because at least for my team, I still can’t touch my teammates,” Wilkes said.
As athletes have been stuck wondering what the next step is for them, the NCSA have made an alternative to in-person recruitment, where players can create their own online profile to be viewed by college coaches. Now, much of the recruiting process can happen digitally, and athletes can easily find the best college match. Without a doubt, the internet has changed the game. Nonetheless, the NCSA has proven to be worthless to student athletes. “I’ve been using [NCSA] but nothing much has come from it and hasn’t been very helpful,” said track athlete Tristan Amell (‘21). Without successful online recruitment, how will athletes move forward with their careers?
Clearly, sport recruitment in California has been greatly affected due to COVID-19. Coaches have postponed their recruitment process, forcing athletes to train up until the moment they can fully play again. Due to the pandemic, players are encouraged to make phone calls and send emails to college recruiters in order to grab their attention. Though this is a rough time for athletes, they are working as hard as they possibly can to be recruited and keep playing their sport for years to come.