How to Increase Recruitment Attraction During an Extended Dead-Period

The NCAA has extended their Division 1 dead period yet again, this time at least to the end of September, though there’s a high chance it’ll continue to be extended.  This means that NCAA Division 1 coaches are barred from in-person contact with athletes and their families until at least September 30th, 2020. While this decision might make sense from a health perspective, it means that recruitment and outreach options for players are bleak.  

Although the Dead Period has been extended, that shouldn’t mean an extended period of rest for players. It is time to work harder than ever, and make gains over your stiff competition. It may seem like very little can be done to boost recruiter attractiveness at a time like this, but so much actually can, and should be done to maintain strength in the game and ensure that you’re ready as soon as the Dead Period is over.  

It’s important to know that, while you cannot legally make in-person contact with D1 recruiters and coaches during the extended Dead Period, you can still do things to boost your chances of being seen by them, and then contacted when it’s allowed.  

Maintain a Strict Training Regime. 

September 30th is going to creep up on you fast. While there’s a chance the NCAA Dead Period could be extended further, you want to make sure you are at the top of your game. Making sure to maintain strictness in your training and development regime is incredibly important, especially in an extended off-season. Don’t forget the importance of focusing on your mindset, focus, motivation and mental health. You are living through an unprecedented experience, so also don’t forget to be kind to yourself – every day is not going to be easy.  

Contact Coaches Via Email. 

Though you can’t meet with coaches and recruiters in person, the NCAA does not ban electronic contact with coaches during the Dead Period. With that being said, you want to make sure that you’re being careful with how contact is being made and whether or not rules are being broken. It’s better to err on the side of caution and be extra-sensitive about coach contact, than accidentally jeopardize your recruitment chances.  

Film + Post Hype Content on Social Media 

There’s nothing stopping D1 coaches and recruiters from looking at your social media accounts, so you might as well use that to your advantage. Make sure that your social channels, especially YouTube and Instagram, highlight your elite skills and the gains that you’ve managed to accomplish during the extended off-season. Recruiters want to know that you’ve taken the sport seriously enough to maintain a high level of excellence even during times like this. These clips don’t need to be highly professional by any means— everyone understands that times are strange, and we’re all making do with what we have.  

Make Sure You’ve Got the Right Team 

The best athletes in the world all have one thing in common: they surround themselves with a team of world-class coaches. Having mentors and coaches that can not only motivate and inspire you, but also have the toolset to truly elevate your skills, biomechanics and sports IQ is really a game changer. At Scoolu, our business is helping athletes reach their full potential and athletic dreams. Our team of coaches are the best-of-the best and includes gold medalists, Hall-of-Famers, and some of the most accomplished coaches in sports.  We’ve also created a Development Program, specifically for the shutdown, which gives players a customizable, fully planned package which can includes a nutrition planning, off-field, mental skills, biomechanics and skill coaching, social media branding tips and unlimited access to elite coaches and mentors of your choosing, while still complying with NCAA rules and regulations.  

Just because you’re forced to endure an extended off-season filled with uncertainty doesn’t mean that you can’t hit the game full-force and be at the top of your game once your season is back. Use this time to reflect on the game and build momentum so that once you’re allowed contact with coaches and recruiters, they can see how hard you’ve been working on the off-season. Don’t lose the fuel for the game that you had before the season shut down. Instead, add the resilience and both mental and physical strength you’ve developed during this and use this quarantine to your advantage.  

You have everything you need to succeed post-shutdown right in your hands. Let’s see how you can take that to the next step by surrounding yourself with the best coaches and mentors in the industry.