Key factors in college recruiting (Part I)

By Mike Pantalione & Hugh Bell

Yavapai College, located in Prescott, Ariz., has captured seven NJCAA National Championships and finished in the top four nationally 17 times since 1990. The coaches are longtime NSCAA members Mike Pantalione and Hugh Bell, who will never claim to have all the answers. This is intended for college coaches and others connected with the sport to have a laugh, look back on some of their own experiences, and perhaps add to the list of key factors to be aware of during the recruiting process:

The Cover Letter
1. We always enjoy hearing stories how other college coaches received letters that are addressed to the previous coach and not the current one. Not a problem at Yavapai College, which has the same coaching staff (all two of them) since the program's inception.

2. The player sends a letter to your school but states that he wants to go to your rival school.  Who is stuffing your envelopes?

3. The player states that he has been playing soccer since he was 4.  He probably peaked to early and cannot play.

4. The player states he would like to come to your school, to improve his passing, shooting, dribbling, heading, ball control, and tackling so that he can play for another school. This is an intercollegiate soccer team, not a summer camp!

The Resume
5. The player or parent sends a resume which includes a lifetime scrapbook. The thicker the resume, the poorer the player.  We have plenty of books in the college library.

6. The player states that he scored 50 goals for the Wrens when he was 9. What have you done lately?

7. The player states that he plays right forward. Sounds like he will be playing left bench here.

8. The player states that he played for the United States oversees.  It’s amazing what a checkbook can do.  Hope you enjoyed the 10 days in three different countries tour. We are sure your touring coach did.

9. The player includes a photo copy of his honorable mention all-conference team certificate. Save a tree.

10. The player states that he played on a state title team. When, in practice or did you start every match?  It does not matter.  We still need to see you play.

Recommendations
11. The player sends a written recommendation from his ninth grade English teacher.  Congratulations, it’s now on your permanent record.

12. The player includes a written recommendation from the neighbor across the street.  Like we have time to read this.

Pictures
13. The player includes a photo from his prom night. That should add to his legacy.

14. The player looks like he is 12 years old in the photo. Sure, no problem going one on one against a 26-year-old international player.

15. The player sends a photo taken by the local youth league photographer. Please, no smiling while holding a soccer ball.

The E-Mail
16. The player sends a "Dear Coach" e-mail. There is no mention of a school, city, mascot, or anything specific pertaining to the soccer program. Thank you for including us on your mailing list. Delete.

The Text Message
17. The text message. How R U going to pass Eng 101?

Geography
18. The player states that he has a “sincere interest in the program.” He must have fallen into the nearby Grand Canyon because we never hear from him again.

19. The player states, "after researching your college, I have determined that your school fits my academic and athletic standards.” He must have fallen off the face of the earth because we never hear from him again.

The Parents
20.  Mom calls for the player and lets you know he’s a good boy and would like to come to your school.  Great, a momma’s boy.

21. Dad calls for the player and let’s you know that he played sports in college and his son has what it takes.  Great, another parent trying to relive the past.

22. Mom returns a phone call left for the player by the coach. Will she be doing his laundry in college also?

23. Dad returns a phone call left for the player by the coach. At least we, as coaches, do not have to shine his shoes. Dad will take care of that.

24. Mom states that her son has been admitted to your school and is really looking forward to playing soccer. Since we have no idea who he is, let us recommend to him that there’s an intramural team called the Eleven Men from Uranus looking for a player.

The Video
25. You receive a video shot from ground level three years ago. Give us something useful and current.

26. Mom and relatives yelling on the video, “Way to go Johnny” and “good job Johnny.”  Let the coaching staff determine that, please.

27. Rap music accompanies the video.  If you are going to have background music, do some research on the age of the coach!

28. You receive a video shot so far away, the jersey numbers can not be identified. However, this should enable us to identify the types of clouds in the sky that you played under.

29. You receive a video clearly showing that the player that sent it is the 20th best player on the field. Do you think that we are only going to be watching you?

30. Edited video. Never making a mistake in the 13-0 win will always enhance your chances.

31. You received a video of a player scoring a bunch of goals.  Make sure that you keep the jugs machine completely out of the picture. Also, the goalkeeper and the defenders that take part in the video do not have the same logo that appears on your uniform. Do you also cheat in school?

Coming Soon: Part II, with  "The Campus Visit," "The Tryout," and more.

(Mike Pantalione has been Yavapai head coach since the program’s founding in 1989. Hugh Bell has been Yavapai’s associate coach since 1992. Further information about the Yavapai College soccer program is available at www.goroughriders.com/soccer.)

Key factors in college recruiting (Part II)

By Mike Pantalione & Hugh Bell

Yavapai College, located in Prescott, Ariz., has captured seven NJCAA National Championships and finished in the top four nationally 17 times since 1990. The coaches are longtime NSCAA members Mike Pantalione and Hugh Bell, who will never claim to have all the answers. This is intended for college coaches and others connected with the sport to have a laugh, look back on some of their own experiences, and perhaps add to the list of key factors to be aware of during the recruiting process:

Part II

The Campus Visit
32. The candidate has no questions during a campus visit. You mean that you have traveled six hours and have no questions?  Just the personality we want on the field.

33. The parents dominate the conversation during the campus visit. It's nice to have parents translating English to English for their son. Will they be in your speech class?

34. The player tells you he needs a full scholarship but is wearing better clothes than you.

35. The player tells you he needs a full scholarship but drives to campus in a better car than you.

36. The player tells you he needs a full scholarship but has never watched your team play.

37. The player claims he has no money but is wearing a thousand dollars of jewelry.

38. The player wants guaranteed playing time but has never watched your team play.

39.  The player informs you that he's looking at five of the Top 10 Division 1 schools. Yes, we have cable TV and access to their web sites as well.

40.  Another player informs you that he is considering five of the other Top 10 Division 1 schools. You haven't talked to any of those coaches yet?  We are considering coaching Arsenal in the English Premier League but haven't had the chance to contact them either.

The Tryout
41.  The candidate shows up to the tryout late, with improper equipment, including no shinguards. Brilliant.

42. The candidate shows up to the tryout with undesirables, his friends, watching from a distance.  Did not realize that they still make Pabst Blue Ribbon.

43.  The candidate shows up out of shape and is sucking air after three minutes. What are you thinking?  How can we evaluate?

44.  The candidate shows up in blue jeans and a white cutoff T-shirt. We are not recruiting for a 1950s movie.

45. The candidate is disappointed that you said no. He states, "How can you tell in just two hours?"  We didn't. We knew in five minutes.

Admissions & Grade Point Average
46.  The candidate states he has already been admitted to your school. So. You have not been admitted into the soccer program until we see you play!

47.  The club roster states a player has a 3.0 GPA. Must be rounding his actual 2.51 GPA to the closest whole number.

48.  The club roster states a player has a 2.2 GPA. Maybe in one of your semesters.  Sounds like a 1.6 overall GPA to us.

49. The club roster states a player has a 4.4 GPA that is weighted. What is that? Must mean that the player will give you 110 percent at all times.

His Coach
50. Tells you all about the player who won the Mr. Hustle Award. Who cares? Is the MVP interested?

51. Tells you all about the player who won the Most Improved Award. Who cares? Is the MVP interested?

52. Tells you his player can play for your team, when he never watched your team play. We probably would have better luck on a blind date.

53. Tells you he will be a good junior college player. Have you ever watched the Junior College National Tournament? 

54. Tells you that he has five players that can play for you. Why are you barely over .500 and not winning a state title?

55. Tells you that the player loves the sport. His family spends all day Sunday at the soccer field with the adult league. But can he play?

56. Tells you the player has a substance abuse problem but your school would be good for him. This is not a Rehabilitation Center!

57. Tells you he has a bad lifestyle, no home life, problems, problems, problems but he looks up to college coaches. Sure, we can change 18 years of a poor lifestyle by kickoff time on opening day.

58.  Tells you his player has only 5.4 speed in the 40 but he loves the sport. Great. We need people to keep stats.

59. Tells you his best player is 6-foot-1, 130. Is there any food in the refrigerator at home?

International Players
60. The candidate states that he was on the national team when he was 14. Yeah, you and five thousand other players.

61. The candidate claims to be on the national team. Sure, maybe he went to see the national team play in person once. Just because you do not have a zip code, don't think we will not do research on you.

62. The candidate sends a videotape from a foreign country and claims he's No. 10 in the film.  As he gets off the plane you realize his ears, height, and bone structure look different. Must be jet lag.

63. When asked, the candidate states that he has not played a match in two years.  "I have been training."  Do you have any friends?

The Field Player
64. The candidate invites you to his next match. We really appreciate that you received a red card in the first five minutes of the match, after we traveled four hours on the highway to watch you.

65. The best kept secret in town. The candidate shows up in a knee brace without anyone from his school, club, community or house telling you that he had an ACL tear last month.  

The Goalkeeper
66.  His coach tells you that his goalkeeper can punt a ball 80 yards. Great, but can he make a save?

67.  The goalkeeper sends a schedule of upcoming games. We show up and he is playing in the field. Are you a goalkeeper? Yes or No!

The Transfer
68.  A coach has a player who wants to transfer to your school. We are not baggage claim. We are not a rehabilitation center. We are not a halfway house. Can he score goals?  

69. The player wants to transfer to your school because he does not get along with his coach. Score three goals a game and you will have no problem with us.

Outside Factors
70.  The candidate demands a full scholarship. We are guessing after using the College Recruiting Services the family is out of money.

71.  The candidate demands a full scholarship. We are guessing after using all the professional video companies the family is out of money.

72.  The candidate demands a full scholarship. We are guessing after paying heavily for soccer all these years the family is out of money.

73.  The candidate demands a full scholarship. I guess after having a "personal trainer" cash the checks the family would be out of money.  Personal trainer?  Yeah, we played in the old North American Soccer League as well. What, they have a web site with the all-time league roster?  Never mind.

74.  The candidate states, "I have been offered a full scholarship at another school." Well, that statement is worth a full scholarship here. Not.

75. The candidate wants a full scholarship however he may play professionally in Mexico.  You and 10,000 other guys.  Who are in these players ears?

Read Part 1 HERE.

(Mike Pantalione has been Yavapai head coach since the program’s founding in 1989. Hugh Bell has been Yavapai's associate coach since 1992. Further information about the Yavapai College soccer program is available at www.goroughriders.com/soccer.)