Let them fly solo. They’ve earned their wings, let them go.

We’re talking about student-athletes. They’re now in a position of recruitment.

The problem is that parents are hovering over them heavily, not giving them an ounce of space to breathe. 

College coaches will be calling and they don’t want to talk to the parents.

They actually want to talk to the student-athletes.

It is the student-athletes they are recruiting and are attempting to build a relationship with. Sorry parents, you’re not important enough in this scenario.

Other than a polite ‘hello, how are you doing?’ that should be the extent of the conversation between the coach and the parent.

The main focus of a phone conversation is for the coach and the student-athlete only.

There are circumstances in the process for parents who are overbearing, too controlling, and who want to take over the recruiting process themselves.

Too many times the parents want to initiate the conversation with college coaches. Very bad idea! 

Sometimes the parents are asking college coaches very uncomfortable questions. Once again, a very bad idea! 

Sometimes the over-anxious, over-eager parents push it too far with coaches to the point where the program just wants to move on.

There are solutions. The parents can be a valuable resource in the recruiting process by working behind the scenes in an administrative capacity.

The student-athletes are very young and not accustomed to the seriousness of life. Many of these young people are not that far removed from eating cereal with a plastic spoon.

One of the biggest challenges for student-athletes is answering questions from college coaches.

This is where many student-athletes struggle. 

They’re giving very limited answers to the questions. Sometimes one-word answers or non-verbal answers to questions.

These are kids.

Where the parents come in is they can sit down with their student-athlete and help review possible questions.

Help review the kinds of answers and responses to give to various questions.

Let your student-athlete learn to fly solo, but be there as a back-up silent partner.

I want to know what you think of this topic. Please leave me a comment in the comment section below. Your comments are the oxygen we need to grow!