Attitude and Character will Set You Apart

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A recruits talent is obviously an important piece in a college coaches evaluation of any prospective student-athlete. But the decision to actively recruit a student-athlete goes well beyond talent. A prospective student-athlete's attitude and character may be the most important attribute to a college coach.

What Is Attitude?

Attitude is how a student-athlete carries himself or herself on and off the field. Regardless of a players' performance, their skill, tactical, and physical display, other factors heavily influence a coach's decision to recruit a given athlete. Coaches will look at their mental and psychological make up, their mental ability to quickly and correctly read and assess situations, their motivational drive and will power, their self confidence, and emotional stability.

A big determining factor of a prospects attitude is their body language on the field. A coach can get a good sense of who you are by how you react to situations on the field. Every coach loves to identify key players with personalities and qualities that cause them to become leaders. Here are some of the most recognizable personality traits.

Drive
Aggressiveness
Determination
Leadership
Self-Confidence
Mental Toughness
Coach-ability

What is Character

Character is the mental and moral qualities to an individual. It just may be the most important aspect to the college recruiting process. College coaches want to know what kind of person you are and what is important to you.

A college coach only has a limited amount of opportunities to evaluate a prospective student-athlete's character. In order to help prospective student-athletes understand that it could be the difference between receiving a scholarship or not, we want to show them how to portray they are a high character individual. It is difficult to gauge what type of person you are just from your student-athlete profile or introduction letter. However, showing you are involved in a lot of extracurricular activities and clubs, community service, and that you have a job will show a coach that you are responsible and know how to manage your time to balance all of those activities. After interviewing a number of college coaches about what they look for in their recruits, there were certain qualities that continued to stand out. So I created the GFS 6 Pillars of Character. It these qualities among many others that college coaches seek.

ACCOUNTABILITY

Are you accountable for your actions? Are you accountable for your time?

INTEGRITY

Are you honest, do you have strong moral principles?

LEADERSHIP

Do you possess leadership qualities?

RESPECT

Do you show respect toward others, especially parents , coaches, teachers, etc

LOYALTY

Are you responsible? Are you able to complete the tasks you set out for yourself?

TRUSTWORTHINESS

Can you be trusted on your word? Do your actions back up words?

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Most college coaches have a very keen sense and can pick up on some of these things as they watch you play or on a campus visit. While you are on the field or court, are you a leader. Are you positive and encouraging, or are you negative and critical? If you are on a campus visit how do you act around your parents. Do you treat them with respect or do you cut them off when you think they might say something stupid, or do you give an eye roll or shoulder shrug when they say or do something. College coaches are always watching you, and not just what happens in between the lines. College coaches receive lots of interest from prospective student-athletes and the need to gauge what type of person you are in a very short period of time.

In an 2015 interview with Jamion Christian, now the Head Men's Basketball Coach at George Washington University we asked him about is recruiting philosophy and the importance of character in a prospective student-athlete.

Character is also important in identifying prospects. Character means everything when you are projecting on how good someone will be down the road as a college senior. Those with strong character have tendency to help improve a program in some way before they graduate.

"The sooner that a coach can understand the mental make-up of a player the sooner they will be able to coach them into becoming the best version of themselves as a person."

- Jamion Christian

Another big factor that coaches are using to begin to evaluate prospective student-athletes are their social media profiles. Ho do you portray yourself in the twittersphere. What kind of posts do you make? Who do you follow? What kind of pictures are on your page? Social media is beginning to have a huge impact on college recruiting. There have been many stories where a social media post has caused students to lose scholarships, be suspended , or even kicked off team. Use social media to enhance your personal brand not to destroy it. A coach can begin to get a sense of what kind of person you are just from browsing through your social media profiles. And now the NCAA has even allowed college coaches to begin interacting with prospective student-athletes on social media.

College Coaches are looking for the complete student-athlete? Do you check all of the required boxes.

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An aerial view of a football field in a stadium.

The Future of Recruiting: How NCAA Lawsuits and Rulings Will Impact High School Student-Athletes*

By Chris Stack • April 4, 2025

The recruiting landscape for high school student-athletes is on the cusp of a significant transformation. Recent NCAA lawsuits and rulings have far-reaching implications that will change the way colleges recruit, distribute scholarships, and compensate athletes. As the dust settles, here's how these changes will impact the future of recruiting: Employee Status: A Game-Changer The recent ruling that grants employee status to college athletes will revolutionize the recruiting process. Colleges will now need to consider the financial and legal implications of employing student-athletes. This shift will likely lead to: - More emphasis on compensation packages and benefits - Changes in scholarship models and revenue sharing - Increased focus on athlete welfare and support services NCAA Athletes as Employees: Recent Ruling and Implications* A U.S. appeals court in Philadelphia ruled on July 11, 2024, that college athletes whose efforts primarily benefit their schools may qualify as employees deserving of pay under federal wage-and-hour laws ¹. This decision means that a test should be developed to differentiate between students who play college sports for fun and those whose effort "crosses the legal line into work" ¹. - Implications This ruling has significant implications for the NCAA and its long-standing concept of amateurism ¹. If athletes are considered employees, they may be entitled to compensation, benefits, and legal protections ². However, NCAA officials argue that this could harm student-athletes' experiences and create financial burdens for schools ¹. - Ongoing Debate: This issue is part of a broader debate about the rights and compensation of college athletes ². Some argue that athletes should be paid for their labor, while others believe that compensation could undermine the amateur nature of college sports ³. The National Labor Relations Board is also considering whether college athletes should be considered employees under federal labor law ². - Potential Consequences If athletes are classified as employees, schools and the NCAA may face substantial back pay claims from current and former athletes ⁴. This could lead to significant changes in the way college sports are structured and financed ². However, others argue that this could lead to unintended consequences, such as schools only funding profitable sports or detracting from the overall educational experience ². The Impact of New Ruling on Future College Rosters Reduced Roster Sizes Increased Injuries and Mental Health Issues Compensation and Benefits The impact of the new ruling on future college rosters is uncertain, with ongoing debates and discussions among coaches, administrators, and athletes ⁶. The new ruling's impact on future college rosters will likely unfold in the coming months and years. Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL): A New Recruiting Tool With the introduction of NIL guidelines, colleges can now use an athlete's marketability as a recruiting selling point. This will lead to: - Increased emphasis on social media presence and personal branding - Colleges highlighting their ability to help athletes build their NIL - More creative and lucrative endorsement opportunities Roster Size and Scholarship Implications Reduced roster sizes and changes in scholarship models will impact the number of available spots for incoming recruits. This will lead to: - Increased competition for fewer spots - More emphasis on early recruiting and commitments - Potential for more athletes to consider alternative routes like junior college or NAIA Recruiting Strategies: Adapting to the New Landscape Colleges will need to adapt their recruiting strategies to stay competitive. This may include: - Earlier identification and recruitment of top talent - More personalized and holistic approaches to recruiting - Increased focus on athlete development and support services The Student-Athlete Experience: A New Priority With the emphasis on athlete welfare and support services, colleges will need to prioritize the student-athlete experience. This will lead to: - Increased focus on academic support and resources - More emphasis on mental health and wellness programs - Colleges highlighting their commitment to athlete development and success beyond sports The future of recruiting high school student-athletes will be shaped by the evolving NCAA landscape. As colleges navigate these changes, they'll need to prioritize creative recruiting strategies, athlete welfare, and support services to attract top talent. Student-athletes, in turn, will need to be more proactive in their recruitment, considering factors beyond just athletic development. As the recruiting landscape continues to shift, one thing is certain – the future of college sports will be shaped by these transformative changes. Sources: Appeals court rules NCAA Athletes may qualify as employees - www.insidehighered.com NCAA Student-Athletes as Employees Case is Pandora's Box - news.bloomberglaw.com Are College Athletes "employees" of their school? - www.marketplace.org Pay to Play? Third Circuit Holds NCAA Athletes can be Considered Employees - www.littler.com