"Blue Chip" and "Recruited Athlete" technical meaning at USAFA.

Mermaidmom2021 said:
My understanding is that as long as you apply for nominations from all possible sources (senator, congressional, vp) they can find one.

Good luck to your son!
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IF they still want him
IF they haven’t found someone else
IF if if.....

And back to the original crux of ‘recruiting’.....at all schools. Full circle.
 
I noticed my thread was about to fall off the front page of the forum so I will share a public service announcement.......Stay vigilant future athletic recruits. If a coach tells you they want you on their Div. 1 team, make sure you understand that this does not mean they will want you on the team when it comes time to write a letter of recommendation for appointment. And before all the expert keyboard warriors come out of the woodwork, I know for a fact that coaches do write letters of recommendation for appointments to the admissions board.......... End of Public service announcement.
 
[QUOTE Since we are LDS, my son decided to serve a mission and now fast forward 2 years the same coach has told him the same thing as he has started his application again. [/QUOTE]


Did your son attend a year, withdraw, and reapply or did he serve a mission first?
 
I have tried to read as much about being a Recruited Athlete at an SA as possible on this forum, though the search function, and on this thread. However, I am hoping for some guidance. DS is being recruited but he is definitely not the top or “blue chip” just to use the term. His ALO switched from a regional person to the Recruited Athlete ALO. In a conversation with this new ALO, he looked up DS’ application and said he would be top person in his congressional district; however, as a Recruited Athlete though, he will need the nomination but he may be excluded from winning the congressional slate and that top spot may be awarded to #2. But here’s the kicker, admissions will follow up with the coach to make sure DS is still a recruit and coach will have to validate that the coach wants him for DS to get an appointment and if the coach waivers, DS may not get the appointment and would have missed winning his congress slate. This seems crazy that now being recruited early but not late can hurt you. Any insight here?
 
SAparent2023 said:
I have tried to read as much about being a Recruited Athlete at an SA as possible on this forum, though the search function, and on this thread. However, I am hoping for some guidance. DS is being recruited but he is definitely not the top or “blue chip” just to use the term. His ALO switched from a regional person to the Recruited Athlete ALO. In a conversation with this new ALO, he looked up DS’ application and said he would be top person in his congressional district; however, as a Recruited Athlete though, he will need the nomination but he may be excluded from winning the congressional slate and that top spot may be awarded to #2. But here’s the kicker, admissions will follow up with the coach to make sure DS is still a recruit and coach will have to validate that the coach wants him for DS to get an appointment and if the coach waivers, DS may not get the appointment and would have missed winning his congress slate. This seems crazy that now being recruited early but not late can hurt you. Any insight here?
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Sounds kind of familiar to our situation last year.....but I am trying to heed "wishfuls" wise advice as he quoted "Bro...you have to let it go...". On a side note, I may have some track and field t-shirts if anyone wants to buy one:)
 
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SAparent2023 said:
I have tried to read as much about being a Recruited Athlete at an SA as possible on this forum, though the search function, and on this thread. However, I am hoping for some guidance. DS is being recruited but he is definitely not the top or “blue chip” just to use the term. His ALO switched from a regional person to the Recruited Athlete ALO. In a conversation with this new ALO, he looked up DS’ application and said he would be top person in his congressional district; however, as a Recruited Athlete though, he will need the nomination but he may be excluded from winning the congressional slate and that top spot may be awarded to #2. But here’s the kicker, admissions will follow up with the coach to make sure DS is still a recruit and coach will have to validate that the coach wants him for DS to get an appointment and if the coach waivers, DS may not get the appointment and would have missed winning his congress slate. This seems crazy that now being recruited early but not late can hurt you. Any insight here?
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As far as I know, there is nothing mutually exclusive about being recruited and completing the nomination process with your MOCs just like any other applicant. I have never heard that a recruited athlete is excluded from winning their congressional slate. I believe that to be a false statement.
 
SAparent2023 said:
In a conversation with this new ALO, he looked up DS’ application and said he would be top person in his congressional district; however, as a Recruited Athlete though, he will need the nomination but he may be excluded from winning the congressional slate and that top spot may be awarded to #2.
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I actually have little knowledge about recruitment per se, but I read this as "If the coach wants you, you may not need to win the slate", and further "You are currently at the top of the slate" (but, indeed, it's still early in the process). I don't think your son is being dinged as a recruited athlete but that he might, as a recruited athlete, receive an appointment even if he doesn't place at the top of the slate. Maybe it's just how I'm reading what you wrote, but...

Of course, he has to have a nomination.
 
jebdad said:
SAparent2023 said:
I have tried to read as much about being a Recruited Athlete at an SA as possible on this forum, though the search function, and on this thread. However, I am hoping for some guidance. DS is being recruited but he is definitely not the top or “blue chip” just to use the term. His ALO switched from a regional person to the Recruited Athlete ALO. In a conversation with this new ALO, he looked up DS’ application and said he would be top person in his congressional district; however, as a Recruited Athlete though, he will need the nomination but he may be excluded from winning the congressional slate and that top spot may be awarded to #2. But here’s the kicker, admissions will follow up with the coach to make sure DS is still a recruit and coach will have to validate that the coach wants him for DS to get an appointment and if the coach waivers, DS may not get the appointment and would have missed winning his congress slate. This seems crazy that now being recruited early but not late can hurt you. Any insight here?
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As far as I know, there is nothing mutually exclusive about being recruited and completing the nomination process with your MOCs just like any other applicant. I have never heard that a recruited athlete is excluded from winning their congressional slate. I believe that to be a false statement.
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If you try to find out how many(not who) got appointed to USAFA from your district, you may get the same answer as we did, we are sorry but that information is not given out and we are not subject to freedom of information requests (congressman are exempt). Of course 4 years ago, when our DS got appointed they posted this in the paper. Just shows how a few years, and a lame duck congressman react to the public information requests.
 
I may not have fully understood the ALO and hope that is the case. I should also note our Congressman uses the Primary Nomination versus the competitive nomination. The ALO stated that being recruited could be a disadvantage if after the slate is settled, he ends up not being offered a spot on the team. The implication was that the slate wold be settled and the recruited athlete would be treated differently as it related to settling the slate. I am not sure if this is similar to the concept of not giving the LOA holders the primary nomination. The ALO went on to say that since DS has completed his application it is time to speak with the coach for the commitment. I guess time will tell.
 
My Mid is not a varsity athlete, so I’ve been just an innocent bystander to this thread. But four pages in, it’s clear to me that recruited athletes should treat the application process just like anyone else. That is, assume absolutely nothing — no matter what anyone says — until both nomination and offer of appointment are firmly in hand. And make sure you have a Plan B, C, D and more.
 
SAparent2023 said:
I may not have fully understood the ALO and hope that is the case. I should also note our Congressman uses the Primary Nomination versus the competitive nomination. The ALO stated that being recruited could be a disadvantage if after the slate is settled, he ends up not being offered a spot on the team. The implication was that the slate wold be settled and the recruited athlete would be treated differently as it related to settling the slate. I am not sure if this is similar to the concept of not giving the LOA holders the primary nomination. The ALO went on to say that since DS has completed his application it is time to speak with the coach for the commitment. I guess time will tell.
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So if your MOC uses the Principal method of selecting his nominee, and your DS is not the Principal nominee, but receives one of the other 9 available nomination slots, then his actual nomination would likely be “charged” elsewhere ( Supe’s Nom etc.)for him to receive an appointment through the athletic department, if it doesn’t, then he would become an annual 3Q with NOM and no appointment turn back.
Everyone must have a nomination to receive an appointment, your DS is apparently being told he is highly qualified AND a desired athlete, but not top athlete. This is VERY early in the process, and new players can enter the scene! If your DS remains at the top of his slate all the way to the end of MOC nomination deadline, he should receive the Principal nomination. That should be his goal, continue to improve his WCS, do well at MOC interviews and remain at top of the slate! Don’t read too much into recruited athlete hopes and promises, control what you can control.....
 
Agree with above. DS was a recruited athlete. Honestly the only thing that meant to us was that it was what got him looking at the academies in the first place. His goal became becoming an officer (USNA in his case), not the sport. And I believe that’s the best outlook. He competed completely, thoroughly, and with his BEST efforts to obtain an appointment. The ‘recruitment’ was only a side bar to the whole process.

It’s stressful enough to go through the appointment process without trying to figure out how athletics plays into it, IMO.

Best advice: make sure your reasoning for attending is in line with what an academy is. Because even after accepting an appointment, a candidate may decide playing that sport is not for them anymore. It’s a LOT to manage. And there are sooo many other options to become a part of at a service academy. And if you present your best package, you have done all you can do. Regardless of how the ‘recruiting process’ goes or doesn’t go.
 
justdoit19 said:
Agree with above. DS was a recruited athlete. Honestly the only thing that meant to us was that it was what got him looking at the academies in the first place. His goal became becoming an officer (USNA in his case), not the sport. And I believe that’s the best outlook. He competed completely, thoroughly, and with his BEST efforts to obtain an appointment. The ‘recruitment’ was only a side bar to the whole process.

It’s stressful enough to go through the appointment process without trying to figure out how athletics plays into it, IMO.

Best advice: make sure your reasoning for attending is in line with what an academy is. Because even after accepting an appointment, a candidate may decide playing that sport is not for them anymore. It’s a LOT to manage. And there are sooo many other options to become a part of at a service academy. And if you present your best package, you have done all you can do. Regardless of how the ‘recruiting process’ goes or doesn’t go.
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This is exactly the path for DS. He told the coach that he wanted to be an officer in the military and attend the SA regardless if he played. He has other D3, D2 offers and other D1 interest but if he doesn't get in the SA, he plans to go ROTC and re-apply. His desire to attend SA and be in the military is his first priority.

The question we have is should he remove himself as a Recruited Athlete so he does not have any "noise" in his congressional slate that might prevent him from being most competitive and signal to MOC that there may not be another appointment for him if he doesn't get the Prinicipal Nomination?
 
Well, I’m not sure I quite understand “remove him as a recruited athlete”. Either what you are saying is a whole different thing that I have never seen here on the forums, or anywhere else for that matter (which could be the case), or something is wonky, or I don’t understand what’s happening.

When would you feel that the deadline to “remove him” would be?

I am curious his sport. I am curious how competitive your district is. I’m curious how all your MOC’s work together or independently. All those things would be good to know. Although I’m not really sure an athlete even could “remove themselves as a recruited athlete” [emoji848]?

To me, it doesn’t sound like the ALO has a good understanding either of ‘recruited athlete’, or you misunderstood ALO. Perhaps ALO was saying to go for everything available including continuing a convo with the coach? I know BGO’s (for Navy in our case) are volunteers. Ours for example had NO insight to the varsity athlete element. We were his first ones. Again, it didn’t matter as DS went full steam ahead as if no recruitment.

And BTW, I doubt the ALO has a personal pipeline to all your MOC’s. Even if a MOC states they don’t do (or don’t) do their slate a given way...they can change their minds and do it however they want.

Feel free to message me privately if interested!!
 
Vaquero said:
Did your son attend a year, withdraw, and reapply or did he serve a mission first?
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He is serving his mission first. The coaches wanted him to not serve and come play immediately, so they had him start the admission process while he was a Senior before he was really aware that you could not just defer like the other D1 programs he had offers to. But when it became clear that he was going to serve a mission and that deferral wasn't an option, he withdrew his application (the coaches actually did it for him) as they prefer to have him 4 straight years for football. Fast forward 2 years now, he has completed the application on his P-day for the last month or so. He just finished his fitness exam today and now has everything submitted. He just needs his Evaluation interview (which he did last time in person and I assume will be remote this time) and is waiting for the overseas DoDMERB packet to arrive. We have "chatted" about it and he has decided to take the mindset of applying like any normal applicant. While previously he was told not to worry about a nomination and his understanding is that is still the case, he has decided to be safe and he has applied to ALL congressional nominations available.
 
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****Friendly reminder athletic recruits******* it's deep into recruiting season..... If your visiting with coaches(track, football....pick your sport) and getting a "real nice" on campus "sales pitch", just remember they may say one thing and do another later(as late as June). Keep that plan B, C, and D on the front burners also. Don't be duped by the ole smoke and mirrors of NCAA recruiting.
 
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