Recruited Athlete?

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Ablanch4

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I have an odd question. My ds is actually not sure if he is a recruited athlete. He has been in communication with the coach and even flew out for an event hosted by the team (he was invited by the coach). He has never received a loa or been told that’s he’s being recruited but his link to schedule his Dodmerb exam did come from the coach…. Thoughts?
 
Ablanch4 said:
I have an odd question. My ds is actually not sure if he is a recruited athlete. He has been in communication with the coach and even flew out for an event hosted by the team (he was invited by the coach). He has never received a loa or been told that’s he’s being recruited but his link to schedule his Dodmerb exam did come from the coach…. Thoughts?
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My opinion, if the coach is advocating for your son in any way, they are more than likely a recruited athlete. Coaches tend not to invite kids to events like that if they’re not recruiting them.
That said, CGA admissions told us recruited athletes are assigned a numerical rating from a coach. I believe a 0, 1 or 2 depending on how much of an impact they would have on the team. I would guess to get a coveted LOA for athletics they’d probably be looking for a 2. That obviously doesn’t mean any other recruited athlete with a strong application wouldn’t have a good chance for an appointment.
 
DS2 is in the same boat. He was invited to an athlete-only visit, but couldn't make it due to athletics. :) He is meeting with the coach and team next week. Not specifically recruited.
 
I would wager that it's all dependent on the level of recruitment, and how the coach handles recruiting. My daughter has met the coach multiple times at events, but I wouldn't say there was much pursuit on the coaches part. Sometimes I feel like the SA coaches are hampered by the admission requirements and the goal of having cadets come from multiple regions. Mix in how they may have to advocate more for a candidate with a less than stellar academic record vs. one that they feel may get in on their own merit and I'm sure it's not a fun process for them, admissions, or the candidate. I would say though, that if the coach communicated with your son directly regarding the dodmerb, that has to be a good sign!
 
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I would look at if the coach is in contact with your DS very often by text or phone call. During his visit did he work 9ut with team was paid special attention or even took photos of your son in a cga uniform? Is the coach helping you with the application? I am not saying that these are all required but they can be indicators of the level of recruiting. We went through the same questions last year and lol I would question my son about this as all communication was between the coach and my son so I understand your concern. It's a delicate and stressful dance waiting to see if you are chosen so good luck and ho0e it works out.
 
Ghostjwm said:
I would look at if the coach is in contact with your DS very often by text or phone call. During his visit did he work 9ut with team was paid special attention or even took photos of your son in a cga uniform? Is the coach helping you with the application? I am not saying that these are all required but they can be indicators of the level of recruiting. We went through the same questions last year and lol I would question my son about this as all communication was between the coach and my son so I understand your concern. It's a delicate and stressful dance waiting to see if you are chosen so good luck and ho0e it works out.
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Remember that most of the sports at CGA are D3. Taking photos is not a norm as it is at the traditional D1 schools. LOAs is not the only sign that a candidate is being recruited. If a candidate can get in on their own merit, the coach with limited LOAs will save that opportunity for someone that may not.
 
Lol even though it's D3 they still take photos as they want their recruits to be able to post them on signing days. Maybe not all sports but I know our experience along with DS teammates this year plus prior cadets who are currently seniors or have graduated had photos taken. Again maybe your sport or experience is different.
 
I don't think service academy athletes officially participate in signing days - I think you can have a ceremony but maybe it's just D3 schools don't have a letter of commitment like D1 schools so it's not really an official signing day
 
Most schools hold "signing days" which are photo ops and announcements. Also most colleges want you to have a photo to post online (twitter, Facebook, instagram) about your commitment to the school which includes the service academies. I know personally athletes who have been recruited to Navy, Army, and Coast Guard and all had a photo taken in team uniform during the later part of their recruitment before "official paperwork". That doesn't mean everyone has that happen but it definitely is an indication of the seriousness of recruitment of the athlete which what the original poster was trying to figure out. Lol of course though that photo op helps with the anxiety it doesn't gurantee your appointment and you will still sweat it out till official notification and passing the physical.
 
DS's appointment came after spring signing so he couldn't participate, but the active duty senior officer knocked it out of the park when he presented him with his appointment at his senior awards night.
 
Yep my son and several of his teammates did on their last visit in Oct of last year. Again for the OP this is just an indicator in interest as I said before. Best case is listen to your coaches and good luck!
 
Does your son have an admission's counselor that he has also been communicating with? If so, I think it is reasonable for him to ask if his file is flagged as a recruit. My son was in the same boat applying at a different SA. He had been talking to the coach, but we couldn't gauge who had the most interest, our son or the coach or mutual. In a phone call with his Admission's counselor clarifying something else in his file, he just mentioned he had been talking to Coach X and the counselor was like, oh yeah, I see your file is noted as a recruit. It helped clarify it without our son having to come right out and ask the coach. However, at the end of the day, these kids are getting in on a lot more than athletics. It seems coaches at the academies only have so much "pull" My DS's number one choice is a nomination required SA and the Coach ends every contact with, get your nomination! So, it seems somethings can't be worked around easily, even for recruits.

However, given everything you said, it's probably a safe bet to assume he's a legit recruit. GOOD LUCK!
 
NavyHopefulMom2027 said:
Does your son have an admission's counselor that he has also been communicating with? If so, I think it is reasonable for him to ask if his file is flagged as a recruit. My son was in the same boat applying at a different SA. He had been talking to the coach, but we couldn't gauge who had the most interest, our son or the coach or mutual. In a phone call with his Admission's counselor clarifying something else in his file, he just mentioned he had been talking to Coach X and the counselor was like, oh yeah, I see your file is noted as a recruit. It helped clarify it without our son having to come right out and ask the coach. However, at the end of the day, these kids are getting in on a lot more than athletics. It seems coaches at the academies only have so much "pull" My DS's number one choice is a nomination required SA and the Coach ends every contact with, get your nomination! So, it seems somethings can't be worked around easily, even for recruits.

However, given everything you said, it's probably a safe bet to assume he's a legit recruit. GOOD LUCK!
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Excellent advice! I would say my son’s AO isn’t super great about communication. We’ve met him and he’s wonderful but emails don’t typically get a response. I’ll suggest my DS reach out about being recruited. I’m sure he’s slammed with ea right now though!
 
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