Is It Still Fair to Give Prospects Deadlines?
With the lack of ability to visit campus amid the pandemic, is it fair?
Fair question, and it’s getting asked more and more by coaches now that fall has started without the widespread ability to have kids on campus.
Is it fair to ask them to commit without a visit?
Do coaches need to give them even more time to make a decision?
Fair questions, given the odd times we’re living through.
My simple answer: Yes, you need to set deadlines. Do it way in advance of needing a decision, make it fair in order to let them go through the process, but hold to it.
Yes, it’s a challenging time for recruits to go through the process, but it’s challenging for you too, Coach. You need to maintain a system that works for you, and keeps that system working for you.
Do you have a choice in the matter? Sure you do. You don’t have to do anything that I just recommended, and give them as much time as they want to go through the process. If you believe that to be the best way forward for your program in building a good recruiting class, go for it. But I’m seeing student-athletes actually speeding up their decisions, so I’m not sure that strategy is going to get any real results.
Furthermore, it all goes against what we know to be historically true in the way we know successful programs are being built through recruiting. Here’s some of what we’ve advised and shared in the past on this topic:
Why You Shouldn’t Let Your Prospect Delay Their Decision
A Step-by-Step Guide for Coaches on Setting Timelines and Deadlines
Should the COVID-19 Crisis Affect Recruiting Timelines for Prospects?
Do Events Dictate a Recruiting Timeline, or Does a Recruiting Timeline Dictate Events?
Yes, it’s still fair to give your prospect a deadline.