The Hunt for Excellence: The Best Practices for Recruiting - Research Paper Example

 The Hunt for Excellence: The Best Practices for Recruiting Chapter 1 Introduction The study shall use non-random samplingmethods to gather subjective and qualitative data.After which these data will be adjusted in line with the reviewers’ opinions to make it adequate and comprehensive. Therefore, it will be necessary to deconstruct responses and focus on the themes and concepts that support the text. This will be achieved through comparing the various themes to establish the links in the data. Hence, it is expected that the findings will facilitate understanding of multiple meanings of the themes. However, only summative data found during the study will be reported. Chapter 2 Literature Review The process of recruiting take into accountthe following;the recruiting areas, the assessment of need, prospect evaluation and desired characteristics of prospects. This work outlines the four areas in relation to recruiting in college football. Rivalries, conference titles, bowl bids, and National championships are familiar terms in college football programs. However, recruiting is the driving force behind for them since it breeds success (Grant, R. R., Leadley, J. C., &Zygmont, Z. X. 2013). This is evident in four of the top five Universities on the rivals.com list of football signing classes for 2012. They have either won or competed for a National title in the last five years. For instance, the SEC dominated in recruiting by Florida, LSU, Georgia, Alabama, and Auburn, and each school has won the conference championship each year since 1999 (Cary A. Caro, 2012). Hence, recruiting is important in the world of college football. (Bricker, J., & Hanson, A. 2013). Normally each football program has alocal, national or out-of-state area for recruiting. The local area includes home state and surrounding states with a few talent-populated areas. Therefore, it is vital to keep off other school from outside to out-recruit in a schools local area. This explains why no school in the country has a more powerful pull over kids from its own backyard than LSU. A strategy which enabled them to win two BCS National Championships in a five-year period (Feldman, 2007). Local area recruiting require assigning coaches specific area due to a certain level of experience or knowledge of the area (Griffin, 2009). Therefore, all coaches need to first build relationships and credibility with other high school coaches in an area alongside protecting the local area(Maisel, 2009). While, the national or out-of-state area entails spot recruiting. In this coachescan recruit a player from outside the local area. Though, the national recruiting has challenges like; it is time consuming and costly.Besides, some players become homesick or experience culture shock. To justify the claimOrgeronfaced challenges where guys from faraway places got home sick or lacked pride in playing for Ole (Feldman, 2007). Junior College Recruiting Junior College recruiting considersProspects comprises those who lack high school academic qualification to participate in Division I athletics, or students who are physically underdeveloped. They should however, possess one or two years of game experience at the end of their tenure at the Junior College level. Yet, the process is tricky as some lack fundamentals of the game coaching, trouble learning new and more complicated schemes,and difficulties to adapt to the culture and lifestyle incorporated with larger universities (Janseen& Snyder, 2006). Some programs recruit to add depth with players with capacity to develop into starters. For instance, Kansas States (Janseen& Snyder, 2006). In line with this other universities like University of Tennesserecruits quality talent to instill in their programs. While university ofThe Vols and Kiffen use the same philosophy as USC to get potential first round draft choice(Luginbill, 2008). College football programs show different measures of prospect evaluation; though most are similar.Typically, evaluation depends on; the physical ability, academic standing, and projection of future ability. Coaches continually seek great players to improve their football programs. Hence, they subconsciously make comparisons to reassure themselves, or make objective conclusion (Feldman, 2007). During evaluation coaches make future projection of the players, their growth and speed gain. This is possible throughanalysis ofa player’s parents, or brothers and sisters. Still, science to project a prospect is inexact thereby, it is vital to consider facilities in high schoolthat determines the player’s development. (Maisel, 2009). Evaluating prospects approaches like; game tapes, highlight tapes and eval tapes. The process also entails direct observations at high school practices, games, and summer camps tofacilitate better understanding of the players (Feldman, 2007). This are reasons why Ole Miss watch many films during the summer and while in-season. Besides, it also helps show recruits best 10 plays and worst ones (Maisel, 2009).Highlight tapes are great lack backside information of a play. Hence, eval tapes are better since give a more realistic picture of a prospects talent (Feldman, 2007). Occasionally, direct observation is more effective and accurate evaluation method. This is because it provides opportunity to see prospects live in performance and note physical, mental and emotionally reactions. Such attributes include, taking play offs, response to coaching and adjustments, and leadership qualities (Galen Wellnicki; C. 1995). As mentioned, Video tape is essential but most coaches prefer direct observations because of the advantages (Feldman, 2007). Evaluating Character and Background Evaluating prospects for scholarships consider various factors. It is a vital to recruit only good quality prospects to the universities football program.However, the process is time consuming. Currently, the escalation of the win-at-all-cost mentality enhances stakes and competition for prized recruits. This enables programs to take calculated risks in accepting and signing academically deficient student-athletes(Hayes, M.2006). Besides, fundamental tension exists between big-time college sports and academic rigor. It allows continuation of admission practices, graduation rates and academic integrity to slide (Hayes, M. 2009). Other than physical abilities coaches seek to know the recruits character. This helps to establish their ability to handlethe rigors of the college environment, homework, study table, meetings, a higher level of practice, dealing with a more regimented lifestyle, and a collegiate social environment (Janseen& Snyder, 2006). Every year in the NFL, players are drafted in later rounds due to character issues (Bricker, J., & Hanson, A. 2013). Hence,success of a coach depends onquality of the players they recruit. In 2002, the University of Miami pulled the scholarship offer of Dade County native Nate Harris due to involvement in armed robbery (Feldman, 2004). To add, coaches wantguys from families with values and leaders on the team, school and community (Maisel, 2009). This makes coaches to look for intangibles quality in(Johnson, T. 2005). The two lists show top 25 teams in 2013 season, and the top projected recruiting classes of 2012.The correlations between the 2012 recruiting classes and final 2013 standings are close but lack exact parity. 2013 Final College Football Standings 1 Florida State (60) 14-0 2 Auburn 12-2 3 Michigan State 13-1 4 South Carolina 11-2 5 Missouri 12-2 6 Oklahoma 11-2 7 Alabama 11-2 8 Clemson 11-2 9 Oregon 11-2 10 UCF 12-1 11 Stanford 11-3 12 Ohio State 12-2 13 Baylor 11-2 14 LSU 10-3 15 Louisville 12-1 16 UCLA 10-3 17 Oklahoma State 10-3 18 Texas A&M 9-4 19 USC 10-4 20 Arizona State 10-4 21 Notre Dame 9-4 22 Wisconsin 9-4 23 Duke 10-4 24 Vanderbilt 9-4 25 Washington 9-4 http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/ncaa/polls/ap/ 2012 Team Commitments 247 ESPN Rivals Scout 1 Alabama 26 1 1 1 2 2 Texas 28 3 3 2 1 3 Florida 23 4 4 3 5 4 Ohio State 25 5 6 4 3 5 Florida State 19 2 2 8 10 6 Michigan 25 8 7 6 4 7 Stanford 22 7 12 5 6 8 Miami (Fl) 33 10 8 9 8 9 Oklahoma 25 9 11 10 9 10 Georgia 19 6 5 19 13 11 LSU 23 12 14 16 7 12 USC 15 11 13 7 20 13 Auburn 19 17 17 11 14 14 Texas A&M 21 13 15 14 17 15 UCLA 28 18 19 12 11 16 Clemson 21 22 9 13 16 17 South Carolina 25 15 16 18 12 18 Oregon 21 14 18 15 15 19 Notre Dame 16 16 10 22 19 20 Tennessee 21 19 21 17 24 21 Washington 25 28 23 20 22 22 Virginia Tech 28 23 25 21 25 23 Mississippi State 28 25 26 30 18 24 Texas Tech 27 30 20 26 23 25 Virginia 26 20 26 27 27 http://www.sbnation.com/college-football-recruiting (Highlighted in Green are the teams that topped 25 2012 recruiting classes and appeared in the top 25 final 2013 standings) Chapter 3 Participants and Methods The study subjects are schools which ranked in the top 25 of the 2012 signing classes for football as ranked by rivals.com. More focuswill be on the recruiting coordinators at the selected universities and football coaches that have 15+ years in recruiting experience at the Division I level. In addition, employees who oversee the structure and organization of the recruiting process at their respective universities are also included. The research topics will be the recruiting areas, the assessment of need, prospect evaluation, and the desired characteristics of prospects of each respective university. The research questions will be; 1. What is your theory on in-state versus out-of-state recruiting? 2. What is your theory on Junior College recruiting? 3. How are in-state areas divided and assigned? 4. How are out-of-state areas divided and assigned? 5. What is the method when assigning coaches to different areas? Further,the following questions will help research about area of assessment of need; 1. How is the assessment of need evaluated within your program? 2. Does your program utilize recruiting services? If so which one(s)? 3. Does your program utilize prospect ranking services? If so which one(s)? 4. How is the prospect evaluation procedure conducted within your recruiting process? Research on the desired characteristics of prospects will entail the following questions; 1. What characteristics do you seek in a prospect? 2. Do you do any form of a background check on prospects? If so what method do you use? Finally, research on prospect contact will involve following questions: 1. What mailings (if any) do you use? 2. What is your theory on in-school or in-home visits? 3. What is your method of calling recruits? 4. How do you prioritize official visits? In conclusion, the questions will help to find the best practices of recruiting used by the top universities in the country.                  References Bricker, J., & Hanson, A. (2013). The Impact of Early Commitment on Games Played: Evidence from College Football Recruiting. Southern Economic Journal, 79(4), 971-983. doi:10.4284/0038-4038-2010.119 Caro, C. A. (2012). College Football Success: The Relationship Between Recruiting and Winning. International Journal Of Sports Science & Coaching, 7(1), 139-152. Grant, R. R., Leadley, J. C., &Zygmont, Z. X. (2013). Just Win Baby? Determinants of NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Coaching Compensation. International Journal Of Sport Hayes, M. (2006). For Coker, recruiting is a disarming experience. Sporting News, 230(26), 53. Hayes, M. (2009). TEXAS RECRUITING COORDINATOR. Sporting News, 233(21), 24-25. Janseen, M., & Snyder, B. (2006) Bill Snyder: They Said It Couldn’t Be Done. Illinois: KCI Sports, LLC Johnson, T. (2005). Football Recruiting at the College Level. Coach & Athletic Director, 75(1), 74-77. Feldman, B.(2004) ‘Cane Mutiny; How the Miami Hurricanes Overturned The Football Establishment. New York: ESPN Books GALEN WELLNICKI;, C. (1995, December 10). LOOKING AHEAD WITH THE JAVS; Texas A&M-Kingsville starts reloading for 1996; *; A&M-Kingsville will be trying for its fifth straight LSC football championship.; The Javelinas' recruiting effort is targeting outstanding junior college players. Corpus Christi Caller-Times (TX). Luginbill, T. Kiffen proven he can recruit, but it will be different at Tennessee. 2 December 2008. Espn.com. 3 March 2009 Read More