Transfers are inevitable—they happen in every program and under every head coach. As you are evaluating players from every angle – take a good look at the probability that they can be successful within your system, under that head coach, at that school and in that town.
Players transfer for a variety of reasons—they’re too far from home; they aren’t getting enough playing time; they don’t mesh with the coaching staff or lockerroom; they face too many challenges academically and have a difficult time staying eligible; or their athletic strengths can’t be utilized in the current system. For most transfers, they fall into one of those categories.
And many transferring players knew these issues existed before they committed and enrolled, and so did many of their recruiting coaches. Take a good look at these factors and even bring it up to the prospect if things are getting serious, and you have a feeling it may not work out in the long run.
As you build relationships with prospects and their families, you will be able to gauge if they’ll be a good fit in the lockerroom and under the coaching staff.
Transfers can’t be avoided 100% of the time, but in a many cases there were red flags leading up to enrollment. With maturity that comes along with the college experience, some of these issues can be overcome. But for some players, it just wasn’t a good fit for them from the beginning. Will they be in over their head or doomed from the beginning?
When players are happy they play well, their attitudes lift the team up. When they’re frustrated about playing time, having personality clashes with teammates and coaches or constantly falling behind in academics, they’ll drag negative energy to your lockerroom and disrupt team chemistry.
As you evaluate players, you must go beyond 40 times, verticals and stats—you must evaluate them as a person as a whole and visualize them in your lockerroom, team meeting room, huddle, campus and position group. Is the “fit” good for both the player and coaching staff? Will they be happy there?
Part of building a great reputation among prep coaches is being honest, and looking out for the prospect as much as you’re looking out for yourself.
One of the most successful staffs that I’ve worked for didn’t make decisions based on what was best for them, they always looked out for the player and did what was best for them in the long run. That type of integrity is respected among prep coaches and builds a reputation of trust, and word spreads. Ultimately, you want to be trusted among prep coaches in this area.
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