Do high school statistics matter in collegiate level teams?
When trying for a job, you have to undergo numerous processes such as creating your resume, cover letter, applying, getting accepted into interviews, researching the desired role, doing the interviews, and then getting hired for a job.
But, before all those, you need to understand the different types of qualifications which your future employer looks for. College sports recruitment is no different. As one of their recruits, you need to know things that college coaches or scouts are seeking.
There are numerous athletic measurables, academic criteria, and on the field variables that coaches evaluate for their valuable prospects, both in-game and off the game. These requirements can span far since each coach has their complexities in choosing their players.
In this article, we want you to know the things coaches usually do not pay attention to when recruiting – your stats in high school.
Do college coaches even look at them?
College coaches usually use stats to verify in evaluating the recruit for their basic understanding of production level; however, parents and some recruits typically make a mistake by putting too much emphasis on high school stats. First, using high school stats as part of their sales in an attempt to get into a college team of their choice.
Another mistake recruits make is comparing themselves to other recruits or peers. Sure, stats are an easy way to logically and quickly gauge yourself to get the attention of the coach and the team, but that should be avoided since stats is just a number. The plays, defensive or offensive scheme, and geographical regions will vary for all athletes.
Reasons why high school stats are often not used as the #1 data point for college recruitment:
- Stats depend heavily on competition, and your high school competition is nowhere near as fierce as any collegiate level. Three-pointers in basketball may not be a focus in high school, but it may be for another school in basketball. You might have been the tallest in your high school volleyball club, but college volleyball players may be taller and more versatile than you on the court.
- Stats do not translate to the college level. Serving at 120km/hr in tennis might have been a record for your school, but it is common knowledge that your body becomes much stronger as you grow. Therefore, most kids in college can serve at a higher speed and more powerful hit.
- Your high school stats do not tell college coaches anything about your raw skills, which is what they look into most. Athletes have their statistics based on strengths and weaknesses. Like in volleyball, power, endurance, game sense, stamina, jumping, and more are being looked at and the highest school graduates have that filled out. Sure, it gives a college coach insight of what you are capable of, but if you cannot back your high school stats with displayed skills, then you will be blown off.
- Your high school stats do not assure coaches about your projectability (such as physical ability, athleticism, skills, and more). High school stats are already the past. College coaches prefer looking more at the players’ ongoing maturity with every practice match and competition they get into.
- High school stats do not tell coaches about your development in the game, game sense, leadership skills, technicality, and more, which are usually a part of recruitment evaluation.
Good Reasons Stats Are Not the #1 Focus of College Coaches
There are also numerous reasons why high school statistics cannot be the basis of college recruitment, and these include:
College coaches do not care how you did relative to a collegiate-level competition. They only care about how you will playout at college-level games. Your statistics may be as good as your teammates, but you each have a role in the team.
In another sense, one of you may have blossomed into a great high school player earlier than others, but maybe the other athlete is just a late bloomer. It is rare for players to develop in the same pacing, especially when they have a specialized role.
Not all players with similar stats are equal to the coach’s eyes. If a player was able to make five service aces in volleyball but was not able to make a decent set, then they are different from another player who cannot do effective services but can set and make dunks when necessary.
Similarly, a player may not have been chosen for the national youth camp, basketball camp, soccer showcase, USA Volleyball Development pipeline, but that does not mean that practice against the best of the best would not favor the unknown athlete.
Coaches are looking for intangibles and ability. The perfect combination! Character is often an ambiguous term folks have used to limit access or label players, versus describing honestly what character is. It is what you most often don’t see; it is the fire, grit, swagger (belief, passion, never quit, and no arrogance), and the ability to get up when you fall. Often the best character guys will be birthed through some or many difficult situations. Coaches are looking for athleticism and an internal drive that produces success.
Each College Coach Has Their Specific Criteria
College coaches have their specific requirements. Stats have little to do with this since they prefer to see and have the players meet their requirements upon seeing you perform. Some coaches may look for players with high regard for making plays, or some coach is looking for players who are all-around and can fulfill any role. In college recruitment, anything goes. So before bothering to apply, make sure you know what the coach and team are looking for.
The recruitment process for colleges are all different and have their changed circumstances. As much as possible, avoid comparing college recruitments, especially to your peers, since college recruitment is done on your terms. It must fit what you need. Also, listening to what other people say without trying it for yourself may cause you to miss out on golden opportunities.
Relying heavily on high school stats is flawed if this is your method to attract college coaches’ attention. I cannot emphasize how stats should not be used to compare yourself with your peers. In addition to it being hard to confirm and easily fabricated, the competition pool is so small, since the majority of the high school players tend to stop sports once they are on the collegiate level. On the other hand, statistics will be useless, considering that your onsite performance is what matters to them the most due to college being a steppingstone to a professional career for your sport of choice. It is fine to share your stats with your coach, but remember, they just play a small role for you to get accepted into the team.
So again, high school stats are an unreliable measurement of your ability and potential. But they can be used to show your athletic production.
What college coaches look for in recruits
There are several things that college coaches look for in recruits. All of them have their unique blend to it, but here are some of the general requirements you must meet to at least catch their attention:
- College look for leaders. Leaders should be able to lead their team to be better players, not just to victory.
- College coaches look for the remarkable character – they want to work with people that can understand and follow orders but also not being a pushover.
- College coaches seek athletes who can play with others. Ruckus in a team is inevitable, but being teammates with someone who can diffuse and resolve the issues are keys to a powerhouse team.
- College coaches look for athletes who are confident but know how to respect their teammates as well as the managing staff. This is a given. As a player, sportsmanship is expected of you, but so is respect for those who guide you.
- College coaches look at a player’s support, such as their families and friends, to see how much they value them. You may ask yourself why this is relevant, but you see, a sound support system would entail they have your back, especially in a career with sports due to its many uncertainties.
- College coaches look for athletes who can be independent. They may not need someone who can lead, but they need players who can follow-up tasks and perform them optimally.
- College coaches look for athletes who are willing to grow and be better. As much as possible, they avoid those full of talents but do not do anything with them at all. The effort is much better than ability in the long run.
Having all these traits does not necessarily mean an easy pass to a college or professional team of your choice, but you need to have them since these values can also be applied to other aspects in real life, not just in sports.
Learn more about achieving athlete success and winning in life.
High School Stats Don’t Matter To College Coaches. Retrieved on April
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