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Cody: What Polk county team do you think will be a powerhouse this upcoming season?
BCP: Ask again after Game 2 of the 2014 Fall Season. Spring won’t tell us much. Positions need to be filled, transfers will happen, eligibility issues, plenty of coaching changes…so there are a bunch of different variables.
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Tony: Hi, I was wondering can you explain to a parent the differences between an official school visit and an unofficial school visit in the recruiting process? When doing official school visits, does the school pay for anything or is this something that is totally the parents’ responsibility? Basically what is my responsibility? Just need to know what I will be on the hook for.
BCP: Great question. You would be surprised how popular this question is. Simple answer, also.
Official Visit – University pays
Unofficial Visit – Family pays
Official Visits: A player may start official visits when classes start in the fall of his senior year. Some athletes will start official visits late September at the earliest. Invited athletes are permitted one official visit per college and a maximum of 5 visits to Division 1 institutions and unlimited visits to D2, D3 and NAIA. During an official visit, the NCAA allows a school to pay for lodging, transportation (airfare or reimbursement of travel by vehicle), meals (3 meals per day), and entertainment. Player is responsible for personal expenses. Official visits are 48 hours. Official visits only cover the expenses of the student athlete, not family members.
Unofficial Visits: All expenses are the responsibility of the player and his family. They can be taken at any time during the year (no matter if the player is a freshman or senior), but not the dead period.
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Jimbo: There seems to be a few recruiting services (i.e. BCP) that truly care about connecting kids to college coaches. However, there are many services out there, like NCSA, that charge kids hundreds or even thousands of $$$ to promote them. How do you feel about these organizations? Are they any better than those who don’t directly charge athletes or are they just a money making gimmick? Would love to hear your thoughts.
BCP: Here is the simple answer – They provide a service. The value of that service is determined by those willing to pay it. They are “For Profit” companies, so yes they are “in it” to make money just like grocery store chains, sporting attire companies or childcare services.
“For the kids” gets taken out on context. We would rather not pay for certain service because “It’s for the kids” and linking it to education and opportunity makes it sound wrong. However, think about everything you do pay for that is “For the kids” that you would never question the expense.
Because BCP doesn’t have a direct charge for promotion does not make us right or wrong. Just because “They do” does not make them wrong. If a market exists for that service, it will continue to thrive. If you have the money to pay and the value is worth it to you then you pay it. The same goes for a new car, a pair of $120 shoes, a $3000 nursery furniture set, an IPAD, a $500 purse or $200 bottle of overpriced wine.
The reason it comes across as being “wrong” is because it limits opportunity to those who cannot afford to pay for that service. I would like a yacht and a beach house., but I can’t afford it. So guess what I am not purchasing….?
“Them” charging a service fee does not make it right. Does not make it wrong. The value to some may be greater than others. You can afford it or you cannot. That’s their business model. It’s just not ours.
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Josh: Who are some 2015 QB’s in the greater Tampa Bay area that are unknown but will make a name next fall?
BCP: SEE HERE
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Sam: Do you have any plans to expand your coverage area in the near future? If so, which counties do you foresee picking up?
BCP: Yes, likely east of Polk County into the Orlando area.
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Jane: Combines versus camps? Which option is better for kids to get noticed that may not have the stats or eye-popping film to send to colleges?
BCP: Great question. Both are important in the recruiting process. However, it’s about going to the right camps and combines. All players should use each to improve technique and gain confidence. That’s #1 and something that can be gained by players of all talent levels. Now, for exposure you must hit the right ones. The larger camps and combines put together a list of athletes (quality and high profile prospects) that are expected to attend. Media, scouts and coaches tend to focus in on that group of kids. It happens, but it is a little tougher to grab the attention of combine promoters at a combine or of specific college coaches at camp who are focusing on certain players. Just scroll the national recruiting sites and see the same names over and over again at various showcases. Then try and find some kids who are not “starred” athletes and see how much ink they get. Drastic difference.
This is not 100% correct, just in my experience: The smaller D1 and lower level schools pay more attention to more kids because they are looking for players. They don’t have the popular names to compete with UF, FSU, Miami, etc. The positive about larger colleges’ camps is that lower division coaches assist at them. This is another way they get to evaluate players.
College coaches want to read about potential prospects competing at combines. They want to know that kids stay active and “invite competition.” Scroll through our Facebook and twitter followers and see some of the college coaches that follow. We focus on showcases. Our showcases lead to promotion for our athletes. Promotion leads to questions being asked, film being watched, camp invites, college visits and even offers.
So, they both play important roles and both should be done often by potential prospects.