Why Your Athlete Might Not Be Getting Recruited — And What to Do About It

A lot of young athletes get caught up worrying about who’s getting offers. But the real question they should be asking is:

Why am I not?
As a parent, it’s tough to watch your kid put in the work and still not get noticed. But recruiting is a business. Coaches are looking for athletes who check certain boxes, and if your kid isn’t getting attention, it usually comes down to a few reasons:

• They’re not getting enough exposure (no highlight film, not attending the right camps, not visible on the right platforms)

• They’re not ready talent-wise — yet (still developing speed, strength, or game IQ)

• Their grades aren’t where they need to be

• They may not be the right fit for a specific program (and that’s okay)

So what can you do as a parent?

• Help them get seen – Film everything. Share it. Post it. Sign up for showcases and camps that make sense.

• Be honest about where they are developmentally – And invest in training to help them level up.

• Stay on top of grades – Some kids miss out purely because they’re not eligible.

• Don’t take it personally – Just because one school isn’t interested doesn’t mean others won’t be.

At the end of the day, this is a long game. The best thing you can do is help your athlete stay focused on what they can control—and not waste energy on what everyone else is doing.