Your parents have likely been some of your biggest supporters throughout this entire journey. It's important to know that their role should be supportive, but not overbearing. When a parent hijacks the recruiting process, it can damage the athlete's ability to get recruited. 

Why?

Because if the parents are too involved in the process, a coach may feel the athlete is not mature enough to handle their own business. They also may fear constant interference from the parents that won't allow the athlete to develop under the coach's guidance. 

Here are some coaches' quotes that express the need for parents to remain supportive but not over-involved:

“Coaches… look closely at how parents act as well and are doing a lot of research on the entire family before recruiting begins.” – UC Berkeley Women's Soccer Coach, Neil McGuire

“Don't have your parents send a letter or email on your behalf.” – Michigan State University Baseball Coach, Jake Boss Jr.

On the other hand, parents should show some involvement. As mentioned, a coach may take the time to get to know the player off the field or court. Their family's background and values can be telling for a coach. 

“Parents must be involved to help their child process all the information and help their child make an informative decision. Many times handlers and coaches manipulate the recruit. Parents must educate themselves on the recruiting process. It has become a big business and there are a lot of wolves out there!” University of Rhode Island Women's Basketball Coach, Tammi Reiss

For parents who are navigating this process with their child, it's worth reading about how this parent dealt with the pressures of the process:

“It was hard to be ‘hands-on' with a process I was completely unfamiliar with. I tried to give as much advice and communicate as much as I could with my son to try and figure out what the best option for him was. Ultimately, I wanted the decision to be his. I always made myself available if he had questions or wanted advice. I tried not to force my opinions on him or make the decision for him.” – Parent, Laurel Jenkins

* Originally published on November 19, 2021, by Brittany Collens