College Recruiting Red Flags Guide

The College Recruiting Red Flags Guide is designed to help athletes and families recognize warning signs, ask better questions, and protect themselves throughout the college recruiting process. Recruiting can be exciting, but not every opportunity is what it appears to be. This handbook teaches families how to look beyond the sales pitch and carefully evaluate the people, program, school, communication, and opportunity behind a recruiting offer.

What You Can Expect to Learn:

• Recognizing Recruiting Red Flags — Identify warning signs that may indicate an opportunity needs further investigation.

• Evaluating Coaching Staff — Learn what to look for in coaching behavior, communication, professionalism, stability, and promises.

• Understanding Playing Opportunities — Ask the right questions about roster size, position competition, depth charts, playing time, and development.

• Evaluating the Program — Look beyond the team name and understand the program's culture, expectations, history, facilities, and player development.

• Financial Warning Signs — Understand questions surrounding scholarships, costs, financial commitments, and promises that may not be clearly explained.

• Communication Red Flags — Recognize poor communication, pressure tactics, vague answers, inconsistent information, or promises that seem too good to be true.

• Academic Concerns — Learn how to investigate whether the academic opportunity actually matches the athlete's goals and long-term plans.

• Campus & Program Investigation — Understand why families should research the school beyond the recruiting conversation.

• Recruiting Pressure — Learn how to respond when an athlete or family feels pressured to make a quick decision.

• Verifying Information — Develop a habit of checking claims, asking for clarification, and getting important information in writing.

• Knowing When to Slow Down — Learn why walking away temporarily, asking more questions, or seeking additional information can be the smartest decision.

• Making a Smarter Final Decision — Use the information gathered to determine whether an opportunity represents a legitimate fit for the athlete.

The Goal

This handbook is not designed to tell an athlete which college to choose. It teaches them how to recognize potential problems before committing.

The goal is to help athletes and parents ask better questions, investigate more thoroughly, avoid unnecessary mistakes, and protect the athlete's future while navigating the college recruiting process.

Don't just look for the opportunity. Learn how to evaluate the opportunity.