Customer Reviews

Put Me In, Coach: A Parent's Guide to Winning the Game of College Recruiting

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Put Me In, Coach is an excellent tool for the parent of any high school athlete considering playing college sports

As the team manager of a competitive girls' club soccer team, I was hoping to help our players and parents learn about the process of college athletic recruiting including: the differences between Divison I and Division III programs; the availability of both athletic and nonathletic scholarships for athletes; questions a parent and athlete should seek the answers to, to help determine whether a player is "good enough" to play college sports; and a plan to be implemented during each year in high school in pursuit of becoming a college athlete. Put Me In, Coach, addressed all of those questions and much more in an easy to read style. I highly recommend this book for all high school athletes interested in playing college sports and their parents.

Wow, I feel like I was just pulled from the parenting bench, coached with the best playbook around and sent into the game. With twin 10 year old boys who are very athletic, I've been looking forward to many years of bleacher-sitting -- hoping someday college coaches would call. This book has shown me that I've got to be as much of a game changer as my boys are when it comes to a possible future in collegiate athletics. The book gives both "big picture" things to be aware of (keep the grade up) as well as very helpful tactical tools and direction (put this info in your letter to the coach). It's a book I'll go back to many times in the years ahead.

As a parent of three - two interested in college sports - I had always been under the false assumption that their high school coach would walk them through the entire process.

Sooner rather than later, I came to the unfortunate realization that the parent and athlete were solely responsible for the athlete's collegiate future.

Put Me In Coach, has been a lifesaver for me and my family. It walked us through each decision, and answered most of the abundant questions that I, and presumably most other parents, had in the recruiting process.

I highly recommend this book to any parent who's children have even the slightest chance of a future playing a sport in college.

Laurie Richter has provided a great resource for parents who want to learn more about college recruiting. In my experience as a high school basketball coach (Roanoke Catholic School, Roanoke VA--1994-2004), I was involved with recruiting at all levels (from the ACC and SEC to Division III). As Laurie points out, the elite players have no problems navigating the recruiting process. However, most players (and their parents) need help. This book, written in a compelling style, provides solid guidance for players, parents and high school coaches. Few people realize the opportunities that are available for high school athletes and the ways in which athletes can broaden educational opportunities by exploiting their athletic talents. If you are a parent, player or high school coach and you think you need a game plan for the recruiting process, this book is for you. It provides practical advice and a logical approach to recruiting and college selection. Parents should buy extra copies for high school coaches.

Put Me in Coach is a MUST READ for anyone who has a child contemplating playing a sport in college.

It is a great "how to" book that provides valuable information that, until now, was not readily available in a single resource. The author's style is very inviting - almost like having a conversation. Put Me in Coach! is easy to read, well organized, full of examples and very informative.

The best time to "first" read this book is when your child is in middle school. However, if they are already in High School buy it now and read fast! The college search and application process is difficult enough without the added pressure of finding an athletic fit. The author helps you think through the various options (Division 1, 2 or 3) and provides food for thought for you to realistically assess your athlete's potential for play at the various levels. With that and your athlete's time frame, you can craft a path for your search.

As the parent of three college-age kids who all explored the idea of playing sports in college, believe me... this is the definitive guide. This book would have saved me a lot of trial and error and, more importantly, a lot of angst over the process had it been written at the time we were going through this process.

Even if you are not sure whether your child will be interested in pursuing sports at the college level, you should read this book. It helps set up the ground rules and the "have to's" along the way. It can also help you assist your child while they sort through the important elements to consider as they contemplate sports in college. The format is simple and easy so you can just refer to one chapter at a time as needed.

Although our family has been through this process successfully with two college athletes happily ensconced in exactly the right schools for them, we will definitely use this book to guide our thinking as our youngest heads off to freshman year of high school.

The reason I gave it three stars is the information is too basic. BUT if you know nothing about college athletics then this is the book for you. If you know basic information about recruiting there are better books. The book itself is well organized, concise, and is an easy to read. Because there is nothing in the book that you will use as a reference for later use, check "put me in coach" out at the library. There no need to own this book.

No one's going to get noticed sitting on the bench. "Put Me In, Coach: A Parent's Guide to Winning the Game of College Recruiting" is a hands on high school athlete parent's guide to helping their child get the chance they need to win that prestigious sports scholarship. Advocating starting as early as possible, it's an athlete's guide to preparation for college. A complete and comprehensive manual to the path to college athletics, "Put Me In, Coach" is invaluable.

I am so grateful to have found this guidebook on high school recruiting. I have looked at a lot of websites trying to find a book from a parent's perspective that tells it like it is and up until now, there was nothing that I felt I could really use.

There were no resources to take me through the whole process from deciding if my child should actually consider college sports to making an informed decision among any potential scholarship offers.

There are some great chapters - like the one on marketing my child (so I can feel okay with the idea) and the one on money concerns. It will become the one book you must have to know that you are on the right track in helping your child make these very important decisions.

Thank you Laurie for giving parents a voice in the process.

College recruitment for athletes is a super specialization.
The author does a good job of sorting out the critical
decision-making points for parents faced with a plethora
of complicated decisions.

The book begins by discussing the need to listen to your
child, establish boundaries and explain roles. The subsequent
chapters deal with the dynamics of fitting collegiate sports
into the academic regimen. There are pitfalls; such as,
a grueling training regimen, an overactive social life or
temptations to explore too many areas outside the formal
academic curriculum.

Some students learn better by registering in a junior college
in order to facilitate the transition. At times, you may be
helped by seeking advice from people thoroughly familiar
with your child. i.e. former teachers, coaches, associates...
A parent must come to understand that the young adult
makes a selection based upon interests /motivation and not
solely the desire of the parents.

Strong academic credentials can provide an advantage in
admittance to the "A" schools. Kids with lower grades
may not qualify similarly due to rigorous admissions criteria.
Some coaches have special admittance slots based upon
the needs of the various teams in the institution.

The planning for college should begin in the freshman
year and continue throughout high school. Parents should
be realistic about expectations. A student planning
pre-med or pre-law will have quite a bit of academic
work on the agenda. There will be much less time for
extensive outside commitments.

The authors don't say so; however, the academic "sticker shock"
can be reduced or mitigated by taking a crash preparatory
course during the summer just prior to entering freshman year.
This exercise will provide a firm foundation in the
introductory material coming down the pipeline in the fall.
In addition, a perspective student can consult with upper
class students and get relevant notes in the more advanced
courses prior to entering into the freshman year.

A student should understand teaching perspectives which
will be evident in the individual lectures. For instance,
a calculus teacher with a preponderance of engineering
students in the class may emphasize trigonometry applications
over pure theory and proofs. A class with math majors may
receive a more theoretical treatment over applications.
Your student needs to research the various perspectives of
teachers in the more advanced coursework.

Good luck in navigating this process. The book by Laurie Richter
will be an invaluable source. In addition, perspective students
and parents must research the various athletic and academic
programs thoroughly in order to maximize the learning experience
and minimize the stress involved in adjusting to the freshman year.

Dr. Joseph S. Maresca