Do you need to pay a recruiting service? An honest answer for parents

What a recruiting service does

Most paid services do some mix of four things: host an online profile, help edit a highlight video, give you a list of colleges and coach contacts, and coach you on when and how to reach out. Some packages add one on one calls with a recruiting advisor. Prices vary a lot by company and package, so get the full price in writing before you sign anything.

What no service can do

No company can get your athlete an offer. College coaches decide who they recruit, based on film, numbers, grades and what they see in person. Be careful with anyone who promises a scholarship, guarantees exposure to a set number of coaches, or pressures you to sign up the same day.

What you can do yourself

Everything that matters in recruiting is something a family can do with time and a plan.

• ■Build a complete profile with stats, measurables, grades and film
• ■Make a short highlight video and host it on YouTube or Hudl
• ■Make a list of 20 to 30 schools at the right level, academically and athletically
• ■Have the athlete email the position coach with one link, then send updates when something real happens
• ■Fill out each school's recruiting questionnaire on its athletics website
• ■Go to camps at schools that are a real fit, not every camp that sends a flyer
• ■Register with the NCAA or NAIA Eligibility Center when it is time

When paying can make sense

Paying for help can be reasonable if you truly do not have the time, if your athlete plays a sport where your high school has no recruiting experience, or if you want someone to edit video for you. If you do pay, pay for a specific service you can name, not for a promise.

Where we fit

RecruitMyKids is the do it yourself route. The page is free to start, the guides are free, and coaches never pay to search. We do not promise offers, because nobody honestly can. We give you a complete page and one link to send.