SportsFaith Podcast with ScoutU’s Jason Lauren

February 23, 2021

ScoutU Owner/Scout Jason Lauren talks about the ins and outs of how recruiting works, gives several tips on how to navigate through the process, how COVID-19 has affected recruiting and how ScoutU helps athletes with their recruiting.

ScoutU recruiting seminar highlights

May 8, 2018

ScoutU Owner/Scout Jason Lauren talks about vital college recruiting tips, myths and facts at his recruiting seminar at the Greater Milwaukee College Workshop. Click on the video.

When an athlete is being recruited by colleges

ScoutU Owner/Head Scout Jason Lauren talks about when an athlete is being recruited by a school. He addresses what the NCAA defines as a recruited athlete and the different ways athletes oftentimes misinterpret their recruiting interest.

MYTH — If you’re good enough the colleges will find you

ScoutU Southeast Head Scout Scott Woodcock talks about how the thought that if an athlete is good enough, he/she will be recruiting is false.

Don’t catch the D1-ightes recruiting disease

By Jason Lauren
ScoutU

I’ve seen it happen many times. The dreaded disease of D1-ightes. Athletes want to play at the D1 level so bad, that’s all that is on their minds when deciding what school to go to. They get one D1 offer and they take it, no matter what school it is.

What usually happens with these athletes? They transfer out of that school, oftentimes back to a D3 school close to home, after just 1 year. … READ MORE

Recruiting is like looking for a job

By Jason Lauren
ScoutU

The college recruiting process can teach kids many valuable life lessons that they won’t learn if they aren’t the ones in charge of their process. It takes focus, commitment, responsibility, maturity and how to deal with rejection – all factors they will need when it comes time for them to look for a job.

I’ve heard several times over the 10-plus years I’ve been helping kids with their recruiting from parents that they think the recruiting process is a lot like looking for a job and will be a valuable experience when their son or daughter does have to look for a job after college.  … READ MORE

Athletes should drive the recruiting bus

By Jason Lauren
ScoutU

A parent’s instinct is to do what they can to help their son/daughter in any way they can. When it comes to college recruiting, it often is best to take a step back from that instinct.

Athletes need to be in charge of their recruiting process and need to be driving their recruiting bus. Mom and dad also should not be in the front seat of the recruiting bus telling the athlete, “Turn here, turn there, slow down, go faster, let’s go here.” Mom and dad are on the bus for support, but they should not be driving the bus or in the front seat. … READ MORE

Classes athletes take matter

By Jason Lauren
ScoutU

I remember talking to a father of an athlete, and he was telling me that his son would almost have enough credits to graduate after his junior year, so he was going to take a bunch of easy classes his senior year to pump up his GPA. I immediately replied with, “No, no, no.” I may have said “no” several more times. He said, “Really?”

This is a common misperception athletes’ parents have. They think that only the GPA, and not their classes, is what matters when colleges are considering recruiting their son/daughter. Colleges also consider what classes they are taking — the tougher, the better. … READ MORE

New NCAA Div. I recruiting rules start

May 3, 2019

By ScoutU staff

New NCAA Division I recruiting rules took effect on May 1 that will impact many sports with the purpose of slowing down early recruiting. 

The NCAA Division I Council passed several rules at its meeting on April 18 and 19 in Indianapolis with the goal to shut down recruiting contact until June 15 after sophomore year for many sports. The new rules impact all sports except football, baseball, basketball, lacrosse and softball (see the chart below for those sports contact dates). The rules also did not affect men’s hockey in all areas. The rules only make changes in Division I and not in Division II or III. 

Many of the contact methods moved up just 1 to 2.5 months earlier. However, off-campus contact can now happen 11 months earlier in many sports and there are now restrictions on when athletes can call college coaches.  … READ MORE

April 19, 2018

By Jason Lauren
ScoutU

Impactful NCAA Division I recruiting rule changes passed on Wednesday, aiming to limit younger athletes from feeling the pressure to commit to schools as early as seventh grade and college coaches from seeing it as necessary to make offers to athletes that young to keep up with their competition.

The new recruiting rules allow student-athletes a bigger window to make more informed decisions on what college they will attend. The changes were supported by the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. The new rules are expected to begin April 25, 2018 once the NCAA Director approves them.

“These changes will improve the recruiting experience for prospective student-athletes and coaches and lead to better decision-making,” said Blake James, Council chair and Miami (Florida) director of athletics on NCAA.org. “Ultimately, a better recruiting process will improve the college experience for Division I student-athletes.”

Changes were made that will affect all sports except football and men’s and women’s basketball and others that will influence only softball. These changes are for NCAA Division I only and do not change anything in NCAA Division II and III, NAIA and JUCOs. … READ MORE