Hub Essentials!
- Parents play a vital role in the recruiting process
- Work closely with your child in vital areas like college research and academic readiness
- Use the process to help your child take initiative and work hard towards a goal
- Junior golfers should take the wheel when communicating with coaches
If you're a parent reading this, it's because you care. It's because you and your child have chosen to use Junior Golf Hub to help you through the college recruiting process. And truth be told, your involvement in this process is critical — this is a team effort! Accordingly, there are a number of things we recommend you help your child with during this process, including:
1. Researching Colleges: Work with your child on college research. Help them clarify and understand the types of institutions that may be a fit across key dimensions — public vs. private, large vs. small, close to home or distant, prospective majors, and cost implications. Work together and use online tools to create an initial list of colleges that fit your target characteristics. Go on campus visits together. Work to narrow the list throughout high school.
2. Academic Readiness: Set the standard for grades and study habits. Guide your child through the standardized testing process, including preparatory classes, tutoring, or extra help. Coaches love good students! If your child can show they have their grades under control, it's a huge plus.
3. Golf Readiness: Parents play a big role in helping their children reach the quality of golf needed to play at the collegiate level. Parents can help their child find quality coaching, ensure a long-term development plan is in place, find a golf-certified physical trainer in the area, and make sure practice routines are being followed.
4. Calendar Management: Parents are often in the best position to actively monitor the recruiting calendar and get a good bird's-eye view of what needs to be done and when. Your child may or may not have these abilities yet, so we recommend the parent understand the "big picture" of the recruiting process and then work toward goals in any given year.
5. Hub Profile: Make sure you stay on your child about updating their Hub Profile. An updated Hub Profile helps coaches stay current on how their top prospects are developing.
6. Financial and Emotional Support: It's no surprise that parents have the checkbook and provide much-needed financial support for visiting colleges and playing in tournaments. And don't forget the emotional support a child needs as they develop their game. Your wisdom, guidance, experience, knowledge of your child, and caring can make the difference between a successful and unsuccessful process.
That being said, there are some natural limits to your involvement. When communicating with coaches, for example, it's time to let your junior golfer take the wheel. College coaches want to see that your child is independent, mature, and confident. Accordingly, we recommend limiting parent-coach phone calls and emails — let your child take the lead on coach communication.
Also, make sure you let your child be a very active part of the process. Have your child research schools and golf programs, find tournaments, and set a competitive tournament calendar. Make sure they read the Hub's guide to recruiting and understand the basics of the recruiting process. Let your child work hard toward their goals and demonstrate initiative — these are the same qualities that will be needed in college golf!
This is going to be a fun four years for everyone. Here we go!
Enjoy your Journey!