Multi-Sport Background and Division 1 Recruitment

Participation in multi-sport has emerged as one of the most vital components towards college recruitment including division 1 recruitment. The significance of multi-sport background in high school in enhancing college division 1 recruitment rankings and opportunities is evident in the fact that 100% of college football award winners in 2016 played another sport in high school (Spilbeler, 2016). While seven of these award winners played three different sports during their high school years, nine were track and field athletes, eight were basketball players, one was a wrestler, one played soccer, and one played Australian Rules football (Spilbeler, 2016). These statistics highlight the influence of a multi-sport background in enhancing ranking, opportunities and success for college division 1.

Single-sport participation has traditionally been utilized as the premise for college recruitment and rankings. However, the past few decades have been characterized by increased recognition of the role and significance of a multi-sport background. As compared to those with single-sport background, individuals who have a multi-sport background in high school have been found to have better recruitment rankings and opportunities in college division 1. A multi-sport background has been found to have significant positive impact on student-athletes, which in turn enhances their college division 1 recruitment rankings and opportunities.
One of the major ways with which a multi-sport background enhances college division 1 recruitment rankings and opportunities is competition. Participation in multiple sports in high school help student-athletes to learn how to compete. Since competition is priceless and long lasting, it benefits the individuals as students, athletes, and ultimately as professionals. Secondly, a multi-sport background has been found to benefit student-athletes with enhanced athleticism, which is a crucial component of college division 1 ranking. Through engagement in multiple sports during high school, student-athletes develop mature physically with respect to strength and coordination. Third, multi-sport background is associated with team building and other social benefits through which student-athletes enhance their social skills. Since most sports involve working with a team, these social skills play a crucial role in college division 1 ranking and opportunities. Finally, a multi-sport background is associated with the benefit of exposure to different coaching and leadership styles. These styles help in enhancing the student-athlete competence and ability to adapt, which in turn enhances performance and boost college division 1 recruitment rankings and opportunities.
In addition to these benefits, a multi-sport background is a hub for talent development and learning essential components of hard work. While participating in different sports has numerous benefits, such participation requires high levels of commitment, athleticism, and dedication to each sport that the student-athlete participates in. Through this process, the student-athlete learns how to work hard in each sport in order to enhance his/her chances of success. Hard work is an important consideration in college division 1 recruitment rankings and opportunities because of its role in the success of the student-athlete. The age old saying that “There is no substitute for hard work” is true today, particularly for student-athletes in college. Hard work is the premise with which student-athletes develop exceptional athleticism, which is essential to become an elite level college or professional sport player. Exposure to multiple sports in high school gives the student-athlete an opportunity to learn how to work hard, which comes handy during college division 1 recruitment rankings and opportunities.
Coaches Preference for Multi-sport
As a multi-sport background is increasingly viewed as an essential factor for the success of student and professional athletes, coaches prefer prospects to play more than just their sport. The preference for multi-sport background by college coaches is attributable to the numerous advantages and benefits of participating in various sports. A recent report by Felder (2013) indicates that recruiting has evolved through the years to an extent that coaches are casting wide nets. Even though the goal of recruitment remains the same, there are more prospects that ever and coaches are increasingly looking for athletes who can play more than a single sport. Coaches prefer prospects to play more than just their sport because they are looking for various things from the recruits. They are not only looking for a talented athlete, but also looking for those who will fit with the program both physically and mentally.
The modern recruitment technique employed by coaches to enlist prospects involves providing offers or packages that would entail participation in various sports. When handing out these offers or packages, coaches develop their need-boards and examine whether the prospects meet these requirements. In most cases, coaches hand out questionnaires comprising questions that match their needs. Once a potential recruit answers and returns the questionnaire, coaches examine them based on whether their responses match the requirements or needs. As part of the recruitment process, coaches encourage and provide opportunities for prospects to participate in more than just their sport. When prospects are participating in multiple sports during the recruitment, coaches examine whether the prospect can become a talented athlete, can get into school, and can fit with the program physically and mentally.
Therefore, a multi-sport background is more beneficial as compared to single-sport participation with regards to the development of essential skills for success in sports. For one to be successful as a student-athlete and eventually as a professional athlete, he/she needs to participate in various sports in high school. Participation in multi-sport provides a premise for developing competition, team building and other social benefits, athleticism, and hard work.
References
Felder, M. (2013, March 8). The Inside Info on What College Football Recruiters Really Look for in Prospects. Bleacher Report. Retrieved November 13, 2017, from http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1558720-the-inside-info-on-what-college-football-recruiters-really-look-for-in-prospects
Spilbeler, B. (2016, December 8). All National College Football Award Winners Played Multiple Sports in High School. Tracking Football. Retrieved November 13, 2017, from https://www.trackingfootball.com/blog/national-college-football-award-winners-high-school-multiple-sport-backgrounds/