Use Player Development To Win In Recruiting
Turn your program’s off field plan into your strongest on field recruiting edge
I want to share exactly how player development becomes your unfair advantage in recruiting. Most visits focus on jerseys, depth charts, and class schedules. Those matter, but the differentiator is a real game plan for life. Parents and recruits want to know who will develop the person, not just the player. That is where you win.
The Core Idea: Sell the Life Plan, Not Just the Logo
Recruits are choosing far more than a uniform. They are choosing a city, a community, a mentorship network, and a future beyond sport. When your staff treats player development like a central pillar instead of a side program, you give families what they are actually searching for. Safety. Belonging. Growth. Opportunity. That is how you out recruit schools with shinier facilities.
What Parents Are Actually Asking
Use player development to answer the questions that decide commitment day.
How will you take care of my child in a new city away from family
Who will mentor them when challenges hit
What connections to alumni, employers, and community partners will you create
What does life look like during and after the playing career
How will you help them transfer their discipline into a real career
When you can show receipts for each answer, you become the retention and recruiting school.
The 3 Pillars Of My Recruiting Presentation
I kept my calendar open any time recruits were on campus, sat with families, and walked them through a simple, credible plan. Use this structure and fill it with your program’s proof.
1) Personal Wellness
2) Community Impact
3) Career Development
Pro tip: If you have a player who did the work and made it to the league, feature them on every slide. At Kansas we highlighted Akemai Denagie. He came to my office on day one asking how we would help him and his teammates. He became a living case study that parents believed.
Make It Tangible In The Room
Families remember what they can see.
Photos of players at workshops, service days, internships, employer visits
Short highlight videos with player voice, not just staff talking heads
One pager roadmaps by year with milestones and support touchpoints
Space for questions and a closing conversation with the parent lead
Your goal is to tug at the heart and calm the mind. Parents want to exhale and say, this is who will steward my child.
Meet Weekly With Recruiting
This is tip 23 from my 100 Tips of Player Development resource for a reason. Join recruiting meetings every single week.
You will learn:
What each recruit cares about
Academic interests and potential majors
Family dynamics, hometowns, and alumni tie ins
You will add:
Tailored life plan talking points for each family
Specific alumni to feature
Community partners to visit during the trip
This practice improves conversion and prevents transfers because the off field plan aligns to the family’s real priorities.
Conversation Starters That Win The Visit
Use these prompts with parents and recruits to open meaningful dialogue.
What will make your son or daughter feel at home here within the first 30 days
Which relationships do you want them to build first
What career fields sound interesting and who can we introduce you to this week
What has not been discussed at other schools that matters to you
When your student athlete finishes playing, what do you want life to look like
Capture answers, reflect them back in your presentation, and follow up with receipts.
Partner Spotlight: Seamless Transportation For Recruits, Families, And Staff
This episode was supported by Savoya, who for over two decades has connected travelers with elite chauffeurs backed by simple tech. I stepped off my flight and had a text from my driver with exact pickup details. My wife received automatic updates so she knew where I was. The service and ride quality were elite.
If you work in recruiting, operations, player development, or as chief of staff, consistent transportation for recruits, parents, guests, and coaches elevates the visit and removes friction from your schedule. If you are interested in the exact services mentioned here or in the video, email Jim Hutchison at Savoya at jhutchison@savoya.com with the subject line Beyond The Field - Savoya Interest.
Execution Checklist For Your Next Visit
Block your calendar during visit windows so player development is in the room
Coordinate smooth ground transportation for family and guests
Why This Wins: Retention
When the hard days come, players and parents remember the plan you showed them. They know who to call, where to go, and how to keep moving forward. That confidence reduces transfers and creates word of mouth. Recruits do not just want to be seen. They want to be stewarded.
Final Thought
Player development is not a slide at the end of a recruiting deck. It is your message. Lead with the life plan and you will win in living rooms, on visits, and in the portal era.
Keep Building With Beyond The Field
Get my 100 Tips of Player Development for practical, proven ideas you can apply this week: https://beyond-the-field-player-development.kit.com/09c6129dc1
The Player Development Guide on Amazon: Buy Book
Reply with your biggest recruiting challenge and I will feature solutions in a future issue.
Share this piece with your recruiting and player care teams so everyone sells the same life plan.