1. education
2. graduate school
3. college

i., I
tro!
f:
I
WruATrHH BtuE-clnp
ffi"$" BA$KETBAII. PTAVERS
trffi[ruK$TTHEIR
REERffiETffiEffi PITC}IES
who depend on their
recruiting skill to stay alive in
the arena of Division I must
continually review their salesOACHES
nranship technique.
Recruiting can be a sinecure for the
man who has everything a great
school, a great plant, a great -tradition, a
great league, and a great television con-
coaches and players.
The answers revealed an interesting
diversity of opinion. The black players
differed from the coaches on 470/o of
their answers, while the white players
differed on 33%o of the items.
However, the players themselves
(black and white) sh<-rwed a surprising
homogeneity of opinion; they differed
tract.
on only 396 <;f their atrswers ancl dif-
It can be a struggle for the man who
has to compete for every player.
l-he wise coach wlll trevcr takc atty-
fered .srgnrflcontly on only one! Conclu-
thing for granted. Recruiting simply has
too rnany variables. For exatnl;lc:
Will a technique that works for an
affluent prospect work equally as well
f<;r
a kid fronr the other side of
the
tracks?
Will a prclspect with poor erades
be
as amenable to your approach as a kid
with outstanding grades?
And, to be totally realistic, will thc
super black athlete be as responsive to
sion: White kids and black kids con be
recruited tlrc satne way.
All significant differences of opinion
werc calcrrlatccl at tlrc .05 lcvcl of corrfidence. The mean scores for the coaches and players rnay be found in the
acconrpanying tal;le:
Note: The term "NSD" in the comments is simply an abbreviation for "No
significant differences in the responses
of the coaches and players."
L If I hnew what collcgc I wanted
I toould sign an eorly let-
your salesmanship as the super white
to attend,
kid?
ter of intent,
These are all reasonable questions,
and the recruiter had better be prepared. lt was with this thought in mind
that the writer designed the accompanying survey. It consists of a l)O-poirrt
questionnaire on the vital elements of
the recruiting pitch, as validated by
team of l0 experts.
30
an early letter of intent. It therefore
folkrws that collcge coacltcs who do
a
The survey was answered by 136 randomly selected Division I coaches and
85 blue-chip high school basketbalt
players (55 black and 30 white)
mak-
ing for an authoritative sampling
NSD. The coaches understand that
any player who knows where he wants
to go would probably be eager to sign
of
By CHrc HEss
Basketball Coach
Columbia Basin Comrnunity College
Pasco, Washington
a
good job rrf selling tlreir uttivcrsities,
their basketball programs, and themselves befr.rrc, the player's senior year irt
high school, have a good shot at siqning the prospect to an early lettt:r o{
intent.
2. As a ftilure college atltlete,
I am
famlliar wlllt llrc NCM ntles ort lltc
recruitment of prospectiae student'
athlctes.
NSD. The players believe they knorv
the NCM rules better than the coaches
givc tlrcrn crcdit for.
3. I uould attend a college utith o
religlotts olliliation diflcre nt fronr
mine only if it had an excellent bcts'
hetball program.
NSD. Colcltcs know that playcrs will
l.resitate to attend a college a{filiated
with a different religion, even tlrotr(h it
has an excellent baskctball ltro{rattt. ltt
anotlrer study, Gorman (1976) found
tlrat tlrc uttirltte of[crings rlf the rcligious ancl public ilrstitutions cottltl affect the decisions of college-bound basketball players.
4. All things being egual, I prefer
to attend a college close to honte,
A significant dif ference in tlre responses of the coaches and the black
players. 'l'hc black pllyer is tttort' irtclined to attend a co)lege farther from
home than the coaches think.
Over 60% of the players in Division I
played outside of their horne state,
while approximately 35% crossed over
regional divisions (Rooney, 1980). It
was Iater reported that the migration of
these players was due to the pressure
SCHOIASTIC COACH
Black
Players
Questions
White
Players
to win, in conjuction with the imbalance that exists in the geographical areas that supply the topnotch athletes
(Rooney, 1982).
5. I am more concerned uith a
college's bashetball tradition than
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
g
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
4.42
2.78
2.92
3.92
3.59
3.79
4.05
3.63
3.93
4.57
4.10
3.77
2.80
3.78
3.84
3.30
4.23
3.88
4.36
4.39.
2.47
2.92"
1,60.
3.20*
4.94.
3.29
2.92"
4.33
4.48
3.75
2.17.
3.41
3.28.
3.66
3.97
3.75.
3.77*
3.87
4.36.
4.04.
4.39
4.27
4.23
4.22
3.82
3.85
3.1 0
4.1 4
3.63
3.45
3.86
3.14
3.01
432*
2.61
3.55
1.87-
3.06.
4.95.
.
3.46
4.00
1.84.
its academic reputation.
A significant difference in the responses of the coaches and the players.
The coaches thought that the players
would rate basketball tradition above
academics. The scores indicated that
both groups of players are more concerned with the college's academic reputation.
A wise recruiter will take advantage
of this by emphasizing the academic
attributes of his college. The basketball
3.51
tradition could be a selling point in
itself, altliough the players are more
3.74/
being promoted.
4.32
4.14
3.17
2.66
83
3.58
3.39
4.36
3.
3.48
3.72
3.90
4.11
4.20
impressed when they hear academics
6,
I consider
tendance
the auirage home at-
an important fqctor
choosing a college;
A significant difference
in
in the re-
sponses of the coaches and the players.
Average home attendance is not as important to the players as the coaches
believe it to be. Good home attendance
is a positive selling point which
the
coaches should try to capitalize on, but
not overemphasize.
7.
I want to attend a college that
of its
graduates a high percentage
bashetball players.
A significant difference
in the re-
3.66
3.32.
3.46.
sponses of the coaches and players.
The players are more concerned about
this than the coaches believe them to
3,71.
graduated only 22 of its basketball play-
be.
For example, one university
has
4.02
ers since 1972. Only six have been
black, and not one black player has
3.BB
rell,1985).
4.40.
3.43
4.28
2.89.
3.36
4.18
1.92.
graduated over the past six years (f'ar-
Mooney (1983) reported that the
trend has been to place more emphasis
on acadentics. In the past, the athletic
departments would report the number
of their athletes who moved into the
professional ranks rather than the number of athletes who graduated.
Rooney (1980) believed that "graduate" has become the key word in evaluating the success of any sports program. ln order for a student-athlete to
enjoy the rewards of a four-year educa-
tion, he mLlst graduate. The astute
coach and recruiter will, therefore, pay
more,'attention than he previously
'Signilicantly dilferent lrom coaches scores al ,0S_levet,
,/Slgnilicantly dlllerant lrom btack playors' scores'6t .OE levet
thoughl necessary to the prospect's de(Continued)
sire to,,graduate
i
'{.
'\:
i'
| 'l
,,-
,tt
t
"!,
tI
RECR.UITII{G
l
8. It is important for the college I
attend to be a ntember of a corlfer'
ence.
NSD. Coaches and players agree that
it is imporiant to be a member of a
conference.
and his hieh school academic advisor.
15. The opportunitY to be a starter
as a fieshman is imPortant to m8.
NSD. Coaches know that the PlaYers
want to start as freshmen. Dambrot's
study (1984) reveals that a young basketball player has a better opportunity
9. My future major area of studY
to play early at a lower Division I
in college is sfill undecided.
A significant difference in the re- school.
16. When a college coach sPends
sponses of black players and coaches
as well as black players alrd wlrite play- cxh'a llnrc, ellorl, and ntotreY re'
ers. The black players were more unde- cruiting me, I ouse him additional
cided on a future ntajor area of study- consideration.
more so than the coaches thought any
prospect would be.
This could be a reason why a larger
number of colleges find black players
easier
to recrttit; the players can be
pcrsuaded to cltcltlse frt;nt a grcatcr variety of major study areaS. However, the
student-athlete of today does not have
to declare a major until his fifth semes-
ter of enrollment.
I rnould consider signing a let'
ter of intent only after the head
10.
NSD. Coacl.res realize the slight positive effect that spending extra time, effort, and money can have on signing a
rec ru i t.
I
titortltl prefer to ottend a col'
It:gc tlrol tlcoelops lts fttsltrtrtrr rullrttt'
than recruiting iunior college play17.
efs.
NSD. Coaches understood that high
school recruits did not look favorably
upon programs that recruit large numbers of junior college players.
20, It is important that the college
I sttend uill play some games on
national teleuision.
A significant difference in the responses of the coaches and white playcrs.'l'ltc
coacltcs ttvcr'cstirttltc tlle
white players' desire to attend a college
that will play some of its games on
national television. Televised
games
might be more impressive to the black
players.
21. TIre college's bqshetball
trddi'
tion is important to me'
A sigrriIiclrrt tllf[crt'ttec ltt tlrc rcsponses of the coaches and players.
The coaches believe that the players
are more impressed with a college's
basketball tradition than the players
actually are.
The truth could be that winning
me.
NSD. Coaches and players strongly
agree that a prospective student-ath-
lete wants to be visited by the head
coaches just have more confidence in
the product they are selling. Noteworthy point: Coach Ray Meyer had a difficult time recruiting talented players
until DePaul became a winner (Keitlt,
coach before signing a letter.of intent.
1980).
belieoe that college coaches
tell recruits uhat recruits would lihe
to lrcar.
lege tltot has excellent athletic
coach oisited
uith my parents
and
22,
II. I
A significant diffcrerrt irt tltc rcspolts'
The coaches over-estimated the irnportance that black players place on excel-
I am still interested in the col-
lege that has been recruiting me the
longest.
NSD. Coaches realize that there may
be an advantage to starting the recruitinQ process early in an athlctc's lrigh
school career.
13. I uottld feel morc conrforlable
being coaclted by a man of the same
ethnic bachground as I.
A significant difference
in the re-
sponses of the coaches and players.
The low mean scores indicate that the
coaches and players of both races do
not prefer a coach of a particular ethnic
origin. E,thnic origin is less important to
the black players.
A study by Moffitt (1982) confirmed
this. He found that the success or failure of a college's recruiting program
did not depend on a coach being black.
14. My parent(s) will help me
cltoose tlte college
I ulll
attend.
NSD. Coaches recognize the parents'
influence in helping choose a college.
N. Brown (1976) found tirat the strongest factors influencing the black student's choice of school were his mother
facili-
es of the coaches and the black players.
would like to hear.
12.
It is important to attend a col'
ties.
NSD. Coaches realize that piayers
know they are being told what theY
J/
ers. The outstanding whlte players are
not as concerned about this as the
coaches think they are. This aspect of a
basketball program might be more impressive to the black players.
Some atrthorities lrave warned recruits to bc wary of sclttlols that brlrrg
in a lot of tratrsfcrs.'l'here is always the
possibility that one of these players will
take over the position that the established player thought was going io be
whose coach beliettes
scoring offense.
A
college
in a high-
significant difference
However, coaches may be misplacing
the importance of extravagant facilities,
and
his (Benagh, 1976).
18. I want to play at a
lent athletic facilities.
O[ courge tlre sizc arrd tltrality of a
school's athletic facilities are important
in the recruiting process. Colleges nrttst
be ablc to boast o[ tlrcir lrrclllllt:s, trrtl lt
is obvious tltat recruiters fcel the sattle
way about it.
in the re-
sponses of the coaches and black players. Although a lrigh-scoring offense is
somewhat important, it is not as impor-
it should be noted that an attrac-
tive facility may have more appeal to
the white player.
23. I belieoe that the college
coaches recruiting me will heep the
promises they are mdklng.
NSD. Coaches and players believe
that tlre coaches' promises will be kept.
cor-rsiclering.
24. I tlo not appreclate a college
coach telling me a negatiue story
about another college that is re'
cruiting me.
A signif icant cliffercnce itt thc rc-
drafted lnto the pros.
Although coaches realize that players
do not appreciate negative stories
tant to the black ltlayers as
coaches
believe. According to Benagh (1976), all
players should determine if they fit into
the slyle of play at the college they are
19, I usant to pIaY at a college
uhose former players haue been
A
significant difference
in the re-
sponses of the coaches and white play-
sponses of the coaches and the players.
about other colleges, the players resent
(Continued on poge 69 )
SCHOIASTIC COACIT
I
!
l,
CIRCLE 37 ON READER SERVICE CARD
PITCHIHG
MACHINES
BIUE-GHIP REGRUITING SURVEY
The undispuled leader in sales
(Continued from page 32)
coach's current and former players
uthen deciding wltich college to at-
these stories more than the coaches
believe they do.
25. The head coach's basketball
knoutledge and coctchlng al;lltty are
my main concern in choosing a colle
terul.
NSD. Coaches encourage their recruits to meet and talk to current and
Iorrner playcrs. John Wooderr believed
that young student-athletes could get
more useful information from the curreut players than from anyol)e else. "l
ge,
A
significant difference
in the re-
sponses of the coacl.res and the black
players. 'l'lre black playcrs are more
concerned
with the head
30, If gifts such as money, cers, or
clothlng from college coaches or
alumni are attractiae enough, they
sponses
benefits of such a sustained, intensified
would.
ACCEHTUATITTIG
rHE "J{EGATIVE''
(Continuetl
page
front
984).
27. Well-krtotort ltublic flgurcs
in the re-
slx)nscs ol tlrc coaches ancl players.
1'he players are not as impressed by
public figures as the coaches believe.
Although history seems to support the
coaches'continued use of celebrities in
recruiting, the players do not acknowl-
lnstitution.
beit technically accurate) data
help
NOVI:MBER ]986
is
bias."
Many individuals who describe
themselves as strength "experts"
have educated themselves only as
far as they wish to be educated and
not nearly as far as they need to be
educated.
Perhaps these are the laboratory
rats that have to be analyzed?
Success is measured not so much
by the position you achieve in
life as by the obstacles which
you overcome in getting there.
Piedmont,
:.
the opinions of the
Bodyfat Calipers
Strength Testers
Flexibility Testers
Blood Pressure Testers
Pulse Counters
Lung Capacity Testers
Digital Thermometers
Scales
Measuring Tapes
Height Scales & Rods
Timing & Sports Watches
simply an exercise in "researcher's
In a study of black athletes, Carden
(1978) concurred with Snyder and the
findings of this research. He found that
next to the family, the black student'
athletes rated the influence of their
high school coaches as the most impor-
I consider
We stock popular instruments for Fitness
Measuring and Testing, including:
The denigration of validated
person (Snyder, 1972).
29.
trom
Creative Health Products
strength-training methods by arguments based on inappropriate (al-
me choose a college.
NSD. Coaches realize the positive influence of the high school coach in the
athlete's educational and occupational
plans. Next to his parents, the recruit
looks to his coach more than any other
Technical
FITNESS MEASURING
PRODUCTS
23)
search. Asking the right cluestions
is the thing that requires foresight
and separates the intellectual from
the true genius."
The answers are everywhere. The
ability to ask the right questions
seenls to be the key to success.
such as professional athletes, mooie
sttrrs, and politicians are influential
used ds part of the recruiting
4!en
process.
tant reason for attending
of the coaches and players.
The players professed they would not
be as influenced by improper inducements as the coaches believed they
effort. W.ren Chris was in ninth grade,
Irc was so proucl of lris ntarry letters
frorn North Carolina State that he carrit-.d them in his notebook to display to
his (riends. 'l'o Chris, this meant that
State wanted him the most and that
they really cared about hinr (Brubaker,
uill
"Simulales lhe
actual arm molion ol
a human pitchet."
can lraoe a positiue inlluence on nry
cholce of college.
A significant difference in the re-
NSD. The coaches realize that all
players are greatly influenced by regular follow-up mail, phone calls, and visits from college coaches.
The recruitment of Chris Washburn
by North Carolina State illustrates the
edge their eflectiveness.
28. My high school coach
Machine, lnc.
4200 N.E. Birmingham Road
Kansas City, MO 64117
(816) 452-0228
l 975).
coach sre positiae lnfluencing factors to me.
significant difference
ilaster Pitching
certain things, and that could give him
the opportunity to find out before it's
too late." (Denlinger and Shapiro,
calls, snd alslts from a college
A
mercial batting cages.
Our pitching machines feature
compact, guarded, heavy duty
throwing arms designed, to pitch
baseballs, softballs, whiffle balls,
rag balls, and tennis balls.
especially want them to talk to the
playcrs who play the same position. A
youngster may not like the way we do
coach's
krrowledgc and coaching ability than
the coaches believe they are. A college
recruiter would be wise to do more to
promote the head coach's ability when
recruitirrg black players.
26. Regular follou-up mail, phone
l
ol pitching machines and com-
'.
-Booker
T. Washington
Quality Products at LOWEST PRICES
PROMPT FRIENDLY SERVICE
Write or Call for Litercture and Pices
Creative Health Products, lnc,
2563 Saddle Ridge Road
Plymouth, Ml 48170
'
;ALL roLL
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Michigan Residents Call
313-453-5309
ffiffi
NOVEMBER 1986
FOOfEAhL
BE6E{FTBA!,&
Fundamental Drills,
the Short, Intense Way
by Eddie
Beat the
20 Cwerages vs lhe One-Back
Pass Offense
by Leo Hand ...............................
A. Andrist....................,. l8
Defense With the Pure Wide Receiver Cone Drill
S
abatino .................. ........ 20
A Simple but Multifaceted
l-3-l Attacking Defense
by Maih McKown........................ 24
What the Blue-Chlp Players
Thlnk of Thelr Recrultrncnt
by
C hic Hess ....,................................'..
30
Free Throw (Defense)
by Dich Tay1or ...,.,...,:,.,.,..,,,.,,,,,. 34
.
by Michaet P. No\an,.,..............,,. 38
Beating the Press from
Out of Bounda
by
BillMuse
wfotyr,Effscff$fg
of the
Cornerstones
Basketball
Coachlng Structure
by Robert D. Santos
Optlona and Strategy on the
When the Clock Stops. .
56
by Ray Perhins,..,..........,............. 66
Passing Game
by J eff
voL.56 NO.4
PUBLISHED BY SCHOLASTIC INC,
........... 54
srRstr@rFt
Settlng the Record Stralght About
ADrvrINrs?R
64
[rroat
A Matter of Prlnclples and Princlpals
by Harry Asffo ...,...............,..,.,...... 4
&EpARrMgrwn$
Here Below (edltorials) ............. l6
Coaches'Corner:
One-Llnera #50 .......,....'..'.... 6l
New Booki (revlews) ................, 62
New Equipment......................... 70
Coath Classlfled ..,..........'......... 7l
Negative Exercise
by Dr, Paul Kennedy.................... 22
Build Your Own Welght Room
Couer U. of Louisuille
NCM Chantpi(tns
1986
by Bob Pach......,...,,...,..,.,,...,.,,,... 50
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