recruting basketball players?

[natenator]

I coach community travel ball for grade 7/8 players and I'd like to find a way to recruit the basketball leagues in our area. I went to a couple games and there were some pretty talented kids playing and decent size for some of the ones I was interested in.

Does anyone have some tips for talking to basketball players and getting their interest up about playing football? I've been able to relate well to the hockey players and how contact in football will help prepare them for contact in hockey so there is crossover in hockey but am not sure the crossover talking points for football and basketball.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thx

[natenator]

Bump bump

Any thoughts from someone on how to talk to basketball kids?

Thx

[rsmith627]

Sell them on the facemelter. Seriously, if those kids are gonna play they want the ball.

[barlow]

Just talk up the crossovers you believe in. For me as initially a basketball player primarily before I fell for football. The toughness, challenge, and being in better shape for basketball all sounded good for me. Every kid wants to be good at a sport they do, probe them for interest, if they are concerned then give them appropriate examples for kids that have been ok, i.e. Lebron James, Allen Iverson, kids who already do both sports at a high level at your school.

[getbackcoach]

I tend to have talks with basketball players about playing receiver or DB.

[macdiiddy]

Lebron James was an All-State Football player, if Lebron did it, why shouldn't they?

[lochness]

Chip Kelly and Tony Franklin

[coachd5085]

Just keep in mind (since you coach a travel team)...which of your current football players are you putting on the bench if you recruit these super basketball athletes?

[lochness]

In fairness- I've never done this. It's always felt like "selling your soul" a little. I hate the thought of selling these kinds of guys on something as a benefit to THEM, when that goes against our core values as a team.

I want guys who want to play football and be part of what we're trying to build. I don't want guys who I need to convince. I don't want to hire mercenaries. I've had basketball guys join up on their own, but usually because our existing players sell them on it, not me. And THAT'S when you know things are really working. Your players go after the "right kind of guys" and there's no promises, no Facemelter, etc. It's just a couple of guys who love playing convincing a buddy to come and share the experience.

I think when you need to convince someone, you end up with a player who isn't there for the team. They're there because of the sell-job and they aren't going to lay it out there for you.

Maybe this "hands off" approach to recruiting will be the end of me, but I'm ok with that.

[coachdawhip]

I talk to our basketball players about doing both. The issue at my school is the basketball coach doesn't like his kids playing football. But I don't pressure them, usually our kids work them. I do tell them you are 6'3 and play PF on the basketball team, don't know of any D1 basketball players at that spot.

Our starting WR plays basketball and is much more physical on the court now. Talk to them about playing both, but don't beg. I see nothing home with talking to them.

[highball007]

I have had the best luck recruiting all types of kids by just being honest with them. I tell them that I think they have some athletic skills that could help our football program if they are willing to put some work in. I also tell them that spring and summer is a great time to come out and give it a try. I, like others only want kids who want to be there. I had a PG come out and gave an honest effort for about three weeks in the spring and then told me it just wasn't for him. I still have a good relationship with the kid and my feeling is at least he gave it a shot and then came to me and told me. We do get a few fence riders because football had the nicest swag and gets the most of it compared to other sports.

[dytmook]

We tell them we would love to have them out. If they continue to talk we tell them that we could help them as college coaches like multiple sport guys. Also as mentioned earlier, there aren't a ton of 6 foot two guard scholarships to go around.

[mrjvi]

You've got to be honest but lose the bribes, other than how it will help them in BB. A school in Syracuse about 25 years ago made a "deal" with the BB players that if they played they could come only 2 days per week and go play basketball the other 2. Disaster. Don't do anything like that.

[jturner]

Feb 14, 2016 9:12:39 GMT -6 lochness said:

In fairness- I've never done this. It's always felt like "selling your soul" a little. I hate the thought of selling these kinds of guys on something as a benefit to THEM, when that goes against our core values as a team.

I want guys who want to play football and be part of what we're trying to build. I don't want guys who I need to convince. I don't want to hire mercenaries. I've had basketball guys join up on their own, but usually because our existing players sell them on it, not me. And THAT'S when you know things are really working. Your players go after the "right kind of guys" and there's no promises, no Facemelter, etc. It's just a couple of guys who love playing convincing a buddy to come and share the experience.

I think when you need to convince someone, you end up with a player who isn't there for the team. They're there because of the sell-job and they aren't going to lay it out there for you.

Maybe this "hands off" approach to recruiting will be the end of me, but I'm ok with that.

This is my feeling for the most part. If they aren't already out, there's probably a good reason for it. Now, there are some kids that haven't been exposed to football that are worth getting. Figuring out the prima donnas from these types of kids is the key

[coachd5085]

Feb 14, 2016 15:43:35 GMT -6 jturner said:

Feb 14, 2016 9:12:39 GMT -6 lochness said:

In fairness- I've never done this. It's always felt like "selling your soul" a little. I hate the thought of selling these kinds of guys on something as a benefit to THEM, when that goes against our core values as a team.

I want guys who want to play football and be part of what we're trying to build. I don't want guys who I need to convince. I don't want to hire mercenaries. I've had basketball guys join up on their own, but usually because our existing players sell them on it, not me. And THAT'S when you know things are really working. Your players go after the "right kind of guys" and there's no promises, no Facemelter, etc. It's just a couple of guys who love playing convincing a buddy to come and share the experience.

I think when you need to convince someone, you end up with a player who isn't there for the team. They're there because of the sell-job and they aren't going to lay it out there for you.

Maybe this "hands off" approach to recruiting will be the end of me, but I'm ok with that.

This is my feeling for the most part. If they aren't already out, there's probably a good reason for it. Now, there are some kids that haven't been exposed to football that are worth getting. Figuring out the prima donnas from these types of kids is the key

Keep in mind guys, the OP is asking about 7th and 8th graders and recruiting for a travel team.

[natenator]

Feb 14, 2016 9:12:39 GMT -6 lochness said:

In fairness- I've never done this. It's always felt like "selling your soul" a little. I hate the thought of selling these kinds of guys on something as a benefit to THEM, when that goes against our core values as a team.

I want guys who want to play football and be part of what we're trying to build. I don't want guys who I need to convince. I don't want to hire mercenaries. I've had basketball guys join up on their own, but usually because our existing players sell them on it, not me. And THAT'S when you know things are really working. Your players go after the "right kind of guys" and there's no promises, no Facemelter, etc. It's just a couple of guys who love playing convincing a buddy to come and share the experience.

I think when you need to convince someone, you end up with a player who isn't there for the team. They're there because of the sell-job and they aren't going to lay it out there for you.

Maybe this "hands off" approach to recruiting will be the end of me, but I'm ok with that.

I coach in Canada and football football outside of the HS environment is not well known. There isn't a culture of football here so its not top of mind for kids or parents to sign up for. We must recruit for our house league and travel program or we would have no players.

And, this isn't high school where we're low in numbers and recruiting the hallways to field a team. Many of the kids I go "recruit" as a complement to their primary sport (eg hockey) also end up being VERY good football players who end up playing past high school.

[natenator]

Feb 14, 2016 8:54:15 GMT -6 coachd5085 said:

Just keep in mind (since you coach a travel team)...which of your current football players are you putting on the bench if you recruit these super basketball athletes?

Fair point. I wouldn't say these are super athletes or in abundance. Maybe 5-6 kids that looked like they could (famous last words) play football.

It's travel/competitive ball so best player+best effort plays. I evaluate based on present year, not what i've seen kids do in the past so there are no set roster spots, even for returning players. Also helps I'm a new HC for this team.

[coachd5085]

Yes, I understand the best effort best player plays. My point is just that when dealing with Travel teams (and I am assuming paying families??) if you start going out recruiting kids, some of your established kids/(payments) might not be super happy with that idea. It is easy to say "oh well" but it is also risky in that you are recruiting people who may or may not be good and or interested in ball.

[WingTheT]

This isn't the best way and I don't recommend it but I've called out some kids before in my PE classes.
Called themselves the greatest players and the next Odell Beckhams in flag football but have never played a down of football in their lives besides the video games.

So what does the evil & snarky douche of a PE teacher say?? I called them out and told them they were all a bunch of softies and wannabe's who are a bunch of mama's boys that's afraid of getting bumps and bruises because they can't flop on a football field and take a hit without crying out foul...


Got 2 guys to come out that year but I did have an interesting conversation with the principal later that semester. So I DON"T recommend this strategy.

[lakercl9]

dumb question maybe. What is the facemelter?

nothing wrong with what you said .... i have said similar, get told "ok ya i'll play" and never see them again