Comments on: 6th Grade Quarterback Being Recruited

By: Education Is The Answer - SportsAgentBlog.com | Sports Agent News

Education Is The Answer - SportsAgentBlog.com | Sports Agent News — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 15:02:59 +0000

[...] Sports. For a few months now, I have been focusing on the many problems regarding recruiting. Sixth grade quarterbacks are getting letters from colleges, trainers, and agents. Eighth graders are signing LOIs with [...]

By: Chad Sandy

Chad Sandy — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 20:01:19 +0000

I would have to totally agree on the lines of this behavior not being encouraged. For one, at that age the body is not at its full potential. The body is still growing, and how can you determine if the kid is/or is not going to improve over the next 5 or so years? When I was growing up i’ve seen some really talented ball players that were either my own age or maybe a little bit older, but that was it! Their game never fully developed as expected, and continued to be this average player on the field or court. So I am a true believer that recruiting at that age level is merely unethical in the since that college recruiters do not know what exactly they’re are setting themselves up for. Nothing is guaranteed.

By: BrandonG

BrandonG — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 19:18:49 +0000

Personally I do not think this type of behaivor should be encouraged. This is a 12 year old kid who just graduated from elementary school. Let the kid enjoy playing sports and doing other things that little kids like. He doesn’t need the pressure of living up to Division 1 program’s expectations as a 6th grader, he needs to be a 12 year old kid, plain and simple.

I would agree that the parents are absolutely on the hook for this. I could understand parents being excited that Div 1 programs are interested in their child, however, it’s your responsibility to raise and protect your child until they’re grown enough to make decisions for themselves. Unless you want your child to be the next Danny Bonaduce, tell the recruiters to come back after the kid has hit puberty.

By: Darren Heitner

Darren Heitner — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 20:53:15 +0000

I honestly do not know what the right answer is at this point. I think of how hard it would be to enforce restrictions in every middle school gym across the country...oy vey. The one thing I wonder, though, is should we be encouraging this type of behavior? follow @Darren_Heitner on twitter

By: Jason Peck

Jason Peck — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 20:37:21 +0000

Ahh, gushers. What a great snack. Up there with Dunk-a-roos and fruit-by-the-foot. But seriously, it is way out of control when a 6th grader is receiving messages from colleges. If this stuff is going to continue to happen, then it is even more important for players to have an advisor they can trust to help them make good decisions (and make sure they're not breaking any rules). I definitely don't blame the kids or families for this happening, but the NCAA has let this go on far to long in unregulated/shady ways. I don't know how to fix the state of recruiting but I do think there needs to be some kind of formal process/rules for who can/can't advise kids on their recruiting decisions. What do you think? follow @uscore on twitter

By: Sam

Sam — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 18:47:18 +0000

A kid can't sign a Letter of Intent until his or her senior year. By the way, isn't the family on the hook for some of this? If they felt it was so bad, couldn't they just say to the coaches, "Come back in two or three years." Even if the kid verballed at age 12, no coach would honor the kid's commitment if by 11th grade he wasn't any good. I don't know, I don't think coaches should be recruiting that early, but if one of them is, then I can understand how the rest do. follow @CotP on twitter