High School Sports Recruitment

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that, while the recruitment of high school students for sports remains one of the most promising means for young people to develop their innate athletic skills, if it is not done in a way that bolsters the importance of ancillary skill development as well as emotional and psychological maturity, the recruitment process can end up causing students serious psychological and physical damage.

From the Paper:

"The official process by which the NCAA recruits young athletes begins when a "booster" or representative visits high schools in search of prospective recruits. Even before the ninth grade, colleges may choose to sponsor junior varsity athletes in the hopes that they will develop. The NCAA representatives work in collaboration with school coaches and with parents and the NCAA remains solidly committed to promoting the athlete's scholastic achievements and offering funding and scholarships. In all cases, the NCAA approaches the student, and not the other way around. The NCAA recruitment model is admirable, sound, and balanced. Their emphasis on remaining amateur, that is, not getting any financial reward, prevents many of the psychological problems that can develop when students are recruited too young. Greed and parental pressure are in fact one of the main causes for concern regarding the recruitment of high school students. Recently, the National Basketball Association (NBA) has been in the spotlight for recruiting high school students. With other sports such as hockey or football, students fresh out of high school are generally unable to meet the rigorous standards of their respective sports. The young stars of the NBA bring attention to the disadvantages of high school students being propelled into professional sports before they are psychologically prepared for the pressures such a lifestyle entails."

More papers on High School Sports Recruitment:

• Argumentative Essay # 5081 : "High School Sports"
• Research Paper # 46946 : "High School Sports"
• Essay # 137766 : "Transfer Students and High School Athletics"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: