I would like to start some threads to hopefully help new coaches get started quicker and retain more or take on more teams to fill more spots. I want to call on other coaches experiences both good and bad. I'm not looking for referrals to the site info. but specific information based on your experiences good and bad. Here are the first topics. Please address any of the questions you feel you have imput for. There are no bad answers.

When recruiting what kind of effort does it take to get listed early (First 3 cycles} on a recruits considering list?

Does it take more effort longer distance than close?

What do you think the miles limits are for close, medium, far?

What kind of recruiting effort does it take to win a battle over another school if neither is listed?
 
If both are listed?

How much effort does it take to get back on top if someone comes in late on you?

If undecided but might consider you, what  does it take minimum?

How much do you feel prestige enters into recruiting? Say A+/A- to B+/B-, to C+/C-?

Thanks for any imput. Hopefully it can help the learning curve. Recruiting can start you off on a very negative level sometime.

http://whatifsports.com/forums/Posts.aspx?TopicID=453763&TopicsTimeframe=30&TopicsPage=3 

Is good to have around.

Thanks, uconnut. I have that as a favorite. Still looking for more coaches specific personal experiences.

Distance from a recruit does not affect the effort required, other than the fact that the effort is more expensive.

360 miles is generally regarded as the cutoff point for "medium". Prices take a big jump when you go beyond 360, so its generally best to stick within that limit, especially when you are trying to pull down a recruit.

I don't think what the mile limits are, I know - coz I went through and plotted them all out to over 1600 miles. Its not that hard. There is a price jump between 200-210 miles, 360-370 miles and 1400-1410 miles. Since distances are rounded to nearest 10 on the recruiting and search pages you won't know for sure if a 200 mile or 360 mile kid is low end or high til you check the recruiting costs...

I'm all for helping newbs, but some of this stuff people can find out themselves with a little work, and I tend to feel that in most cases they'd be better served to do so rather than just have every piece of knowledge given away.

Winning battles is a question that doesn't have a flat answer because it's based upon how badly the other guy wants the kid. The other guy may have done just enough to get listed, see that he's not alone, and then decide to go searching for another option, in which case winning the "battle" might be as simple as promising 10 minutes or bringing the kid to campus for a visit. On the other hand, the other coach might want the kid REALLY BAD, in which case you're either going to have to follow suit and spend through the wazoo to stay in contention or find yourself knocked off  or getting a "you're too late coach" email.

Same thing for when I guy comes in on you late, but in those cases, the guy probably is serious about trying to get the recruit since he made the conscious decision to try and grab the kid from another human coach. The essence boils down to the same question though -- how bad do both people want the player? At that stage it's pretty much a game of chicken as both coaches spend cash and throw influence at the kid until one person decides the time has come to veer away.