Coaching…Recruiting

By: Steve Masters, Transitions Ministry Specialist

There are many similarities between a football coach of a collegiate athletic team and a collegiate minister. During his season the coach is involved in the various responsibilities which include planning and coordinating practices, developing game strategies, motivating the team academically, etc… In the midst of all of this the coach is recruiting for next year!

You can be assured most if not all college and university coaches are involved in attending high school games on Thursday and Friday nights to scout for future players. One of your coaches is your designated recruiting coordinator. This coach has an extensive system and lists of players, coaches, alumni, to help them with recruiting for next year and beyond. The entire athletic department works together to host recruits as they visit the university to help make a choice of where they will attend college.

As collegiate ministers I think we can learn some important principles from this football recruiting process. These include:

Relationships – Jeff Schadt of the Youth Transitions Network shares new freshmen go through a “culture shock” experience as they begin college. They are overwhelmed by new classes, career choices, new friendships, being on their own, etc… There are many groups competing for their time. We have a much better chance of involving these students in our ministry if we have established a relationship with them weeks and months and even years before they arrive on campus.

Recruiting Strategy – An important part of being successful in recruiting is having a recruiting strategy. For collegiate ministers this involves having plans, strategies and goals related to reaching new students. This also involves keeping accurate records of contacts with students, their interest level, etc…

Networking – A good college coach develops relationships with high school coaches, principals, alumni, etc… Shouldn’t we do the same with youth ministers, parents, youth camp and conference directors, etc.? One of our great Transition ministry needs is have more youth ministers letting us know what high school seniors are coming our way. Having a good relationship with youth ministers will help us do so.


Recruiting Team– Each college or university football team has a team of individuals who serve as a recruiting team. They scout, develop relationships, run reference, etc… on new players. I suggest we do the same. I would suggest having a team of current college students who have the responsibility to develop ministries to, with and for new students at the college or university during the next school year. At our BCM we call this our Transitions Team. While we are involved in ministry with our Fall of 07 freshmen class we are already developing relationships with our fall of 08 class and are involved in ministries with them.

University Support and Involment – As players are recruited for the upcoming fall they begin relationships with the admissions office, the financial aid office, the housing office, etc… Each of these offices partners with the football office to make the transitions into college as smooth as possible for the athlete. The campus ministry organization and the church should model this approach. As our campus organization determines a high school senior is going to attend their college it is important they have their local churches make contact with the student. As a church finds out the information it’s important they help the campus minister make contact with the student. Having multiple contacts will help us reach the student. It will also help the student to see the partnership in ministry of the local church and the campus ministry.