Spring Break
Before taking the field, coaches have to recruit
LaGuan Fuse
Issue date: 5/1/06 Section: Sports
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The recruitment process is a year-round process, but there are rules coaches must adhere to. Coaches can contact players following the end of the player's sophomore year of high school via e-mails and letters.
Players cannot be contacted by phone until they complete their junior year of high school. When coaches recruit players to play for their team, they evaluate the players' interests, academic standings and may even invite the players to visit the college campus.
Once a player has signed with a university, coaches from other universities cannot to try to recruit them. That does not mean that the player will never decide to transfer and play for a different coach at another university.
If a player wants to talk with a coach from a different university, prior approval must come from the university. Coaches try to create a good relationship with players during the initial recruiting process. Just because the player decided to take another offer, does not mean that she will never change her mind.
This methodology assisted head coach Beth Goetz in recruiting MF/F Tara Reitz, who last season led the Riverwomen with 12 assists. Reitz transferred to UM-St. Louis from Indiana State, where she played her freshman year. Goetz coached Reitz when she played in the Olympic Development Program when she was younger.
A fundamental part of recruiting is filling any positions that are vacated due to graduation or players deciding not to return. Players have four years of eligibility to play in the NCAA and the spaces held on the team by graduating seniors will need to be replaced at the end of each season.
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