Recruiting and Retention

Recruiting is the #1 priority to most Division I college programs. If recruiting is #1, then Retention should be your #2 priority as coaches. I have not found a study or much research on the transfer rate in women's college basketball, but I'm very interested in why it happens so much.

Why are female athletes transfering from their current programs at such an alarming rate?
Some of the reasons I have heard are:

1. I'm not getting enough playing time
2. I'm just not happy
3. I'm home sick
4. I hate my teammates
5. I hate my coaches
6. I can't compete on that level
7. I don't like that its basketball all the time
8. I need to focus on academics
9. It's just to hard and I want to quit
10. The coaches changed when I got here
11. My coach is crazy
12. No one understands me

Who's at fault? The coaches or the players

As a coach, I would like to say it's them and not me, but the truth is it starts at the top.
Coaches, we have to do a better job relating to our players after they become a part of our program. Every players is different and has to be handled in a very unqiue way. Every player wants to feel special and needed. I think we overlook that once we get them on campus. In an attempt to become stern and direct, we tend to become cold and distance.


As my wonderful mentor and coach once said, it's always about the kids. The players should always be your #1 concern which goes along with recruiting.

The Key to Retention:

1. Do all that you can to prevent your players from experiencing several negative situations in a row.
2. Find ways to have fun.
3. Know what's going on behind closed doors.
4. Research your players before signing them.
5. Make them love you and they will do anything for you.
6. They must value loyalty and thier word.
7. Must make them understand perseverance and patient. Wait your turn.
8. They must see the Big Picture.
9. Treat losing players like losing games. Find a way to keep them, find a way to win!
10. Love them unconditionally.