TC NIT parent seminar sheds light on recruiting concerns

By Adam Burns

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Education, education, education.

This was the main goal the Junior Volleyball Recruiting Association had in mind for the parent recruiting sessions held in conjunction with the college coaches camps on Friday, a day ahead of the start of the Triple Crown Volleyball NIT inside the Kansas City Convention Center.

The panel consisted of three members of the JVRA and eight Division I volleyball coaches who have extensive experience in recruiting student-athletes.

“It’s the best thing we can do to help prospective student-athletes and families, to educate the parents,” said Patty Costlow, event moderator and JVRA Director of Recruiting. “It’s why we formed the board. It’s amazing how much they don’t know. And clubs don’t know or have the resources. They just need the information.”

Sam Erger, Baylor assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, echoed Costlow’s sentiment.

“The goal is education,” she said. “Obviously, we live it every day, recruiting. That’s our job, but most parents don’t do this every day. So they’re not going to be well-versed in how the process of recruiting goes.”

Parents that attended received the do’s and don’ts on how their student-athlete can navigate the recruiting process. Some parents, Costlow says, aren’t even aware that opportunities exist outside of Division I.

Ed Kaminski, a seminar attendee, was pleased with the insight he received for his 15-year-old daughter, Chloe, of the KC Dynasty. In particular, he said he took in “great information” and now has a general understanding of how to help navigate Chloe's upcoming recruitment journey.

“It’s a great forum because typically you don’t have access to the coaches,” Kaminski said. “But you have the panelists that are there to get questions answered. It was just a clarification of everything and the process.”

Following the seminar, Kaminski approached Costlow with a few follow-up questions. Costlow assisted him, and later said she’s encouraged when parents want more information, especially from the parent of a high school freshman.

“It’s so awesome because they are hungry for knowledge,” she said, adding that it's paramount to get the info to parents as soon as possible. “They have simple questions that if we just educate the clubs they can help their parents. That’s why I started doing this.

“It’s the best thing we can do ... if we can get the parents to get a handle on this and act.”