The Trinity of College Recruitment Support

When it comes to college outreach for student-athletes, success depends on one critical alignment: the student-athlete, the parents, and the program (club or high-school).

You’ve probably heard the old “three-legged stool” analogy—where all three legs need to be present for stability. Personally, I’ve never trusted a three-legged stool. I prefer a different analogy: the trinity.

In this case, the trinity isn’t religious. It’s the idea that three entities must come together as one unified force for a student-athlete’s recruitment journey to be successful.

Those three are:

• The Student-Athlete: They bring the talent, the goals, and ultimately the relationship with college coaches.
• The Parent: Often the project manager—providing structure, follow-through, financial readiness, and emotional support.
• The Program Coach (Club or High School): A trusted validator who can open doors, provide insight, and offer critical references.

I’ve seen families who rely entirely on the student-athlete to drive the process. Others expect the club to do it all. And some parents take on every role themselves. But none of these models are sustainable—or successful—without balance.

At different stages, different parts of the trinity will take the lead. That’s okay. Parents often step in more during junior and senior years when athletes are stretched thin with school, sports, and life. Coaches might take calls from college programs. Athletes will need to form real connections with coaches beyond the first email.

The goal is not equal effort from everyone—it’s aligned effort. No one should be left out, and no one should carry it all alone.

So if you’re supporting a student-athlete, ask yourself: Are all three parts of your trinity activated? If not, now’s the time to bring them together.

And if you know a family navigating this process, feel free to share this article—and check out how Sendcoach is making outreach simpler for everyone involved.