The recruiting consulting industry has grown quickly, and quality varies widely across it. Before a family pays for guidance in any sport, these are the questions worth asking directly.
What Is Your Actual Evaluation Process
Ask specifically how the consultant evaluates a player. Do they watch live games and unedited film, or do they mostly work from the highlight video and stat sheet the family already submitted? A consultant who has never watched your child compete in person has limited ability to tell you anything beyond what you already know.
What Happens if My Child Isn’t Where We Hoped
A good consultant gives an honest, realistic assessment even when it is not what the family wants to hear. If a consultant tells every family their child is a great fit for the schools they are hoping for, regardless of the actual profile, that is a warning sign, not reassurance.
How Many Sports and Levels Do You Actually Know
Ask about the consultant’s direct coaching background and relationships at the levels being targeted, whether that is Division I, Division III, Ivy League, or NAIA. A consultant should be candid about where their network is strong and where it is not, rather than implying equal expertise everywhere.
What Do You Actually Deliver, and When
Clarify concrete deliverables up front: a written evaluation, a realistic target school list, a timeline, and defined windows of ongoing support. Vague promises of “exposure” without a specific deliverable are the most common way families end up disappointed.
How Do You Get Paid, and What Does That Incentivize
Ask whether compensation is tied to the volume of schools contacted or structured as a flat fee for honest guidance. A consultant paid by outreach volume has an incentive to generate activity, not necessarily to point your family toward the right fit.
Can I Talk to Current or Past Families You Have Worked With
Direct references from families who have gone through the process matter more than testimonials on a website. Any consultant confident in their work should be comfortable connecting you.
For a sense of what our own evaluation and consulting process looks like, see our Player Evaluations and Consulting & Advising pages, or learn more about my background in My Story.
