The past few years have seen radical changes to the way collegiate football programs approach recruiting student athletes. The introduction of the transfer portal, combined with the ‘Covid’ eligibility changes have had a severe limiting effect on the opportunities for high school athletes.

Additionally, the NCAA recruiting calendar for Division 1 and Division 2 programs has changed. The ‘Open’ period for recruiting in the spring now operates from mid-April through May. This is the time when college coaches can visit high school campuses and see potential recruits at their school, and speak with the head coach in-person. D1 and D2 coaches are not permitted to visit high school campuses in June. 

The WIAA Handbook does not permit high school football coaches to hold practices or team activities in May due to the athletic calendar. This has severely limited the ability for college football coaches to view high school athletes in a competitive team setting and assess their athletic abilities in-person. Fewer collegiate football opportunities are available to high school athletes, and now the coaches who wish to evaluate those athletes have little to no opportunity to do so within the high school setting.

In this void, a multitude of “showcase” events have emerged across the northwest. These events charge high school student-athletes $100-$150 to participate, in an opportunity to participate in football specific activities in front of collegiate coaches. These events are operated by private entities, without oversight from high school programs. 

Additionally, there are now multiple examples of private training facilities across the northwest, many of whom are now playing padded tackle football in the spring months. These facilities charge families hundreds - sometimes thousands - of dollars, to participate. One of the draws of a private facility is the opportunity to do football specific activities in front of college coaches who visit the facilities in hopes of earning a scholarship. Those families who can afford to do so are, and those families who cannot afford to do so feel left behind.

Conversations with dozens of college coaches and the families of high school athletes has convinced the WSFCA that we must find a way to better serve the student-athletes of our state in regards to recruiting in the spring. We need to provide an opportunity for high school kids to participate in football specific activities, under the supervision of high school coaches, in an affordable setting.

These events would be staffed by only WSFCA member coaches, held on WSFCA member school campuses, and would serve WIAA student-athletes. These events would be held only on Sundays thus avoiding any conflicts with Spring Sports in our state. The participation of multiple HS coaches from a variety of schools would help quash fears of recruiting. No school issued protective equipment (helmets, shoulder pads, etc) would be worn by participants. College football coaches will be in attendance.

These events are created with high school kids and coaches in mind.