by Sean Devlin, Front Rush 

Typically, we like to write pragmatic articles or provide content that is immediately actionable for college coaches who use web-based recruiting contact management systems like Front Rush.  This week, however, we wanted to take a look into the recruiting world's crystal ball and speculate about the recruiting technology of the future.  Specifically, we wanted to discuss the evolution of the web and how it could simplify the lives of coaches in the future.

The original web, circa 1999-ish, was all about getting content.  You could go to Yahoo, type out a few words, and get somewhat accurate results in terms of what you were searching for.  It was pretty cool to have access to information that was never accessible before. 

Fast forward to the present and the web has evolved into something that is socially driven.   It now allows users (like college coaches) to create their own content.  Social networks have surpassed email as the #1 "time vampire" on the web.  We see this with the unstoppable social networking forces known as Facebook, Twitter, Flicker, and YouTube. 

Recruits are certainly no exception as they interact regularly on those websites I just listed.  Though the governing rules behind them are strict, being aware of this presence is incredibly important for a savvy college recruiter.  The question is, “What is going to happen to the Internet, and where will we be in the next five to ten years?”
 
There are some trends and new technologies being created today, or are in the process of evolving.  Here at Front Rush, we think that they could be very important to recruiting in the future. 

The first technology on the horizon is known as "Augmented Reality".

We all know 'reality' very well.  You go to a recruiting camp, tournament, or event; you watch the players and make notes...pretty straightforward.  We also have all come in touch, one way or another, with 'Virtual Reality'--think video games as the simplest description. 

Augmented reality sort of combines these two things.  The best description is through example.  Let's say (in a few years) you are at a recruiting event to watch a particular athlete.  As you are watching, another player on the field/court/etc. really catches your eye.  You never heard of this prospect and you are somewhat excited as they have clearly gone under your radar.  With augment reality, you could point your video camera on your iphone (yes – probably your iphone) at the recruit and all of his/her athletic, academic, and general information will automatically pop-up. 

You will instantly know their contact information and parent contact information; and, you will have access to any recruiting videos available.  You will also know who else is recruiting this individual and the probability of their attending your school in the Fall.  The idea is that this recruit will exist in some database (or more likely many databases) somewhere and through augmented reality that data will aggregate and be accessible instantly by simply pointing your video camera.  Think about it, Coach...we're talking the end of data entry!

The second technology that will make a huge impact in the future is labeled as the "Semantic Web". 

Currently, let’s say you do a search on an athlete who is one of your prospects (whether through Google or your current recruiting software, like Front Rush).  Let's say that another coach does the same search in the same database.  The results that you get back will be the same for both you and the other coach.  The idea behind the Semantic Web is that if you do the same search as another coach--in theory--you would get back different results.  The results would be based on the respective needs of each coach.  The Semantic Web will understand you as an internet user and understand your unique needs as a coach at your particular school. 

Because your needs are different than the needs of the other coach, the results will be tailored specifically for you.  Instantly, you will save loads of time as you will no longer need to filter through recruits that are in absolutely no way a fit for your program.  

The above two technologies are just two examples of technologies that the web is trending towards.  We think (through a lot of observation and calculation) that this is where recruiting technology will go as well.  Although these technologies are a few years out, we can sit back and look forward to the days ahead, and what these new advancements will mean for coaches who recruit student-athletes.

Front Rush's expertise and grasp of emerging technologies are why they are a recommended technology provider of Selling for Coaches.  We have seen first-hand the number of college coaches and athletic departments that they have helped, and the impact that their expertise has had on the recruiting organization and process at those schools.  Plus, they have incredible customer service reviews from college coaches around the country, and are one of the most budget-friendly contact management and branded email services in the U.S.  Visit their website at www.FrontRush.com.