University football recruiters turn to text messaging

calidan · Jan 24, 2006, 11:43 PM

A report from Columbus, Ohio investigates the growing impact that mobile phone text messaging is having on college football recruiters.

The NCAA has strict rules regarding how often coaches and other college recruiters can telephone and meet personally with high school athletes. However, with new rules that became active in August 2004, e-mail, instant messenger, faxes and text messaging no longer fall into this category. The latter has quickly become one of the most important tools in the recruiter's arsenal.

Coaches have always been in a perpetual arms race with each other to nab the top athletes. With the rise of text messaging, which in the US increased from 2.8 billion text messages in June 2004 to 7.2 billion in June 2005, it is easier than ever for them to keep in touch with potential recruits. One coach, who knew that one of his prospects helped his father plow snow, would always text him a short message to "Have fun and be safe" every time it was snowing. Others can keep track of the games their prospects are playing and give them good-luck messages immediately before they play. With studies showing that teenagers prefer text and instant messaging over e-mail, it is a natural move for recruiters to take advantage of this technology. Some students are reporting that they are receiving as many as 10-15 messages a day.
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Read More / Source: ars technica

Jan 24, 2006, 11:43 PM	#1
calidan Frozen in Carbonite Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 1,409 Rep Power: 43 System Specs	University football recruiters turn to text messaging A report from Columbus, Ohio investigates the growing impact that mobile phone text messaging is having on college football recruiters. The NCAA has strict rules regarding how often coaches and other college recruiters can telephone and meet personally with high school athletes. However, with new rules that became active in August 2004, e-mail, instant messenger, faxes and text messaging no longer fall into this category. The latter has quickly become one of the most important tools in the recruiter's arsenal. Coaches have always been in a perpetual arms race with each other to nab the top athletes. With the rise of text messaging, which in the US increased from 2.8 billion text messages in June 2004 to 7.2 billion in June 2005, it is easier than ever for them to keep in touch with potential recruits. One coach, who knew that one of his prospects helped his father plow snow, would always text him a short message to "Have fun and be safe" every time it was snowing. Others can keep track of the games their prospects are playing and give them good-luck messages immediately before they play. With studies showing that teenagers prefer text and instant messaging over e-mail, it is a natural move for recruiters to take advantage of this technology. Some students are reporting that they are receiving as many as 10-15 messages a day. ___________ Read More / Source: ars technica __________________ Steam Community :: ID :: calidan "Don't try to be like Jackie. There is only one Jackie.... Study computers instead." - Jackie Chan