College-hopefuls in every sport keep following misguided advice:
Make more videos.
Send more emails.
Be on social media more, more, MORE.
Meanwhile, your player is sitting there, hoping someone (anyone?!) notices.
They feel productive.
They're even getting likes!
Most families think recruiting comes down to being seen doing something BIG.
The home run. The PR. The game-winning play.
And yes—every once in a while, that happens. But it’s rare.
Coaches know that. Which is why we’re not standing there just evaluating physical skills.
Think about it: If ability alone got athletes signed, every player at the same level would have offers.
They don’t.
Because we’re evaluating something deeper:
- How confident do they look in big moments?
- Do they stay composed when things don’t go their way?
- Do they take ownership—or do they make excuses?
What we’re really asking is simple:
“Will this athlete make our program better?”
And that decision isn’t based on one highlight. It’s based on mental performance and self-leadership—how they show up under pressure, respond to adversity, and carry themselves when no one’s coaching them.
Let's be clear: we are not a recruiting service.Â
We don’t chase exposure.
We don’t spray-n-pray.
We don’t cross our fingers & hope the right coach stumbles across your kid.
We train the inner game that turns interest into offers:
Alicia Smith — Hall of Fame coach. Multiple State Championships.
Mel Rushing — College coach (DI–DIII). Program builder. Culture rebuilder.
Decades on the field. Hundreds of athletes recruited.
Same edge we gave our teams.
Same inner-game training we give our athletes.
Hey there! We're Alicia & Mel - two coaches (& moms!) who’ve lived this process from every angle.
We’ve coached athletes who had all the talent in the world — and still got overlooked.
We’ve watched pressure derail performances at the exact moment it mattered most.
And we’ve seen what happens when athletes do develop confidence, composure, and self-leadership.
They don’t just get recruited.
They don't just get offers.
They earn trust, opportunities, & become amazing humans.
That’s why we do this work.
We’re not outsiders guessing at what coaches want.
We’re insiders who’ve recruited, evaluated, and built programs — and we know exactly what separates a “maybe” from a “must-have.”
Our focus is simple:
Build athletes who can lead themselves under pressure.
Because that’s where athletes stand out.
Clutch moments.
ESPN plays.
The reps coaches remember.
You’ve probably said some version of this to your athlete before.
But hearing it isn’t the same as doing it — especially when pressure hits.
That’s where the WIN Method comes in.
And achieving big goals is simpler than most people think. That doesn’t mean it’s easy.
What makes the difference is having the right framework—one that turns effort into progress and pressure into performance.
The WIN Method is built from years of in-the-trenches coaching experience and science-backed sport psychology. It breaks the recruiting journey down into three essentials that separate athletes who get noticed from athletes who get chosen.
This is where it starts—and where most athletes never go deep enough.
Not just “any scholarship.”
Not a post for social media.
We help athletes clarify what they actually want:
- The environment where they’ll thrive
- The culture they belong in
- The version of themselves they’re proud to become
When the “why” is clear, decisions get easier—and pressure eases a bit.
Big goals are easy to say.
They’re much harder to commit to.
Intention is the shift from wanting something to owning the process.
This is where athletes stop dabbling and start leading:
- Showing up prepared
- Responding instead of reacting
- Choosing effort and growth, even when it’s uncomfortable
This is where athletes begin to stand out for coaches.
This is the game-changer.
Next-level habits are what allow athletes to:
- Stay composed when things don’t go their way
- Compete consistently no matter the situation
- Persist through setbacks without spiraling
These habits separate talented athletes from ones who get offers.
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This is how athletes get recruited for who they are, not just how they play.
It’s how they earn offers that actually fit.
And it’s how they step into college prepared to compete, contribute, and grow.
Because the ultimate goal isn’t just getting to the next level.
It’s helping your athlete become someone who thrives once they get there—and carries these skills long after the uniform comes off.
That’s the point.
This is not a “chat” or a generic recruiting consult.
In this 30-minute WINNERGAME Recruiting Strategy Call, we build a clear, personalized recruiting plan based on your athlete — not hope, not timing luck, and not waiting on coaches to magically respond.
We start by getting clarity on what’s really happening — not what you think is happening.
Together, we identify:
- Your athlete’s true goals for their college experience (level, fit, role, priorities)
- Where your athlete actually is in the recruiting process right now
- What’s creating real traction — and what’s quietly slowing things down
Next, we move from what your athlete wants, to who they need to show up as to earn trust and attention from college coaches.
We clarify:
- What coaches are actually evaluating at this stage
- Which intangibles matter most right now (and which don’t)
- How to shift from chasing attention → to becoming someone coaches choose
Finally, we map the next-level habits that move your athlete forward — without overwhelm.
You’ll leave knowing:
(Yes, these are paid calls - this is too important to waste time on free fluff)
Every Strategy Call includes a follow-through package designed to ensure clarity & momentum don’t fade once the call ends.
Included:
A written recap of key insights, priorities, and decisions — so nothing gets lost to emotion or overwhelm.
A simple, customized plan that shows you where to begin, how to keep the momentum, and what to do to stay on track.
AÂ custom-built AIÂ tool to help you create a list of schools that fit your athletic, academic AND personal goals. Based on you, not prestige.
An as-you-need-it, follow-up call to fine-tune the plan, remove friction, and keep momentum moving forward.
 ✓ You want offers, not more exposureÂ
 (Activity without traction is over.)Â
 ✓  You know the talent is there — but pressure is affecting their performanceÂ
(In competitions. Camps. Conversations.)
 ✓ You want clarity on what matters nowÂ
(So you stop second-guessing every move.)
 ✓ You want an athlete who shows up confident, composed, and competitiveÂ
(Especially when coaches are watching.)
 ✓ You’re ready to build the athlete, not just the recruiting profileÂ
(Coaches recruit people, not stats.)
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❌ You want a shortcut, script, or hack
(This is strategy, not gimmicks.)
❌ You think more exposure is the key
(Attention ≠ offers if the athlete isn’t ready.)
❌ You think the mental game is extra
(It’s usually the missing link.)
❌ You want reassurance, not direction
(This call creates momentum — we don't sugarcoat or misguide.)
❌ You want recruiting done for you
(This call is about ownership &Â your athlete learning how to lead the process.)
Families who get results don’t wait for luck.
They don’t spray effort everywhere and hope something sticks.
They build athletes college coaches trust.
If you’re ready to stop guessing
and start developing what actually leads to offers —
(Paid. Limited availability.)
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You don’t need more exposure.
You don’t need more contacts.
You don’t need more noise.
You need an athlete who shows up ready when it matters — confident, composed, and competitive in the moments coaches are watching.
That’s WINNERGAME.
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