If you’re new to the recruiting process, start with our Essential Guide to College Rodeo Recruiting, which explains how the entire system works for athletes and families.

A coach sees you compete. You send a follow-up email. They remember your name. Months pass. They cannot quickly find your academics. They are unsure of your graduation year. They do not have your latest results. They forget whether you were interested or just exploring.

Contestants sit behind the chutes during one performance of the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming. If you’re new to the recruiting process, start with our Essential Guide to College Rodeo Recruiting , which explains how the entire system works for athletes and families. If you have been in college rodeo recruiting for more than five minutes, you have probably felt it. The comparison. If we're honest, it probably started around middle school. Someone posts their

Parents and family of a competitor watch from the sidelines at the National High School Finals Rodeo. If you're the parent of a rodeo athlete, or any student athlete, you probably live in two spaces at once. You want to support your student. You want to protect them. You want to see doors open. But you don't want to push too hard. You want them to take the lead and you want them to make the best decision for them. College rodeo recruiting is a delicate balance. Too little inv

Most families start college rodeo recruiting with good intentions. They want to support their athlete. They want to help them compete at the next level. They want to make smart financial decisions. They want doors to open.

Every year, talented rodeo athletes miss out on thousands of dollars in scholarships—simply because they don’t know where to look. Whether you’re a student planning your next step or a parent trying to make sense of FAFSA forms, understanding how financial aid really works can make all the difference.

As a parent, your support, perspective, and preparation can make a huge difference in helping your student-athlete navigate this path with clarity and confidence.