I must get a dozen e-mails a week asking what my thoughts are on a player and her family investing in a scouting service. Obviously it’s going to depend on each player’s circumstances including desire to play at the next level and finances available to invest in a company that can help promote the player.

I look at it like it’s having your own PR and marketing company helping navigate the sometimes tricky recruiting waters; it can help if you’re willing to invest the time, energy and money into it. Of course, some coaches will say if you’re good enough, you’ll get seen and recruiting anyways but the thinking is—in today’s world where every competitive advantage can make a difference—using a scouting service can help as evidenced by the many e-mails I’ve received from players and their families.

One of those that strong in softball is National Scouting Report (NSR), which has helped players get scholarship offers ranging from SEC programs to NAIA schools.

The National Director of Softball Scouting for NSR is Robby Wilson, who also serves as the Director of Scouting for Arkansas where he’s based.

Note that Full Count is not endorsing NSR or any recruiting service, but I found Robby Wilson’s passion for softball and efforts to help players get recruited impressive and felt his perspectives are of interest to the softball market.

In this Q&A, he talks about his company, what it does, his perspectives on recruiting and how he thinks players and families should take charge or their recruiting process…

— Brentt Eads, Full Count Softball

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FullCountSoftball.com: What is National Scouting Report and how did NSR come to be?
Robby Wilson: National Scouting Report (NSR) was started in 1980 by Bob Rigney, as the first publication in America to expose and promote NSR-program-enrolled high school student-athletes to college coaches. Since then, NSR has designed and developed almost every scouting and prospect promotional concept and procedure in use today throughout the industry including individualized prospect websites, online videos and emails to coaches with client profile links for quick yet thorough evaluations. To reflect our broad, national presence along with our reputation and influence among college coaches, we changed our name several years ago to National Scouting Report.

Mr. Rigney retired from NSR in 2002 and now donates his time overseeing a national non-profit coaches association. His son, Rusty Rigney, is president of NSR and his daughter, Peggy Rigney Adams, is vice president. They grew up as a part of the business and together they have developed a family-like work atmosphere and cohesive team of professionals which is unmatched.

FCS.com: So what is your approach to helping players get recruiting and offers to play in college?
RW: NSR’s main focus is a two-pronged approach to college athlete recruiting:

1. Promote athletes that have been scouted, personally interviewed, and qualified to have the talent, academics, drive, and family support to play at the next level.
2. When a college coach has a specific need for a graduation year and position, it’s our job to find the athlete that matches that coach, that program, their needs, and the “type” of athlete that coach wants.

NSR isn’t an “open enrollment” company—the scouts actually come scout you and personally interview you. If an athlete has the talent and academics, but has a poor attitude and absent work ethic, she’s not going to qualify to be an NSR prospect. The college coaches that recruit our athletes and talk with our on-the-ground scouts daily are confident in what they’re getting in a student-athlete because they know we’ve vetted them to determine if they’re a good fit for the program or not.

Currently, NSR is in 9 countries, including the U.S, as well so it’s not just here in our country.

FCS.com: How did you come to work for NSR?
RW: As a previous college athlete, and a kid from a small town (population 373), I knew the struggles of the recruiting process from 20 years ago. And sadly, it’s only gotten more complicated over the years. At the time, I was making my highlight tapes with a VCR, mailing out letters with VHS tapes to 10-20 schools each week, attending combine after combine hoping to get seen.

After graduating from college with a degree in exercise physiology and studying biomechanics, I began working as a strength coach with college athletes as well as a personal trainer and camp instructor with high school-aged athletes. Along the way, I had various athletes and families here and there ask me to help them get recruited and because they were clients of mine at the time, I did.

But, it was a completely different world. It was daunting, I felt like it was a completely different process since I had been through it to be honest. Fast forward a few years and when I moved back home to Arkansas, I had a few family friends ask me to do the same, and I did but again, I felt lost. So when I started looking into things I decided I wanted to help deserving athletes and families in the recruiting process get exposure but most importantly, find the “right fit”. All these kids I went to begin helping had programs listed that they had no chance in playing for, so I had to be the bearer of bad news or the “reality check.”

I sent my resume and inquired to five different “recruiting companies” because of what I’d heard about or found online. I was contacted by four of them the same week, and the last one to contact me was NSR. The first four said almost the same, exact thing: “We would really like to see more sales experience, regardless of your background with college sports or recruiting.”

When I spoke to NSR however, they interviewed me and looked at my college athletic background, my recruiting savvy, my “purpose” for wanting to help change kids’ lives, it was exciting because I knew they understood the basic principle: It’s all about the kid.

After I came back from training at headquarters and hit the ground running, I started realizing that there were a lot of athletes I knew and coaches I knew, that had various online profiles with no results and nobody to help them through it. As I began working with several athletes, several more came along by referral because people couldn’t believe that you could have a day-to-day recruiting adviser just a text/call away, that lives in your area, and you see half the time at various tournaments and games. It was culture changing for a lot of them but exciting for me to help good people see there were still good people out there.

My network was already extensive, but it grew wider. Aside from the state Director for Arkansas, I grew into the National Director of Softball position in order to guide our scouts, be a resource for our prospects, and help more and more kids across the U.S. the “right way.” I recently took over softball as the area softball director for Oklahoma, Kansas, Kansas City, West Tennessee, and North Mississippi as well. People always talk about “finding your true calling,”and most think it’s a statement saved for only coming true on TV. But, I knew the minute my first prospect committed and standing beside her at her signing day, I had found mine.

FCS.com: Who do the scouts for National Scouting Report work for?
RW: Tricky question! Like I mentioned, essentially we work for the prospect and their families that we’ve scouted, interviewed and qualified. However, we also gear ourselves towards working for the college coach as well delivering their prospect needs or “College Coach Requests.” By being a resource for both and giving both their due respect and attention, success is inevitable as you can see from the placement rates.

FCS.com: In your opinion, what makes NSR different than other recruiting services?
RW: NSR is different in a multitude of ways. There are numerous things I hear from my families I work with everyday, of which they say is the biggest difference with NSR. I like the human aspect of what we do. We’re not an internet site, we’re not open enrollment, I’m going to come watch you play or review the video you sent. Then I’m going to chat with you and the parents together to get a feel for the kind of kid and family you are. I’m then going to contact your hitting coach, your travel coach, high school coach, etc. and get their insight to who you are as a whole. If we get past this point, it’s time for me to schedule an interview to determine if you truly qualify to be an NSR prospect.

When NSR started in 1980, the internet wasn’t a “thing”. So scouting and recruiting were done on the ground, at the fields, getting the same sunburn the college coaches were getting. It’s always been that way, and I’m thankful to say we are still the only on-the-ground scouting organization of its kind. I take great pride in that knowing that when someone calls me about a prospect and I gather info on her, get her schedule, and go to watch her play, my evaluation and observations of everything are just as I’m being the college coaches un-biased eyes at the field while he/she can’t be there. You don’t know how many kids I’ve personally placed (not even including the company as a whole) at Top 10 schools that were playing 2A high school ball and just had the understanding that they weren’t good enough. Crazy isn’t it? I hear it all the time from college coaches: “Where have they been hiding this girl, Robby, under a rock?” Music to my ears because it means they see and appreciate the rare “diamond in the rough.”

FCS.com: It must help having a national network of scouts to draw upon…
RW: Yes, we work together to help place our kids at the best fit. If I have a scout in another state and a college coach from their area sent a request for a 2019 shortstop and I have one I think would be a perfect fit, but I don’t know this coach or program as well, that scout will ensure the coach gets what they want (a solid 2019 shortstop) and the player gets what she wants (a fair opportunity to be considered for that program/coach). We’re a family of scouts, we take care of each other and each other’s prospects. It’s unique in the sense that we not only care for our own prospects we directly work for, but also any NSR prospect.

One of my biggest things I love that makes NSR different is that we take the individual approach to recruiting, not the team approach. The recruiting process is about that one athlete’s recruiting, not building the brand of a team or the name of a school. It should be treated as such, but often times, isn’t. That’s why it’s much easier to have such a high success rate as we do, year after year, is because we focus on the individual prospect’s recruiting process and his/her success. I even had a top 10 coach tell me the other day about one of my prospects, “I don’t care if you put a white t-shirt on her and draw a number on with a Sharpe. As long as she’s playing against high level competition, seeing ample field time, and being able to prevail in tough situations against legit competition, she’s recruitable in my book.”

FCS.com: It must be rewarding when you see the smile on a player when she gets the offer—and commits—to play softball in college…
RW: I’m a people person so I love the fact that if I choose to work with a prospect and her family, we become connected. We get to talk weekly, sometimes daily, via text, email or phone. Advising the athlete on her process and what to do, where to be, next steps to take. Talking to mom and dad when they’re stressing over the process and you’re the only one with the answers to calm them. Helping mentor the young athlete on the importance of her academics, discipline, and handling her own recruiting process without mom and dad sending emails and making calls for them!

I love this part especially because it’s impossible to work with a prospect/family—talk to them numerous times a week—and not become deeply connected and care about them and their outcome in the process. The fact that I’ll see the player at the tournament in person, as well as see her face to face on signing day, that’s the biggest difference—the “human” element.”

FCS.com: What do you see being the biggest changes in softball and recruiting over the past couple of years?
RW: You would think it would be “early recruiting”, but that’s a given. I’ve seen two really big changes these past couple of years as I’m sure most have:

1. Too much involvement with technology in relation to recruiting.

Technology might change a lot of things in our world today, but college athletic recruiting, it will not. The college coach still wants human eyes, with experience evaluating, and a non-biased opinion. Each of those things are factors a website doesn’t possess.

2. Organizational growth as it spans from state to state, across the U.S.

There are no doubt more talented softball players today in the U.S., regardless of what the numbers say. But there’s comes a point in organizational growth where you have to grab the reigns and maintain your hands on approach to maintain your eminence. There are many growing right now and doing it the right way, selecting previously accomplished team(s) and branding together in order to utilize each other but that’s not to say that’s across the board.

FCS.com: When did you become the National Director of Softball Scouting? Why?
RW: I became the National Director of Softball in February of 2014 because of my deep-seeded love and passion for the game, and true appreciation for the process involved in softball recruiting. All sports have their own process to an extent, but softball has become such a monstrous beast that there are more and more families and athletes needing proper guidance with truth, validity and results to trust as well as college softball coaches that want readily available info on specific prospects much faster. I believe the “two-pronged approach” to softball recruiting as mentioned above, should also explain how old-fashioned principles have allowed myself and NSR to really advance and change the recruiting for softball. Meaning working for not only your prospects, but working for the college softball coach as well. Treating them both with their much due respect, and giving both what they need and when they need it.

FCS.com Talk about some of the partnerships, changes, and overall plan for NSR softball and yourself?
RW: We have several partnerships going right now, and several in the works. We’re proudly partnered with USSSA and USA Elite Select and have been chosen as their recruiting source for their showcase, tournaments, and combines. We’ve recently been doing the USA Elite Select All-American Selections across the nation alongside many of the USSSA Pride Players for players in the 10U-14U range. This has been huge for us as well as USSSA, we’ve been able to see various levels of talent and different areas of concentration across the nation. It’s exciting to know that softball has grown into such a major sport across the nation! We’ve also been running their combines and recruiting seminars at various showcases and tournaments across the nation. You can see all of that at www.USAEliteSelect.com.

We’ve also partnered and I’ve been writing for FastpitchTV Magazine for the past year or so, educating parents and prospects on the various “hard to discuss” topics on softball recruiting, how to get your athlete prepared for the process, etc. You can read some of those blogs here: and can subscribe to the FastpitchTV Magazine here.

Another partnership that we’re extremely excited about is the Digital Clipboard by SportsBoard! You did an article not too long ago about SportsBoard as well called Why Full Count is High on SportsBoard. We’re extremely excited about this partnership and the benefits to our prospects!

A new exclusive partnership we’re extremely excited about is with PocketRadar. Pocket Radar is something us scouts use on a daily basis, for many, many sports (including softball of course). And aside from scouting, it’s a useful measuring tool for the parents/athletes to utilize in their training. Similar to what I used to tell my athletes in strength training: you need measurables not only so you know where you’re at, but so you can monitor your progress and the effectiveness of your training methodologies. The Pocket Radar “Ball Coach” model has become the exclusive radar gun of National Scouting Report; Likewise, NSR has become their trusted scouting organization. You can see more at PocketRadar.com/Blog.

As far as changes and the future, it’s simple: continue to grow, maintain an unparalleled success rate at over 90% company-wide (100% in softball) and continue to change kid’s lives. As far as personally – it’s like they say, “The two most important days in your life are the day you’re born, and the day you figure out why.”

I found out why several years ago when I became a scout for NSR. There’s a reason I travel all over the place, make sacrifices, time away from home – it’s because I believe in the sport and I believe there are far too many talented, deserving young ladies out there who just need somebody to guide them through the process and sometimes, just let them know that they are in fact, good enough!

FCS.com: How does a player become an “NSR prospect”?
RW: Regardless of the sport, you have to request to be scouted. But if you’re a softball athlete specifically, you can request to be scouted here.

Once you’ve completed the ScoutMe form, the scout in your area will be in contact with you to chat, obtain your schedule, and determine a suitable time to come evaluate you for free. Hopefully you present the qualities we look for in an NSR prospect. NSR’s not “open enrollment”, and not every athlete will qualify to be an NSR athlete. But because of that, we can maintain a high success rate because of the quality of athletes we’re working with.

FCS.com: What levels of college softball programs do you help place girls and have you?
RW: Every single level: NCAA Division I, II, and II, NAIA, NJCAA Div I, II and II. We often tell the athletes, “I don’t choose the division, the college coaches will decide that for you”. Meaning I may know where I assess her at and will guide her in that direction, but sometimes a particular athlete fits a particular coach’s needs and the athlete ends up at a program previously thought possibly out of reach.

College coaches of all levels have recruiting needs and send us the college coach requests letting us know of these needs. So it’s our job to find them. We’re not just looking for “blue chippers,” but we do work with those as well. Sometimes it’s an athlete that plays on a premier team and she has three SEC commits on her team and three mid-major commits, so she feels like she’s possibly “just not good enough.” Well guess what, there are plenty (and I mean plenty) of other college softball programs out there who would love to have a kid like her!

But those coaches have been told so much about those other six girls that he hasn’t even had a chance to pay attention to this individual girl. Sometimes it’s the obvious blue-chipper that “gets the looks,” but can’t figure out why nobody has offered or if they’re even doing the right things.

Bottom line is we work with all levels, of all divisions of colleges, and all talent levels. If the kid can play at the next level somewhere, and the athlete and family are realistic in the “level of play” she’s likely to play, and she meets all the other criteria needed to be an NSR prospect, you bet we’re going to help that kid.

Me personally, I’ve literally placed kids at all levels, all divisions. From Power 5 conferences to championship Division II to mid-major Div. I to Div. III, NAIA, and Junior Colleges. This all comes down to the primary objective with our athletes: finding the right fit.

FCS.com: What do you think is the most important thing in the recruiting process for softball?
RW: Just one thing? I’d say it’d have to be between:

1. Understanding it’s never too early or too late to start the process. Obviously 8^th grade is ideal, 7^th for the elite of the elite.
2. Getting an individual advocate for your child. Don’t leave anything to chance. Get with a scout who works in recruiting in his or her sport 24/7 and has references you can check with. Don’t leave it to team recruiting, don’t leave it to camp after camp. Get an individual advocate for your kid so someone is fighting for her and only her.

FCS.com: What’s your opinion on the early recruiting in softball?
RW: I have mixed emotions, honestly. I understand the cycle and the plus/minus of the whole situation, but me professionally, as a scout, I like it. I like it because it gives me an opportunity to mentor the athlete and teach her the right way of doing things–the importance of time management, the importance of being independent and the importance of academics. Also, about why true work ethic is rare and has such a high value and why character is huge in finding the right fit. I love being able to mold young minds the right way, starting with a blank slate.

As a parent, I hate it. I have a nine-year-old who is pretty good, but she’s still just “daddy’s little girl.” So when I see people asking recruiting questions about a 2024 kid, it blows my mind that the public perception is that it’s truly never too early, which is false. Even as a softball recruiting guy, I’m not even engaging those conversations with my nine-year-old. She hears a lot of it being around me and it excites her from time to time, but like I’ve told her: if she decides tomorrow she wants to be a pianist and quit softball, so be it! Be a kid, you only get one childhood, so don’t waste it.

Either way yes, it got out of hand for a little while. Fortunately in my opinion, it’s at a standstill now where 8^th grade is ideal, 7^th is for the elite of the elite players, and pre-sophomore year only applies to about 10% of the softball recruiting population. I believe education from experienced recruiting professionals is the key here, because regardless of whether it’s a 7^th grader or a senior, chances are they don’t know much about the recruiting process or what they have been told is completely false and therefore educating them accurately is key in moving forward successfully.

FCS.com: What do you like most about being a scout for NSR?
RW: It’s my calling, changing kid’s lives. Changing the pattern for a family history. Helping the college coach discover a kid he/she never heard of and wouldn’t of, had it not been for NSR. Mostly, I like the personal connection I have with all of my prospects and their families. There’s something to be cherished there beyond college scholarships and college athletics, it’s friendships and networks that last a lifetime.

FCS.com: Finally, what can or should a parent do when it comes to the recruiting process?
RW: Parents have to take recruiting into your own hands! You need an individual advocate for your child. Recruiting is a “me sport” not a “team sport.” Be proactive. Make sure what you’re doing tourneys, games, all geared towards one goal: helping your daughter get recruited.

If you’re playing in a tourney/showcase this weekend, and there’s, let’s say, 70 teams (this would be a small showcase even). Each of those 70 teams have between 10 to 20 or more girls on each team. That’s 1,000-plus girls even on the low-side of the estimate. A college softball coach doesn’t just show up and hope he can cover all those fields, all those games, and fingers crossed he finds someone. He knows what year/position he’s looking for, he’s already spoken to a non-biased advocate for that kid numerous times, already evaluated via profile and video, and now all that’s left to do is for him to determine can she play for him or not

A typical scouting schedule looks like this:

• Field 12 at 9am – Team A Vs. Team B (I’m looking at the 2018 Rhp from Roanake High school)
• Field 3 at 10am – Team F Vs. Team X (I’m looking at the 2017 shortstop from Keller High School)
• Field 19 at 12noon – Team G Vs. Team M (I’m looking at the 2016 centerfield slapper and the 2018 catcher)
• And so on…

The coach already knows who he’s going to look at and when. He/she shows up with a list of 10 maybe even 15 tops, that he’s going to evaluate, and he’s done. A college coach’s time is extremely valuable, therefore they don’t have time to waste around on sitting at a ball park all day without an objective. So having an individual advocate for your child ensures that the “right coaches” that are more than likely the “right fit” for your child, are attending and watching your child specifically. Recruiting success is accomplished by individualism.

You only have one chance to be recruited, so why leave it to chance?

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NSR links you may be interested in:

• Be educated on the recruiting process for softball, click HERE
• For additional info and to request to be scouted click HERE
• NSR on Facebook:
• NSR on Twitter: (@nsr_softball)