Richie Contartesi
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Richie Contartesi

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Hi There, I'm Richie Contartesi...The Founder Of Next Play. And I understand firsthand the frustrations, challenges, and aspirations both you and your son are facing. Like your son, I had a dream of earning a college football scholarship and was overlooked by everyone. No one initially responded to my emails, DMs, or calls. I even had a meeting scheduled in person with a coach who didn’t show up. At just 5'7" and 150 pounds, I faced the adversity of being undersized, overlooked, and underestimated. I tried everything—camps, recruiting services, and recruiting software—but they were a giant waste of time and money. Coaches weren’t checking the software, services promised connections that led nowhere, and camps were full of guys who already had relationships with coaches. I realized I was doing what everyone else was doing—and it wasn’t working. I was tired of waiting for someone else to make it happen. That’s when everything changed. A mentor took me under his wing and taught me to take full responsibility for my future. I stopped hoping and started executing—with a real system and strategy. That was the turning point. I created what would become the foundation of the Next Play® System—and after implementing it, I defied all expectations and secured a full Division-1 football scholarship in the powerhouse SouthEastern Conference (SEC) at Ole Miss. I started all 12 games my senior year, earned the prestigious SEC Scholar Athlete award, and played on legendary fields like Alabama, LSU, and Auburn. My journey continued beyond college as I played professional Arena football and authored the #1 bestseller, In Spite of the Odds. I was even featured in the movie Rudy Ruettiger: The Walk On. But my true calling emerged when parents and athletes began asking how I did it. I started giving advice. Then a serious athlete asked me to mentor him—and that’s when it clicked. Just like someone once did for me, I began mentoring high school football players who were tired of empty promises and ready to take control. They didn’t just want a playbook—they wanted a coach. Someone to hold them accountable. Someone who had been through it. Watching their transformation—from shy, hesitant, and unsure, to confident, consistent, and recruited—was incredible. And because I was once in their shoes, I knew exactly how they felt. That’s why I founded Next Play—a nationwide mentorship and leadership program that helps underdog athletes earn the best football scholarships possible through our proven system. Today, you and your athlete can plug into that same system and community—one that understands, supports, and believes in their extraordinary potential.
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