Athletic Recruiting
The college recruitment process should be exhilarating and rewarding. Becoming a collegiate athlete takes dedication, talent, and planning and there are ways to enhance your chances beyond your athletic performance. We want to help you catch the eyes of college coaches and fulfill your goals of competing at the next level. In this post, we’ll explore the ins and outs of college recruitment and offer tips to help prospective recruits maximize their opportunities.
Start early.
Starting early ensures you’re prepared to present yourself as an athlete a coach would want on their team. This process can start well in advance of sophomore or junior year, when coaches typically start looking. We work with you to clarify your own goals and desires so you can articulate what you will bring to the program and the college as a whole. We start by asking questions about your academic and athletic goals. For example, do you want a team that is consistently at the highest level of play, or do you welcome that underdog story? Many students start out with one dream school in mind, but we will work with you to broaden your choices. We also guide you in attending scout camps where you can meet coaches in person. Once we have articulated your desires and explored some options, we list out your strengths and get ready to communicate.
Communicate effectively.
As a recruiter, I can attest to the frustration I feel when talking to an athlete who has provided outdated information. Therefore, it’s essential that you keep your recruiting platform accurate, detailed, and up-to-date. We also encourage you to email updates to the coaches you are interested in working with. Since coaches get hundreds of emails a day, make sure yours are pertinent, straight-to-the-point, and respectful. Congratulating the coaching staff and the team on recent accomplishments demonstrates your interest in the program by showing the coach that you’re paying attention.
Being invited to speak on the phone with a coach is a tremendous opportunity and you want to stand out. Thoughtful and comprehensive answers will allow the coach to get to know you, as will talking about your academic interests and the activities you partake in outside of your chosen sport. It makes sense to ask about the practice schedule and team culture, but you can also probe deeper with questions such as, Why do you feel that your team has had great success this year? What is your personal coaching philosophy? What sets this institution apart from others that you have coached at?
Keep up with your academics
Regardless of your athletic abilities, coaches still need to see significant effort in the classroom. Maintaining a strong GPA and excelling in challenging coursework demonstrates your commitment to academic excellence and shows coaches that you’re committed to the student-athlete experience. Many schools prioritize recruiting student-athletes who can excel both athletically and academically.
Stay committed and be flexible
The college recruiting process can be long and unpredictable. Stay committed to your goals, but remain flexible and open to exploring different options. Keep an open line of communication with coaches, remain honest, and be prepared to adapt your plans when necessary.
