Using your sport to help you get into college may be one of the wisest plays you ever make. There are many things to know, though, so read on in this second installment on Sports Recruiting from high school to college.
Conduct this like a business; do NOT take it personally.
These coaches don’t know you, so contact them far and wide and don’t be hurt if they don’t reply or keep up the conversation. It’s YOUR job to keep up the conversation until they specifically tell you they are not interested. Don’t be shy! Coaches are accustomed to dealing with awkward teens, and you may very likely never see these people, so what do you have to lose by calling? Go for it!
Coaches get hundreds of emails per day.
If you get ANY response, be happy, and keep emailing them until you get some response. They often ignore emails, because they get so many, so call!
Coaches look first at the kids with great grades and test scores first.
Then they look at the kids with very good grades and test scores, and then at the kids with good grades, and then at the kids with the questionable grades and scores. Your grades DO matter, but there’s a college team for everyone, so don’t be discouraged.
Local newspapers appeal to local coaches only.
The Seattle Times is not on sale in Boston, so don’t rely on newspapers to market you, no matter how good you are.
Coaches will see or learn about you at these places or in these ways:
– Tourneys: Make sure you are there, and tell your favorite colleges that you will be going
– Top club teams
– State cups
– Showcases
– Camps
– Sport quality videos
– Questionnaires you submit on the college website
– CALLS AND EMAILS from you to the coach
Between 10th and 11th grade go to college sports camps at the schools you like.
This is a great way to get noticed by coaches you would love to play for.
Top reasons you’re NOT recruited:
– Overbearing/loud/rude parents
– Bad/whiney attitude
– They haven’t seen you play enough (4-5 x is best)
– You are aiming beyond your level
– #1 reason = YOU haven’t contacted THEM
A D1 Athlete is roughly a $300,000 investment for the colleges, so coaches are very careful.
Don’t be offended if you can’t get recruited at the D1 level; it’s serious!
You know you are being recruited when:
– Coaches email you right back
– Coaches are overly helpful with info
– You get anything handwritten
– They invite you to make a visit there
– They ask you for a verbal commitment
– They give you a drop-dead date to commit by
Girls are recruited early in the 11th grade year.
Girls mature more quickly than boys, so coaches can know even during a girl’s sophomore year if she is at their level of play. Girls, for D1, start early!
Steps to recruiting in the coaches eyes:
– You contact them
– They come to watch you
– You email and ask “What did you think?”
– They email back
– You email them info on your next tourney
– You email and ask “What did you think?”
– REPEAT
You MUST OVER-COMMUNICATE!!!!!
Remember, this is the number one reason kids aren’t recruited. You need to talk to them a lot even if you only hear from them a little. Stay on their radar!
DON’T wait to be contacted!!
– Talk to the coach
– Visit the school
– Decide if you like the school
– Let the coach know you like the school
– Ask, “Where am I on your list?”
As you can see, there’s a lot you can be doing, and your sport can REALLY help you get into a far better school than you can get into on your own, so get started today!
For more basic advice, check out Athletic Recruiting for College: Part 1 and look for Part 3 coming soon for more specific help!
