Making a call to a college coach can be nerve racking. So many players ask, “what am I supposed to say?” First off, relax! Everyone is nervous making these calls and the college coaches know you are nervous. Many of the college coaches I talk are ecstatic about hearing from you. So many players just send emails these days and it is not very personal. Remember, this is a coach you may spend 4 years of your life playing for. That’s a big commitment. Beginning a personal relationship with a college coach is an exciting part of your journey.
The first step to making these calls is to be prepared! You need to know what your current gpa, ACT and SAT scores if you know them, potential major, and what you are looking for in a school. Sometimes you won’t have all these answers and that is ok! You do want to be prepared with an answer regardless, even if the answer is I am open-minded right now. Not every athlete knows what they want to do with their lives, and coaches don’t expect you to either. Even student athletes who have ideas about what they want to do may change their minds. Coaches like to see you have a goal in mind. You have your eye on something to accomplish.
Below are some questions to ask a coach during the different stages of the recruiting process. Do not ask all of these questions during your first and second communication with the coach. You want to use discretion, and only ask a few questions per conversation. Always be honest and consistent with your responses to their questions to you. Also, take notes throughout your conversation. You don’t want to confuse programs, so make sure you have a college recruiting notebook handy and keep notes about what the college coaches request, and information about their school and program.
First Phone Call:
When would be a good time to visit your campus?
What kind of scores do I need on the SAT or ACT to be considered by your program? What about my GPA?
What’s a day in the life of one of your athlete’s in and out of season?
Second Communication:
Do most student-athletes graduate in four years?
What is your coaching style?
What is your relationship like with your athletes?
What would you say are the school’s strongest academic components?
Have you had an opportunity to evaluate me? If so, what can I do to compete for your program?
When do you begin to narrow your recruiting list?
What is the graduation rate of student-athletes?
Does your program have full time academic advisors?
What are your goals for the team during the next four to five years?
How many players are you recruiting in my position?
Subsequent Communications:
Have I been evaluated by your coaching staff?
Is there an application fee for student-athletes? Do you have an application waiver?
What determines if a scholarship is renewed?
Tip: If a college asks you to list your top three universities, you should list that institution first if you are truly interested in their program. You should be honest, and mention the colleges that are equal or greater athletically and academically.
Good luck with your phone calls! You only have one chance to get recruited! Don’t take it for granted and make sure you use your time wisely.