Attention college volleyball players interested in transferring: this is a must read!
You are approaching the end of your season and the demands of playing at this level are taking it’s toll. You never imagined it was going to be this tough. You are spending a lot of time in the gym, and if you aren’t in the gym you are studying. The coaches are expecting so much, and they want to push to finish the season strong. Sound familiar?
Close your eyes and remember the excitement on day 1! Do you remember all of the smiling faces around you? Take a deep breath and reflect on everything you have achieved this season. Whether you received playing time or you were on the sidelines, think about how far you have come as a unit. It’s important that you reflect on the good times and not just focus on the bad.
Regardless of the program, you are going to have your differences with coaches and teammates. So you need to ask yourself, is there something you can do to improve your situation? The grass is not always greener on the other side. My main focus when taking on a new client is to understand if you really need to move. As an outsider, not tied emotionally to the situation, I want to ensure you aren’t moving on without taking a deep look at yourself first to ensure it’s the right decision.
If you are leaning toward a transfer, there are a few things you need to know. First, you cannot begin emailing college coaches until you have received “permission to contact” from your compliance office. It’s best you wait until your season comes to an end to approach your coach so you are not a distraction to the program. You should create a list of the reasons you would like a transfer so you can have a clear conversation with your coach. This is important, and the next college program is going to want to understand your grievances before they accept you as a transfer. More than likely, they will also speak to your college coach and previous club coaches to get a feel for who you are as a person and a player.
Video is an important piece to the transfer process. College coaches need to evaluate your film to see if you are a fit for their program. If you didn’t get a lot of play time, you will want to get video from practice at the very least to share.
Transferring is on the rise, so there is nothing new here and you will more than likely find a program. However, it’s important you don’t just rush to the next place without really thinking this through. You don’t want to find yourself in the same situation you are currently trying to move away from, so doing your homework is imperative.
If you need someone to talk to and are seriously considering making a move, don’t hesitate to reach out. Let’s discuss your situation and see if transferring is really the right choice for you. If it is, I have relationships with programs around the country. Drop an email to [email protected] and we can schedule a call. Your family is also welcome to reach out to me directly as well. Once I understand your needs, I am able to approach programs that match your needs to have a discussion prior to you getting involved.
