This is my favorite part of the recruiting process, PHONE CALLS! Every teenage student athlete I work with always asks, “what do I say, I am so scared?” First, do your homework on the program before you call. Do they offer your potential major? How do you feel about the location? I recommend reading the U.S. News and World Report on the college. It is filled with great facts on the school. You can also take a look at College Board but they recently changed their format so my staff and I are using it less and less. Truly, doing your homework on the school is one of the most exciting parts of the recruiting process. I ask my clients to begin envisioning themselves at the school as a college student.
College coaches are going to ask you all of these questions at some point during your conversations. So create an outline so you are PREPARED! Notice I said outline, not script. If you script it out, you don’t sound real. The coaches know you are nervous, but the more you are prepared the better you will feel about the conversation.
- What is your GPA?
- Have you taken the ACT or SAT? If so, what was your score?
- If not, when are you planning on taking it?
- What are you looking for in a school?
- What other schools are interested in you?
- What in particular interests you about my school?
- Which schools have offered you a scholarship?
- Have you visited our campus? If not, do you plan to visit?
- As a player, what do you feel your strengths and weaknesses are?
- What are you doing to improve on these weaknesses?
- How are you continuing to build your strengths?
- Do you plan to attend my summer camp?
- What are your relationships with your family like?
These phone calls do get easier. When you start making them it is natural to feel really nervous. I’ve talked about phone calls in the past and you can take a look at other blog posts I have on them as well. You’ll do great! Just take a deep breath, make sure you are in a quiet room so there are no distractions and also have a piece of paper and pen to take notes. If you want help building your outline to prepare, give college volleyball recruiting expert Kara Hill a call and she will help you get through it. 888-354-0052 or email Kara@myrecruitingsolutions.com