You should not make inappropriate comments or ask about the coach’s personal life. Also, do not lie or exaggerate your abilities or achievements.
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When communicating with a college coach, it is important to be mindful of what you say. Making inappropriate comments or asking about their personal life is a big no-no. Coaches are looking for athletes who are serious and dedicated to their sport, so lying or exaggerating your abilities and achievements is also not recommended.
According to an article by The Balance, “your first interaction with a coach is a representation of what kind of athlete you are.” It is important to approach the conversation professionally and respectfully. Here are some other things to avoid saying to a college coach:
- Don’t be rude or disrespectful.
- Don’t ask about scholarship numbers right away.
- Don’t ask about playing time or starting positions.
- Don’t criticize their team or program.
On the other hand, it is important to ask thoughtful questions and show genuine interest in the school and program. Some good questions to ask include:
- What is the team’s practice schedule?
- What values and characteristics do you look for in recruits?
- Can you talk about your coaching philosophy?
- What are the academic requirements for your athletes?
Remember, the coach is not only evaluating your athletic abilities, but also your character and attitude. Showing respect and professionalism can go a long way in making a positive impression.
Table:
| Dos | Don’ts |
|---|---|
| Approach the conversation professionally | Make inappropriate comments or ask about personal life |
| Ask thoughtful questions | Lie or exaggerate abilities and achievements |
| Show genuine interest in school and program | Be rude or disrespectful |
| Ask about scholarship numbers right away | |
| Ask about playing time or starting positions | |
| Criticize their team or program |
“Your first interaction with a coach is a representation of what kind of athlete you are.” – The Balance
Interesting Facts:
- Most college coaches prefer the initial contact to come from the athlete, not the parents or coaches. (NCAA)
- Communication can be limited during certain periods such as dead periods, quiet periods, and evaluation periods. (NCAA)
- The NCAA has rules and regulations regarding athlete recruitment and communication with college coaches.
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What “Not” to Say to a College Coach Avoid: Overselling your abilities. There is never a reason for you to oversell your abilities. Avoid: Bad-mouthing your high school coaches. Avoid: Comparing yourself to others. Avoid: Talking about how coachable you are.
What you shouldn’t do:
With that in mind here is a list of some things you should never say to the coaches who are recruiting you. All the things on this list are from conversations I had with recruits. Unfortunately these were not rare mistakes. I heard them frequently, and often stopped recruiting the athlete.
Watch related video
Zan Barksdale’s top recruiting tip is to film a customized video introduction for the coach or recruiting coordinator of a college a player is interested in attending. By doing so, players increase the chances of receiving a response, as coaches appreciate the extra effort. Barksdale suggests updating all recruiting information while coaches have more free time due to the coronavirus outbreak. Though a response is not a guarantee of a roster spot or scholarship, personalized videos may lead to invitations for school visits or recruitment opportunities, as demonstrated by Harold Reynolds’ invitation of a promising high school player.
People are also interested
Keeping this in consideration, What can get a college coach fired?
As an answer to this: Termination for cause is an easier decision in many ways than firing a coach for other reasons because the decision is clear. The coach has crossed a well-defined line—he or she has broken rules, committed a felony, violated a contract, or committed some other such action.
One may also ask, Is it OK to text a college coach? Response to this: Don’t text a coach if you haven’t asked for permission to text. Sometimes, a coach will initiate sending a text first. If not, be sure to ask if it would be alright to text them for updates either in a follow up email or phone call.
How do you let a college coach know you are interested? How to let coaches know you’re interested in their program
- Address the coach. Always include a coach’s name in the greeting.
- Introduce yourself. Who are you?
- Express why you’re interested in the program.
- Key athletic and academic info.
Also Know, What to say to a college coach if you are not interested? Response: I am honored that you think I could compete for your team. I have completed the difficult task of narrowing down my list of schools. Because I have such great respect for you and your program, I feel I must inform you now that I am looking elsewhere to go to school and compete. Thanks for your sincere interest.
Keeping this in consideration, What should you say to college coaches? The reply will be: The information you gather about the school and sports program will dictate what you say to college coaches. If you’re looking at academically-focused schools, lead with how impressed you are by their academic record, or mention specific players who have recently won honor awards.
Should you email college coaches?
Remember, a good coach email can put you on their radar, but if you aren’t prepared for a coach to research you (or even better, respond!) then, you can quickly fall off their recruiting list. Here are three things to do before you email college coaches: Clean up social media.
Likewise, Should parents ask college coaches questions?
The response is: While college coaches want to get to know potential recruits like you, they also understand that the recruiting process is a team effort. Your parents should let you take the lead when asking questions. But it’s perfectly OK for them to talk to coaches and ask their own questions too. What questions should athletes ask college coaches?
Also to know is, When can a student-athlete contact a college coach?
Student-athletes can contact college coaches at any time, but coaches must adhere to the rules laid out in the NCAA’s recruiting calendars. Because coaches are limited to when they can reach out to student-athletes, they like it when recruits initiate conversation.
Thereof, What to avoid when talking to college coaches?
On the flip side, there are questions and behaviors to avoid when talking to college coaches. During your first few coach phone calls: Avoid asking for a scholarship. You need to develop a relationship with the coach before you start asking them for money.
Besides, What should you say to college coaches?
Answer to this: The information you gather about the school and sports program will dictate what you say to college coaches. If you’re looking at academically-focused schools, lead with how impressed you are by their academic record, or mention specific players who have recently won honor awards.
When can you call college coaches?
Response: According to NCAA recruiting rules, D1 and D2 coaches aren’t allowed to answer or return the call until June 15 after an athlete’s sophomore year or September 1 of their junior year, depending on your sport. Keep this in mind as you’re calling college coaches.
People also ask, Should you email college coaches?
Answer will be: Remember, a good coach email can put you on their radar, but if you aren’t prepared for a coach to research you (or even better, respond!) then, you can quickly fall off their recruiting list. Here are three things to do before you email college coaches: Clean up social media.