When you think about it, no one knows your game, your capabilities, and your desire better than your coaches. They’re the ones who’ve watched you improve and they’re the ones who’ve provided helpful guidance along the way. And now that you’re working toward playing at the next level, there are four things your coaches can do to help you get there:
Provide An Objective Assessment Of Your Talent
In addition to being familiar with your abilities and potential, your coaches are also experienced in the recruiting process. They’ve likely sent older athletes off to play in college and they may have even competed in college themselves. As such, they’re also familiar with what coaches from each division are looking for. So, if there’s anyone who can provide an honest assessment of your skills and where you might find the best fit in college, whether it’s DI, DII, DII, NAIA, or JUCO, it’s your coaches.
Ultimately, a talk with your coaches early in your recruiting process can help you set realistic goals and plan accordingly. Then, you can better focus on finding the school that best matches your goals for academics, athletics, and campus life.
Connect You With College Coaches
In its own way, college athletics recruiting is much like a job search. If you’re looking for a job in a particular area, you want to network with colleagues and friends to help get your résumé in front of the right people at the right companies. And, during athletic recruiting, you’re trying to get your profile and highlight video in front of college coaches at the schools where you want to play and, in this case, the people who can help you make those connections are your coaches.
The more experienced coaches will likely be the ones with the most contacts at colleges big and small. After asking your coach to assess your potential, show them the schools on your target list and ask if he or she might have a contact or relationship there. If they do, see if your coach can make the introduction.
Make The Call To A Coach For You
According to the NCAA, you can always call a college coach. If they answer, that coach is free to speak to you. However, since you are a potential recruit, if they miss your call, they’re prohibited from calling you back.
In this situation, your coach can offer a simple workaround. If your coach feels comfortable doing so, ask them to make the connection with a college coach so that they’ll be available to take your call at a specific time.
Make Recommendations
Remember the part in step one above about no one knowing your game better than your coaches? When it’s time for college coaches to evaluate you, they’ll first talk to your high school or club coaches too. Beyond asking for assessments of individual players, many college coaches will also check with high school or club coaches when they need to address a particular need. In both situations, a recommendation from your coach can improve, and even expand, your scholarship opportunities.
You’ve worked hard to get where you are now. And one of the constants along the way has been your coach. Their teachings have helped you excel on the field or on the court. And, if you need some extra help during the recruiting process, their influence might also help you land on the team in college, too.
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