With AAU Nationals coming up this summer, we know you’re busy training and preparing to compete. But it’s just as important to stay on top of your recruiting game. Leading up to any event, especially a national championship, you want to make sure that you’re doing everything in your power to make the most out of it, even after the event has ended. But what does “everything” entail? We’ve provided a recruiting roadmap to nationals detailing every step of the way.
Let Coaches Know
It’s always important to be proactive by having recruiting conversations with coaches around events. Events are the perfect opportunity for coaches to watch you perform in high-pressure situations as part of a team. It’s especially important this year due to the extended dead period and lack of in-person opportunities.
Prioritize
Decide which colleges are your priority to connect with leading up to, during, and after the event. If you haven’t already, send an introduction to let them know who you are, why they should be interested in you as a recruit, and why you’re interested in their program. Be personal! Don’t copy and paste the same message to each coach. You want them to see that you took the time to research their program.
Invite
Invite coaches to watch you play at these events. Ask if they’re attending the event. If not, this would be a good opportunity to offer to send them updates. If you’re unsure what your schedule is for the event, be sure to follow up once you receive it. Whether the coach is able to attend or not, this is a great opportunity for them to see you in action and envision you on their team.
Follow Up
Make sure to follow up after the event. If you saw or interacted with the coach, thank them at the event and in your follow-up message. If the coach did not attend the event, don’t worry. Still, send them a follow-up message and let them know how the event went for you. Also, feel free to attach any videos you took during the event and keep the recruiting conversation moving forward.
Pro-Tip
Make sure to list the most important events you’ll be attending to the events tab in your CaptainU profile so coaches can find you before, evaluate you during, and message you after the event.
If you need any help or have any questions, with your recruiting process, check out our Facebook Live and Instagram Live every week. Our recruiting experts answer any and all questions!
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