As prospects navigate the college athletics recruiting process, the level of their “command of confidence” will not only assist them in developing a positive and effective approach to recruiting, it will be “picked up” by the college coaches and assist the prospect in standing out above the rest of the pack.
Self-confidence doesn’t just “appear," it is a skill that is developed naturally and with experience and can offer student-athletes an effective tool that can be skillfully used in navigating the college recruiting process.
Contacts/Return Contacts
I believe many prospects are under the assumption that the college coaches will routinely contact them by phone or by e-mail in an attempt to recruit them. This may be true for some prospects, but for the majority of athletes who are waiting for the phone to ring, it could be a long and frustrating wait.
Coaches are recruiting hundreds of prospects and need to utilize a filtering system to organize their list into a manageable and functional grouping. Coaches are bound by very strict contact rules and it is in the best interest of the prospects to initiate contact with the college coaches with persistence!
If you feel a particular college coach has sincere interest in you as a prospect, you want to develop consistent communication with him. I suggest taking the lead in making future contacts. For instance, you may be discussing a future campus visit and trying to nail down a specific date. Don’t feel nervous in taking the initiative and letting the coach know you will be contacting him in the near future to confirm the visit. This approach is respectful and all you are trying to do is assist the coach, who will appreciate your effort.
Initiating phone calls to the coach
I think one of the toughest challenges prospects face in the recruiting process is initiating that first phone call to the college coach and for good reason. They are scared! Somehow, many young athletes envision an unapproachable coach on the other end of the line and view the task of calling the coach with fear.
Coaches are former athletes who went through the same process. More importantly, they are educators who “know the stakes” and the importance of the 4-year college experience. Sure, they are competitive and want to attract the best and the brightest, but for the most part, they want prospects in general, to arrive at a comfortable college choice and one that is the right match.
Coaches typically see their role as being a “resource,” with a sincere obligation to provide family’s with valuable information and to answers their questions. They want to help the prospect reach his “comfort level” in an effort to begin developing a collaborative relationship.
I would not encourage a prospect to pick up the phone and make a “cold call” without preparation. Calls not only give you the opportunity to exchange information with the coaches, but provide you with a vehicle to begin opening up your personality to them and provide the college coach with a “look under the hood.”
A lot can be learned about a person in a 5 minute phone call, so make it count! Put together a general list of items you would like to discuss and then tri
Navigating College Recruiting: Confidence is Half the Battle
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