As we have mentioned many times, tournaments, showcases, or camps can serve as a great way for you to significantly increase your recruiting exposure. They can also serve as a great way to increase your contact with the college coaches on your target list and to maximize your college recruiting and scholarship opportunities. You need to make sure you are taking advantage of these opportunities!
Have you connected with college coaches both before and after your events?
Many of these events are set up to include many top colleges coaches from across the country. You should choose your events by figuring out where your target schools are attending and where you can play against the best competition and maximize your exposure. Sometimes this means regional team events, prospect days, or individual showcases.
Reaching Out Before an Event
The first thing you need to do is reach out to all of the coaches from the colleges on your target list that will be attending your upcoming events. You will want to introduce yourself, let them know your interest in their program, and how and where they can see you at the upcoming event. (See a full example below)
Here is what you want to make sure you include in your email to coaches:
– Full Name – School – Club Team Name
– Position(s) – Grad Year – Jersey #
– GPA – Club/ High School Coach Contact Info
– Tournament Schedule (Fields, Times, etc.)
Example Email to Coaches before a Recruiting Event:
Following Up After an Event
Many of these events are designed to give coaches a great chance to see a good number of potential recruits playing against top competition. Do you feel that you have had a good amount of coaches at your games? Did you contact your target schools ahead of your events and did their coaches come out to watch you play?
If yes, the most important thing to do now is to follow up with them and thank them for taking the time to come out and watch you play. The biggest challenge in the recruiting process is establishing a solid relationship with your target schools’ coaches.
With the remaining events this year, it is important that you stay relevant in these coaches’ eyes. Establishing and maintaining these relationships with meaningful dialogue will be the most crucial component in getting an offer from your target schools. So while you don’t want to overwhelm them with contact, get your highlight video made, provide a personal update, and follow up with the coaches you’ve met to make sure that you stay on their radar.
