We would like to congratulate William Sweeney on his commitment to Stanford University! Here are William’s recruiting story and interview after his commitment. Good luck as a Cardinal!
1. Share your recruiting story and status
My recruiting process was difficult and stressful at times, but in the end, it turned out to be a total blast. After having promising sophomore and junior seasons, I initially cast a wide net and contacted schools from the D1 FBS level all the way to the D3 level. I attended camps during the summers, played 7v7 in the off-season, and trained year round. After my junior season, I began heavily contacting Ivy League and highly academic D3 schools, but I always had the dream of playing FBS football in the back of my mind. The recruiting process took a difficult turn when I tore my ACL during the winter of my junior year, but a few schools stood by me despite the injury. On a whim, I also decided to reach out to my dream school, Stanford University, and to my surprise, they responded quickly with interest despite my injury. They were interested in bringing on a preferred walk-on long snapper in my class and liked what they had seen from me in camp and on film. Once I displayed my ability to get into the school on my own with my grades and test scores, they offered me the spot. From then on, it was a waiting game to see if I would get in. I received my admissions offer on December 12th, committed an hour later, and signed my Letter of Intent on National Signing Day. 2. What school are you going to, and why did you choose them? I chose my dream school Stanford University because it is the only school in the country that offers an elite education and the opportunity to compete for a national championship every season. Also, my mom and uncle are alumni, so I’ve grown up around campus and have always imagined myself there. It has been my goal since I was 7 years old. 3. How did SportsForce help in the process? SportsForce and Andrew Beinbrink really helped me early on in the process by giving me the organizational tools to communicate with many schools. They showed me how to write effective emails that would give coaches an idea of my skills and who I am as a person. SportsForce really helped me put myself out there, as I was initially a little shy at first. Andrew also explained the NCAA recruiting rules for each level and simplified terms that I wasn’t familiar with, such as the Ivy League Band System. He was a great help to refer to if I was ever confused about something. 4. What advice would you give to other players and parents with the recruiting process? I would advise that it’s good to start sending out emails early, right when an athlete has varsity film. Also, never be shy about reaching out to coaches. It is their job to find athletes, and you coming to them makes it that much easier for them. They appreciate it. Also, be careful about the number of camps you go to. You want to plan your summers in a way that allows you to recover and get sufficient rest before you see more coaches. 5. How excited are you for your future in college? I could not be more excited. This is a total dream come true. 6. Would you recommend SportsForce to any other student-athletes? Why? Yes, I absolutely would. SportsForce was a great asset to me early on in the process, and they supplied me with valuable information. The recruiting process can be tough or confusing sometimes, and it’s great to know you have someone there to answer your questions. SportsForce was there for me.
We would like to congratulate Jacob Sligar on his commitment to Beloit College! Here are Jacob’s recruiting story and interview after his commitment. Good luck as Buccaneer!
1. Share your recruiting story and status
The process was difficult at first to understand the emails and responses to send to coaches, but I eventually understood what needed to be done. It involved paying attention and updating coaches that got interested and it paid off. I verbally committed January 29th. I will sign the first day I am permitted.
2. What school are you going to, and why did you choose them?
I am going to Beloit College. I chose them based off their academics and how good their baseball program was. It felt like the best fit for me.
3. How did SportsForce help in the process?
Sportsforce helped me to truly understand what needed to be done and understand what to talk aboutwith coaches to get a better understanding of their school.
4. What advice would you give to other players and parents with the recruiting process (ex. start early, get a highlight video)?
Start early and do not lose any hope that your son or daughter will not get a chance to play at the next level. There is a college that will want your son or daughter and your child will love that school.
5. How excited are you for your future in college?
I am extremely excited for my future in college and can’t wait until the season starts when I finally graduate.
6. How much money do you anticipate your familysavingin college expensesbecause of you being recruited?
I would say about 75% savings for my family.
7. Would you recommend SportsForce to any other student-athletes? Why?
I would recommend SportsForce to other student-athletes because of how well their program works in helping you understand the process and getting noticed.
Over the last five years, SportsForce has helped over 1,000 student-athletes and families successfully navigate the college recruiting and athletic scholarship process while saving families on average $50,000 in college expenses.
We would like to congratulate Austin and Dylan Thomas on their commitments to Linfield College! Here are Austin’s and Dylan’s recruiting story and interview after their commitments. Good luck as Wildcats!
1. Share your recruiting story and status
We started working with SportsForce in the spring of our junior year. Ryan and the SportsForce team were extremely helpful in evaluating film and listening to our wants and needs when deciding on a college. The team was very helpful putting us in front of college coaches that were a good fit academically, athletically and matched our financial criteria. SportForce met the unique challenge of finding a school that allowed both of us to find an opportunity to play.
2. What school are you going to, and why did you choose them?
We will be attending Linfield College in the Fall of 2017. We selected Linfield because of their excellent academic program and it provides both my brother and I the opportunity to play baseball. Our financial needs were met, and the campus and surrounding area are what we were looking for as well. In particular, Coach Manley’s philosophy and enthusiasm was very compelling and made Linfield the best choice for my brother and me.
3. How did SportsForce help in the process?Ryan and the SportsForce team were extremely helpful in the recruiting process. Through our numerous conversations with Ryan, he got to know us personally and helped create a list of schools that he felt were a good match. SportsForce met the unique challenge of finding a school that provided the opportunity for both my brother and me to play together.
4.What advice would you give to other players and parents with the recruiting process (ex. start early, get a highlight video)?
It is never too early to start the recruiting process. It is important to get an objective and honest evaluation about your talent level and be sure to focus on schools that fit your academic and athletic needs.
5. How excited are you about your future in college?
We are very excited to begin our college career as a Linfield Wildcat. We look forward to leaving home and being more independent as well.
7. Would you recommend SportsForce to any other student-athletes? Why?
I would highly recommend using SportsForce for your recruiting needs. They take the time to get to know you, understand your wants and needs, and help tailor your college choices to schools that meet these needs and provide a good talent fit.
Our Mission at SportsForce Baseball: We are on a mission to help our select number of qualified and evaluated players maximize their recruiting offers and make the best college decision. Started by CEO & founder Andrew Beinbrink, SportsForce Baseball is a nationally recognized college recruiting advisory group with over 40 former college coaches, players, and MLB scouts in 10 different states. During the last 11+ years, we’ve helped over 1,000 players make their college commitments. Read below, why we are different from every recruiting group in the country. Why SportsForce is Different: * View our Home Page VideoUnlike most recruiting companies, we do not just partner with anyone for our hands-on recruiting programs. Instead, we only partner with qualified players who meet our Five academic, athletic, and coachability selection factors. We evaluate between 10,000-12,000 players each summer and fall at top showcases and selectively advise, and advocate for only a limited number of players each year by directly contacting college coaches to help them maximize recruiting offers. Each of our expert college recruiters is limited to how many players they will advise so there is the best combination of hands-on guidance and personal recruiting outreach to college coaches. Social Media Exposure: We also utilize our growing Twitter following at @SportsForceBB which is followed by over 500 NCAA D1, D2, D3, NAIA, and JC coaches nationwide and growing fast. To Get Evaluated by Our Expert College Recruiting Staff:Option 1:Complete our Recruiting QuestionnaireOption 2: Email us at scouting@sportsforceonline.comOptions 3: DM us on Instagram @SportsForceBB or Twitter @SportsForceBB and share recent video, stats, or measurables (velocity, 60, exit speed, pop time, etc…) for our scouts to evaluate. Find out if Your Son’s Qualifies for One of Our Hands-On Recruiting Programs? Twitter Recruiting Education & College Needs Posts: We post ongoing recruiting education and post NCAA D1, D2, D3, NAIA, and JC needs year around. Follow us on Twitter @SportsForceBB account and join over 500 hundred NCAA D1, D2, D3, NAIA, and JC coaches nationwide that follow us and growing fast. Tagging us: If you have some good video to share with us, make sure to tag us @SportsForceBB or DM us and we will review it.
We would like to congratulate Hayden Cochran on his commitment to Dominican University! Here is Hayden’s recruiting story and interview after his commitment. Good luck as a Star!
1. Share your recruiting story and status.
My recruiting process was much easier than I ever could have expected. The process with Dominican University took about 2 and a half months and everything was made very easy for me. I committed on February 13th, 2017 and will sign this coming April. 2. What school are you going to, and why did you choose them? I am going to attend Dominican University. I choose them for many reasons, one being that there is already a number of Vegas ballplayers attending the school and they all seem to love it. Second, I also found a lot of joy in the dorm rooms and campus. The surrounding area of the school is cloaked in trees making it a great place to live. 3. How did SportsForce help in the process? Sportsforce is the only reason I found this school. They helped me get in contact with college coaches and were able to assist me in connecting with the coaches at Dominican. I more than likely would not be where I am without the help. 4. What advice would you give to other players and parents with the recruiting process (ex. start early, get a highlight video)? One of the biggest things I found to be helpful was getting a video and game footage out as soon as you sign up with Sportsforce. This helps coaches that cannot travel to see you play in person, get a good idea of your skills. 5. How excited are you aboutyour future in college? I am beyond excited, think about it every day. 6. How much money do you anticipate your family saving in college expenses because of you being recruited My family should save about $78,000 over a 4 year span. 7. Would you recommend SportsForce to any other student-athletes? Why? I strongly recommend SportsForce to any athlete of any sport. They work around the clock to get you into a school that is the perfect fit for you. Our Mission at SportsForce Baseball: We are on a mission to help our select number of qualified and evaluated players maximize their recruiting offers and make the best college decision. Started by CEO & founder Andrew Beinbrink, SportsForce Baseball is a nationally recognized college recruiting advisory group with over 40 former college coaches, players, and MLB scouts in 10 different states. During the last 11+ years, we’ve helped over 1,000 players make their college commitments. Read below, why we are different from every recruiting group in the country. Why SportsForce is Different: * View our Home Page VideoUnlike most recruiting companies, we do not just partner with anyone for our hands-on recruiting programs. Instead, we only partner with qualified players who meet our Five academic, athletic, and coachability selection factors. We evaluate between 10,000-12,000 players each summer and fall at top showcases and selectively advise, and advocate for only a limited number of players each year by directly contacting college coaches to help them maximize recruiting offers. Each of our expert college recruiters is limited to how many players they will advise so there is the best combination of hands-on guidance and personal recruiting outreach to college coaches. Social Media Exposure: We also utilize our growing Twitter following at @SportsForceBB which is followed by over 500 NCAA D1, D2, D3, NAIA, and JC coaches nationwide and growing fast. To Get Evaluated by Our Expert College Recruiting Staff:Option 1:Complete our Recruiting QuestionnaireOption 2: Email us at scouting@sportsforceonline.comOptions 3: DM us on Instagram @SportsForceBB or Twitter @SportsForceBB and share recent video, stats, or measurables (velocity, 60, exit speed, pop time, etc…) for our scouts to evaluate. Find out if Your Son’s Qualifies for One of Our Hands-On Recruiting Programs? Twitter Recruiting Education & College Needs Posts: We post ongoing recruiting education and post NCAA D1, D2, D3, NAIA, and JC needs year around. Follow us on Twitter @SportsForceBB account and join over 500 hundred NCAA D1, D2, D3, NAIA, and JC coaches nationwide that follow us and growing fast. Tagging us: If you have some good video to share with us, make sure to tag us @SportsForceBB or DM us and we will review it.
We at Sportsforce would like to congratulate Tyler Kleva on his commitment to Trine University. Here is Tyler’s recruiting story and interview after his commitment. Good luck as a Thunder!
1. Share your recruiting story and status.
The recruiting process was long and a little stressful. SportForce was instrumental in guiding me through the process. Once the initial campaign was put into action, I started receiving email replies from college coaches immediately. I received many emails from different schools, most of them inviting me to camps or their showcases. It was tough to decide which camps to attend and which camps were just moneymakers for the baseball programs. It wasn’t possible to attend them all, so I just decided to attend the ones that were near home or the schools I was really interested in attending. When I first started this process, I really had no idea what to expect and was just hoping to find the right fit to continue my education and athletic career. The process ended when I committed to Trine University on February 16, 2017.
2. What school are you going to, and why did you choose them?I am going to Trine University in Angola, IN, because it best fits my criteria of location, size, academics and baseball. I feel it is the best fit for me. The baseball coach played a roll in my decision as well. He came to watch me play several times, called to check on me, and basically showed a genuine interest in me. I could tell he was recruiting me for baseball, but more importantly, he was recruiting me as a person. We developed a very good relationship during this process and this was a big part of my decision to attend Trine University.3. How did SportsForce help in the process?SportsForce helped me with this process in many ways: from initial contact, through my commitment, SportsForce was sitting alongside guiding me through every step. The online tutorials were helpful with shooting video and developing the recruiting profile. Helping us contact college coaches was key for the initial communication process, then it was up to me to follow up with the schools that expressed interest in me. SportsForce has developed the system for student-athlete recruitment; one just needs to follow the system for success.4. What advice would you give to other players and parents with the recruiting process (ex. start early, get a highlight video)?I recommend to future clients of SportsForce, to start the process early in their freshman, sophomore or junior year of high school. For some, the process can start early, at least identifying some schools of interest. I would also recommend staying calm throughout the process and having realistic expectations. Not every athlete is DI caliber. Find a school that best fits your needs and then worry about the athletic portion. The recruitment process is a marathon, not a sprint. Enjoy the process, visit schools, communicate with the coaches and find what is best for you – don’t worry about what offers teammates may be getting or what they are doing. Do what’s best for you!5. How excited are you on your future in college?I am very excited to be continuing both my athletic and academic career at Trine University. It’s been a goal of mine for several years to play baseball in college. I am very relieved that I have found a school that fits my needs for a college. I very much look forward to beginning the next charter in my life and the next 4 years at Trine University.
6. Would you recommend SportsForce to any other student-athletes? Why?
I would recommend SportsForce to everyone wanting to play a sport in college. It’s a very easy process that gets you maximum exposure easily and quickly. Consider SportsForce your first ever-personal manager. They will assist you in every step of the process, from creation of a profile, your recruiting video, email and phone help…. Everything is included to make the recruiting process enjoyable. I couldn’t imagine trying to do this all on my own. I owe a lot to SportsForce for achieving my goal of playing college baseball.
Our Mission at SportsForce Baseball: We are on a mission to help our select number of qualified and evaluated players maximize their recruiting offers and make the best college decision. Started by CEO & founder Andrew Beinbrink, SportsForce Baseball is a nationally recognized college recruiting advisory group with over 40 former college coaches, players, and MLB scouts in 10 different states. During the last 11+ years, we’ve helped over 1,000 players make their college commitments. Read below, why we are different from every recruiting group in the country. Why SportsForce is Different: * View our Home Page VideoUnlike most recruiting companies, we do not just partner with anyone for our hands-on recruiting programs. Instead, we only partner with qualified players who meet our Five academic, athletic, and coachability selection factors. We evaluate between 10,000-12,000 players each summer and fall at top showcases and selectively advise, and advocate for only a limited number of players each year by directly contacting college coaches to help them maximize recruiting offers. Each of our expert college recruiters is limited to how many players they will advise so there is the best combination of hands-on guidance and personal recruiting outreach to college coaches. Social Media Exposure: We also utilize our growing Twitter following at @SportsForceBB which is followed by over 500 NCAA D1, D2, D3, NAIA, and JC coaches nationwide and growing fast. To Get Evaluated by Our Expert College Recruiting Staff:Option 1:Complete our Recruiting QuestionnaireOption 2: Email us at scouting@sportsforceonline.comOptions 3: DM us on Instagram @SportsForceBB or Twitter @SportsForceBB and share recent video, stats, or measurables (velocity, 60, exit speed, pop time, etc…) for our scouts to evaluate. Find out if Your Son’s Qualifies for One of Our Hands-On Recruiting Programs? Twitter Recruiting Education & College Needs Posts: We post ongoing recruiting education and post NCAA D1, D2, D3, NAIA, and JC needs year around. Follow us on Twitter @SportsForceBB account and join over 500 hundred NCAA D1, D2, D3, NAIA, and JC coaches nationwide that follow us and growing fast. Tagging us: If you have some good video to share with us, make sure to tag us @SportsForceBB or DM us and we will review it.
We would like to congratulate Kyle Joye on his commitment to Chapman University! Here are Kyle’s recruiting story and interview after his commitment. Good luck as a Panther!
1. Share your recruiting story and status.
Johnny Cash once sang “I’ve been everywhere man!”…and that sums up my path to recruitment. The process is brutal and at the same time clarifying. The game is hard enough, but if you truly love the game and have the passion to play at the next level and beyond, you have to run the gauntlet of showcases, and prospect camps, and scouting events. The stress and pressure and adversity encountered in that process is character building and character revealing. If you can emerge from the other end of that cycle…sane…and with game…it’s all good! I committed over the holidays…can’t wait! 2. What school are you going to, and why did you choose them? I am committed to Chapman University. I chose Chapman because it was a great fit for me. Great academics, highly ranked business school…winning program with great coaches who I like and who like me…chance to play early, to win, to contribute…great guys on the team! 3. How did SportsForce help in the process? SportsForce was critically important in the recruiting process. They were honest, accessible, and represented me to the fullest extent. Always there for timely advice. Knowledgeable. Truly cared about me. 4. What advice would you give to other players and parents with the recruiting process? Get independent, qualified, connected, experienced help! SportsForce. Any parent that tries to take this process on by themselves is doing a disservice to their son or daughter…you cannot honestly appraise your kid or represent them without inherent bias, therefore you will project them falsely and set them up for failure! Hand this process off to the pro’s…they will land where they should land and they will be better for it. Don’t bite at every invite…focus on a handful of schools that are academically realistic and baseball realistic. 5.How excited are you on your future in college? Psyched to win the World Series…repeatedly! 6.How much money do you anticipate your family saving in college expenses because of you being recruited? $100K 7. Would you recommend SportsForce to any other student-athletes? Why? Whole heartedly. Complete package. Highly connected. Honest. Respected. Great cadence of communication and web presence. Have your son or daughter’s best interest at heart!
Our Mission at SportsForce Baseball: We are on a mission to help our select number of qualified and evaluated players maximize their recruiting offers and make the best college decision. Started by CEO & founder Andrew Beinbrink, SportsForce Baseball is a nationally recognized college recruiting advisory group with over 40 former college coaches, players, and MLB scouts in 10 different states. During the last 11+ years, we’ve helped over 1,000 players make their college commitments. Read below, why we are different from every recruiting group in the country. Why SportsForce is Different: * View our Home Page VideoUnlike most recruiting companies, we do not just partner with anyone for our hands-on recruiting programs. Instead, we only partner with qualified players who meet our Five academic, athletic, and coachability selection factors. We evaluate between 10,000-12,000 players each summer and fall at top showcases and selectively advise, and advocate for only a limited number of players each year by directly contacting college coaches to help them maximize recruiting offers. Each of our expert college recruiters is limited to how many players they will advise so there is the best combination of hands-on guidance and personal recruiting outreach to college coaches. Social Media Exposure: We also utilize our growing Twitter following at @SportsForceBB which is followed by over 500 NCAA D1, D2, D3, NAIA, and JC coaches nationwide and growing fast. To Get Evaluated by Our Expert College Recruiting Staff:Option 1:Complete our Recruiting QuestionnaireOption 2: Email us at scouting@sportsforceonline.comOptions 3: DM us on Instagram @SportsForceBB or Twitter @SportsForceBB and share recent video, stats, or measurables (velocity, 60, exit speed, pop time, etc…) for our scouts to evaluate. Find out if Your Son’s Qualifies for One of Our Hands-On Recruiting Programs? Twitter Recruiting Education & College Needs Posts: We post ongoing recruiting education and post NCAA D1, D2, D3, NAIA, and JC needs year around. Follow us on Twitter @SportsForceBB account and join over 500 hundred NCAA D1, D2, D3, NAIA, and JC coaches nationwide that follow us and growing fast. Tagging us: If you have some good video to share with us, make sure to tag us @SportsForceBB or DM us and we will review it.
We would like to congratulate Aryan Chordia on his commitment to Carnegie Mellon University! Here is Aryan’s recruiting story and interview after his commitment. Good luck as a Tartan!
1. Share your recruiting story and status
The process for us was quite confusing at first as coming from Dubai we were quite unaware of how the process of college golf and college recruitment worked. However, through our initial discussions with Dave on Skype a lot of these doubts were cleared and it was great that we could fly over to the states for the summer to play, meet personally with Dave to further strategize my recruitment process and experience college recruitment first hand.
2. What school are you going to, and why did you choose them?
Carnegie Mellon – Firstly, as they are a top ten Engineering school and academics was my primary focus. Second as they have a great golf team and I connected very well with the coach.
3. How did SportsForce help in the process?
I was personally introduced to several college coaches which was otherwise impossible so it was only thanks to SportsForce that I got noticed. They expertly guided me through the process and how to interact with the coaches.
4. What advice would you give to other players and parents with the recruiting process (ex. start early, get a highlight video)?
Start early and stay relaxed!
5. How excited are you on your future in college?
Can’t wait to begin my college career and compete both in the classroom and on the golf course.
6. Would you recommend SportsForce to any other student-athletes? Why?
Definitely would recommend – SportsForce has extremely professional services and structured plans as well as being excellent at developing strong personal relationships with families and college coaches.
Over the last five years SportsForce has helped over 1,000 student-athletes and families successfully navigate the college recruiting and athletic scholarship process while saving families on average $50,000 in college expenses.
We would like to congratulate Austin Mowrey on his commitment to Columbia University! Here is Austin’s recruiting story and interview after his commitment. Good luck as a Lion!
1. Share your recruiting story and status.
A majority of my recruiting began during my sophomore season and the summer before my junior year. I ended up committing in December of my junior year. 2. What school are you going to, and why did you choose them? I committed to Columbia University because it had always been my dream to play at a prestigious academic institution with a successful baseball program. As an Ivy League school, who had dominated in baseball during recent years, Columbia was the fit I was looking for. 3. How did SportsForce help in the process? SportsForce helped my recruiting process by setting up a profile on their website with a recruiting video. They also had several connections to coaches and colleges around the country. 4. What advice would you give to other players and parents with the recruiting process (ex. start early, get a highlight video)? Some advice I would give to parents and players would be to make a recruiting video. This allows coaches to see you early on in high school and evaluate your talent before they see you play. Also, [for baseball] I would recommend attending Perfect Game events and the Arizona Fall Classic. Both of these events have a large variety of scouts. 5. How excited are you on your future in college? I am very excited about my opportunities at Columbia and my future in New York City. 6. Would you recommend SportsForce to any other student-athletes? Why? I would recommend SportsForce to other student-athletes because of the work they do for you. They provide all student athletes with the chance to continue their education and athletic careers. Our Mission at SportsForce Baseball: We are on a mission to help our select number of qualified and evaluated players maximize their recruiting offers and make the best college decision. Started by CEO & founder Andrew Beinbrink, SportsForce Baseball is a nationally recognized college recruiting advisory group with over 40 former college coaches, players, and MLB scouts in 10 different states. During the last 11+ years, we’ve helped over 1,000 players make their college commitments. Read below, why we are different from every recruiting group in the country. Why SportsForce is Different: * View our Home Page VideoUnlike most recruiting companies, we do not just partner with anyone for our hands-on recruiting programs. Instead, we only partner with qualified players who meet our Five academic, athletic, and coachability selection factors. We evaluate between 10,000-12,000 players each summer and fall at top showcases and selectively advise, and advocate for only a limited number of players each year by directly contacting college coaches to help them maximize recruiting offers. Each of our expert college recruiters is limited to how many players they will advise so there is the best combination of hands-on guidance and personal recruiting outreach to college coaches. Social Media Exposure: We also utilize our growing Twitter following at @SportsForceBB which is followed by over 500 NCAA D1, D2, D3, NAIA, and JC coaches nationwide and growing fast. To Get Evaluated by Our Expert College Recruiting Staff:Option 1:Complete our Recruiting QuestionnaireOption 2: Email us at scouting@sportsforceonline.comOptions 3: DM us on Instagram @SportsForceBB or Twitter @SportsForceBB and share recent video, stats, or measurables (velocity, 60, exit speed, pop time, etc…) for our scouts to evaluate. Find out if Your Son’s Qualifies for One of Our Hands-On Recruiting Programs? Twitter Recruiting Education & College Needs Posts: We post ongoing recruiting education and post NCAA D1, D2, D3, NAIA, and JC needs year around. Follow us on Twitter @SportsForceBB account and join over 500 hundred NCAA D1, D2, D3, NAIA, and JC coaches nationwide that follow us and growing fast. Tagging us: If you have some good video to share with us, make sure to tag us @SportsForceBB or DM us and we will review it.
So you’ve developed your recruiting game plan, effectively marketed yourself to your target schools, and you’re starting to see some responses and interest from college coaching staffs. When you get past the initial emails expressing their mutual interest, the next stage is to get on the phone together. So what are you supposed to say?
In this edition of our college lacrosse education series, we’ll cover some of the things you need to keep in mind when you reach the stage of speaking on the phone or in person with a coach who is actively recruiting you. Like many things in life, relationships are the key to a successful recruitment, and often a phone call is an early step in fostering those relationships with college programs.
Breathe
Yes, there is a physical component to this. We’ve all felt anxiety in new situations…it’s a natural and normal reaction. Just like performing on the lacrosse field, you’ll do better when you can calm your nerves to simply perform. One of the main ways you can control this (on the field and off) is through your breathing. Before the call, do some controlled deep breathing exercises and review the information you’ve gathered on the school, lacrosse program, and coach to whom you are scheduled to speak. If you get hung up during the call and find yourself sucking air, try to take deep breaths with your mouth away from the phone while the coach is speaking.
Be honest/ this is about YOU
Of course you don’t want to lie to a coach on the phone or in person, but what we’re talking about here is providing a coach with YOUR goals and dreams. We’ve all memorized the “right answers” to questions about our game- “it’s about the team”, “I’ll play anywhere you need me”, “I just want to be a good teammate”, but that doesn’t tell a recruiter what you think YOU can bring to their program. If you want to compete for a starting spot as a freshman, say that. If you’re willing to play defensive midfield for a year or two to get the chance to compete for an offensive spot, say that, but it needs to be about what YOU want and what YOU are willing to do to make that happen. You have to realize that your coach and your program aren’t in charge of your progression, so it’s up to YOU to get better and compete for playing time. At the college level, your desire and dedication to reaching your own goals serve as an important indicator to a coach of how well you will play for them and their program, increasing your ability to secure a roster spot or scholarship offer.
Avoid negative statements
There is a difference between saying you prefer a larger university and saying you don’t like small schools. There’s a difference between saying that you’re interested in higher-level academics than something disparaging, even about another school. As a high school student-athlete, it’s likely that you have an idea of what you want, but you really don’t know what will work best for you and your family. The risk you run by going negative is in offending a recruiter. These coaches are proud and dedicated to their schools and programs, so the wrong critical or negative comment can change the complexion of the conversation and end their recruitment of you. Enter each interaction with an open mind, ready to listen to what the coach is trying to tell you about the opportunity they’re offering.
Ask questions
One of the best ways to let a coach know that you’re seriously interested is through thoughtful questions. You want to ask things that can’t be found through a quick google search. Information like majors offered, class sizes, and campus location can all be found quickly and easily. If you want to maximize your time with the coach, you want to ask questions you can’t find online:
What would my typical day look like in the fall? In the spring?
What type of player do you recruit? How many are you recruiting in my class?
Where do you see me fitting in your program? What can I work on to fit better in your program?
Does the lacrosse team live together? Is there a Greek system or a “Lacrosse Fraternity”?
Is there a prevalent major among the guys on the team?
These are just a few examples, but you want to ensure that you convey to the coach that you have thought about his program and you are interested in learning more from him. That kind of preparation encourages the coaches to engage with you and lets them know they’re not wasting their time with a prospect that is only lukewarm on their school.
Don’t commit to anything you’re not sure of
College coaches are salesmen. They have to be salesmen to attract the best recruits and build their programs. Because they are juggling 75 recruits to commit 15 of them, they sometimes get aggressive in asking for your thoughts on commitment to their school. Don’t let a coach paint you into a corner or solicit an answer you’re not prepared to give. A simple “I would need to discuss that with my family before I give you an answer” will usually suffice. The same applies for pressure to visit the campus – “Thanks coach, and I’ll sit down with my parents to see if that weekend can work for us as well”. The main thing you want to avoid is agreeing to something only to go back on it later, which can create issues in your relationship with that coach.
While we often talk about this college selection process as one of the most important decisions you’ll make in your life, we also must recognize that a coach’s choices affect their families and livelihoods as well, so they take this process very seriously. They want to get to know the real you so they can evaluate your fit in their program, both on the field and off. Your ability to communicate effectively and show genuine interest in their school and lacrosse program can greatly impact the opportunities you get throughout the recruiting process. You certainly don’t have to be polished and have all the answers, but effectively communicating through some nerves shows coaches your maturity and begins to give him an idea of who you are, both as a student-athlete and a young man.
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.
