Why You Need To Recruit Your School

Why You Need to Recruit Your School

March 27, 2015

By Chris LeGates, TCS Co-Host

In our most recent podcast with Providence College women’s soccer coach, Sam Lopes (you can listen here) we were treated to great insight on the recruiting process from an outstanding coach that has experience at all levels of the college game and as a club director as well. One point that really stayed with me after the interview with Coach Lopes was when he stated that “student-athletes have to recruit their schools as hard as they expect to be recruited.” College coaches at all levels are busy…at the highest level, they are busy fielding hundreds of calls and emails from recruits, planning practices, scouting, fundraising and doing public relations. At some levels, coaches are wearing many different hats that include teaching classes, administrative responsibilities and managing home contests. It is imperative that if a student-athlete is really interested in a school, that not only do they establish and initiate the line of communication, they must maintain it as well. My experience has shown me that a student-athlete that has maintained a constant line of communication with me, is someone that we as a staff certainly paid more attention to. 

This initial contact should start with a cover letter of sorts stating your interest in the college. You should attach a sport-related resume that includes your club and high school coaches contact info, tournaments you will be attending (always include your uniform number), position played and awards that you have received.  The resume should also include academic information such as intended major, your GPA, SAT or PSAT scores and any awards (National Honor Society, etc…) that you may have. Please make sure that you address your email or letter to the proper coach and proper college. The easiest way to fall off of a coach’s radar, or not get on that radar at all, is to have the wrong name of the coach or the wrong institution in the communication. I have seen this happen too many times and I would think just about every college coach has too.

Plan on attending a contest to see that school play and try to meet with the coaching staff. Make time to go to open houses, admissions events and attend camps that either the school is putting on or where you know the coach of the school you are interested in is going to be. We know that schedules often change and that games and tournaments get canceled or moved, so make sure that you communicate with your prospective coaches as a courtesy. Do not be discouraged if you do not hear from coaches as soon as you send something to them or make a phone call. Keep your communications constant and be assured that they are being handled.

As I mentioned in one of my previous blogs, do your homework about the schools you are looking at and know what their status is academically, socially and financially in addition to athletically. The more informed you are, the more you can make an objective decision. Remember you are going to be spending four years or more at an institution, is it going to be the place you want to be attending even if you cannot play your sport anymore? Do your homework and remember if you want to be on the recruiting radar, you have to put yourself on that radar and you have to keep yourself on that radar.

Be sure to check out all of the information on our website!

TCS is always here to help so if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me at info@tacklingcollgesports.com

Chris