While going through the recruiting process one can sometimes feel a little afraid of what might happen..especially if things aren't going your way. Even when you are not getting answers back from coaches you must keep your head up. The more you make an effort to reach out to these coaches the more they will see in you. Also the effort that you put into your sport can then be translated into how much you are putting towards not only doing well athletically but also academically.

That's said, it's not always to put in a ton of effort when you feel like you're not getting a payout in return. Sometimes, we need a motivational boost, and that's where inspirational quotes come in. Here are 10 quotes that I have used myself and also shared with my friends, teammates, and family to help motivate them. Hopefully, they will help inspire you through your recruiting process as well!

1. “Continuous effort — not strength or intelligence — is the key to unlocking our potential.”– Liane Cardes

When reading this quote what comes to mind is academics. Even if you are struggling during class but are asking questions, a professor is going to want to help you. If you just sit back and wait for the professor to come to you, that is not going to happen. When they see you making an effort to better yourself they are going to WANT to go out of their way to be the one to help. The same can be said about the recruiting process–you have to go after what you want!

Related: Offseason Motivational Quotes: Mark Spitz on Preparation

2. “If you don't have confidence, you'll always find a way not to win.”– Carl Lewis

In the recruiting process, in class, and on the field, court, track, or in the pool, you must have confidence to succeed. Try new things during this new chapter in your life. I promise that you will surprise yourself!

3. “Excellence is the gradual result of always striving to do better.”– Pat Riley

Always look to do better, do not just settle for average. The more effort you put into something the better the outcome will be. If you are putting a solid effort into your recruiting process, coaches will notice that and see it as you wanting to better yourself. 

4. “Win If You Can, Lose If You Must, But NEVER QUIT!”– Cameron Trammell

College is not the same as high school and can be a hard transition for some. If things get hard, ask for help! There will be people there who want you to do well and succeed. Do not sit back and think that things will solve themselves. Be proactive! 

5. “It's not whether you get knocked down; it's whether you get up.”– Vince Lombardi

Again do not give up after one rejection, loss, or one bad grade–get right back up and try again. Find out what you can do differently next time and apply that feedback.

Related: 5 Sports Quotes to Get You Pumped

6. “Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.”-Buddha

This quote is something that I keep embedded in my mind for when I do not do well during a competition. When I have one bad performance I have to make sure that I do not focus on it. Make sure that you also move past that one thing that went wrong and focus on what comes next. If you focus on the bad you will not be able to focus on the present. 

7. “Believe you can and you're halfway there.”-Theodore Roosevelt

It all begins with believing in yourself. If you are playing a sport in college you are already halfway there. You believed in yourself and got into college to participate in something you love. Have faith in yourself and shoot for the stars. This also applies to recruiting–if you believe you're recruitable, you've already overcome a huge mental hurdle.

Related: Rate your Coaches, Facilities, and Campus Visits

8. “Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.” -Albert Einstein

This quote is something I look at relating to playing a sport and it also relates to recruiting. You are not always going to be able to win. In sports, some look at that as not being a contribution to their team, but there is when they are wrong. You can be just as valuable as one of the top players, and winning is not the only aspect of a team. And even when you lose in sports and in life, there's almost always a lesson to learn from failure.

9. “You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.” -Wayne Gretzky

Do not hold yourself back in your recruiting process. Put yourself out there–the worst a coach can do is say no. 

10. “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do, so throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails.  Explore, Dream, Discover.” -Mark Twain

Go for your goals with no regrets. 

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* Originally published on December 2, 2022, by Grace Casolo