When being recruited by colleges there are many things that you should remember when talking to coaches. These coaches are giving you potentially life-changing opportunities because of your athletic skill so you want to be respectful and give them a reason to still be interested in you. Here are some things to remember during the recruiting process…
1. Have a Good Attitude
Coaches will not recruit athletes that they feel are disrespectful or have a bad attitude. When talking to coaches, whether it be an assistant or head coach, you must always show them respect and be courteous at all times. Any sense that a player has a bad attitude or does not care, they will cut you from their recruiting board. Coaches are fine with this because it helps them weed out the players that won't fit their program.
2. Be Prompt
Always respond to a coach's email, text message, or call. If you miss their call it is understandable, but either call back as soon as you can or schedule a time for another one. Never ghost a coach or wait weeks/months to respond, under any circumstance. Many coaches have to deal this and it is very rude towards the work they put in towards recruiting you. Some athletes don't respond to a coach because they think they are better than the school looking at them. Then, when they don't get the offers they were looking for, they think they can go back to the coach they ghosted.
3. Be Honest
If you are not interested in a school that is looking at you, tell them. Coaches will not be upset if you do this. They will actually appreciate it because you are saving their time that can be used towards someone else. Many times athletes will string along a coach who puts in a lot of time to recruit him, when the athlete knew from the start they were not going to attend the school.
4. Ask Questions
The recruiting process is not a one way street. Athletes should be asking the coaches just as many questions as the coaches are asking them. They want to find out more about you, but you also want find just as much about them and their school. Before you decide to commit to a school, you want to know everything you can about the school and coaching staff so that there are no surprises. While athletics are important, you want to make sure you're going somewhere you'll get a good education and enjoy your experience.
5. Don't Ghost Anyone!
When you decide to commit to a school, reach out to the coaches who were previously recruiting you and inform them that you are committing elsewhere. Coaches will appreciate the time you took to let them know rather than finding out through a random source that you committed elsewhere. They will most likely wish you the best of luck and everyone will go their separate paths. You never know how these coaches can help you down the line in the future in some way. It's important to not burn bridges in the recruiting world.
