Personality plays a major role in your ability to fit in with a team and a good coach wants someone who is passionate, smart, hard working, consistent, and is coachable. Having these key traits makes a coach want to learn more about you, since you have a love for the sport and are coachable. Here's how these key qualities play into your recruiting process.

Passion 

Passion is one of the key characteristic coaches look for in recruits. Being a college athlete is much different than a high school one. It takes much more time, dedication, and sacrifice, so you have to love the game and be willing to sacrifice things to play. Fran Grembowicz, head field hockey coach from St. Lawrence University, emphasizes that she looks for this in players. “Playing a college sport is much different than high school,” she said. “You have to put in the time in college and that requires a high level of passion for the game.”

Related: Rate St. Lawrence University

Smarts

In terms of smarts, we are not just talking about in the classroom. Of course coaches want players who excel in their academics but they are also looking for someone with a high game IQ. They want someone who knows the game inside and out and applies their knowledge to the way they play. If you play an individual sport, it's about recognizing and implementing the tips you are given to improve your performances and being consciously aware of what you need to do to get where you want to be. 

Related: 5 Reasons Grades are Important as an Athletic Recruit

Work Ethic 

Being a college athlete requires a lot of hard work and time management–unlike other college students, you have to balance practices, games, school work, and other commitments, making for a pretty busy schedule! However, by powering through your responsibilities and being willing to work the hardest you can shine in the eyes of coaches. It may require you to wake up everyday at 5am to get your work done before practice or staying late after practice to run a few more drills. You have to be willing to put in the work regardless of convenience. 

Consistency

Coaches want someone who is going to show up every day, on time, and ready to go. Whether it be a 6am practice or 6pm it's about showing up and being consistent. That's how you improve. You have to be able to recognize why you aren't playing your best and adjust. Coaches want someone reliable, and that comes from figuring out how to be your best everyday. You can try being mindful of this before going into a session and focusing on improving. 

Related: Rate your Coaches, Facilities, and Campus Visits

Coachability

Coaches want to see you succeed, (most of them… check out our coach ratings for more info) and with that comes their criticism. They may give you tips or pointers they believe will help you improve. It is then your responsibility to take that criticism and apply it or not. Coaches want someone who is going to take what they say seriously and implement it. 

Overall, what each coach is looking for is unique to them but we can assure you a majority are going to want players with these characteristics. Be conscious of how your decisions will affect your game and lead by example.

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* Originally published on July 26, 2022, by Casey Chizmazia