Starting Your Recruiting Process
Alright student-athletes…it’s GO TIME! You’ve been putting in the hard work and long hours during practice to improve your performance and stats. Now it’s time to put in some work off the field to improve your chances of getting recruited and getting on a college coach’s radar.
One of the most common myths about the college recruiting process is “If you’re really good, college coaches will find you.” Instead, remember the two most important words when it comes to the recruiting process: BE PROACTIVE.
Coaches are not going to magically find you out of thousands of other recruits. You need to introduce yourself, show them what you have to offer, and why you would be a great fit for their program. So let’s get started…here are some tips on how to start your recruiting process NOW!
Create a List of Target Schools
- Research specific athletic programs (NCAA DI, DII, DII (or NAIA or JUCO) or U SPORTS) in which you are interested. Learn about those teams and if you would be a good fit for that program.
- Compare your stats (height, weight, speed, skills, accomplishments) to roster players and see how you stack up.
- Look to see if your position is needed or if they already have multiple athletes filling that role.
- In order to play collegiate sports you will need to register with the appropriate athletic organization. Please check out these links:
Athletes need to have a Recruiting Video/Website
- Student-athletes are 12 times more likely to get a look from a college coach if they have a recruiting video/website link in their introductory email.
- It’s not likely that a coach will have the chance to see an international athlete in person, so it’s important that your recruiting video/website shows off your athletic ability in order for a coach to evaluate you and stay on their radar.
- Check out our Options sample student-athlete recruiting website here↗.
Getting on a Coach’s Radar Early
- Although college coaches have restrictions on when they can contact potential recruits, student-athletes can reach out to coaches early on.
- When sending an introductory email to coaches, be sure to personalize it and include specific information regarding your academics, athletic stats/highlights, why you’re interested in their program, a link to your website/recruiting video, and your follow-up next steps.
Thank you for following our ‘Sports Recruiting Tips’ series! The college recruiting process has a lot of moving pieces, but the more proactive you are, the better. If you have any questions about the college sports recruiting process or would like to speak to an Options consultant, we are here↗ to help!
