So you wanna get recruited? Part 1.
Getting recruited by a College Coach sounds great. Unfortunately, there are misunderstandings about how difficult it is to get recruited. The Youth Sports Circus, caring more about taking money from sports parents then informing them, can be partly blamed. Due to not enough guidance, a lot of High School Athletes are left in the dark.
You have to be talented, to become part of the 7% of High School Athletes playing Sports in College. In ‘So you wanna get recruited?’ you will find helpful tips that might get you recruited. Hopefully this will help you get a better feel for how recruiting works and what is expected from you as an Athlete.
"Most Athletes in High School love to extend their Sports career in College..."
Tip # 1.
Learn to interact
with a Coach
So you wanna get recruited?
TIP #1. Learn to interact with a Coach
So you have been pretty successful in High School. You are representing the Varsity team and feel like you are being noticed. But are you? Just sharing some stories here and there on your socials without any context, might get likes from all your school friends. Unfortunately, not many of them have College Coaches as their followers.
If you want to get a College Coach’s attention, you need to learn how to interact with a Coach. For starters; when you send an email, make sure this comes from you and from your email address; Do not let your parents email on your behalf! Coaches consider you as an adult once you start playing for them and they want to see you are independent enough to take care of yourself.
How to write an email to a Coach?
Not sure how to write your first email? I have made a template for you. Click on this link, which will take you to my Post ‘5 great recruiting tips’ Then scroll down till you see the template.
If you rather watch a short video explaining, click here.
Tip # 2 .
Be a great Teammate
So you wanna get recruited?
TIP #2. Be a great Teammate
If you are an Athlete playing a teamsport, your team only does well when all players function as a team. If you practice an individual sport, you most likely also are part of a team. It will be formed by other individual Athletes all representing the same school or club. Being a great Teammate is a decision. And that decision is often influenced by multiple factors.
Being a great Teammate requires you to set the right example. Showing up on time at all team functions. Always trying to support and uplift your teammates. And showing respect to your Coaches, the opponents and referees. Now if you only have to focus on your sport, that seems easy. But of course that is not how life works. You might sometimes deal with frustration or disappointments from things that happen in your private life. Because sports can be very intense and emotional, this can easily carry over at practices or during games.
Get a feel for how your teammates and Coaches respond to you in different settings. If you realize that your behavior is not helping the team, change it! If your goal is to get recruited, realize that College Coaches will inform about you. Your (former) teammates or Coaches know about the impact you can have on the team chemistry. And this will influence your chances of getting recruited, if it is negative.
Tip #3 .
Not every Athlete is gonna play Division I
So you wanna get recruited?
TIP #3. Not every Athlete is gonna play Division I
Too many High School Athletes and their parents think that the only way to play in College, should be at NCAA Division I. This gives a wrong impression about competing at the other levels or at a Junior College. The Division I level is very competitive. Getting a full Athletic scholarship is not a given.
Winning is everything at Division I. There is a lot at stake for programs and a lot is related to finances. This means the culture can feel very pressured and intense. You need to have great work ethics, academically and athletically. There is an independence needed to handle setbacks (injuries, mental health, bad grades) on your own.
Just because you want to play Division I, does not mean you are good enough. So maybe in the recruiting process, it is good to reconsider your options. I wrote a very detailed post for you “Is playing sports at NCAA Division I overrated?” Hopefully this will show you that there are more options to play College Sports!
There is a hype about Division I. “Is playing sports at NCAA Division I overrated?” will help separate stories from reality. And might make you think twice if the hype about Division I is worth all the attention…
Tip #4 .
Keep improving your Basic Skills
So you wanna get recruited?
TIP #4. Keep improving your Basic Skills
It is interesting how many High School Athletes no longer work on their basic or fundamental sports skills. During your season, daily practices, games and school are very time consuming. Having a routine started in the off season, that you can stick with during your season, can benefit you.
High School Coaches do not have time any more helping you with fundamentals. Their main focus is game strategy and improving the team’s chemistry. Once you are a College Athlete, you will be thankful that you always have your routine to fall back on. There will be times where an injury hinders you from playing. Or the team is loaded with talent which may cut your playing time. Showing you can work by yourself, without an audience (or posting practice highlights), is something that Coaches will value!
Social Media Profile Picture
REPPIN HOOPERS designs Personalized Profile Drawings repping you in your favorite sport. You can use these drawings as a profile on your Social Media outlets and get more attention. Make your profile stand out from the pack!
Tip #5 .
Live, eat and sleep like an Athlete
So you wanna get recruited?
TIP #5. Live, eat and sleep like an Athlete
If your plan is to play in College, it is important to take good care of yourself. Especially as a High School freshman and sophomore, your body is affected by growth spurts. Your brain is trying to catch up with how fast the rest of your body is growing and those two don’t always align. For some of you, the intensity at practices and the pace of the games are different than when you played for a club. So a lot of adjustments.
To help your body stay healthy, it is important to have at least three healthy meals during the day. Start with a good breakfast that will keep you fueled till lunch. At school, try to withstand the temptations of getting fast food off campus. It will not help your body and muscles prepare for your practice or game. Load a lunch bag full of healthy sandwiches with protein and add some fruits. After your sports activities, have a healthy dinner so your body can recover.
When it comes to growth and recovery, sleeping is key! If you notice in the morning that you can’t get out of bed or run late for school, it is time for some serious adjustments! Start going to bed at an earlier time. Learn to listen to what your body needs. Athletes use up way more energy so comparing yourself to your non-athletic classmates and their bedtime won’t be helpful. And last but not least, shut your cell phone off. Even better, leave it in the kitchen overnight so no one can distract you from a good night of sleep.
So you wanna get recruited?
I hope that I have succeeded in showing you how to improve your chances to get recruited. Take all these tips to heart. If your goals are to play Sports in College, start working on your journey today!
If reading my post has you doubt how to get you recruited, please reach out! I have been helping many Athletes and their parents and I am also here for you. My 30 mins Mini Sessions are a great way to start!
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