Coaches Corner

College GAMEplan works with your high school and club coaches to promote you to the colleges where you talent level best meets the requirements universities are looking for.  In most cases, nobody is more aware of your skill level than your high school coach and/or your club/select coach.  So it is extremely important that you communicate with them to get their input into:  1)  the skill level at which they think you can realistically compete, and; 2) the network of college coaches that they know. 

In the same way that companies network their many contacts, customers and referrals for additional business, College GAMEplan provides you with a quick and simple tool to maximize the college relationships that your coaches have formed over the years.  Ask your high school or club coach for an honest assessment of your skill level, then ask him/her for the names of contacts that they think might be a good match for you.  Research the school online and if you are interested, click on My GAMEplan and e-mail a College GAMEplan introduction letter and your Player Profile.   If your high school or club coach prefers to call or write to them himself, then let him or her do that – but get the targeted coaches name and send your own thank you and introduction letter as well.  Sports marketing is just like business marketing – the more often you can put your name in front of your targeted college coach, the better.  And College GAMEplan makes it easy to do that while adding a level of professionalism and credibility that will undoubtedly separate you from the hundreds of other high school and junior college prospects the college coach may be considering.

To market you effectively, communication is key!  Your high school coach and your current and former club or select coaches are an incredibly important resource throughout the college recruitment process.  So it is imperative that you maintain good relationships with your coaches and that both you and he/she communicate regularly and keep each other up to date with any contacts or referrals that you establish.  It is always prudent to work with your high school coach, however, on the rare occasion that the opportunity to coordinate and communicate with a high school coach is not possible, continue the same efforts with either or both your school’s athletic director, college guidance counselor and/or your club coach.

High school and club coaches are not just a terrific resource during your recruiting period.  They are arguably even more valuable to you in the months and years before college coaches can even begin calling you (usually following July 1 at the end of your of your junior year - see ADvice from the AD for more information).  It is never too early to discuss your college ambitions with your coach or coaches. Even if you are in your freshman year and unlikely to play varsity for another two or three years, you should let your varsity coach know of your desires and commitments, then ask for his input into developing a College GAMEplan for you.  On the one hand, it will highlight to your high school coach your desire and enthusiasm.  On the other hand, he or she will be able to provide you with a regimented workout schedule to help you accomplish both your short and long term goals. 

Playing college sports requires a commitment and discipline that will likely separate you from other high school students who have no desire to play at the next level. So in the same manner that your coaches develop a game plan and playbook for each game, then practices those plays prior to game time, you should work with your coaches to develop a College GAMEplan for your athletic future.  Then stick to it!  Make a commitment to accomplishing it and dedicate yourself to meeting its objectives.  Work with your coaches to develop short and long term goals and objectives.  Is diet and nutrition an important factor in helping you build your body?  Ask your coaches if you need to participate in a strength and conditioning program. Ask them if they know of any drills that might help you overcome some of the weaknesses in your game.  And ask them for their input into how you can add to the strengths of your game.  Talk to them about attitude and enthusiasm and understand that to many college coaches, it is often attitude and enthusiasm that are looked for as qualities that separate the hundreds of high school athletes from each other. 

Also, understand that especially early in the recruiting process, college coaches may want to see you without you seeing them.  So it is imperative that you control and channel your temperament and attitude both on the playing field and in practice.  Remember that college coaches often have limited time and financial resources and they may not be able to watch you themselves.  In many case, they rely on their own network of local scouts whom you will likely never see or know yourself.  So next time you see someone leaning against a tree in the distance, or keeping a low profile among the parents and fans, it may just be a college coach or scout.  Keep a positive frame of mind during every practice and in every game!  You just never know when someone might be watching you.

Work with your high school coach and work with your club coach.  Communicate with them.  Alongside College GAMEplan, they may well be the most important and valuable resource available to you throughout the college recruiting process.   

Questions To Ask College Coaches

Advice from the AD 

Guidance from the Counselor

Choosing A College

Check out our bi-weekly email bulletins.  Read our regularly published email bulletins containing information and tips on topics such as:

• Goals and Objectives – athletic and academic

• Strength, diet, weight and exercise goals

• Strength and Conditioning for high school student athletes

• Food and Nutrition

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