Coach to Tom: “No. I wouldn’t be doing my job as a recruiter if I didn’t already know about a freshman good enough to make the team.”

 

3.  On this one, back in December 2014, when Ivies were completing their 2015 class with early decision recruits, they already had commitments for the class of 2016. 

Dartmouth (DI) coach [December 2014]

Tom to coach: “I know things are happening faster each year as I now have male athletes that are getting Ivy offers before junior year.   Do you also have offers out and commitments this early?”

“Yes we have some 16s who have said they will take spots so it has gone quicker.”

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4.  Learn what coaches are facing in trying to evaluate athletes.

Brown (DI) Women’s Soccer coach

“I have not had a chance to look at your DVD, because I have been swamped with emails for the Las Vegas College Showcase and the Jefferson Cup. Most tournaments we receive over 500 recruits that invite us to watch them play and there is no way to see them all.”

 

5.  At academic schools where there is no athletic aid, athletes can drop from the team at any point which unexpectedly opens up additional recruiting needs for the coach.

University of Chicago (DIII) football coach 

“Offers of support and those decisions can happen at any point.  As we finish our season, we are evaluating our current team and who we expect to return.  That discussion will lead to another round of offers.  Recruiting and offering are extremely fluid.”

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6.  Coaches appreciate athletes keeping in touch.

MIT (DIII) Women’s Soccer coach

“You are right it is always nice to get an update and since I was not at the Surf Cup, even better.”

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7.   An example of what you are facing when trying to get the coach’s attention.

Amherst (DIII) men's soccer coach

Athlete: “I'm really hoping to hear what you thought of my video since you haven't seen me play since PPA. Have you had a chance to look at my clips?”

“Not yet. We have about 90 videos we need to get to that players have sent. Will take a look when we can.”

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8.  Here is an email about coaches receiving weekly phone calls and no phone calls.

Lafayette (DI) women’s soccer coach

Coach to Tom: “He has some girls call him every week, so he loses interest when communication isn’t ongoing or diminishes as with ______.  He had a 9th grader call and then left a message and emailed her transcript. 

He has one spot left. Doesn’t want to start up again unless she is serious as he made most of the calls, but she was fine when they did talk.  Doesn’t want to talk if he is one of 15-20 schools.”

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9.  You need to find out this kind of information so you can concentrate on schools where recruiting opportunities still exist.

Penn (DI) baseball coach [April]

Athlete to Tom after a visit with the Penn coach: “He was impressed with my academics. He said he only had one of the 8 or 9 spots filled (an infielder). Going to take 4 more infielders and about 4 more pitchers. They always take 1 or 2 from their camps.”

 

10.  An example of what one coach was facing in trying to watch players who had contacted him play in person and how he rates them.

Harvard (DI) women’s soccer coach to Tom

“There were 200 girls who had written him, and the fields were an hour apart.  He tries to watch for 10 minutes and then he either marks down that she is worth looking at again and marks a +, or not.” 

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11. Academic confirmation is available for the asking. 

Washington University (DIII) men’s soccer coach

“You’re where you should be for now.  When you retake your ACT later the super score will go up, to our standard between 32.5 to 34.  Way to go.”

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12.  Learn about coaches’ timelines and recruiting status.

Williams (DIII) women’s basketball coach to athlete

“As far as recruiting, we are still in the process of gathering information of all of our potential top recruits. We plan to bring all of our recruit's folders to admissions in early September and we will have a clearer picture of your recruiting status then. Currently, we are recruiting other guards that are ranked in front of you, but they have not made their final decisions.”