Effective Communication between Players, Parents and Collegiate Coaches

The collegiate recruiting process can be a daunting and exciting time for junior athletes. Amidst the whirlwind of visits, evaluations, and scholarship offers, communication plays a pivotal role in forging meaningful connections with potential coaches and making informed decisions about one's future.

  While parents' support and guidance are invaluable, it's crucial to establish clear boundaries and recognize that players must take the lead in their communication with coaches. It's important to maintain a clear separation between player and parent communication with coaches as the coaches are not looking to recruit the parent, they are looking at the player, and they want that player to be mature, that means being able to speak for himself. Parents can best support their children by encouraging open communication, providing a listening ear, and helping them articulate their thoughts and feelings in private. They can also assist with logistical aspects of the recruiting process, such as scheduling visits, organizing travel arrangements, and ensuring compliance with NCAA rules.

 Striking the Right Balance: Confidence without Arrogance

 In the competitive world of college athletics, coaches are seeking individuals who exude confidence in their abilities. Players should be able to highlight their strengths, accomplishments, and aspirations without appearing arrogant. Coaches are looking for confident players and they can gauge it through your mannerisms.

 Asking Questions: Demonstrating Engagement and Curiosity

 Prepare a line of questions prior to speaking or meeting. Asking thoughtful questions during the recruiting process demonstrates a player's engagement and genuine interest in the program as well as provides insights that can lead to a decision going to one program vs another. Coaches appreciate players who eager to learn more about the team's philosophy, expectations, and culture. This also provides an opportunity for players to assess whether the program aligns with their goals and values.

 Examples :

1)    How would you describe the current culture of the team?

2)    How would players describe your coaching style?

3)    Are the players good friends with each other?

4)    What position could you see me playing?

5)    What is the teams GPA average?

6)    What is a normal practice and fitness schedule look like?

7)    What academic services are provided to athletes?