By Norah Hunt, Swimming World College Intern.
Every July 1st, thousands of upcoming high school seniors excitedly stare at a telephone, eagerly awaiting that special call from their dream school. Since this day is the first time Division 1 college coaches are allowed to initiate contact with their potential student athletes, it is understandably a nerve racking time for both the athletes and the college coaches.
There is a substantial amount of hype around July 1, but it does not make or break the recruiting process. There is so much more that goes into building relationships with coaches and deciding on where to take visits. One phone call, while important, is not the end all be all.
Like most upcoming seniors, I spent a lot of time stressing about finding the right school for myself and worrying unnecessarily about where I would be next fall. I ended up at a school I love, but my recruiting process was far from perfect. Here are some things I wish someone had told me when I started:
The phone calls should not be stressful.
All too often, phone calls with college coaches will turn into a one sided conversation, with the athlete not contributing much and answering questions as concisely and quickly as possible. This does not make the best first impression.
College coaches talk to many, many recruits, and oftentimes the ones that really stand out (and the ones they want to invite on trips) are the ones that can hold an interesting conversation with them.
This process is all about finding a connection with a coach and with a program, and it is impossible for a coach to tell if you are a good fit for their team if you simply respond “yes” or “no” to every question they pose. Be exciting! Proudly talk to them about your swimming, your schoolwork, your interests and hobbies. Ask them questions about their program, and do background research so that you go into the conversation with at least some knowledge of what the team has accomplished.
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Recruiting trips are not as glamorous as they seem.
These trips are often considered a weekend of fun on a college campus, and they are one the most important parts of the recruiting process. They give athletes a complete immersion into the life of a student-athlete at this particular school, and they are the best way to experience the team dynamic.
However, recruiting trips are exhausting, both for the recruits and the team that is hosting them. When recruits schedule them in the summer, they often forget about all the missed school, all the missed swimming, and all the lost sleep!
You are allowed five official visits, but it is often recommended to only take two or three. If you truly cannot narrow down the choices and feel as if you need to take four or five trips, then by all means do, but just remember to plan appropriately for all the weekends you will miss at home.
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Coaches do not deserve to be lead on by athletes.
It is awkward and often sad to tell coaches that you are not interested in their program, but if you are absolutely positive that the school is not a good fit for you, then you will save both your time and the coaches’ energy by making your intentions clear.
Being upfront with coaches allows them to put more effort into their other recruits, and it allows you to focus more on the schools and trips you are interested and excited about. As athletes, we spend a lot of time trying to make our coaches happy, so saying “no” to them triggers all sorts of warning bells in our heads. However, it is safe to assume that any college coach would rather know ahead of time if a student-athlete is truly not interested.
Photo Courtesy: 19 14:24:33
The stress will be worth it.
College recruiting is very stressful, there is no doubt about it. However, in the midst of all the emails and phone calls and trips, try your best to enjoy the process, and remember that all the anxiety and traveling and lost sleep will be worth it in the end.
Being a part of a collegiate athletic team is one of the the most worthwhile and incredible experiences out there, and finding the place where you belong can feel a lot like coming home. Best of luck!
All commentaries are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Swimming World Magazine nor its staff.
Madilyn Cochran
Gema Fandila Bunce
Lilly Makovsky
Daniel Beck