Talk to Coaches

How do coaches begin to make a decision about which student-athletes are worthy of their team? As they are sifting through the piles of letters, what makes one student stand out from another?

Keep in Touch

Some coaches see hundreds of letters of introduction each season. The first thing you need to do is make follow-up phone calls several weeks after you send out your letters of introduction. Let them know that you are checking to make sure that they received your materials. Ask if they have any questions about you. Be prepared to talk about your accomplishments. Coaches are busy people, but they want to hear from prospective candidates. Talking with you makes their decision-making much easier.

Highlight Your Accomplishments

As the season moves along, make sure that you regularly keep the coaches of prospective colleges updated on your athletic accomplishments. They will want to know of your progress: outstanding wins, awards, records broken, promotion to team captain. Make sure they know that you're still out there giving it your best. Be persistent. Those little phone calls will guarantee that you aren't forgotten.

Involve Your Coach

College coaches appreciate the opportunity to talk one on one with the person who has personally witnessed your performance and abilities. Write a letter to your high school coach asking him or her to call some of the college coaches. Make sure you provide him or her with the correct contact information.

Play Your Best

Another way that college coaches get to know student-athletes is to watch them in person. And they won't usually announce their presence. Don't blow this opportunity-make sure that you play in top form and display impeccable sportsmanship at all times.

Stay Visible

Make sure that your exposure to these clandestine scouting missions is as great as possible. College coaches don't have unlimited time and resources. They will most often attend top-notch games that are showcasing the best student-athletes around. Become as high profile as you can get. Try to get yourself in the middle of the best competition at the highest level that you can attain. It's also a good idea to participate in tournaments as much as possible for the same reason. The more student-athletes that college coaches can see at one competition, the less traveling for them.