When to Start Calling Coaches
The best time to start calling college coaches is after you’ve sent them a couple introductory emails. According to NCAA recruiting rules, D1 and D2 coaches aren’t allowed to answer or return the call until June 15 after an athlete’s sophomore year or September 1 of their junior year, depending on your sport. Keep this in mind as you’re calling college coaches. Even if the coach isn’t able to call you yet, they are still going to be building out their recruiting class by evaluating prospects online and at events. Before you can begin talking with college coaches, focus on your online recruiting profile and establish communications through your club and/or high school coach.
How to Prepare for Calls With Coaches
Calling college coaches takes some preparation, but if you put in the work beforehand, your call will go much smoother. And remember: College coaches have been through this process thousands of times. They understand how intimidating and nerve-wracking it can be for high school athletes to call them. If you go into the call armed with the right questions to ask a coach, they will most likely be impressed with your effort so don’t worry about any small mistakes along the way.
Here are good ways to prepare for calling college coaches:
- Practice with a friend or family member. Before calling college coaches, role play the call with a friend, parent or sibling. Have them play the part of the coach, and make sure they ask you tough questions (we have a list of potential questions coaches will ask recruits outlined below) that you will receive when you’re calling college coaches. If you can’t role play before you call a coach, practice your answers in front of the mirror.
- Do your research about the school and program before calling. Coaches want to know you’re genuinely interested in their program. Make sure you have a few key facts about the school and the team at hand. Visit the school’s website to learn more about the coaching staff and team bios. If they are in season, know what the team’s record is and read the latest game recaps, or press releases. Then, write it down and study. Research suggests that writing things down by hand helps you remember.
- Find a quiet place where you won’t be interrupted. Coach Chris Sartorius, who has coached men’s and women’s basketball at three different Division I schools, says, “Coaches want to have a good, personal conversation.” He adds, “If your family wants to listen, that’s fine, but make sure that you aren’t distracted.” If you feel more comfortable taking the call alone, let your family know you need to be in a quiet room without distractions and fill them in on the call afterwards.
If you can, call a coach while you’re in front of a computer, laptop or tablet. Open up a few different tabs you can use for reference: the school website, some articles about the team and the team roster, as well as your phone call script and your list of questions for the coach. Have your initial emails to the coach open, too, so you can reference when you sent them, and you can resend them if the coach asks. However, you don’t want to get distracted while talking to college coaches on the phone. So, if the computer will cause you to lose focus on the conversation, it’s best to prepare your thoughts by writing them down or with additional practice.
Best Time of Day to Call Coaches
The best time of day to call college coaches is between 6-9 p.m. when they are in season. Before you start calling college coaches, consider what times throughout the day and week they will be available to talk. Coach Sartorius explains, “Typically, I’d get out of practice around 6 p.m. and be talking to recruits anywhere from 6:30-11 p.m. at night,” Coach Sartorius explains.
If the coach isn’t in season, there is more flexibility to call them in the morning or afternoon. Not sure when to call a coach? Just ask them! Sometimes, the best thing to do is proactively reach out and schedule coach phone calls through an introductory email, text, or social media DM.
Phone Call Do's and Don'ts
What you should do:
- Find a quiet room and remove any distractions. If a recruit is distracted during the call, the coach will likely assume they aren’t interested in the program. Turn off the TV. And if you’re using your cell phone, mute all notifications so you aren’t interrupted with a text or social media notification.
- Be clear about why you are interested in the program. The recruit should mention any personal connections they have to the program and what attracted them to the school or program. When thinking about what to say to college coaches on the phone, it’s a good rule of thumb to have at least three reasons you want to be recruited by their program.
- Explain why you are a good fit for the program. Coaches want to know how a recruit can contribute to the team’s growth and success. Don’t limit your response to talking to college coaches about athletic talent alone. Set yourself apart from other recruits by demonstrating the traits and characteristics of successful student-athletes.
- Answer the coach’s questions fully and clearly. Prior to coach phone calls, practice answering questions college coaches will ask recruits with a family member or friend, so you can confidently deliver your answers during the call.
- Prepare questions for the coach. Don’t go into a call without preparing a few questions to ask college coaches on the phone. Asking questions is a good indicator to coaches that an athlete is genuinely interested in their program.
- Take notes on coach phone calls. It’s important to stay organized while talking to college coaches on the phone. Sometimes, a coach can give you a lot of information on a phone call and it can be difficult to recall all you spoke about. Write down what questions they asked you, news about the team, and any action items you need to follow up on. For example, if the coach gives you specific dates for an upcoming visit or event.
What you shouldn’t do:
- Don’t be timid. A phone conversation gives recruits the opportunity to sell their potential, ask questions and get feedback on where they stand in the coach’s recruiting class. Talking to college coaches on the phone is also a great way to show your personality.
- Don’t only talk about athletics during coach phone calls. Remember, coaches want well-rounded athletes, so recruits should highlight how they can positively contribute to the team’s athletic, academic, and cultural success.
- Don’t dominate the call. It is important for recruits to find a balance between talking about themselves and their interest in the program. It’s important to have questions to ask a coach on hand but be sure to let the coach ask questions, too.
- Don’t give short answers. Avoid answering questions coaches will ask recruits with a simple “yes” or “no” response. Coaches are more likely to pursue a recruit if they feel the athlete portrays excitement and is actively engaged in the phone call. Try your best to relax when you call a coach. This is an introductory conversation to get to know each other, not an interview.
Questions to Ask
When you’re calling college coaches, you need to have a list of questions prepared to ask them, which you will customize for each individual coach you’re talking to. For example, if you’re speaking with a coach at a highly competitive academic school, focus on academic-based questions.
We’ve included some questions below to ask college coaches to determine if their school is a good academic, athletic, cultural and financial fit for you, including a few overlooked questions you shouldn’t forget!
Questions to ask college coaches about academics
- Do you offer majors I’m interested in? What are the most popular majors for athletes on your team?
- Are there any specific majors that would interfere with the athletic schedule?
- Does your team have an academic advisor and/or tutoring available to athletes?
- Are team study halls required or recommended?
- What are academic goals I should strive for to meet the criteria of your university?
- What is the typical class size on campus?
- What are the admissions requirements for the school and/or for student athletes?
- Do most of your players graduate in four years?
Questions to ask college coaches about athletics / the recruiting process
- How is your recruiting class looking for my graduation year?
- What’s the best way to update you on my progress?
- Are there any camps, combines or showcases you’d recommend I go to?
- Will you be coaching at any camps this year?
- Where do you typically evaluate recruits?
- Are athletes on your team allowed to participate in more than one sport?
- What are your expectations of your student-athletes in the off-season?
- Does the team travel? How does the team travel? Will I travel with the team my freshman year?
- If I come to your school for an unofficial visit, would you be able to meet with me?
- How many players for my position will you be recruiting in my grad year?
- What goals do you have for the team?
Questions to ask college coaches about cultural / social fit
- How do the athletes on your team interact with each other? Do they hang out together outside of practice and games?
- What is housing like on campus? Is the housing situation different for athletes?
- Are student-athletes required to live on campus all four years they attend school?
- Do teammates typically live together on or off-campus?
- Do athletes stay on campus during the summer? What about winter or spring breaks?
- Is it realistic to have a part-time job, volunteer or get involved with other clubs during the off-season?
- What are the biggest challenges your student-athletes face at school?
- What is campus life like?
Questions to ask college coaches about scholarships and financial aid
- What does it take to earn a scholarship with your program?
- How many scholarships do you have available for my graduation year?
- What happens if I get injured? Will I lose my scholarship?
- If freshmen aren’t eligible for scholarships, will I be eligible for scholarship money next year?
- Are there work – study programs I can sign up for? Is it possible for student-athletes to have a part time job or work- study position on campus?
- What type of academic and athletic scholarships are available for student-athletes? Are my GPA and test scores on track to qualify for a merit-based scholarship or grant?
- Does the school offer additional financial aid?
- Who is the main point of contact in the financial aid office that my family can talk to if we have more questions about paying for college?