Transparent communication focuses on sharing information that is clear, concise, and truthful. A college recruiting relationship with transparent communication is collaborative and trustworthy. Information that is openly shared between coach and prospect establishes the foundation of a working relationship.
Transparent communication allows prospects to be more innovative and industrious since they are better informed. Essentially, this allows the coach-prospect working relationship to be equally informed with clear, concise information that align their actions and responses accordingly.
- Be timely and position communication and actions with the general structure of your college recruiting plan.
- Communicating important information in a timely manner builds trust and gives both parties clarity to precisely where the recruiting relationship stands.
- Straightforward communication about where both the prospect and college coach stand points toward a more collaborative overall effort. Ideally, the many moving parts of college recruiting become seamless and advance efficiently.
People who communicate honestly, openly, and authentically are more credible, and considered more reliable. Consequently, their messages are clear, straightforward, and consistent. Transparent communication builds trust. Without trust, relationships can’t grow.
Codes
College coaches are masters at recruiting and have a very clear idea to their recruiting goals and “gaps” that need to be filled in the next cycle. In addition, college coaches are terribly optimistic! They are competitive and have every intention to yield a championship class year in and year out.
At the beginning of the recruiting relationship, college coaches tend to appear vague with communication. They hold their cards close and come across as “non-committal” with prospects. However, as the recruiting relationship grows, and the prospect demonstrates the ability to impact the program, coaches will alter their language accordingly.
Regardless of the coach’s position with recruiting early in the process, it is in the prospects best interest to convey clear, consistent information with the coaches. DO NOT feel uncomfortable letting the coaches know you are seriously entertaining other institutions. They are used to competition with other coaches recruiting the same prospects.
Communication
Keep your communication regular, but informative. Always reach out to coaches with important information that will help them evaluate you best as a student, athlete, and a potential leader in the program:
Academic (class schedule, grade reports, standardized testing, NCAA Eligibility registration information).
Athletic (Player profile, training highlight video, competition/game video, camp, tournament, showcase schedule).
Leadership (Awards and testimonials from your coaches and mentors that identifies you as a prospect with strong character traits.
Club Coach Communication
Networking in college recruiting can be a powerful tool in accelerating and influencing the chances of reaching one’s college goal. A prospect and family who want to register high on the radar screen of a college coach should position their networking plan to be 1) well-timed, 2) impactful, and 3) originate from an outside source (club coach).
College coaches will do a thorough academic and athletic evaluation of a prospect to determine where they fit in their recruit priority chart. Subsequently, a diligent college recruiter will reach out to the club coach to get a clear picture of the inner make-up of the prospect.
Every sports community in America has a tight-knit group of coaches, athletes, and colleagues that are interconnected. Furthermore, the club coach can act as an excellent reference for prospective student-athletes. Consequently, a strong referral from the candidate’s current coach can go a long way in closing the loop in the college evaluation.
Effective communication can be critical to the level of commitment a college coach makes when pursuing a prospect. It can make or break a coach’s decision to offer an athletic scholarship or provide that extra “push” in the admission process.
It takes courage to step up to the line and speak candidly with college coaches about where you stand on the priority list. If your mission is clear, transparent communication can serve as the vehicle that defines your direction with the college search.
Tom Kovic is the Founder and Principal with Victory Collegiate Consulting, where he provides individual advisement for families on college recruiting. He is the author of “Reaching for Excellence” An educational guide for college athletics recruiting. Kovic delivers college recruiting presentations nationwide and he is a regular contributor to several online magazines and professional organizations. For further information visit: https://victoryrecruiting.com.
