Tips & Tricks To Keep in Touch with a Coach
So you sent out that first introductory email. Now what?
If the coach responded to you, that's good news. Skim the email to see if it's personal or a template. That will dictate how interested he is in you. If you have any questions, now is a good time to ask.
If you are truly interested in this school you need to keep up communication. Send an email about every two weeks updating the coach on your latest accomplishments, and achievements. Make sure to reply to them when they reply to your email. Keep it PERSONAL. Don't template every single email, they will notice.
Re: Touching Base
Hello Coach Askew!
I hope this e-mail finds your training going well this season. Great job during the meet this weekend!!! Looking strong!
I submitted my Howard application at the end of October and hoping to meet you in the near future. My first serious meet this season is coming up in the next two weeks. I know you are busy, but I remember you mentioning wanting to watch me swim at one of my meets. This meet is Nov. 21-23 at UMBC. I'll be swimming:
400 IM Friday Nov. 21
100 BA Saturday Nov. 22
100 BR Saturday Nov. 22
200 IM Saturday Nov. 22
50 FR Sunday Nov. 23
100 FLY Sunday Nov. 23
I hope to hear from you soon! - Marina Markous
Disclaimer: do not ask all of these questions is one email.
The above questions will help you distinguish whether or not this team is a good fit for you. You should communicate back and forth with the coach before moving onto the next steps. Keep the emails formal, informative, honest and interesting. Do not write about the same things over and over again.
Remember, one coach is recruiting around fifteen to twenty people. About half will end up signing. Distinguish yourself. Do not use the same exact email for every coach you send it too. Some coaches have been recruiting for several years so they know all the tricks and stunts you might pull.
KEEP A JOURNAL
There is nothing worse than forgetting who you talked to about what and when. Keep a log of which coach you contacted and when. In a couple, words summarise their response. Keep track of all the emails, phone calls, visits, and thank you notes. Personally, I used an excel spreadsheet. Do what works for you!
• Schedule campus visit
If the coach responded to you, that's good news. Skim the email to see if it's personal or a template. That will dictate how interested he is in you. If you have any questions, now is a good time to ask.
If you are truly interested in this school you need to keep up communication. Send an email about every two weeks updating the coach on your latest accomplishments, and achievements. Make sure to reply to them when they reply to your email. Keep it PERSONAL. Don't template every single email, they will notice.
Here is a sample:
Re: Touching Base
Hello Coach Askew!
I hope this e-mail finds your training going well this season. Great job during the meet this weekend!!! Looking strong!
I submitted my Howard application at the end of October and hoping to meet you in the near future. My first serious meet this season is coming up in the next two weeks. I know you are busy, but I remember you mentioning wanting to watch me swim at one of my meets. This meet is Nov. 21-23 at UMBC. I'll be swimming:
400 IM Friday Nov. 21
100 BA Saturday Nov. 22
100 BR Saturday Nov. 22
200 IM Saturday Nov. 22
50 FR Sunday Nov. 23
100 FLY Sunday Nov. 23
I hope to hear from you soon! - Marina Markous
Key Points:
• Make it Personal
• Include updates
• Ask questions
- Look up the team's schedule and keep track of their meets and performance.
- Include little things in your emails such as "Good luck this weekend!"
- Include little things in your emails such as "Good luck this weekend!"
• Include updates
- School ex: SAT
- Life & Cool experiences
- College Applications
- Fast times
- Upcoming or Past meets & how you performed
- Life & Cool experiences
- College Applications
- Fast times
- Upcoming or Past meets & how you performed
• Ask questions
- What does your practice schedule look like?
- How often does the team travel?
- What if my classes are the same time as practice?
- What happens if I miss classes due to a meet?
- How do you deal with injuries?
- How do you deal with family emergencies?
- Does the team train during breaks?
- How well do students balance their social life on top of everything else?
- What expectations do you have of your athletes? In the pool? Outside the pool?
- Do I need to maintain a certain GPA outside NCAA regulations?
- Do you have office hours?
- How is the team dynamic?
- How big is the team?
- Do men and women train together?
- What equipment is provided?
- Do we fundraise? Are the swimmers financially responsible for anything?
- How often does the team travel?
- What if my classes are the same time as practice?
- What happens if I miss classes due to a meet?
- How do you deal with injuries?
- How do you deal with family emergencies?
- Does the team train during breaks?
- How well do students balance their social life on top of everything else?
- What expectations do you have of your athletes? In the pool? Outside the pool?
- Do I need to maintain a certain GPA outside NCAA regulations?
- Do you have office hours?
- How is the team dynamic?
- How big is the team?
- Do men and women train together?
- What equipment is provided?
- Do we fundraise? Are the swimmers financially responsible for anything?
Disclaimer: do not ask all of these questions is one email.
The above questions will help you distinguish whether or not this team is a good fit for you. You should communicate back and forth with the coach before moving onto the next steps. Keep the emails formal, informative, honest and interesting. Do not write about the same things over and over again.
Remember, one coach is recruiting around fifteen to twenty people. About half will end up signing. Distinguish yourself. Do not use the same exact email for every coach you send it too. Some coaches have been recruiting for several years so they know all the tricks and stunts you might pull.
KEEP A JOURNAL
There is nothing worse than forgetting who you talked to about what and when. Keep a log of which coach you contacted and when. In a couple, words summarise their response. Keep track of all the emails, phone calls, visits, and thank you notes. Personally, I used an excel spreadsheet. Do what works for you!
Next steps:
• Schedule a phone call• Schedule campus visit
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