The Recruiting Companion for College Sports: Over 100 Winning Tips

By Laurie Richter

Each year, countless high school athletes compete for limited college roster spots. Don't let your lack of experience with the recruiting process result in a disappointing outcome. Get the inside scoop on a few things about recruiting that your competition doesn't know in this easy-to-read booklet full of 115 ideas to help you succeed. Ideal for athletes, parents, and coaches.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Laurie Richter
• Release date: Aug 25, 2009
• ISBN: 9780984164509

Laurie Richter

My name is Laurie Richter, and I am the parent of a college basketball player who went through the recruiting process a few years ago.My first book was Put Me In, Coach: A Parent's Guide to Winning the Game of College Recruiting. It can be found at http://www.collegesportsrecruitingbook.com. I wrote both books to help others avoid the recruiting mistakes so many people we knew made.I have 24 years of market research experience which I put to good use to write both books, and degrees in psychology and educational psychology. I interviewed dozens of college coaches. My hope is that my books help increase the odds of finding the right college situation.

Book preview

The Recruiting Companion for College Sports:

Over 100 Winning Tips

Laurie A. Richter

Published by: Right Fit Press

2033 Milwaukee Avenue Suite 203 Riverwoods, IL 60015

Copyright © 2009 Laurie A. Richter

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system without written permission from the publisher.

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment. It may not be resold or given away to others. If you wish to share this book with others, please purchase additional copies. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, then you should purchase your own copy by going to www.rightfitpress.com. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the author.

ISBN: 978-0-9841645-0-9

Book and cover design by Peri Poloni-Gabriel,

www.knockoutbooks.com

Edited by Gail M. Kearns, To Press and Beyond,

www.topressandbeyond.com

A note from the author

The Recruiting Companion for College Sports: Over 100 Winning Tips was designed to be a quick resource covering recruiting topics that prospective student athletes typically don't know enough about. It is a companion book to Put Me In, Coach: A Parent's Guide to Winning the Game of College Recruiting, which lays out the recruiting process in more detail and includes true recruiting stories, various templates, and college coach comments.

These two books will take you from the beginning to the end of recruiting. They'll provide the knowledge and confidence you need to move from aspiring college athlete to recruited college athlete. If you have any questions along the way, please feel free to contact me at [e-mail].

Laurie Richter

September, 2009

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Things that will get the attention of college coaches

Chapter 2. How to get an athletic skill assessment

Chapter 3. Timelines and don't-miss-deadlines

Chapter 4. What no one tells you about athletic scholarships

Chapter 5. How parents can help in the recruiting process

Chapter 6. How parents can hurt in the recruiting process

Chapter 7. Some important questions you might not know to ask

Chapter 8. The little white lies coaches tell recruits (and how to know what they really mean)

Chapter 9. Making the most of campus visits

Chapter 10. Top recruiting disasters and how to avoid them

Chapter 11. Staying sane during the recruiting process

Chapter 12. One final tip

Chapter 1

Things that will get the attention of college coaches

So you want to take your game to the next level, which means enough college coaches need to find out about you so that you end up with some good options. You may have gotten a few letters, a few e-mails, maybe a call or two from college coaches at nearby schools. You want to get the word out more broadly, and you're not exactly sure how to go about it. Here are some ideas to make sure coaches take notice of you.

1

Send out an articulate and personalized cover letter to coaches at the schools you're interested in

You may be tempted to send e-mails all over but it's much too easy to delete an e-mail without reading it while a letter will get opened and read. A personal letter from you tells a coach several things: you're interested in their school (this is a BIG plus), you're proactive, and you've got the maturity and communication skills they like to see in their athletes.

2

In your letter, make sure you mention something that will set you apart

You are one of far too many athletes sending a letter. You need to distinguish yourself in some way. It could be your size, speed, stats, academic record, one spectacular performance, or an award you have won. Whatever it is, it should be intriguing enough for this coach to want to know more.

3

Show you are familiar with the coach's sports program, and mention something that helps the coach understand why you're interested and how you can add value

Every kid who contacts a particular coach wants a spot, but you will impress a coach by showing that you've done your homework and you understand enough about his or her program to speak intelligently about how you would fit. What's unique about the way this coach runs their offense or defense that fits well with your style of play? What pattern of accomplishments can you compliment this coach on? They are human, too, and they respond to being recognized for what they do well.

4

Don't forget to direct the coach to where they can find more information about you

The letter is a first call to action but it isn't enough. Direct the coach to more information. Maybe it's your