“We thought that we had the answers. It was the questions we had wrong.” -Bono
As parents and recruits, we often get analysis paralysis during the recruiting process. We want to get recruited. We want college coaches to see our value, but sometimes we get in our own way because we simply do not know what the right questions are to be asking. Over the course of the next few months, I will be providing direction on how to ask those right questions.
In this week’s blog, I am going to focus on the “right” questions to ask college coaches when they first call you or when you first call them. It is important that you are not only listening for the answers, but you should also be listening to the tone the answers are given. Do the answers sound sincere, or is the coach just telling you what you want to hear? Does it sound like they really believe what they are saying or are they just giving you enough information to keep you interested? Or is it possible that they really aren’t that interested in you, but they have a hard time being direct and honest with their answers?
As you review the questions below, don’t be afraid to re-word them or add your own questions that are important to your journey.
I am confident that the questions below will give you 4 helpful answers that you can walk away from that initial conversation:
- Are we a good fit for each other?
- Do they have a potential spot on their roster for me?
- Are they serious about me?
- Can they make their college/university affordable for me and my family?
I encourage you to copy the list below or create your own list and keep it as an available note on your phone. You never know when a college coach is going to call you, so you want to have your questions quickly available wherever you are when they call.
It is always okay during a conversation with a college coach to say, “Coach, do you have some time to answer a few questions?” I promise that coach will be impressed that you are so prepared and that you have a clear vision for what you want in your collegiate future!
Initial Questions to Ask College Coaches
- Have you seen me compete live or on film? If you have seen me compete, how do you see me fitting into your roster as a freshman?
- Are you graduating any seniors at my position? Would I have a chance to be a contributor on varsity as a freshman?
- How many recruits are you planning on bringing into the program in my graduation class? How many student-athletes do you usually carry on your roster?
- Do you have a time line in place on when you will be making offers and hope to finish my graduation class?
- I am thinking about studying __________ as my major. Does your college/university offer that as a degree program?
- Based on my grades and test scores, can you give me an idea of what my family’s out-of-pocket costs might look like at your college/university?
- Do you have any advice or recommendations for me about my recruitment or how to improve my skills and ability?
If you sense any red flags from those 7 responses, this may not be a good fit for you, and don’t you want to know that sooner rather than later? Remember, your time is valuable. You don’t want to be chasing schools that just don’t fit your needs. Asking the right questions early and often will help you stay efficient during your recruitment journey!
Enjoying these blogs? Want to schedule a free 30-minute college recruiting assessment with Coach Rogers? You can do so here: https://www.significantcoaching.net/
Interested in Coach Rogers’ Book? You can find it here: https://bit.ly/Matt-Rogers-Significant-Recruiting-Amazon
