🥎 This week, we continue our conversation with Larry Yoder, Head Softball Coach at Mount Mercy University.
In Part II, we shift to recruiting—the reality of how coaches evaluate players, what actually stands out, and why fit matters more than most families realize.
Coach Yoder shares his perspective from over 17 seasons of building and leading a successful NAIA softball program, offering insight into communication, evaluation, and how athletes can position themselves the right way in the recruiting process.
If you’re a recruit, parent, or coach trying to better understand how this process really works, this conversation will give you a clear and honest look.
🎯 In this episode:
- What college coaches are really evaluating
- How athletes can separate themselves
- The importance of fit in recruiting
- Common mistakes recruits make
- Communication that gets attention
🎧 Listen: coachmattrogers.com/podcast
▶️ Subscribe: youtube.com/@CoachMattRogers
📘 Resources for your recruiting journey:
Significant Recruiting: https://amzn.to/4sBe4kB
Recruit’s Journals + Blogs + Classes: coachmattrogers.com
🔗 Learn more about Coach Yoder: https://mountmercy.edu/athletics/softball/coaches
👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations on recruiting, coaching, and leadership.
⏱️ Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:35 What Coaches Are Really Evaluating
03:10 First Impressions & Initial Contact
06:00 What Separates Recruits Early
09:20 Skill vs. Intangibles
12:15 The Importance of Fit
15:10 Common Recruiting Mistakes
18:05 Communication That Stands Out
21:00 Evaluating Competitiveness & Body Language
24:10 What Parents Need to Understand
27:00 Late Bloomers & Development
30:00 What Success Looks Like in College
33:00 Final Recruiting Advice
