Beginning July 1st, coaches are permitted to
call rising seniors (class of 2006) once per
week in an effort to evaluate and recruit
players to their school. As a former college
coach and someone who has spent countless
hours on the phone talking to junior golfers,
I can tell you these can be meaningful
conversations in helping coaches decide who
they want on their team.
Recently, I spoke to a coach from a top-10
Division I program in the country who had just
called a recruit. “That’s my kind of kid, the
coach said. He (the recruit) was very
talkative, seemed confident in what he was
doing, and demonstrated a sense of maturity
and independence.” Unfortunately, I have
heard coaches talk negatively about
conversations with recruits as well. This
generally results from recruits coming across
as too quiet, unsure of what they want in
college, or disinterested in what the coach
has to say.
Now that July is here, make sure you are
prepared to speak with a coach if the phone
rings. If you are an underclassman, give this
article some thought so you will be ready when
your time comes around in a future summer.
Here are my 5 keys to making a favorable
impression on a coach during a phone
conversation.
1. TALK — One-word answers to questions
are unacceptable. Elaborate on your answers
and let coaches know what’s on your mind.
2. SOUND INTERESTED — Regardless of who
is calling, give each coach your undivided
attention and listen carefully to his
comments. Asking follow-up questions is a
good way to show you are genuinely
interested.
3. DO YOUR HOMEWORK — If you know a
particular coach is going to call you,
research their program on the internet in
advance and take some notes. If you can
surprise the coach with accurate information
about his team, he will be impressed. Roster
member names, scoring averages, tournament
results, and facility details are good
examples.
4. ANTICIPATE QUESTIONS — Think about
what a coach might ask you and be prepared to
give a quality response. Most coaches want to
know about your upcoming tournament schedule,
recent tournament results, who your instructor
is, what type of strength and conditioning
program you participate in and what you are
looking for in a college. Be honest in your
responses and never make excuses. Ask coaches
for their advice/suggestions on the matters
too.
5. PROMOTE YOURSELF — Without coming
across cocky or too confident, let coaches
know that you see yourself as someone who will
be successful in college as both a student and
as an athlete. Remember, there are no
guarantees that any junior golfer will “make
it” in college and most coaches have had a few
bad apples in the past. Throughout the call,
remain positive in your demeanor and give the
coach a reason to feel good about your chances
of succeeding in college.
Review these 5 keys regularly throughout the
summer. You never know but the next time the
phone rings it could be your future college
coach calling.
Good Luck!
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