Contacting a coach

[crashsdaddy]

The DD is getting into the recruiting process. She's tried to contact several coaches with no luck. So, what trick or tactics can those experienced in the proces recommend? How do you get a coach who never answers to answer the phone?

[jonriv]

Try e-mailing, but try not to harass. many people have had luck with a written letter(a lost art). Make sure if you have not already to fill-out the new recruit form as well, At many schools an assistant coach handles the recruiting duties-find out who this is and try to contact them.

[Fredegar]

The DD is getting into the recruiting process. She's tried to contact several coaches with no luck. So, what trick or tactics can those experienced in the proces recommend? How do you get a coach who never answers to answer the phone?

How do you get a coach to answer the phone? You don't. Do you really think they're gonna answer the phone of every random number that calls? Sorry, but there are not enough hours in the day for that.

As JR said, you might have better luck finding out which Asst Coach handles recruiting and try contacting them. But they're not gonna answer a random phone call either. Best bet is email or snail mail. Since they can't respond to emails/calls directly to you (until July after junior year), you should leave the contact info of your travel coach. If they're interested, they can contact your coach.

If you have a certain school in mind, you can try to attend one of their camps. While you're on campus they can talk to you. And your DD (and possibly you) will be in position to ask questions. Keep in mind the best you can hope for is that they might be impressed enough to come watch her play.

Good luck!

[Vagrant99]

Hit Homeruns!!!!

[hit4power]

If your DD is calling the office phone (the one listed on the web page) it's doubtful she'll get any response. As Jonriv said, sometimes you can reach the assistant, best is if you can get the coach's cell phone and call that. As others have said, use all the channels, email, snail mail, etc. Get your TB coach to reach out as well.

It also depends somewhat on which schools you are trying to contact. Easier at smaller schools...

[jonriv]

We set up a BCC e-mailing list and sent out schedules, updates, newspaper clippings on a pretty regular basis. Let coaches know about HS games, upcoming showcase whatever. Many coaches had a full file of that correspondence when we went to meet with them and many commented that they loved the updates.

Don't be discouraged by lack of contact. Some never responded- including the coach where she plays now. He did not respond until my dd requested an unofficial visit. It turned out he had a big folder of the correspondence and had also seen her play several times(he used the schedules he was sent)

[Trophy Hunter]

Hit Homeruns!!!!

This.

[crashsdaddy]

Thanks for the feedback. We've been doing the email and camp thing for a while now. Emails have links to her online profile that allow us to track who's looking at the profile but my guess is most coaches know that and so we've had only a few looks. The camps have been good to meet the coaches but how much interaction do you really get with a camp that has 100+ girls at it? Thus we've been trying the direct phone call method as well but with no success.

I agree that more home runs would probably help.

[Dugout Dad]

Through out the years, the one thing I have seen that happens at camps is that if a player really stands out at the camp, you can be sure that one of the coaches will be talking to that player before she leaves.

[Trophy Hunter]

Shoot a video, post it YouTube, send link to the coaches.
Email them updated game schedules.
Hit home runs.