Coming from Montana, collegiate recruitment can be a little bit more difficult in nearly all sports. It is a lot harder to get noticed out here in Big Sky Country than it is in, say, California, Texas, or Florida. But there are a lot of good ways to get on coaches’ radars.
The absolute best thing to do is email them. Do some research and try to find some schools that you not only could play for but also could see yourself attending. After compiling a list, create a letter that can be tailored to each school and begin sending those personalized emails to the coach of your sport.
Another good thing to do is find some ID or recruitment camps that your top school’s coach is attending. An ID camp is an event where coaches from all over the country go to one specific school, meet a bunch of prospective students, and watch them play. These camps are great for learning about college sports, coaching styles, and recruitment methods. They not only put you on the coach’s radar, they also allow you to get a feel for that coach and to play with some other incredible athletes.
Living in a college town also has its perks. If you are able to speak with the coach of your sport at University of Montana, that can be really beneficial. Being able to ask questions and find out what a real college coach looks for in a prospective student or player is a great and helpful experience. It not only shows your own personal commitment (especially if you are interested in playing for UM) but it also is just a really cool thing to do.
A college tour is also something that many students should try to do. Obviously, it can be difficult, due to school and travel costs, but it is very important to get out and look at the schools. You might be spending the next four years of your life there, so you should know if you like it. Plus you can reach out to the coaches at the schools you are visiting and you might be able to set up an in person meeting with them, which is a great way to learn more about their program.
Something important for prospective college athletes that can often be forgotten is putting effort into academics. A student’s academics can sometimes make or break their recruitment to a college. It is more difficult for a coach to get admissions to let an athlete in if their grades show they don’t care much about school. You don’t have to be a straight A, 4.0, honors student, but you should definitely try to show that school is important to you; because that’s what college is, a school!
It is always helpful to get a bit of a head start, so try to do a bit of research and learn about your sport’s recruitment rules, and then start your process. The NCAA (National College Athletics Association) also has many different rules for each division (I, II, or III) so also be sure to research those before making your first move. Make sure to find schools that interest you and that you could see yourself attending; this is your college experience and you want it to be great!
