By Alexis Dalton
I have never felt more relieved and grateful than when I told my (future) coach that I was committing to swim Division I at the University of South Carolina. Yes, any student hoping to go to college can imagine what a great feeling it is to know exactly where they’ll be spending the next four years. But only aspiring college athletes will really understand the feeling of committing to play a collegiate sport.
Though the rules can vary between sports, most athletes’ recruiting process opens up on June 15th before their junior year of high school. Not only must they enter a school year known for its immense stress and difficulty, they also have to handle the stress of recruiting.
Engaging with coaches and learning how to showcase your skills over the phone can be challenging. At first, it feels like a series of high-stakes interviews, for these conversations can shape the athlete’s future, making every interaction crucial. All of this while only being 16 or 17 years old.
In addition to the many phone calls and emails, every move the athlete makes during a competition is watched and judged by coaches or competing athletes; sometimes coaches even come to practices to observe. It can feel like the smallest mistake might derail the train to your future. All in all, it’s a stressful process.
But it’s also extremely gratifying. Seeing all those reps and laps and tackles and swings get recognized at the collegiate level is an unmatched feeling. It’s fun talking to coaches and exploring new places that you might not have ever been to.
My recruiting process took me around the country to locations that I would never have seen otherwise. It’s interesting to learn about different programs and hear about other athlete’s experiences with them. I learned so much by building relationships with coaches who are experts in their sports.
Evidently, this is a complicated process. So here are four recruiting tips from a recruited and committed athlete:
1. Be yourself!
This sounds cliche and slightly obvious, but the best thing you can do during recruiting is be yourself. A coach should want you for YOU– not the person you’re pretending to be because that’s what you think they’ll want for their team. You might be able to fake it now, but if you were to get recruited by this coach, you’d have to spend the next four years being someone you’re not. It’s best to stick to your values and stay true to yourself. Doing this will land you with the coach, team, and program that is the absolute best fit for you.
2. Be open minded.
There are so many different options out there to explore. Just because you think you want to go to college across the country doesn’t mean you shouldn’t explore your options close to home (and vice versa). Keep in mind that this can be a long process, and the things you want from a school could change over time. As a junior, I wanted to go to school far away in California. After getting further along in the process, I realized that I wanted to be an easy drive away from home. Also, I am a southern girl at heart, and couldn’t bear to be where people don’t say “y’all” or drink sweet tea.
3. Stay focused on your sport.
Yes, recruiting requires a lot of work over the phone and online, but be sure to remember the reason you’re doing this. Most likely, you’re going through the recruiting process because you want to play your sport at the next level, so don’t forget to keep working hard! The long hours of training are what got you to this point, so keep it up! Recruiting can be stressful so use your sport as a sense of consistency, security, and release from the stress.
4. Everyone’s process will be different, so don’t compare yourself!!!
I cannot stress this enough. Every. Process. Is. Different. Even if you have similar stats to your fellow athletes, it does not mean you want or need the same thing. Each person’s recruiting process is personalized to them. Others will go at different paces, send different emails, and have different expectations. Comparing your process to others will not help anyone. Don’t feel pressured to commit to a school at a certain time or make any decisions because your friend already committed. Along with this, do not feel embarrassed for liking a certain school or being at a certain level. It’s SO impressive that you have the opportunity to continue your sport in college no matter what division or conference.
As you start, continue, or end this process, remember that it doesn’t define you. You’re going to find your future home, and you’re going to love it! If this was easy, everyone would do it, so embrace the challenge (but remember to still have fun with it)!
