Softball Recruiting Tips: How to get noticed
If you missed our first post on Softball Recruiting Tips and where to begin the process, here is what you missed. We broke the beginning steps of the recruiting process down into three steps that athletes and parents should take before doing anything else. The three steps were as followed:
- Do a Self-Evaluation
- Make a list of five Dream schools and three Reasonable school choices
- Start Researching the Schools on your List
We then encouraged the athletes and parents to keep that list handy and accessible for a few weeks or even months. It’s extremely normal for that list to change over time, that’s why the recruiting process is well, a process. Did you notice that in post one we rarely mentioned the softball program? That’s because softball is only a small part of the college experience. This post is going to explore the next step of the college recruiting process, the part that has to do with the softball program, team, and coaching staff. Do you have your starting list ready?
- Send an e-mail to the college coach introducing yourself: It’s hard to get noticed in the softball world today because the sport has grown so much over the years. Think about it, there are thousands of players nationwide and only so many college coaches. Each college program carries three to five coaches on their staff and only about three of them actually go out and do the recruiting. Think of yourself as the needle in the “needle in the haystack” analogy. As mentioned, it’s extremely difficult to rely on the chance that the college coach at the schools on your list will find you. Reach out to them. Send a personal e-mail to the college coach introducing yourself. Keep the first e-mail brief, state your name, age, grade, where you live, who you play for in the summers, and let them know you are interested in attending their school and the reason why. There are plenty of online templates to follow for your first e-mail if you wish to use one.
- Research and attend a camp put on by the college coach and team: Now that you’ve got the nerve-racking step out of the way, it’s time to do some research on the team. Almost all college softball programs put on coach and team led clinics throughout the year. This information can be found on the team website. Since there is a slim chance a college coach will notice you at one of your own tournaments, the next logical step is to go to them. College programs typically hold an annual summer and winter camp or clinic on campus. So for those traveling from afar, you can kill two birds with one stone. You get to attend the camp put on by the coaches and see the campus all in one trip.
- Send another e-mail to coach- let them know you are coming, attach video: Once you get the details worked out with your parents, it’s time to send your second e-mail to the coach or coaches and let them know you are attending their camp. In this e-mail, explain you are following up on your first email, and that you are coming to their camp and that you are looking forward to meeting. You have to imagine most of the other camp attendees will be reaching out and sending a similar e-mail, so let’s make yours a little more special by attaching a skills video of yourself in your element. If you aren’t sure what type of skills video being referred to, do some research on that as well.
- Send a follow-up e-mail after the camp thanking the coach: The first thing you should do before the camp or clinic starts is track down the coach and introduce yourself. Sometimes this isn’t possible because coaches are busy getting things set up when you first arrive, and you’ll be forced to wait until after. That is fine too! If that’s the case, once the camp concludes, approach the coach, shake their hand, look them in the eye, and introduce yourself with confidence. This would also be a great time to thank the coach for putting on the camp and having you there. It can be intimidating for a teenager to take the initiative to approach a college coach, but this is what sets athletes apart. Make yourself stand out, be assertive, be confident, take a deep breath, and have some fun!
- Stay in contact months following – attach game schedule: Depending on what time of the year it is and the recruiting timeline and rules coaches are following, you may or may not hear back from the coach for an extended period of time. You can still contact them though. Once you learn your schedule and where you will be playing in the summer, fall, and winter months, send another e-mail to the coach. In this e-mail, type out or attach your game schedule and invite them to come watch you play. Coaches only get a certain amount of recruiting days during the summer, fall, and winter months, so they are going to use them wisely. Send your schedule a few different times. Don’t be obnoxious about it, but think about how many e-mails and schedules they probably receive every day. Your first e-mail could be lost in the pile, so it’s best to send more than one, especially in the months prior to the beginning of your summer season.
The college softball recruiting process can be long, intimidating, and repetitive. You may find yourself sending countless e-mails without a response. Don’t get discouraged. You may send one e-mail and get a response that day from a coach showing interest. Stay humble. The recruiting process is different for every athlete that goes through it. It takes a great deal of patience and effort on the end of the athlete. There will be risks and you will be forced to put yourself out there and come out of your comfort zone. Just remember you’re not alone. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, reach out to someone you know who has been there and done it. Remember, the college softball recruiting process is exactly that, a process.
