<p>^^^Caller ID becomes your friend...my daughter and the rest of the family quickly learned the area codes of the schools who were calling and could shout out the name of the school before the receiver left the cradle. </p>
<p>Sometimes my daughter "wasn't home" because she just didn't have time and energy to talk to another coach. I think coaches understand this. They probably feel compelled to make weekly calls to recruits to stay on the radar, but are a little relieved when they get "credit" for making the call without having to make small talk. </p>
<p>On the other hand, coaches at schools my daughter was interested in, and initiated contact with, were quick to return her calls at a time when she was ready to ask questions and really listen to the answers!</p>
<p>Coaches are humans with feelings and families, too. I found it was a good thing for her to let them know when she had eliminated their school from her list, to save everyone from unnecessary and uncomfortable phone calls.</p>
<p>Best wishes in the search process. It's exciting and exhausting!</p>
<p>I wish there was an athletic recruiting forum NOW......cause we are also going thru it. In fact, our first official visit is this weekend.... and we continue to be hopeful that things will work out.... certainly one thing we have learned is to reach out to a coach at a school you are interested in. Some respond, some don't.....but if you do not ask, then you probably won't get. Also, save any and all letters you get....yes most are a form letter they have someone "sign".....but it is better than nothing and it begins a dialog. If your kid is lucky....they will make it into a coach's final candidate binder. Still not a guarantee...but at least they are on the coach's wish list!!</p>
<p>I have in the past year gleaned some very helpful information about the recruitment process on accident. When I came across it I wanted more. Who knows how many others are out there with student athletes that could benefit from an athletic forum.</p>
<p>I think it's over due. My son plays volleyball and has limited options (lack of teams) outside D3 and I would love a forum</p>
<p>Finally tracked down a copy of Playing the Game: Inside Athletic Recruiting in the Ivy League, written by Chris Lincoln and published in 2004 (I had to order it from our local Borders because they don't seem to keep it in stock). </p>
<p>Although some admissions and recruiting details have changed somewhat since 2004 (no EA at Harvard and no ED at Princeton; timing of recruiting 'commitments' in some sports), the book is very revealing about the recruiting process in the Ivy League and the NESCAC. I'm left with even greater respect (and compassion) for the coaches in the challenges they face in finding the right balance of athletic and academic talent - all while not being able to offer athletic scholarships.</p>
<p>peonies - there is a series of articles on recruiting and Haverford College that ran in the N.Y. Times. google and read those. they are very informative.</p>
<p>condor30, thank you for the suggestion about the Haverford series. Yes, the articles are quite illuminating - and a little unnerving in conveying how fickle the recruiting process can be.</p>