I have had friends here in New England who’ve had BS athletic coaches reach out to their child for sports such as field hockey and softball based on seeing them play their sport on local and even LPS teams. These kids have not even applied to BS before the contact was made and for most the contact was made after M10 (even after A10) when, my guess is, they were in need to fill some rosters. But has anyone had a coach reach out to their child who is/has applied to the school, who is an athlete, after they have applied (before M10)? More so, have they been contacted about a sport that your child has no connection to (not that they are adverse to the sport, it just is not anything they put in their application about athletic experience so the contact is out of the blue)? This is not one of the less famous schools either that I’m talking about, but one of the alphabet soup, frequently mentioned “top” schools on these threads.
It sounds highly unusual, unless the sport is something that can be picked up with no prior experience (rowing, eg, or maybe if you have a 6’2" 250 lb son, and football).
Oh it’s happening. That’s why I’m curious. My son participates in activities outside of his main sport that relate and which he mentioned this participation on his app as casual experience, however, nothing was noted on the athlete form. And he was contacted on New Year’s Day, a holiday, in regards to it.
Forgive me, I certainly didn’t mean to imply it wasn’t happening!
Coaches in lots of sports definitely attend games and showcases to recruit. Mine were contacted from coaches of additional sports they’d played outside of their primary sport they were being recruited for, but only at schools they had at least filled out a questionnaire. If they are potential varsity level in those additional sports, the coaches may ask for film, stats, coach contacts, etc. for the additional sports if available. It definitely makes it easier for a coach/admissions team to advocate for a student-athlete applicant who can contribute in multiple sports and/or extra-curriculars.
I’ve never heard of an applicant being contacted about a sport they haven’t shared they’ve played. But I have heard of kids contacted by a coach once they’re on campus as a student—football/lax crossovers as both teams need more players—and tall, athletic kids for rowing and compact kids for coxswain.
I’d add that if a school is adding, re-building or trying to grow a program those coaches might be looking internally at applicants to help their program? If it’s a school that your child really likes it could help them in the admissions process.
My kid applied to a good handful of the ‘alphabet soup’ schools.
Kid participated in 2 sports at a potential varsity level as a freshman and reached out to head coach of both sports at each school prior to applying. Kid then zoomed with all those coaches (minus one who was too busy or didn’t see kid as a value add to the team) plus also zoomed with some kids on each team. That entire fall was a zoom-fest.
We didn’t have any surprise calls from coaches for recruiting because my kid had already initiated the contact. However, at one of the schools, during a rare in-person tour and face to face meeting with a coach, a head coach of a completely different (and brand new) sport spotted kid and introduced themselves and then reached out on a regular basis (in fact, was the first person from that school to congratulate kid on M10).
Sorry, didn’t mean it negatively back atcha, just more so agreeing that it’s not normal and something we are going through. I didn’t expect it so we aren’t sure how to approach it or maneuver it since this wasn’t on our radar as part of the process. Sure he has been in contact with the coach of his main sport so this is out of the blue (a bit of skepticism to be had like that phone call about your car’s extended warranty 
).
We’ve definitely experienced the attending of events for his main sport that he specifically showcased in the app process. He’s definitely never played this other one and from what I see/hear it isn’t in a rebuilding phase but has had a lot of successes over the years. Maybe they don’t get a lot of interest for the sport, but they must do ok if they have done well over the years 
My son did initial contacts with his main coach previously much earlier in the process. This was a totally out of the blue coach/sport contact after his application was submitted.
Is there a crossover from his main sport—like this other coach contacting him is an assistant for his primary one so sees potential? Maybe it’s a sport with a specialized position they see as an easy crossover? Regardless, if it’s one of his top choices and a good fit for his primary sport it could help him with admissions and could be a fun experience if he doesn’t already play a sport he enjoys that season. There’s always a chance there was a miscommunication but having him follow up could help him regardless since it would show initiative and maturity in knowing the right thing to do is respond, since as we know not adults even have this skill. 
No, not a crossover. I even looked at potential crossovers with girls/boys team coaches but can’t see anything listed. He did reach out and from what she has said, she has the right kid. They are going to have a meeting to talk and she invited him to a couple of events to meet other players, too. We have to take a look at our schedule to find something that works, but he is definitely intrigued.
Has this coach seen your kid play any sport in person? Coaches (from other sports) have “casually” reached out with a “hey, I’d love to have you play for me” to DS. We assume it’s mostly based on how he conducts himself. It’s obvious he’s a great athlete that can pick up any sport, but they seem to focus on his leadership, coachability, focus, kindness and being a good teammate. Coaches can spot athleticism a mile away. When they see an athletic kid with that “it” factor, they are eager to work with them.
I am not super surprised that a coach at a school your son applied to reached out to your son. Coaches with successful teams do this constantly.
But your question is also so vague it’s kind of hard to have an opinion. I don’t really understand what your question is. What does it matter if it’s standard? Maybe your son is a great athlete. Are you asking if a coach at a well name school is sketchy? The answer is probably no.
Coaches literally do tons of things that “aren’t standard.”
Not sure if the coach has seen him in person, it is possible but I’m not sure why they would travel to see him when it isn’t the coach’s sport. Does that make sense? Especially since the coach is also, like many schools, one of the teachers who likely has classes and whatever other obligations.
No not the sketch level. More along the lines as to why this is happening. Only experience I have had with recruitment of athletes other than the friends of kids specifically contacted by BS about the sports they play, are family members recruited in private day schools and colleges where no one came to them outside of their sport either. This out of main sport inquiry seems a bit interesting prior to M10 when people say you won’t get any promise/official acceptance before then. The kid isn’t going to be influenced more to apply because of this interaction, that’s already done.
Have you just asked the coach what’s going on?
Not yet he does have a meeting set up in the coming weeks. I just worry about him asking because for some reason he is supposed to know why or that it turns the coach off because it seems like he wonders why a sport that he isn’t affiliated with is reaching out to him. Maybe it will come out without my kid asking (or at least get more insight to it all).