So during my interview, my interviewer kept on encouraging me to reach out to the soccer coach. I did, and we sent several emails back and forth for weeks. He kept on telling me to send more footage and saying seemingly encouraging things. It has been two weeks since I last heard from him and he has not replied to my email from a week ago.
Is it because the coach is too busy or because he is not interested in me anymore? I would expect at least an “Unfortunately we don’t have a spot on our team for you” type of email if he was not interested so I’m not very sure.
You’ve submitted an application to enter in the fall? They often go quiet during this time period between when applications are submitted and results come out in March.
What exactly are you expecting from him at this point? The admission decision will come from the admission office, not the coach.
Not much, just like any email, I’d think it would be a bit rude to leave someone hanging. Are they supposed to keep quiet during this time? I had no idea.
If it is any comfort, you are not the only one. My DS sent several school coaches his footages last year and the result was radio silence from all. He got rejected by some, wait listed by some and got in some. At the boarding reception coach greeted him. They take everything into account in making a class. It’s just that nothing really seals the admission, and everyone is too busy. Heck, I have been postponing my email reply to my high school teacher some 30 years ago!
He has replied to you several times. At some point he will have to stop. You’re not pen pals. You’ve sent footage, he has responded to it, now it’s all in the hands of the AO. The coach can’t tell you that he has or doesn’t have a spot for you. It’s not his decision.
I know waiting is hard! It’s best to put BS applications out of your mind and keep busy with other things. You’ll feel much better!
What can there possibly be left to ask or say, then? If you are emailing just for the sake of emailing, stop. They have other responsibilities as well.
They are not leaving you hanging. They are not the decision makers. You will receive your notice on decision day like everyone else. Protocol does not dictate that every email warrants a response, particularly if no question (or no new question) is asked.
Depending on the school - several leagues have a mandated silent period during which coaches are prohibited from responding to applicants. I believe it’s app deadline to M10.
So here’s the thing. BS sports “recruiting” does not work like college recruiting where a coach has slots and works with admissions. In BS a coach either has sway with admissions or doesn’t but the coach isn’t looking just to fill slots. It’s much more AO dependent and some schools give almost zero bend in their criteria for athletes while some schools will admit an athlete with stats and grades far below their average.
What’s rude is emailing a busy adult for no reason and expecting a reply.
Now I remember hearing the same last year. I forgot about the reason I understood then. My other DS is applying this year and he too is not getting any reply; remembering the rule puts me in comfort. Thanks for the reminder.
I also agree with role of the coach after having sent my DS. Where my DS is going (very small), the coach is also a teacher and a dorm master. My DS had to try out for V and JV, both of which he failed to get in by a hair, even though he came with the expectation of a recruit. He is in 3rd, and he loves it because he makes or breaks every game with 90% play time (at V or JV, he would have been on bench most of the time) and all his freshmen dorm buddies are in the same team. So you never know how things will unfold.
All in all, I cannot help but thinking sending DS to boarding was the best thing that happened to both me and him.
OK - RELAX! Some things you cannot control. You are applying to boarding school, not a D1 program!! Some leagues & schools prohibit such contact. You sent your video and email, now leave it to the admissions Gods/Goddesses. Very few kids get actively “recruited” to attend a BS for a particular sport. We did know of a basketball kid whose older brother played for the school, for example.
Also, some of the smaller schools use part-time faculty for coaching. If they are faculty, then they are super busy wearing many hats at BS - not just the coaching hat.
That being said, we do want to thank 2 coaches who watched video and responded to kiddo - even via FaceTime call to discuss their particular sports program and offered suggestions for improving technique.
Frankly, if you play a Spring sport, you may not even hear from your target coach or speak to that coach until way into the school year.
My kid got a recent email from a coach saying the coach was going into a silent mode from this date to that date. I think the end date was 3/10. I only know this because I overheard my kid telling my spouse. The coach has apparently been responsive prior to this point.