My S is a soccer player, 9th grade. He is starting to play in showcase tournaments and sending intro letters to schools that he thinks he may be interested in attending. He’s getting responses with camp invites, etc. but nothing personal. We’ve been through this process with my D who did end up being recruited to play soccer in college, so we know that these emails are not indicative of interest, plus with boys the process usually starts later. However, one or two coaches have asked for video, and he did send along a reel from his last showcase. One coach, with whom he has gone back and forth with regarding camp dates, then sent another email that included his personal cell phone with a note that my S can call him even though the coach can’t per NCAA rules. What does this mean?? He is willing to call but also doesn’t want to seem overbearing. Should my S try to set up a call? Or is that reading too much into it?
I would have him talk to the people in his high school-- maybe the AD’s office-- before doing anything. They should be well versed in NCAA rules.
It’s been a standing rule that young recruits were able to call coaches but coaches can not call recruits. However, the NCAA div1 rules just changed last week and I am not sure it effected this rule. I haven’t had time to research it all yet but they stopped unofficial visits until junior year. Not sure what else.
I think my question is whether -if rules allow- he should call, or is it reading into the sharing of the cell phone number too much?
He’s in 9th grade. He’s not being " recruited" in 9th grade for mens college soccer. The coach probably gives out his cell phone to lots of potential recruits. Your son could send him a text or email expressing interest in their program and to keep him informed of any camps/clinics that the coach might host, and. to let him know what tournaments he is playing in soon. I’d leave it at that for now.
Thanks - they have already exchanged those emails re: camps and tournaments. I was under the impression it’s quite rare to get a cell phone number unless they want you to have it. But would be interested in what others think who have been through men’s soccer recruiting specifically. Very good academic school and decent soccer school.
I don’t think there is harm in calling. Will S stumble through the call? Probably. But that’s what the coaches expect from a high school kid. I think if a Coach says I can’t call you, but I can answer if you call me at 555-… . is a good indicator that S should call. Just say he wanted to introduce himself or follow up or some BS reason for the call. My guess is the coach will ask him a few questions and do most of the talking. If your daughter was recruited you pretty much know how these calls go, and that S should have a couple questions ready.
I agree with @dadof4kids. I don’t see the harm in a call, and there could be some possible downside in not returning an offer for a call. Will the coach interpret that as a lack of interest? Understand – as you do – that coaches talk to rafts of kids each year. It is entirely possible that the coach has your son’s year of graduation wrong or that the coach has confused him with someone else (this does happen). I would alert your son to that possibility so he is prepared for the “anything can happen” world of athletic recruiting.
Have your son outline a short piece on himself and say it out loud, just in case the coach asks him to tell the coach something about himself. Go over the summer camp/tournament/showcase plans with your son (you do this so when the coach asks, your son will know how to respond).
Then have him prepare at least three questions and have him share those questions with you. Explain how a question is a window on the athlete and how questions should encourage a “positive” response. For example, it may not be a good thing to ask a D1 coach about taking a semester abroad. The coach may say, “we don’t encourage that.” On the other hand that question will be entirely fine in the D3 context. Your son may never need to rely on the prepared questions, but they are a good thing to have at the ready as almost all coaches ask whether recruits have any questions.
Experience talking to coaches is always a good thing – it helps develop skills and confidence. I would not ignore the opportunity.
In a different sport, my son was given a coach’s cell phone number when he was in 9th grade. He called the coach about once a month to update him on accomplishments. The first couple of calls were awkward, but S learned how to talk to a coach.
I’m not sure if the new rules take place immediately or not until the fall. That might have an impact on whether your son can still make the call. Also, if he gets voice mail, it’s a good idea to leave a message stating a time that your son will try again since the coach can’t call him back.
Other than softball, I’m pretty sure the new rules don’t prevent calls from the athlete, only unofficial visits.
As far as questions, S always asked what the opportunities were to train over the summer. At the level he was looking at, the coaches pretty much always said that if at all possible they like the athletes to stick around, except for possibly junior summer for an internship when they would arrange for training at another facility. His reply was usually, “That’s awesome!” or something similar when they said they trained all summer. He also asked how they would support him in training for world team trials during the off season.
Both of those were important questions for him, one school pretty much eliminated itself with it’s answers. But it also was an opportunity for him to let the coaches know the level of dedication he has to his sport. Try to have a couple"go to" questions that highlight your strengths, whatever they are