How to tell a coach you're not interested

Athletic Recruits
1

<p>Hey everyone, recently I talked with a coach from a school who really wants me to come to their camp, told me he saw me play, and wants to recruit me. The thing is this school isn't academically up to par with the schools I want to go to. I know that I can get into a better academic school even without playing sports. So how do I convey this to the coach? I know that I don't want to go to this school, but is closing doors this early (sophomore) okay? </p>

2

<p>Just say thank you for the invitation, but at this time you are looking at other schools that better meet your academic interests and needs. My daughter received a lot of invitations from small LACs, but she really wanted an engineering program and she found one.</p>

<p>Or you could just go to the camp (if you can afford it) and see if you like the school. Sometimes they surprise you.</p>

3

<p>Would be worthwhile checking to see if other coaches will be at the camp. In my daughters sport she often attended a camp at a school and coaches from other schools of great interest to her were there helping coach the camp.</p>

4

<p>If u have the time and money to attend camp I would say consider going because:

  1. It will provide valuable experience if at some point you need to attend camp for a school that you are interested in.
  2. Coaches switch schools and to close the door on someone who may later be in position to help you may be something you regret.
  3. There are some people who believe offers lead to more offers. I can’t speak to that but it’s something to consider.
  4. If you haven’t taken SATs you might not be accurate as to schools that you are academically eligible for.</p>

<p>I also agree with other posters who commented “try it, you might like it.”</p>

<p>Best of luck and congrats!</p>

5

<p>It depends if you REALLY don’t want to go to the school or if you just feel it is beneath you (but don’t really know the school).</p>

<p>My son has emailed coaches and said “thanks but no thanks” - in his case, he is staying on the East Coast so it is easy to use location as a determinant. </p>

<p>I’m not sure of your grade, but in general, coaches can’t talk to you unless you are both on their campus or you call the coach, until senior year.</p>