<p>Hi I am a Cross country and distance track run in my junior year. I would love to be able to run at a D1 school and I feel like I have the ability to make a tier 2 team. So my question is when should i start getting in contact with coaches about running. </p>
<p>A little additional information I have taken the PSAT but my first real SAT will not be until the march testing time.</p>
<p>Contact the coaches now.</p>
<p>I agree with semit -start emailing the coaches now. List your PR in your best events, test scores, GPA, and list of AP/ honor courses. You should also start filling out online recruit information forms. You should try to call any coaches that you receive a positive response from. Cast a wide net, emailing 20-50 schools is not unreasonable.</p>
<p>My d is a sophomore and runs XC and TF, and she’s had a berecruited profile since freshman and has emailed and called a couple of coaches just to get on their radar. Got a couple of unofficial visits coming up for winter break. All of the coaches very impressed that she’s starting early. She has great grades and good times, so we think this will give her a leg up from the competition who won’t start connecting with coaches until junior and senior year. You can’t wait for them to come to you. You’ve got to go after them.</p>
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<p>Music to my ears ;). It appears musicmom26’s daughter is a go-getter. </p>
<p>I agree with swimkidsdad that casting a wide net of 20-50 schools is more than reasonable. You need a place to get started. Some coaches will respond and some won’t respond initially. Don’t take it personally. Of the schools that won’t respond initially, some will get back to you and some never will. This is the exercise just about every recruited athlete goes through. Over time, you’ll learn about the process and the difference between “interested” and “genuinely interested” schools. Use tools like College Navigator to get started on creating that list. Good luck.</p>
<p>Spartan, do you have the opportunity to do a spring break college visit trip? When you email coaches, you can ask to meet with them on campus. </p>
<p>If you can get a look at some schools this spring, it’s going to save you a lot of stress over where to make official visits in the fall. Of course college coaches are also in the middle of their track season by March/April, but if they’re in town and you have that stats they’re looking for, they’ll make time to see you.</p>
<p>Best wishes!</p>
<p>PS I’m the mom of a D1 XC/Track kid</p>
<p>Thank you for all of the advice.
Riverrunner, yeah i planned on going to visit a few schools and I’ll try to meet with the coaches when I go now.</p>
<p>I agree that you need to start now. It definitely helps to use a recruiting website on which you can list your academics/ accomplishments , and show pictures, videos, etc. We also used BeRecruited.com. I would say email at least 50 coaches, and let them know if you will be running where they can watch. In addition, if there is a school you are really interested in, you can call- coaches will really notice you more if you call them to talk- often! Also, I can not emphasize enough how important grades are. If you are good enough, you will get interest from a lot of coaches no matter what, but if you have great grades, you will definitely have a lot more options! Good luck!</p>
<p>My D recently committed to a large D1 that has one of the best XC programs in the country this past week. Her best results were from calling the coaches directly. Nothing ever came about through the online recruiting questionnaires. Some coaches returned emails, some didn’t. Connecting with coaches was like a job for her. You need to keep trying until you connect. Be sure to have your stats on hand, any test scores, GPA. Also, be sure you can get into the schools (some coaches can have you tagged with admissions, others can’t). You will know whose interested and whose not right away. They will tell you what they are looking for in regards to stats and what times will get you scholarship and what times as a walk on.</p>
<p>My D did not cast a very wide net. Her initial list of schools was about seven. One coach called her out of the blue and the list grew to eight. She then narrowed it down to four. She took the four OVs and made her choice.</p>
<p>If you have any questions don’t hesitate to PM me.</p>
<p>Good luck!!</p>