When is the right time to start reaching out to college coaches?
The direct answer to this question is dependent on several factors, but to put it simply, the earlier the better when it comes to networking. With new legislation that arose in 2019, it can be difficult to keep track of which schools can contact athletes. The important thing to note is that just because these coaches can’t respond, it doesn’t mean they don’t look at, break down, and analyze every piece of information that is given to them.
The exact timeline for when coaches can contact golfers is laid out by the NCSA which states, “NCAA Division 1 and Division 2 golf coaches can begin to contact recruits starting June 15 after their sophomore year. At this time, they can call, text, email, direct message and make verbal offers to student-athletes. Then, beginning August 1 before junior year, recruits can partake in unofficial and official visits. Division 3 college coaches, on the other hand, aren’t required to adhere to the same set of rules and can reach out to recruits at any point in high school. NAIA coaches set their own recruiting timeline, as well.”
The first thing to do to get on a college coach’s radar is to send them an introductory email. Even though coaches cannot reciprocate interest until June 15 of the sophomore year summer, initiating contact forces them to start a file. This is prompting them to begin the evaluation process. It is important to include the most vital information in the subject line, such as name, graduation year, Junior Golf Scoreboard ranking, and GPA. This is done to catch the coach’s eye and have him open the email in the first place
To begin the email, start with an introduction and give the coach a couple of highlights or results/finishes that will stand out in their mind. Next, answer why attending that school is appealing and what makes a good fit for the golf team. Lastly, express gratitude for their time. Keeping the email concise and including only the most important information is crucial.
The recruiting process naturally narrows itself over time, so targeting “5-10 schools” to start is not wise. An email list of 100+ coaches is far more powerful. This is about networking and building a brand, so the more connections made, and more relationships built, will allow for more opportunities to present themselves.
The next step is to reach out to coaches with updates at least every 60 days. While they won’t be able to respond before the contact deadline, this is done in order to build a brand. Once that June 15 deadline comes around you will have done everything in your power to be positioned towards the top of their recruitment boards.
Another great outlet that allows athletes the opportunity to connect with coaches is through RecruitMe, where athletes can build their own profile and have the ability to connect with over 25,000 colleges. The platform is made specifically for athletes looking to compete at the next level and PGA Tour Member, Scott Stallings said, “I wish I had RecruitMe! As a “late bloomer” in high school my options as far as time and availability were limited. RecruitMe would have been an invaluable tool to help overcome those limitations.” This platform is great as any college coach is able to view an athlete’s profile and cast a wider net for them to create more connections.
The next thing that junior golfers need to be aware of is their presence on social media. In recruiting, social media is the ultimate “background check.” What junior golfers put out there is their brand and how they are going to be perceived. This point is echoed by Clemson University Women’s Golf Coach, Kelley Hester as she said, “Just like we tell our college kids that a future employer is going to monitor and go back to look at somebody’s Facebook photos and language and things like that. This is one level down but college coaches are gonna be looking at some of this junior golf business so I think it’s important to be careful what you put out there about yourself.”
Social media often won’t be the reason that junior golfers get recruited to play college golf, but it can easily become the reason that they don’t make it to the school of their dreams. They must avoid posting anything with profanity, inappropriate pictures, or too much information about their personal life because college coaches can view all these things as a negative when it comes to recruitment.
The last thing recruits can do when networking with college coaches is to attend a college camp or showcase. A coach can still walk the recruit around; they just can’t discuss recruiting or their current interest in the player until June 15 of your sophomore year summer. Never underestimate the ability to talk face-to-face with a coach as this can often solidify the relationship and help said athlete receive that offer later down the line.
