Smack Recruiting Tips: Getting Noticed

At Smack Sportswear, we do more than make custom high performance volleyball apparel. Our mission is to grow the game, and part of that is helping young girls and boys prepare for and play volleyball in college. For many players, one of the hardest parts of the recruiting process is getting noticed by college coaches. Here are Smack Sportswear’s Top 10 Tips for the recruiting process.

 

1)    Make a (long and realistic) list. One great way to make a list of potential schools is to print out the list of volleyball rankings (RPI). Choose an area appropriate for you, and find a range of 100-200 schools. Are you a 5’9 outside hitter? Maybe take the schools ranked 50-250 and highlight, circle, and cross out schools that are options based on location, academics, and other criteria that are important to you.

2)    Know your selling points. Are you tall? Do you have an impressive vertical or sprint time? Are you left-handed? Can you play multiple positions? Has your team won a championship? Are you a crafty hitter or a power hitter? You need to know what your strengths are, so you can convey them to recruiters. If you need help, ask your teammates or club or high school coach.

3)    Do your own work. When sending emails or making phone calls, the coaches want to talk to YOU, not your parents. It will be scary the first few times, but it gets easier. Write down questions you want to ask before a phone call. If you get stuck, you can look down for something to talk about. If a coach doesn’t answer your call, leave a voicemail and say you’ll try again later.

4)    Draft an email. You have a list of schools you might be interested in, so now it’s time to email the coaches. You can often find coach’s emails on the school’s volleyball page or in the staff directory. Include your name, position, club info, a little bit about yourself, and the tournaments you are attending soon. Don’t forget to proofread!

5)    Make it personal. Now that you have a basic email drafted, don’t let it get lost in the masses. Do you have a family member or former teammate who attended the college you are interested in? Do you wish to apply for a certain program that the college is known for? Be sure to include unique information that will let coaches know you’ve done your research.

6)    Go old fashioned. For schools you really want to impress, you may want to take the time to write and mail letters by hand. This shows coaches you are serious about their program, and will likely leave you fresh in their mind.

7)    Make a video. Many players choose to include a short video in their emails. This is a good chance to show coaches your best stuff. Choose a 5-10 minute chunk of one of your best matches. Be sure coaches know which player you are!

8)    Be a good teammate. Being the fiery leader or the positive, supportive teammate is not lost on coaches. When coaches walk by your court, leadership skills and personality can stand out just as much as a huge kill. Be aware of how you act on and off the court (this includes warm ups!) Plus, there’s no faster way to turn off a college coach than by having a bad attitude.

9)    Keep your grades up. Okay, so this won’t draw a coach to your court. But when a college coach talks to your club coach, you want your club coach to be able to talk about how impressive you are both at practice and in school.

10) Use your club’s resources. Does your club offer info or talks about recruiting? If yes, great! If not, ask. Talk to your club coach or older girls that have already committed. Older girls will often be your best resources, as they have just gone through the process.

 

That’s it! Did we leave something off the list, or do you have a tip that you found particularly useful? Let us know!