By Lisa Meyers
If your letters and questionnaires are filed in a shoe box, and you have not responded to the college coaches who sent them, pay close attention. Every year thousands of college prospects eliminate options because they fail to respond to inquiries from coaches.
Each year college coaches across the United States mail millions of letters and athletic questionnaires to potential prospects. Coaches initially solicit large pools of athletes with the intent to narrow their scope day by day. College coaches are aware that some of the student-athletes they initially target may not be athletically or academically qualified for their institution and/or hockey program. For example, when the coach at Cornell receives a questionnaire that claims a 3.0 GPA and a 23 ACT, that student-athlete is tossed aside because they will never make it through the admissions process. Or, if a coach is not impressed with a player’s video, he or she will be put in the “no” pile. You can not control whether or not a college coach likes your skating style, but by responding to every piece of mail you will keep yourself on coaches’ radars as long as possible. When a student-athlete does not respond to a coach or return a questionnaire, the coach will assume they are not interested and they will stop recruiting the athlete. A timely response will indicate interest and demonstrate maturity and follow through.
Some student-athletes do not respond because they are not interested in the college/university. Your opinion may change once you research an institution or talk to the coach, and you never know which college/university and hockey program might be the perfect fit for you. Even if you ultimately rule out a college, you will gain insight through your research. By investigating different types of colleges/universities you will have a better idea of what you like and dislike.
The more college coaches you communicate with, the more experience you will have. Phone calls and email dialogue with coaches will prepare you for interactions with the coaches at your top choice programs. When you speak with a coach it is important never to bad mouth another coach or hockey program. The hockey community is small and coaches talk. Coaches also change jobs, so you might ignore a coach because you do not like his or her campus, only to have them get hired at one of your top choices. The recruiting process is tough enough on the ice and in the classroom. Never give anyone any negative fuel, and always respond in a manner that is prompt, eager and courteous.
