Many student-athletes use the summer and their time away from the classroom to head on a family vacation or take a job to earn extra cash. But if you just completed your junior year of high school and your goal is to play college sports, your summer challenge should be to grab the attention of some college coaches. Being recruited is not about waiting by the phone expecting coaches to call you. You need to take a proactive approach to get your name in front of coaches whose programs you would like to join.
The following three keys are important to getting noticed and ahead of your peers in the world of college recruiting.

1. Attend Sport Camps

Many major college programs across the country sponsor and run sport camps. Since NCAA rules prohibit college coaches from trying out high school athletes on recruiting trips, coaches organize these camps to evaluate potential recruits who could help their teams. Go through your list of desirable colleges and find out whether and when they are holding a sports camp. If a school is not sponsoring a camp, call the athletic department and ask if their coaches will be working at any other camps during the summer.

2. Make a Talent Video

Depending on the year, college coaches are recruiting hundreds, if not thousands, of athletes. It is virtually impossible for them to see all their prospects in action. This makes it crucial for you to make a video that showcases your athletic talent and skills. Make sure that the video:

• Clearly states your name, high school, and contact information
• Demonstrates your athletic skills
• Is easy to find

The process can be as simple as uploading a video to YouTube and sending the link to college coaches. The video must demonstrate your superior athletic talent and indicate how to get in touch with you.

3. Call Coaches

Imagine picking up the phone and making the first phone call to a college coach. During the conversation, you speak with confidence about your ability to help the coach’s program and express your excitement about meeting the coach and team members in person. I promise you that such a 5- or 10-minute conversation will stick in the coach’s mind compared to the hundreds of emails he or she is undoubtedly receiving from other hopefuls. If you want to stand out and get ahead of the competition, dial the coach’s number instead of writing an email.
Summer is your opportunity to get noticed by coaches during college recruiting, so make sure to take advantage.