Use the terminology you just learned, along with advice from two experts, to simplify the recruiting process.

Situation: According to author and Sacred Heart University pitching coach Wayne Mazzoni, high school athletes expect their coach to manage their whole recruiting process.

Advice: First, define what you want from your college experience, including academics, location, campus size and level of athletics at which you can realistically compete. Based on those criteria, Mazzoni suggests creating a list of five to 10 schools. Then, gather info about the college coach from each school, including name, phone number and email address.

“Once you’ve done that, take [that] information to your high school coach and say, ‘I know I can play at these schools, but these coaches don’t know about me. Could you please call these coaches and tell them about me?’” Mazzoni explains, “Just about every coach, when they’re given that directive, will do it. But if they have to sit there and go through that [initial] process, it’s too much.”

Situation: Writing a generic letter to coaches whom you want to know about you.

Advice: University of Florida volleyball head coach Mary Wise’s advice: Be specific. She says, “If it’s a form letter that [an athlete’s] sending to all [coaches], I would wonder just how much effort she’s spending to find out, ‘Is this the right fit?’”

Wise recommends including the following with each letter: the coach’s name, details about the sport’s program [including the conference and style of play], the school’s academic level and where it’s located. Those details “show a genuine interest,” Wise says.

Related links:
2009 Recruiting Terminology
2009 Key Recruiting Checklist
Bob Sanders’ Recruiting Experience
Financial Aid 411
Divisional Breakdown 
NCAA Initial Eligibility Center
Self Marketing Tips
Communicating With a Coach
Gauging A Coach’s Interest
Official College Visits
Researching Colleges
Key NCAA Rules & Regs