Volleyball Recruiting: Why Following Up Gets You Noticed

Following up is one of the most overlooked keys to success in volleyball recruiting. If sending one more email or text could land you the offer you want, would you take that step? Too many athletes give up after a single attempt, assuming silence from a college coach means “no.” But in reality, consistent and proactive communication is what keeps you on a coach’s radar and can set you apart from the thousands of other athletes hoping for that same opportunity.

Recruiting takes work and it takes communication. Usually consistent communication. This is something we cover in our "Showing Interest" online program.

Here is usually how the situation plays out:

1) Athlete sends an email to a school they are interested in. They don't get a response, they assume the school isn't interested and don't reach out again.

2) A school reaches out to an athlete. Athlete responds and waits patiently for a response. The response never comes. Athlete thinks the school "ghosted" them and never follows up.

This can happen over text as well, not just email.

I see this play out over and over again throughout the recruiting cycle.

Unfortunately, in MOST instances, it's on the athlete to stay in touch with college coaches. You have to be willing to send that next email and take the next step. You have to be willing to follow up with a school. Send a second email. Text them...again.

College coaches are insanely busy. Is that an excuse? Maybe so and maybe not. It's more just the reality of their overall situation. If you are not staying on their radar, someone else is. The other piece of this that we struggle to really understand is that overall, in the NCAA, we are talking about 5% or less of high school athletes are playing college volleyball. That is important information because that means there is another "you" out there. College coaches are picking who is available, who is most interested in their school, who they most click with...and the list goes on. They will go find that athlete they feel can help them and that they think is best suited for their program. They will search through the 95% of athletes that might still be looking to play college volleyball to grab the one they want and the one that wants to be at their school the most.

Maybe you are following up! That's great! Keep doing that! Certainly don't stop! It might be some small things we need to change and adjust in your email, your highlight or in what we are communicating to the school. Small changes can make big difference.

It might be we need to readjust the list of schools you are contacting? Lots of options. Hang in there. This process is hard sometimes.

Push through the hard to get to where you are trying to go!