Thoughts From Triple Crown 2024

Triple Crown is such a great tournament. I know that there is a qualifier prior to this weekend now, but I don't think that changes anything. With TC being opening weekend for D1 coaches and because it combines most of the talent from across the country, it really is a top notch event. It's a crazy three days for me but I enjoy going each year.

One of the biggest topics of discussion throughout the weekend and even leading up to the weekend was INTEREST.

I have ben saying for 5 years now that the most important question you need to be prepared to answer as an athlete is "Why are you interested in our program?" and based on the conversations I had over this weekend, that is still the case today. College coaches want to know that you are interested in their school. They want to know that they are spending as much time as they can focused on the athletes where there is mutual interest. Based on some of the conversations here are a few things that I'd like to discuss briefly (you can find more about these topics throughout this blog as well).

Email

Your emails need to be specific. You need to address coaches by name. You need to express "why" you are interested in that school. College coaches are combing through a ton of emails every week. This is particularly true in the week leading up to a qualifier. If a college coach likes you and you can get a good eval on film, they will most likely plan on watching you play live at a tournament. This is great! But you aren't the only one that can go play for that school. There are other athletes out there emailing the same schools! You need to constantly communicate through your email that you are interested in there school. That's where emailing out of your gmail or other personal email account is beneficial. Lots of athletes are sending TONS of emails out of platforms like SR and NCSA. That's fine if you're trying to cover a big group of schools quickly to send out your newest film and your updated club season schedule. At some point college coaches want to be shown a little more love than that. Sending out personalized and individual emails to those schools you are REALLY interested in can make a big difference.

Responding

I have several athletes that are really good about responding to EVERY email or message they get from college coaches. It doesn't matter if it's an email from me, a questionnaire, camp invite or something else they send you maybe through snail mail; respond.

"She responds to everything we send her." I heard this a bunch this weekend and it REALLY is helpful to college coaches as they are sifting through all of the athletes they are recruiting.

Always respond. It doesn't have to be much. A "thank you!" is sometimes all you need to say. Manners are good. College coaches like it when you respond to them. They like seeing the name of an athlete they are recruiting come across their phone or email. Trust me, little things like this make a difference.

Above and Beyond

For this one you have to think a little bit outside the box. What are some OTHER things you can do to make yourself standout as an athlete that is REALLY interested in a school? Engaging with the team on social media is a great and easy thing to do. Be productive for 5 minutes as you scroll Twitter or Instagram and just make sure you are liking or commenting on posts from those schools. You notice it when a school likes your post right? Now, I'm not saying that following or liking posts of athletes on social media is the end all, be all of interest, but if there is interest then the overflow of that interest can land in social media.

Knowledge is important. Talk about or mention things you noticed about the team on social media. Send an email that says, "I saw you guys were doing ..." You don't need to send a new highlight. All you're doing is showing and communicating interest. How about a "congrats on the win!" email or text during the fall season? How about going and introducing yourself to a coach at a volleyball tournament? You are allowed to say HI :)

Make yourself stand out. Show a school you are really interested. Start today. Don't wait!

Do you have college coaches coming to watch you play at your next qualifier?

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