Approaching college coaches at showcases

[plsjms94]

What's the best course of action? DD is a senior. She has a few email conversations going with coaches at schools she is interested in. She has been to camps or clinics at some of these schools, and has been invited for her first visit to a campus by a coach. If she sees a coach from one of her short- list schools at a tournament should she walk up and introduce herself and thank them for coming out? What about her Dad or I? If we're in the stands and coach sits down should we introduce ourselves, point out DD and remind the coach that DD has been in contact and is interested in their school? Obviously the coach is there to work, and we don' t want to interupt that, but also don't want to let an opportunity slip away. How direct should you be when talking to a coach?

 

[Atlantabell]

First, as parents, you need to let your daughter handle this herself. The college coaches want to hear from HER not you. We always tell our parents that the best thing for parents to do is to be invisible at tournaments. Rather than saying anything to the coaches at the tournament, just have her e-mail them after the tournament thanking them for being there and tell them how she did. Let her travel ball coach handle the" in person" communications. If the college is interested in her, they will follow up on her e-mail with a phone call or e-mail.

 

[Daddylawman]

It would be a recruiting violation to talk to her while her team is active in a tournament, so they likely will not respond if your DD approaches them. The parent approaching is a mark against the kid for most coaches.

The travel ball coach, or an assistant, should be responsible for talking to all coaches who watch your games, finding out who the coach is there to see and thanking them for taking the time to come by.

 

[kenb63]

At tournaments with college coaches in attendance parents should be like children in the 19th century, silent until spoken to. The extent of my vocabulary with DD's future college coach at tournaments has consisted of the words "Hi" and "Coach." Good advice above ^^^.

 

[plsjms94]

Great info. Thanks all. DD follows up after events, especially if she sees thr coach there. Sounds like she's on the right track. Our coaches to talk to college coaches too, but are ptetty laid back.