Cincy East College Recruiting Resources

So you want to play volleyball in college?

Below is a guide put together to help you on your way. There are also some very helpful links to various information outlets. Also, do not hesitate to ask. Cincy East staff are always here to assist. We also have various experienced parents and players who have taken a dive into the recruiting process. Most importantly keep everything in perspective.

Players, coaches want to hear from you!!! If you are beginning the recruiting process we encouraged you think about answers to the following questions below...

1. Academics: What major would you like to pursue?

2. What is your current academic standing-GPA, ACT, SAT-how does this factor into your college choice? "You need grades to be good!!"

3. Distance: How far from home are you and your family willing to travel?

4. What size school are you looking for?

5. Is it important to you that the volleyball team is successful?

6. What type of role do you want to play on a team, for example; freshman starter, willing to work for playing time, willing to walk-on for the best program possible?

7. What kind of coach can you play for?

8. What type of setting would you like your school to have (city, small town, isolated campus)

9. Financial considerations: Do you need a full scholarship or a lot of financial aid? If you do not get a full scholarship do you have a price range that your family can manage?

10. Division I, II, III, Ivy, or NAIA, Junior College?

NCAA Recruiting Calendars

Women's Volleyball Recruiting Guide

College Recruiting Resource Links

We do caution parents when using recruiting agencies. There can be significant cost and possibly hidden charges. Do your homework. Ask for references and other source data. This is a business. Many do have free profile options.

NCSA

FieldLevel

University Athlete

CaptainU

NCAA Future Athletes

NCAA Eligibility Center

Contacting Coaches

NCAA

National Scouting Report

Talking with coaches

Questions to ask coaching staff

Communication Examples

An introductory email

The best way to start communicating with coaches is through an introductory email. While the role of email in recruiting has lessened somewhat, itʼs still an important first step in the process and is a great way to initially send your key information to college coaches. Read more about how to write an introductory email that will capture a college coachʼs attention.

Follow up with a call

If the contact period has started for your sport (June 15 after sophomore year or September 1 of junior year), following up with a phone call to the coach is an important step. Since DI coaches are not allowed to talk to you before the contact period, there is not much value in giving them an early call. Read more about how to call college coaches—as well as how to leave your best voicemail.

Respond to recruiting letters

Though recruiting relies primarily on digital methods, coaches may still send different types of recruiting letters to athletes. And recruits should respond back. Learn more about the different types of recruiting letters you may receive—and how to respond.

Keep in touch with coaches and update them with new stats

Sometimes the most difficult part of the recruiting process is keeping the lines of communication open with college coaches. A few great reasons to reach out to a coach include: when you have new athletic or academic stats, youʼre planning on visit their school and want to set up a meeting, or you have an upcoming tournament youʼd like to invite them to. Learn more about texting college coaches or direct messaging coaches through your social media platforms. Do you need vitals measured such as vertical jump, height, approach, block etc...? You can use services like Proforce not only to increase these numbers giving you the athlete an edge but get them certified.

Attend College Showcases and Camps

Make sure you are attending a showcase where the colleges you are interested in will be in attendance. Also, these can be money grabs. Do your homework. Show caution when receiving a standard form invite letter to camps or showcases. If attending a specific college camp contact the coach and let them know you will be there.

How to create a recruiting video

Do your homework on the school

Before sending out videos to colleges, identify school that will be an academic and athletic fit for you. A great recruiting video will not make up for grades or skill that does not qualify for certain programs. Choose colleges where your child can truly compete, and even then you may have to build a relationship with the coach before you can decide if that college is a fit.

Don’t send a recruiting video without notice

While most college coaches try to watch every video they receive, it’s often an overwhelming task and chances are good that they will not have to a chance to see them all. Your child’s chances are much better if he or she connects with the coach by phone, email or in an online recruiting form first.

Keep the Video Short

College coaches do not have time to watch a 2-hour game tape. Remember, they may receive hundreds of tapes a year. It’s best to keep the video under 1 minute for invites and introductions. If asked for additional video keep them under 7 minutes. Be prepared have both ready. You can include full game footage at the end of the tape and tell the coach it’s there if they want to watch it.

Provide Contact Info and Stats.

Begin the video with a screen of your jersey number and team colors. Add measurements and stats like: height, weight, bench press, 40 time, PRs, batting average–whatever statistic is applicable to your child’s sport. In the case of volleyball height, dominate hand, vertical, and approach jump are important measurements. Be sure to include your contact info: phone, email, address,etc.

Keep it simple

No music, crazy transitions between clips, huddle or crowd shots. Let your athlete’s performance do all the talking. The video should be a compilation of plays, with the best plays coming first. Coaches usually make up their mind up while viewing a video in the first fifteen seconds. If you don’t have anything to get their attention, they will turn it off.

Give the coach sport-specific clips

Soccer coaches will want to see your ball-handling skills. Baseball and softball coaches are looking at your swing/pitching/throwing mechanics. Football coaches may want to see you perform in the weight room. As for volleyball show short clips of all your skill sets.

Make the athlete easy to spot

Use video editing tools to identify yourself. Many times a video isn’t quality enough to easily identify the athlete on each play. Spot shadows allow the coach to easily see the athlete.

Get good angles

Choose the best angle to highlight your athlete’s skills. Give coaches the best angle to see your child’s talent.

Put Your Video Online

Put the video online so that coaches can easily watch it. It’s best not to mail DVDs unless a coach requests it. Upload it to a video-hosting site, such as YouTube, and send the link to coaches in your email to them.

Full Game Video Tips

The advantage of providing a full game video is that coaches will see what players do right and what they do wrong. They will see an athlete’s demeanor around teammates or how hard he or she plays. For recruits that coaches are serious about, these game tapes may be even more important than the highlight video.

Don’t shy away from showing your child’s mistakes. They are just part of the game and if you can show coaches that your child responds well to failure, he or she will definitely stand out.

Videos may only be the first step

While many coaches recruit players from video and recommendations, other coaches will want to see your child play in person. Video is often the first step into getting a college coach’s attention and getting him or her interested in coming to see your child play in person.

Follow up

Even a great video will not guarantee that your child will be recruited. Your athlete needs to follow up by phone, asking if the coach received the video, and what the net step might be in the recruiting process. Your child’s ability to communicate with college coaches will not go unnoticed by coaches. They want confident high school athletes who know what they want and who express an interest in their college program.

Whether your child ends up playing Division 1, 2, 3, or NAIA, the bottom line is this: will the school and the program that your child chooses adequately prepare him or her for life after college?

Hudle

The Art of Coaching Volleyball

Website Manager

Cincy East Volleyball Club

Content

Site Links

Contact Us

Cincy East Volleyball Club