How to Improve Player and Coach Relationships

It is not uncommon for an athlete to “bump heads” with at least one coach throughout their playing career. However, this can be avoided with understanding from both the coach and athlete. This article by Steve Sanders gives solid advice for connecting better with your coach. It also provides suggestions for situations in which an athlete finds they are not getting along well with a coach.



School athletics can be helpful beyond just keeping you fit and offering you something to put on your college applications. It’s possible to learn some great life skills through sports, including the obvious ones of teamwork and dedication. A good relationship with your coach helps you get the most out of your chosen sport.

What Your Coach Can Do for You - Obviously, you can draw on your coach’s expertise to improve how you play, how you psych yourself up before a game or how you deal with a big loss or setback. Coaches have not only dealt with a lot of players and understand which techniques work and which don’t, but many of have played the sport themselves and can share personal experiences.

Your coach can also help you play your best and push your limits without injury. Many coaches have completed courses in athletic health care. They are trained in injury prevention measures, including warm-up activities, tapes, bandages, and wraps. Additionally, they are educated in assessing and ensuring a player gets the best treatment for an injury if an accident does happen.

Off the playing field, coaches can be good mentors and advisers, offering an adult perspective on non-sports problems or questions. (Many Olympic and professional athletes have had strong relationships with their coaches outside the game.)

Relationships with your coach can be different from relationships you have with your parents or teacher. Those relationships follow a more established structure, whereas a coach is usually closer to your level, working equally with you toward a common goal. You might feel more comfortable opening up to your coach about all sorts of things, from problems at home to difficulties in school.

Tips for Getting Along With Your Coach -You need a good relationship with your coach if you’re going to put in those long hours and tough practices. The coach is the one setting the schedule and if you plan to drag yourself to practice at 5:30 AM or do drills for hours you have to respect the person who is making you break a sweat. If you don’t respect your coach, you’re more likely to resent all the hard work instead of appreciating how it can help you in the long run. The reverse is also true - it’s tempting to promise all sorts of stuff to a coach you respect and want to impress. But be realistic in what you tell your coach you can do. Failing to follow through will only erode the trust between you.

Ideally, a relationship between a coach and an athlete is based on mutual respect and trust. You can make a good impression by showing up for practice on time, abiding by team rules, and always putting a lot of effort into your performance, whether it’s a workout or a game, meet or match.

To truly build respect, you have to do more than go through the motions. Your coach’s expertise and experience makes them an authority figure within the sports setting. Even if you sometimes don’t agree with your coach’s opinion, it can help to recognize that he or she has a lot more experience than you do. If you don’t understand the reasons behind your coach’s directions, approach him or her about it. Communication is crucial so both athlete and coach know what the other wants to achieve.

Figuring out how the coach manages the team will also help you develop your relationship. Coaches typically fall into two types: those who run their teams based on obedience and those who rely on responsibility. Obedience coaches basically say, “I’m the one in charge, and I’m going to make the rules.” This approach can work well in a team setting as players know that their coach has the confidence and experience to make a sure decision. To develop a good relationship with this type of coach, you have to follow the rules and respect his or her authority. Responsibility coaches allow the players to have more input in setting team policies, like deciding which reasons for missing practice are valid or how to reprimand someone who’s always late. You should show respect for this type of coach as well, but his or her approach to running the team is not as rigid. (If you think a team rule is unfair, for example, the coach might be open to revising it.)

Common Coach Problems - Unfortunately, not everyone enjoys a great relationship with every coach they meet. Teens and their coaches often disagree about the amount of time team members get to play or favoritism the coach shows to certain players. Some athletes also complain that their coaches are too bossy and take all the fun out of the sport. But one of the easiest ways for a relationship with a coach to go bad is for the coach to focus on winning instead of striving to improve. When a team feels too much pressure to win, the athletes can feel underappreciated. This can damage the trust between the coach and the team.

If you feel apprehensive about approaching your coach for any reason, try talking to the team captain about the problem. The captain’s job is to be there for any player who needs help and feels that they can relate to someone closer to their age or mindset. He or she will try to help you and the coach find a compromise that you can both agree on.

What Should You Do If You Don’t Get Along? - If you do get off to a bad start with your coach, you can take steps to repair the damage. It is best not to involve your parents in minor issues like how much playing time you’re getting. Instead, find a time to sit down with the coach and discuss what’s bothering you. Be sure to schedule this time when your coach can focus on your issues (some time when he or she isn’t running practice or in the middle of a game).

When you talk, try not to complain. Instead, ask for help in fixing the problem. Listen carefully to the coach’s response and try to understand where he or she is coming from; your coach might not have realized he or she had been giving you less playing time, or might not have known you wanted a bigger role on the team. Your coach may not be aware of the issues going through your mind as he or she has to account for all the players on the team. So it can really help to speak up about issues that are bothering you. Usually, once you express yourself, the two of you will understand each other better and can work on building a stronger relationship. If the situation doesn’t improve, though, you will have to decide if you can live with the way the coach runs the team.

Unlike a simple disagreement over playing time, some situations call for immediate action. If a coach is verbally abusing you or driving you so hard that you are afraid you may injure yourself, talk to your parents and set up a meeting with the coach’s supervisor. There’s usually someone above your coach’s authority, like an athletic director or a principal.

Although it can be tough to get along with a coach at times, a strong and fair coach can be a great asset to a team and the individual player. The best coaches help athletes develop life skills along with their sports skills, setting you up for better opportunities in the future.

Editor’s Note: Thank you to Elevating Athletes for this article.

Improve Shooting Skills with the Super Shooting Pad Package!

The Super Shooting Pad Package features some of the best off-ice hockey training products in one complete package deal. The package features all the products you need to work on your shooting and stickhandling skills. All you need is a goal, shooting target and a hockey stick, and you’re ready to go. So is it worth it? Here’s our review of the Super Shooting Pad Package:



Overview: The Super Shooting Pad package includes the following:

One HockeyShot Shooting Pad (one of 3 sizes): Excellent shooting pad to practice your off- ice shooting or stickhandling skills. The Hockey Shot Shooting Pad helps to protect the hockey stick blade when shooting on concrete or paved surfaces.

Fifteen - 6 ounce hockey pucks: Standard 6 oz black hockey pucks, official size and weight. The pucks are manufactured by In Glass Co, an official supplier of the NHL™.

Three FlyPuck Stickhandling Pucks (one - 4 oz, one - 6 oz and one - 8 oz): Flypucks are stickhandling pucks that are designed to help you improve your stickhandling skills. The Flypucks stay flush on the ground and don’t wobble around when you stickhandle them (go as fast as you want). They are available in three different weights to focus on speed and strength.

One Smart Hockey Ball: The core, weight, height, bounce and slide of the Smart Hockey ball are precisely matched to mimic the feel of an ice puck while playing on any off-ice surface.

One Wooden Stickhandling Ball: This two inch hardwood ball is a great tool to develop soft, quick hands. Think of the Swedish Stickhandling ball as the ‘Speed bag’ of stickhandling training.

One Complete Shot Stick Weight: “The Complete Shot” is a simple-to-use and innovative way to improve your shot and puckhandling ability.  The weight incorporates added resistance to the natural and actual shooting, puckhandling technique and mechanics. “The Complete Shot” will improve your muscle and hand quickness.

Price: $124.95 for the Junior Shooting Pad (24x48x1/8”) package, $144.95 for the Intermediate Shooting Pad (30x50x3/16”) package and $169.95 for the Professional Shooting Pad (30x50x3/16”) package

Top Features:

Below are some of the top features of the HockeyShot Super Shooting Pad Package

- The combined package will help improve your shooting and stickhandling skills.
- The shooting pad will help you save your stick and simulate the on-ice feel.
- The stick weight will help you develop more shot power.

Final Period: This kit features a combination of products that will improve your shooting and stickhandling skills. If you already own a goal and are looking at working on your shot and stickhandling, the HockeyShot Super Shooting Pad Package is a wise investment.  For more information on this package deal, visit HockeyShot.com.

Editor’s Note: For a limited-time, when you use the code “teamcares″ at HockeyShot.com, you will receive 10% off any purchase.

Q&A: Is Yelling at Players Good or Bad … or Does it Matter?

Dealing with a negative coach can be overwhelming for a youth athlete who is still learning the game and developing skills.  Master Mental Game Coach, Patrick Cohn, Ph.D. , offers the following advice regarding dealing with a coach who leads by yelling.

James asks: This may sound like a strange question, but here’s what I do and don’t understand: Many coaches yell at their kids, even the young kids.  They do this in part so that the kids can hear them out there on the ice or to get the kids attentions, which can be rather difficult at all ages, however, often it is because they’re upset with something the kid is or is not doing.

My instinct tells me this turns kids away from the sport.  They don’t want to be yelled at and they won’t have fun with it.  Plus, it seems as if it forces most of the kids to second-guess what they’re doing and therefore not act quick enough (which can get them yelled at more).

I do find it interesting that a lot of kids seem to not let it bother them at all!  In fact, they chase the pucks hard and it seems to force the best effort out of them.  I find that often these kids have parents who are yellers as well, so perhaps they are used to this type of behavior.

I also wonder if treating them with “kid gloves” inadvertently makes the kids more susceptible to chatter and contact from the other teams when they move up to a more advanced league.  Would this make them ill-prepared for more competitive play?  Sports biographies rarely cover the younger years of professional athletes so I’ve found that it is hard to come to a conclusion as to what works.

I am concerned that the mantra of “don’t yell at the kids” or “don’t pressure the kids too much” has become the new way of doing things, but not necessarily the best way of doing things.

What do you think?

Answer: As a mental coach to athletes, my main concern about coaches who yell is that some athletes will react negatively to this and lose confidence. I agree that yelling forces most kids to second-guess their behavior.  A big downside, from a mental game perspective, happens when kids are afraid to make mistakes because they fear what the coach will do. This causes some athletes to play more tentatively in fear of making more mistakes — not a great mindset to perform ones best.

Many kids will feel embarrassed when they are singled out by the coach and yelled at for mistakes. These kids are less likely to work hard for the coach because they feel in opposition to the coach.

I also agree that yelling can get kids attention, but why does a coach have to yell at the kids to get attention? Do they not respect the coach? Are they messing around too much? Do they have their own agenda? If players on the team respect the coach, they will listen to him without the coach yelling.

Editor’s Note: A special thank you to Patrick J. Cohn, Ph.D. for this insightful answer.

Keeping Your Athlete Safe

As a parent, you play an important role in the safety of your youth athlete. These tips offer helpful advice as you strive for an injury-free season.

- Be pro-active about safety issues. Learn about the risks posed by the sport your child plays.

- Insist that coaches receive training in first-aid and injury prevention and bring a properly stocked first-aid kit to all games and practices.

- Guard against overuse injuries by encouraging your child to take part in a variety of sports throughout the year

- Demand safe fields and equipment, such as anchored goals and emergency telephones.

- Ask about the weather policy of your child’s league or club. If it doesn’t have one, adopt your own.

- Protect your child from a dangerous coach. Ask your club to run background checks on coaches.

- Get your child’s league or club to set up a risk management committee

Editor’s Note: Thank you to Elevating Athletes for this article.

Let’s Play Hockey Expo 2009 – Endless Ice

This article is part of the ongoing Let’s Play Hockey Expo 2009 series presented by DailySportsDeal.com. The Let’s Play Hockey Expo is the largest consumer expo in the U.S. In this interview, Executive Editor TK Stohlman interviews Jack Kim of Endless Ice.



Endless Ice is a state of the art ice hockey treadmill that helps improve conditioning and stride mechanics.  In addition, players are able to work on their stick handling skills and master balance.  The machine allows users to reproduce many hockey situations and work on developing their skills.

In addition to introducing us to this product, Jack also reminds parents about the importance of having fun while playing youth sports.  For more information about Endless Ice, visit their website at www.endlessice.com

Let’s Play Hockey Expo 2009 – Blade Tape

This article is part of the Let’s Play Hockey Expo 2009 series presented by DailySportsDeal.com. The Let’s Play Hockey Expo is the largest consumer expo in the U.S. In this interview, Executive Editor TK Stohlman interviews Richard Findlay of Blade Pro Products.



Blade Pro Products manufactures a revolutionary hockey tape, called blade tape that quickly and easily adheres to the hockey stick and eliminates snow and ice build up.  The product is used by many professional hockey players and has received praise for its ability to increase handling and act as a shock absorber.

In addition to introducing us to this product, Richard also provided parents some great advice for helping young players excel in the game of hockey.  For more information about Blade Tape, visit their website at www.bladetape.ca.

How to Improve Your Coaching by Listening

The Greek philosopher Diogenes once said, “We have two ears and one tongue so that we would listen more and talk less.”  While this is an excellent piece of advice, it is not always easy to follow.  The following article provides advice on how to be a better listener and ultimately a better coach.

Assessments of thousands of leaders in all kinds of settings indicate that many fall short on listening.   Listening is a critical skill in any leadership setting for two reasons.  First, listening allows the leader to collect intelligence which can help the organization or team succeed. Second, listening allows the leader to create trusting relationships with followers.

Intelligence and trust win in any team setting, including sports.  When we are really able to listen - to athletes, to coaches, to parents - we can gain intelligence, which can help us be more effective as strategists and as motivators.  At the same time, active listening is one of the most powerful things we can do to build trust with our athletes.  And we all know that when the contest is on the line, intelligence and trust win.

Are You Listening to Win?

So how can you tell if you are a good listener with your athletes?  Score yourself on each of these four statements about yourself. 1=Never, 2=Rarely, 3=Sometimes, 4=Usually, 5=Almost always

1. I try to understand what my athletes think before making judgments.


2. I authentically encourage my athletes to share their views about the team.


3. I am good at imagining my athletes’ point of view.


4. I am able to accept constructive criticism and make necessary changes in my coaching behavior.

If you scored all fours and fives, congratulations, you are a better listener than most of the leaders out there.  If you had some 1s, 2s, or 3s, join the club - you are like the rest of us!

Seven Steps to Winning Listening

The good news is, listening is a skill that can be learned.  Here are seven steps we can all practice to become better listeners with our athletes.

• Be in the moment - If you don’t have the time or energy to listen in the moment, set a time when you can give your athlete undivided attention.


• Set the tone - Show your athlete that you are open to hearing by using relaxed words and body language.


• Pay attention - Make a mental decision to listen carefully.  Show your interest with eye contact and relaxed body language.


• Withhold judgment - Try to be open to new ideas and constructive criticism.  If you feel yourself getting perplexed, take a breath and suspend judgment until after hearing them through.  Even when good listeners have strong views, they suspend judgment, hold their criticism and avoid arguing or selling their point right away.


• Reflect & clarify - Paraphrase what you heard the athlete say, and ask clarifying questions to make sure you really understand.


• Share - As you gain a clear understanding of what the athlete is saying, begin to introduce your thoughts and feelings on the matter.  If possible, talk about a time when you or someone you know was in a similar situation.


• Problem solve - Use your judgment to decide how best to go about solving the issue presented by the athlete.  The best approach will depend on the nature of the athlete and the overall situation.

In Summary

There is no doubt that in dynamic, high stress settings like athletic coaching, it is easy to ’stress out and tune out.’   But the reality is our athletes often need to be heard in order to be their best.  We cannot help them be their best if we do not understand what they need.  In coaching as in every other leadership setting, listening wins. The leaders who can do it well have a competitive advantage over those who cannot.

Editor’s Note: A special thank you to Elevating Athletes for this article.

Ten Ways to Improve Your Player’s Mental Strength

Keeping players mentally strong is half the battle in growing a strong and positive athlete.  The following article provides ten useful tips to help them grow mentally tough and improve overall performance.

Sport psychology is a growing field, and there are many mental performance skills described in books, videos and seminars.  Here are ten that can help an athlete stay focused and breakthrough performance anxiety.

1. Breathe - Before a performance, slow, deep breathing helps an athlete relax and focus on the performance at hand.  During a performance, a slow deep breath can help an athlete put a mistake behind them and refocus on the moment.


2. Relax - Progressive relaxation can be used to ease tension and get muscles ready for performance.  Progressive relation simply involves contracting and then relaxing each muscle group from the toes, feet, ankles, calves, hamstrings, quadriceps, stomach, lower back, upper back, chest, fingers, hands, wrists, arms, shoulders, and neck.  These exercises can be done before a practice/game, or while sitting on the bench waiting to enter a game.


3. Visualize - Studies show that athletes can benefit from visualizing themselves completing individual skills, team strategies, or both.  Sometimes visualization is easier after the athlete has done their breathing and relaxation exercises.  The mental pictures should be highly detailed, and always result in successful completion of the play.  If the athlete needs help with this, a coach or parent can act as a “visualization guide,” suggesting things to focus on.


4. Eliminate distractions or “uncontrollables” - Some athletes are easily distracted by uncontrollable factors such as crowd noise, an unfamiliar playing field or gym, or other factors.  For these athletes, it can be helpful to name those distractions beforehand, and label them as uncontrollable will not interfere with performance.


5. Focus on the process - Some athletes can become anxious by thinking too much about the outcome of their play.  For example, instead of thinking about the implications of striking out, an athlete should think about keeping an eye on the ball and taking a level swing.  The trick is to avoid being too mechanical.  The athlete should focus on achieving a swing that “feels right” rather than an A-B-C-D sequence of mechanical movements.  In other words, focus on “feeling the groove” rather than every mechanical element.


6. Physically rehearse - For some athletes it is helpful to physically rehearse a skill just before performing.  This can be done before the game, or in some sports, during the game.  Common examples include the baseball batter taking practice swings in the on-deck circle, a golfer practicing a swing before teeing off, or a basketball player practicing a shooting stroke before shooting a free throw.  Physical rehearsal reminds the athlete to complete the skill properly, and assures that the muscles are ready to perform. Then the athlete can relax enough to “feel the groove.”


7. Stay in the moment - One of the most common mental mistakes made by athletes at all levels is to focus on the last play rather than the next play.  They worry about missing the last shot instead of making the next play, and this shakes their confidence.  Athletes can overcome this mistake by reminding themselves to “stay in the moment.”  The last play is gone forever; all that matters is the next play.


8. Practice positive self-talk - Negative self talk — or “stinkin’ thinkin’” — has been the downfall of many a fine athlete.  Athletes can combat this tendency by proactively replacing negative talk with positive talk.  This means replacing “I can’t believe I dropped that last ball” with “I’ve caught a thousand balls before this, and I will catch the next one too.”


9. Practice positive body language - In addition to positive self talk, doing something physically positive like bouncing on toes, stretching, or clapping hands can help restore positive emotions.  One of the most powerful forms of body language is to simply stand tall with shoulders back, chin up, and hands on hips. Suggest this stance to a struggling athlete and notice what a difference it makes.


10. Trust yourself and let it happen - During competition, the key to mental performance is self trust.  If the athlete has done the work in practice, the mind and body should go into autopilot and play on instinct. The athlete should simply get involved in the flow of the game, and let the mind and body do the rest without over-thinking.  This is how the great performers deliver day after day.  We can help our athletes tremendously by reminding them to ‘trust yourself and let it happen.’

Editor’s Note: Thank you to Elevating Athletes for this article.

Q&A: What is The Right Age For Travel Hockey?

Many parents wonder if there is a magic age when a child is ready to compete in a travel team program. President and Director of the New England Hockey Institute, Dennis Chighisola (also known as Coach Chic), offers the following advice to help concerned hockey parent, Stacy, determine if her child is prepared for this type of competition.

Stacy asks: My biggest concern with hockey as a parent is — do I have my son in the right place for his skill development and competitiveness?  When do you put a player on a travel team versus a house team?  Is it really such a great benefit to an 8 year old to put him on a travel team at 8 rather than waiting until he’s more competitive at, say 12 years old?

Answer: To begin, let me provide my personal take on the differences between house leagues and travel teams…

I would agree there ought to be a place where youngsters can play hockey without having to be overly committed.  The house programs I’ve seen through the years tend to offer just that — with one game per week, maybe an occasional practice, everything taking place at the neighborhood rink, and all this coming at a relatively low cost.

Each of the above categories is adjusted a little (or a lot) when one makes a so-called travel team.  Regular practice is an important part of these programs.  Some teams can play more than a game per week, that are likely to take place at a number of “away” rinks and some distant tournaments might even spice-up the playing schedule.  Of course, all these extra offerings do come at a steeper price.

I must say that I’ve noticed most hockey parents choosing the house league option for their own reasons.  I can’t blame them for having to weigh the costs, but I also sense a lot of parents opt for the lesser commitment to fit their own personal lifestyles.  So I admire your question, in that the needs of an 8-year old boy seem to be the main concern.

A first aside — I know it’s hard to predict what a youngster is going to want 5-years from now.  However, if you have even the slightest feeling that your 8-year old is going to want to make a high school hockey team someday, a course of action should be evident in awhile.

By its very nature, a house league can probably only promise some fun and a chance for a youngster to tell friends he or she plays hockey.  If you are looking for true development, it isn’t likely to take place here.

A second aside — I’ve always felt the quality of coaching at a given youth level has a lot to do with the available “parent pool”.  In other words, if the coach of a team is going to come from among that team’s parents, there are likely to be more knowledgeable guys and gals available at the AAA level than in a house league. Make no mistake about it Stacy; your son can’t truly develop unless he gets great coaching.

As far as advice goes, I think there’s an in-between option for your son (and others facing similar decisions).  Within most travel programs each level is usually divided into at least three teams, with each team stocked with similarly skilled players.  These “A”, “B” and “C” teams also usually adjust their competitiveness to fit the ages and abilities of their players.  So, what I am suggesting is that an on-the-fence 8-year old might get quite a bit more by moving to at least a “C” level team.  Actually, there’s probably little difference in the competitiveness at the house and “C” levels.  Yet, the latter represents a small step towards a youngster eventually making stronger teams.  And it also gives the parent and player a season to make a more educated decision the next time around.

Thanks for the great question, Stacy, and good luck!

Editor’s Note: Thank you to Dennis Chighisola (Coach Chic) for his input on this question.

The Five Types of Questions You Must Ask a College Recruiter

Working with a college recruiter can seem a bit overwhelming if you are unprepared.  The following article from the National Collegiate Scouting Association suggests the five most important types of questions to ask when speaking to a recruiter.



While knowing what questions to expect from a college coach and how to answer them is important, any conversation with a coach also allows the student athlete an opportunity to find out some critical information that will help them through the athletic recruiting process.  The key is to know the right questions to ask in order to maximize your short time with a coach.

Every conversation with a college coach will be unique.  Since the recruiting process moves at different speeds for prospects and coaches, the current relationship should dictate the type of questions that are appropriate.  However, regardless of where you’re at in the process, we wanted to give you some advice that every recruit can take advantage of.

Before we go into specific questions that potential recruits should ask college coaches, let’s go over a few basics to keep in mind while preparing for the conversations.

First and foremost, PREPARE! While a prospect might not know the exact time a college coach will be calling, every recruit should recognize that phone conversations will be a significant portion of a recruiting relationship. With that in mind, prospects should write down a list of 15 questions that they could ask a coach…and keep it handy! While the conversation should flow naturally, it will only help a potentially nervous student-athlete to have a set of questions prepared ahead of time that they can always ask a coach.

A prospect should never ask if they will receive a scholarship during an initial conversation unless a coach brings up the topic. Recruits should maximize the conversation by only asking questions that they can find answers to by talking to the coach directly. They should not waste this valuable opportunity by asking questions that can be answered through a brief visit to the college’s website. Each conversation serves as a limited chance to develop a real relationship…make the most of it! Do not be afraid to ask coaches about themselves. Often times, recruits only ask questions that pertain to their life and neglect to find out anything personal about the coach. It’s important for a recruit to get to know a coach (their interests, their family, etc…)

Now, let’s go over some questions recruits can ask to make the most of the conversation.  As we mentioned earlier, every conversation will be dictated the by current recruiting situation, but here are a few topics that should be covered and some sample questions from each…

1. Academics - Simply put, academics are the most important part of the process.  If the college coach does not share your academic goals then it might be time to look at other options.  Here are some academic questions every recruit might want to ask:

* What are the admission requirements for an athlete?
* Will my specific major interfere with the athletic schedule?
* What are some of the most popular majors for athletes on your team?
* Does your team have a full-time academic advisor?
* Do your players graduate in four years?
* Can the application fee be waived for athletes?

2.  Athletics / Recruiting - These two topics overlap in many cases, as an athletic evaluation will determine how heavily the coaching staff will be recruiting a prospect.  Here are some “must ask” questions for recruits at any point in the process:

* Has your coaching staff evaluated me?
* Where do I fit on your recruiting board?
* Have you offered scholarships to others in my class? At my position?
* Have any other athletes in my class accepted the offers?
* How many players will you be recruiting at my position?
* Where will you be recruiting this season / spring / summer?
* What types of off-season activities are expected?
* What does the training program consist of at your school?
* What is your recruiting timeline?
* Is there a good time to come visit your school?

3.  Scholarship - As we noted, it is rarely appropriate for a recruit to ask if they will receive a scholarship in an initial phone conversation, however there are a few questions that will help you gauge your scholarship possibilities at that school:

* How many scholarships do you have available for my class?
* Am I under consideration for a scholarship?
* What types of academic scholarships are available? What about other sorts of grants and aid?
* Do I have to apply before a scholarship is offered?
* What happens if I get injured?

4.  College Life Questions - Even though athletics will obviously play a major role in the life of a collegiate student-athlete, every recruit should make sure they are going to be happy on campus even when they are not with the team.  Make sure to ask about some of the following:

* What is the housing situation like? Do teammates typically live together?
* Do student-athletes stay on campus during the summer?
* Is it possible to work part-time in addition to playing a sport and studying?
* What is a typical “day in the life” like for a member of your team during the season? What about during the off-season?

5.  Important Final Questions - While there are many directions that a conversation might take with a college coach, one key goal should be to find out what comes next:

* What are the next steps in this process?
* When is the next time we can speak / meet?
* Is there anything I can provide you with that will help you further evaluate me?

Hopefully this list will provide recruits a starting point for the type of questions they should ask a college coach.  By no means is this list comprehensive, but it should assist a student athlete as they prepare for their first conversation with a coach.

As you can tell, there is quite a bit of information that student-athletes need to gather…This is one of the most important decisions a young person will make in their life.  Get as much information as possible!  That is also one of the main reasons why recruiting is all about building relationships.  This process does not happen overnight, and will consist of a number of different situations in which a recruit communicates with a college coach.  Phone conversations just happen to be an important initial step in building that relationship.

If you are prospect, at any age, which has yet to begin developing a relationship with a college coach, you might be falling behind.  There are other prospects, starting freshmen year or earlier (your competition), who have already started speaking with college coaches.  The earlier you start that relationship, the more time you will have to make the best decision possible.  Make sure to get started today!

Editor’s Note: Thank you to the NCSA for this article.

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