Questions for Coaches

Admissions

Know what is required for admission at each school.  You will need to complete the application and send in all required information (SAT/ACT scores, recommendations, transcripts, etc.).  Application requirements vary by school and it is your responsibility to know what and when items are due.

• What are the admission requirements for an athlete?
• Do I need to have my application in early in order to be considered for a scholarship?
• If offered a scholarship, do I need to apply Early Decision/Early Action?
• Can the application fee be waived for athletes?
• Is there a recommended / minimum SAT/ACT  score and GPA that your school requires?

Academics

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:

• Will my specific major interfere with the athletic schedule?
• Is it recommended to take classes in the summer to lighten the load during competition season?
• Is it necessary for athletes to take classes in the summer because they conflicted with practice or are they able to practice at a different time if there is a conflict? (ie. science labs are 3 hours long)
• How many of your athletes attend summer school?
• What are some of the most popular majors for athletes on your team?
• Does your team have a full-time academic advisor? Are there mandatory tutoring/study hours?
• During competition season, how does it work when you have a conflict between a test and travel for competition? Does someone from the academic dept travel with the team to administer exams?
• What percentage of players graduate in four years?
• What is the current team’s GPA?

Athletics / Recruiting

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:

• Can you describe a typical week including practice, strength, conditioning, meetings, other activities?
• Has your coaching staff evaluated me? Do you have any specific feedback for me?
• Are there any additional skills I should acquire to make myself a better fit for your team?
• How many full ride and partial scholarships do you have available for my year? Do you also take walk-ons?
• Do the walk-on athletes receive academic benefits such as tutoring and the ability to travel with the team?
• Have you offered scholarships to others in my class? At my position?
• How many players will you be recruiting at my position?
• Where will you be recruiting this season / spring / summer? (in case you want to attend camps)
• What types of off-season activities are expected?
• What does the preseason training program consist of at your school?
• Is there a good time to come visit your school?

Scholarship

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? Partial scholarships? Walk-ons?
• Am I under consideration for a scholarship?
• What types of academic scholarships are available?
• What about other sorts of grants and aid?
• When and how are scholarships offered?
• Are athletes offered scholarships guaranteed admission? Is there a recommended / minimum SAT/ACT score that your school requires?
• What happens if I get injured?

College Life Questions

Every recruited athlete should make sure they are going to be happy on campus even when they are not with the team (or if they have a career ending injury). Make sure to ask about some of the following:

• What is the housing situation like? Do teammates typically live together?
• Do your athletes train at home or 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?
• Which holiday breaks are altered as an athlete (i.e.Thanksgiving, Christmas and Spring Break?)
• Would I be happy at this school if the coach left/was fired? (don’t ask the coach this but students should think about this - it happens a lot!)

Important Final Questions

One goal should be to find out what comes next:

• What are the next steps in this process?  What is your recruiting timeline?
• When is the next time we can speak/meet?
• Is there anything I can provide you with that will help you further evaluate me?
• Are you hosting a camp that I could attend so that you can see my skills in person?