Winning the Contact Period and Phone Calls

Contact Period Suggestions

During a contact period, coaches can interact in person and off-campus with recruits. This includes taking phone calls, visiting a prospective recruit's school or home, or attending one of their events for evaluation purposes. Almost without a doubt, the coaches want to see you in person during the contact period.

It used to be called the Bump Rule, but now that coaches can visit with you earlier in the recruiting calendar, here are tips when meeting a coach during the contact period:

• Be in class.
• Wear nice clothes.
• Carry a book.
• Stand up straight.
• Thank the coach.

Be in class

Your high school coach will likely be the one who takes the recruiter to meet with you. If you're supposed to be in science class, make sure you're in science class. Don't make your coach take the recruiter to 15 different places to find you. If you're not where you're supposed to be, it doesn't create a good impression for the recruiter.

Wear nice clothes

You shouldn't have to wear your Sunday best to school, but remember, this is a job interview. Dress like you're a student and trying to make a good impression. During this period, it wouldn't hurt to tuck in your shirt and make sure you're wearing appropriate pants.

Carry a book

Remember you're a student-athlete, so look like one during the contact evaluation period. Heck, make sure you have a pencil, too.

Stand up straight

One of the first things you'll notice when you meet a coach for the first time is that he'll stand really close while shaking your hand. He's not trying to invade your space. He's actually sizing you up. The recruiter is trying to determine if the height you mentioned on your resume and profile is accurate. So, when you're around recruiters, make sure you're not slouching. You don't want to look 5-8 when you're really 5-11. Remember that your size is a critical factor in the process.

Thank the coach

Gratitude never goes out of style. Looking the coach in the eye, shaking his hand, and telling him, "Thank you for coming to see me," will leave a lasting impression.

We reached out to a Big Ten recruiting coordinator for his advice on the Contact Period, and it mirrors much of what was mentioned earlier. But here are his tips:

• Be present and be presentable: When we are trying to find out about a prospect we really want, we won't just take one person's opinion. We will ask the librarian, the custodian, the secretary, the bus driver, and someone who sees you and knows you and will give us valuable information on how you really are as a student and person. We all want student-athletes who will elevate our program, not bring it down.
• Make a good first impression: Firm handshake. Look them in the eye. Speak up so they can hear. Smile! Small things like that go a long way!
• Have a plan for conversations: Sometimes, you might get stuck on what to ask when meeting a coach for the first time. Here are some good topics:
  • Do you have a junior day or prospect day coming up?
  • Do you know how many HS prospects you plan to sign in December?
  • Do you have the camp schedule set for this summer?
  • Do you have a need at my position?
  • Have you seen my film? If so, what are some things I can do better?
  It's OK to ask hard questions. Just be prepared for every answer. Not everyone will love you and that's OK, you only need one to believe in you.

Phone calls are less a part of the recruiting process than they were in years past, especially with coaches texting or direct messaging in real-time. But they still play an important role. Here are tips to maximize when you're on the phone with a coach:

• Relax. Be yourself. Be somebody the coaches want to spend five years with. Remember they are calling because... they want you to come to their school. Be confident and let them get to know you.
• Treat these coaches like a pretty girl you want to impress – you want them to go out with you.
• Be prepared with questions in advance and take notes.
• Be sure to thank the coach for their time. They could be talking to somebody else.

Remember that this process is about finding the right fit for both you and the college, don't be afraid to ask a lot of questions to the coaches. The only bad question is the one you don't ask. Find the questions that best suit your recruitment. Print out copies of them or create a template to use over and over – so have them ready for when a coach calls. Save notes on file and pull them out when you meet with the coach later. It looks good if you can recall parts of past conversations with coach.

Sample Call Notes Template

• Date of call:
• College:
• Coach's Name:
• Position he coaches:
• Email:
• What did we talk about:
• Questions to ask:
  • Question #1
  • Question #2
  • Question #3
  • Question #4
  • Question #5
• When will we talk again:

Talking with college coaches takes preparation. If you put in the work beforehand and go into the call prepared with the right questions to ask a coach, they will most likely be impressed. Here are additional tips to get ready for calls with coaches:

• Practice with somebody: Have a family member or friend play the part of the coach. Make sure they ask you tough questions that you will receive when you're calling college coaches. If you can't roleplay before you call a coach, practice your answers in front of the mirror.
• Do your research: Make sure you know a few key facts about the school, the coach, and the team. Visit the school's website to learn more about the coaching staff and team bios. If they are in season, know what the team's record is, and read the latest game recaps.
• Find a quiet place to talk: Coaches want to have a good, personal conversation. If your family wants to listen, that's fine, but make sure that you aren't distracted. If you feel more comfortable taking the call alone, let your family know you need to be in a quiet room without distractions and fill them in on the call afterward.
• Have your computer during the call: Open up a few different tabs you can use for reference: the school website, the coaches' bio, some articles about the team and the team roster, as well as your phone call script and your list of questions for the coach. Have your initial emails to the coach open, too, so you can reference when you sent them, and you can resend them if the coach asks.

While D-I and D-II college coaches can't answer or return recruits' phone calls until the NCAA contact period begins, it's still a good idea to call and leave a voicemail introducing yourself early on in your high school career.

During your junior and senior years, it is advised to reach out on a consistent basis – at least once a month if the school has shown consistent interest in you.

The best time of day to call coaches is between 7-9 p.m. when they are in season. If the coach isn't in season, there is more flexibility to call them in the morning or afternoon. This is especially true in the summer when they tend to be less busy with fewer commitments to work around.