College Hockey Inc.
5 Tips for Talking to Coaches
Prospective players should be proactive in reaching out to coaches, but first they need to know what to say.

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Mercyhurst celebrates its come-from-behind win Sunday to earn a spot in the Atlantic Hockey semifinals.

Whenever College Hockey Inc. meets with elite players, or in the advice we give on this site, we recommend that prospective players be proactive during recruiting. Identify schools that may be of interest, reach out to coaches and perhaps visit their schools.

Then we hear a common follow-up question: What do I say?

Recruiting | Top 10 Recruiting Tips

We can’t exactly answer that – the words and ideas you share need to be your own. But we can offer these five tips in communicating with college coaches:

Be Unique. A form letter sent to 60 schools expressing interest doesn’t really express your interest in any of them. Personalize your communication. Identify the schools that interest you and let those coaches know why it is you would like to play there – whether it’s an academic program, the campus, the location or their style of play.

Be Descriptive. Coaches want to know what kind of hockey player you are, of course, but they aren’t going to take your word for it. Let them know where they can see you play, and mention coaches of yours who they could contact as references. NCAA coaches also want to know that you take academics seriously and would be a good addition to their locker room – so any way you can express those qualities (grade-point average, SAT/ACT scores, leadership roles) can help. If you are writing to a coach, consider including this information in a hockey resume.

Be Honest. Neither college coaches nor prospective players benefit from dishonesty in the recruiting process. If you know you aren’t interested in a particular school, be up front with the coach. They may work to sway your opinion, but at least you will give them a chance to address your concerns. If you require a certain level of scholarship commitment to be able to afford a certain school, don’t save that information until the last minute (bearing in mind that schools may offer need-based financial aid).

Be Inquisitive. Letters or emails expressing interest aren’t a great place to ask questions – in most cases you aren’t likely to receive a reply, at least not immediately. But if you have the opportunity to have a conversation with an NCAA coach, be prepared with questions. Ask about the school, their team or their coaching style – here are some ideas to get you started. Being inquisitive can show that you’ve done your homework about their program and that you are truly engaged in the recruiting process.

Be Realistic. It’s important to remember two things in these communications with coaches: 1) they receive hundreds of expressions of interest each year, and 2) they are recruiting the best players in each age group. Know that you may not hear back from a coach (especially not prior to Jan. 1 of your Grade 10 year, due to NCAA rules). And understand that if you are not an elite player – playing at a high level for your age – it isn’t worth spending your time contacting coaches at this point. Work on your game and once you reach that level you can pursue college hockey.