by Mandy Green, Busy Coach
I know you want to build a winning program. You want to compete with the best teams, bring in top athletes, and build a culture that stands out. But let’s be real for a minute…
When was the last time you really trained to be a better recruiter?
I’m not talking about the usual conversations with your assistant or the easy chats with players who are already interested. I mean real, tough practice—like you do with your team on the field.
Are you practicing how to handle tough questions?
- “I want to go D1.”
- “The campus is too far.”
- “Another school is offering more.”
Or do those conversations feel the same every time?
It’s not because you aren’t trying. It’s because you haven’t practiced under pressure.
You haven’t trained for when a recruit is unsure, when they’re overwhelmed with offers, or when they don’t see the value of your program.
You haven’t had someone really challenge your pitch or make you explain why your program is the best choice.
That’s why recruiting stalls when a bigger school steps in or the season slows down.
Here’s the Truth:
The way you train for recruiting is the way you perform.
- If your conversations are always easy, your results will be average.
- If you only talk to players who are already interested, you never learn how to change a “maybe” to a “yes.”
- If no one challenges your pitch, it’s only a matter of time before it falls apart.
Coaches Who Struggle…
- Send out tons of emails and hope for a reply instead of building real connections.
- Avoid tough conversations because they don’t know what to say.
- Only sign players who are already excited instead of learning how to win over the ones who aren’t sure.
Coaches Who Succeed…
- Practice handling tough questions quickly and confidently.
- Watch every conversation that didn’t go well to learn what went wrong.
- Surround themselves with great recruiters to learn and get better.
Top Recruiters Do This:
- Turn cold leads into warm ones by building trust.
- Practice their pitch again and again until it’s strong.
- Study their mistakes and fix them.
Most coaches think they need more contacts or better messaging when things get tough. But that’s not the real problem.
The real issue is that they haven’t practiced the things they’re bad at.
They haven’t trained for when a recruit mentions another school.
They haven’t practiced explaining why your program is the best choice.
They haven’t mastered turning a “maybe” into a “yes.”
Ask Yourself Right Now:
- Are you struggling with the first call?
- Is it hard to talk about cost or financial aid?
- Do you know what to say when they want D1?
- Are you confident when talking to parents?
If you’re not sure, send me a reply (mandy@dantudor.com).
I’ll show you how to build it into your routine.
Because in recruiting, the way you train is the way you win.
Are you training to win? Or are you just hoping things will work out?