by Mandy Green, Busy Coach
It goes without saying that calling your recruits is important.
The big question on college coaches’ minds is this: How many calls should you make when you sit down to make calls?
One college coach told me recently that she sets a limit on how many calls she makes in a night. Why? She said her energy level would wear down and her last calls didn’t have the passion and focus compared to her first calls. So, she set a limit. She didn’t want any hint of “going through the phone call motions” to come across to that young person on the other end of the line.
I was impressed that this coach knew her limits. She wants to give each and every prospect her best, and isn’t going to just power through her call list and not worry about how it sounds.
So, here’s my advice to you: As you plan phone calls you might want to look carefully at your personality, energy level and focus. Think about a limit of how many calls you make on a particular night. Kids are smarter now, and much more in tune with the sound of your voice, and how well you are engaged with the conversation. They can sense when they are number 13 of a 15 call night.
Right before you make the call, do this quick exercise: Stand up and get focused on that particular kid. Get yourself wound up for the call. For those next 5 or 20 minutes or whatever, they are the only recruit in the world. That approach will come across on the phone.
Phone calls to recruits are not just another piece of the puzzle. They are THE big factor on keeping their interest in your program. What you say on the phone is going to be one of the biggest factors in determining if you are the right fit or not for that athlete you are speaking with on the phone.
Mandy Green is a recruiting and productivity expert that works with hundreds of coaches through Tudor Collegiate Strategies and Busy Coach. If you’d like to reach out to Mandy to set up a strategy call, you can email her at mandy@busy.coach.