by Mandy Green, Busy Coach
As a college coach, recruiting student-athletes can sometimes feel overwhelming. You’ve got deadlines, competition from other programs, and high expectations to reach your recruiting numbers.
But what if I told you that the key to becoming a confident, successful recruiter isn’t about having the best strategies or luck?
I believe that the real secret lies in one simple habit: consistency.
Consistency is your hidden superpower in recruiting. It’s not about who has the biggest budget, the flashiest facilities, or the best sales pitch.
I get to talk to and work with a lot of coaches in my role with Dan Tudor. I find that the coaches consistently bring in top talent are the ones who keep showing up—day in and day out—doing the work.
Consistently showing up as a recruiter does a few key things:
Builds Unshakable Self-Belief
When you stick to a consistent recruiting process, you start to trust yourself. You see the results of your efforts, and that repeated action gives you confidence. Every email sent, every call made, and every athlete contacted reinforces the belief that you can follow through. This self-belief will empower you to go after the recruits you really want, even the ones that seem out of reach.
Creates Momentum
As you are well aware, recruiting is a long game, and setbacks are part of the process. But by consistently engaging with your prospects, you create a snowball effect. Each small win—getting a response, securing a visit, or building a relationship with a high school coach—adds momentum to your recruiting efforts. This forward movement becomes powerful, making it easier to stay motivated, even during tough times.
Focuses on Progress, Not Perfection
You’re not going to nail every interaction or sign every athlete. And that’s okay. Consistency allows you to focus on progress rather than getting everything perfect. Each week, you’ll notice improvements, whether it’s refining your message, building better relationships, or understanding your recruits more deeply. Over time, these small steps add up to big gains.
Turns Goals into Habits
Consistency turns recruiting goals into daily habits. Instead of feeling like a monumental task, recruiting becomes part of your everyday routine. You start to enjoy the process of connecting with athletes, learning about their needs, and helping them find a home in your program.
How to Harness the Power of Consistency in Recruiting
Start Small, But Start
Whether it’s sending three personalized emails a day or making one phone call to a new prospect, begin with something manageable. By starting small, you eliminate the risk of burnout and make consistency an easy win.
Clear the Path
Identify potential obstacles to staying consistent, whether it’s a busy schedule or other distractions. Set specific times in your day for recruiting activities and remove any barriers that could prevent you from following through.
Find Your Tribe
Share your recruiting goals with someone who can keep you accountable. Whether it’s another coach, a recruiting coordinator, or even a trusted colleague, having someone to check in with can keep you on track.
Celebrate the Journey
Don’t just focus on the outcomes—take time to celebrate the small victories along the way. Whether it’s booking a campus visit or receiving a commitment, enjoy the process and acknowledge how far your consistent efforts have taken you.
Your Consistency Challenge
This week, choose one small recruiting action to focus on consistently. Whether it’s reaching out to one new recruit each day or sending a follow-up message to athletes on your radar, commit to it for a week. Watch how this simple habit builds your confidence and shifts your recruiting efforts.
This week Mandy Green is doing a live zoom call: “How to stay consistent with recruiting, even during your busy season.“ It will be this Wednesday August 28th from 12-12:30 EST. Register at the link.
She will be sharing her 23+ years of college soccer coaching expereince, and working personally with over 10,000+ coaches to teach you:
- Consistently recruit higher-quality athletes
- Implement my “Run your program like a franchise” for peak efficiency
- Master the “Winning tomorrow” strategies of high-impact staff communication
- Proven process to recharge your team and run your day like you run a practice
You’ll walk away with specific steps to have:
- A highly effective recruiting process
- Motivating and efficient time management that won’t burn you out
- Team leadership inside and out at both a sports and admin level
Click here to register: https://us02web.zoom.us/
Can’t make it live? Click here to register anyway, and I’ll send you the recording. But live attendance is best so I can help answer your questions.
See you Wednesday!