Learning the True Value of Communication

Kelly Kulina: Your Link to the Colleges

The goal for any baseball player in the college recruiting process is to open as many doors as possible. In my last entry, I noted that college coaches are always evaluating and looking for reasons to add or eliminate prospective players. Whether it’s by phone, e-mail or a face-to-face meeting, every contact with coaches is like an interview. It’s very important to handle these contacts in a professional manner, since it could be THE deciding factor on where a player falls on a recruiting depth chart.

Effective communication with coaches starts with being properly organized. There is nothing more disheartening for a coach than to refer to materials he has sent and a player has either lost them or mixed them up with another program! Whether it’s through Excel, a paper filing system or an oversized notebook, just having a system in place is a step in the right direction. For example, we work with Baseball Factory Exclusive Program Players to develop a log to track recruiting materials and telephone calls from coaches. At the very least, everyone in the family should use a common log to stay on the same page, as coaches make a point of talking to both the player and his parents. By just learning how to manage the process, many more opportunities to play college baseball will be available when it’s time to make a decision.

Another factor in communicating with coaches is the attitude and mindset. Simply put, all players need to be interested in any program that shows interest in them! This means not only reviewing all of the literature that is sent, but also researching the school’s main website, the team’s website and the conference in which they play to prepare for a coach’s call. By having a good handle on the basic facts, players will show that they are interested enough to be considered for further recruitment. Coaches have egos, and showing appreciation for the privilege of being recruiting by their program will provide a lot of traction and positive momentum in the future.

As an aside, parents can have a lot to do with their child’s success in this process. While there are many things they can teach their son about organization and proper phone and letter etiquette, parents need to exercise caution in their roles in the recruiting process. Too many times when I was the recruiting coordinator at the University of Maryland, I saw the parents take over a conversation for their son, which made me wonder who I was recruiting, the player or the parents? Players that made my team had parents who were supportive enough to assist their son in the process by reviewing any letters sent or helping with mock interviews, but also understood when to take a step back and let the young man being recruited take the reigns.

Communicating with coaches is a job everyone has to do. Regardless of athletic ability or academic standing, college coaches first and foremost want ballplayers who are interested in their program. Prospective players will find their opportunities maximized when they do the little things to show they not only value a college education and want to play baseball, but are disciplined enough to communicate interest effectively to anyone listening. Keeping as many schools as possible interested right up until it’s time to make the final decision is the KEY.