How to Talk To College Swim Coaches on the Phone
The recruiting process is hard. It’s full of unknowns, emails, and decisions. An often major point of stress for swimmers is the “coaches call”, where swimmers schedule a call to talk to the coach. This can understandably be a stressful concept- you want to swim in college, and they have the key! But have no fear, for our five tips are here.
1) Take a Deep Breath
While this may feel like the Super Bowl of phone calls, it’s important to be relaxed. Relaxing with a deep breath will let you be more confident, coherent, and calm, and will allow you to 1) present yourself better and 2) get more out of the call. Which takes us to:
2) It’s a Conversation! Not an Interrogation!
Again, this call may feel extremely important. And it is! However, that doesn’t mean you should forget what the call is- a conversation. This is a time to get to know the coach, let them get to know you, and learn some information. It’s a two way street, so make sure to both ask and answer questions.
3) Put Yourself in Coach’s Shoes
It’s hard to know what it’s like to be a college coach, even more so if you’ve never swam in college. Which is why we’re here to remind you that coaches are in fact real people too. They are likely taking your call after finishing coaching a practice, or on the drive home, or maybe before a midday workout. They are not AI robots, parsing every word you say for perfection- rather they’re doing this call as part of their job, with the goal of bringing in qualified recruits that will bring value to their program. This is their motivation.
4) Be a Real Person
With that motivation in mind, it becomes clear that being a real, captivating person will help you out! Tell them about yourself, what you enjoy in and out of the pool, and why you think their program could be right for you. Be honest about what you’re looking for in a school and swim program, and ask questions that are relevant to your goals. As said above, this call is one part of their day, and likely one of dozens of calls they will make in a week. So be a good one by being engaged and enthusiastic.
5) Bring Your Best Self
Along the lines of being a real person, be a great version of yourself. While these calls are a great time to be honest, they are not the time to talk about why you missed practice, or how much you hate breath control. If breath control does come up, you can mention it’s not your favorite, but mention that in the context of being a coachable athlete… “well, I don’t love breath control now, but maybe if I did it in your practices, I’d like it more. And regardless, it’s something I need in order to be a great swimmer.” Use this call to talk about things you're proud of, and why you’re a great fit to bring value to their program. It’s not a sales call, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be enthusiastic about being a great recruit.
Bonus Tip) It Will Work Out
While your recruiting and college journey may not go the way you think it will at the start- that is not a bad thing! That’s actually a great thing, because it means you are doing what is best for you, not just what you thought may have been the best option when you had no information. So whether this call is a smash hit or not, you will be ok- it’s another step in the recruiting journey.
Want More Help?
We all know that swimming can be really hard! And you may need help getting started with implementing little habits like these. That’s where we come in to help. At College Swim Connect, we connect you with experienced mentors: elite college swimmers who have figured this stuff out. They can guide you through and give you access to their own arsenal of tools that they’ve carefully created over the years. Enter your email on our site and get started today with a free meeting!
