(But High School and College Coaches Always Notice Them) By Coach Dave There’s something I see every year in youth sports and it’s something I also hear about directly from high school and college coaches across the country. Some athletes are loud with their effort.Some are emotional.Some need constant reminders, motivation, or correction. And then there are the athletes who quietly show up every day, do their job, and compete the right way. Ironically, those athletes often get less attention early on. Not because they aren’t good, but because they’re reliable. When an athlete brings consistent effort, a steady attitude, and handles adversity without drama, coaches don’t worry about them. They don’t have to manage them. They don’t have to guess who is going to show up. And that’s exactly what coaches value most. What Coaches Actually Look For Through my conversations with coaches at every level, one message comes up over and over: “We want athletes we can trust.” College coaches aren’t just recruiting talent.They’re recruiting predictability. They ask questions like: - Will this athlete show up the same way every day? - How do they respond when they’re not playing well? - How do they handle coaching? - Do they stay composed when things don’t go their way? Talent gets you noticed.Consistency gets you playing time and recruited. The Difference Between Inconsistent and Game-Ready Athletes Most young athletes aren’t inconsistent because they don’t care.They’re inconsistent because they haven’t trained the mental side of their game yet. One day they’re locked in.The next day they’re frustrated. One game they respond well to mistakes.The next game they spiral. Coaches see this immediately. A game-ready athlete isn’t perfect.They’re dependable. - Their effort doesn’t swing with emotion - Their body language doesn’t collapse - Their response to adversity is steady That’s not personality. That’s mental performance training. Why “Boring” Is Actually a Compliment in Recruiting

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How to Decide if You Should Attend a Camp One of the most common questions we get from recruits is: How do I know if it will be worth it for me to attend a particular recruiting camp? We often hear from concerned recruits and parents about camp invites they receive, wondering what they mean. Questions like: - “Am I being recruited?” - “Do I have to go to this D3 school’s elite camp to get recruited?” In this post, we’ll answer these questions and more to help you decide if attending a D3 recruiting camp is the right move for you. If you’re aiming to play a college sport, you’re probably familiar with recruiting camps. They go by many names, including: - Elite Prospect Camp - Recruiting Showcase - Exposure Event - ID Camp - These camps are often marketed as opportunities for recruits to gain “exposure” or be scouted directly by college coaches, potentially leading to college offers. But here’s the truth: Not all recruiting camps are created equal. While we do our best to compile a list of trustworthy camps in our Annual Recruiting Camps List, many recruits and their families still have doubts when they receive an invite from a D3 coach. The big question is: Are D3 recruiting camps worth the money? When D3 Recruiting Camps Are Worth It Yes, if… - The camp is hosted by a school you’re genuinely interested in, and you want their coaching staff to see you play. - You’ve been in contact with the coaching staff ahead of time, and they’ve shown interest. - The camp has a strong “recruit conversion rate” (the percentage of attendees who end up on the team). This information is often available on the team’s website or can be asked directly to the coach. For example, the SUNY Cortland Elite Camp run by Head Coach Mo Kearney has a proven track record of converting camp attendees into team members. If you’re interested in playing for Coach Kearney, attending this camp would be a smart move. When D3 Recruiting Camps Might Be Worth It Maybe, if… - Your focus is on skill development, and the camp’s level of play will challenge you to improve. - It’s an “exposure” camp with multiple D3 schools attending. Always check the staff list to ensure schools you’re interested in will be there. - You’re willing to bet on yourself and play your way onto a coach’s radar.

What college coaches actually look for in recruiting emails from players By Matthew DohertyFebruary 5, 2026 It's important to know the do's and don'ts when sending a recruiting email to a potential coach. For many high school soccer players, sending an email to a college coach represents the first step in their recruiting journey. But drafting that initial email can be daunting. What do you say? What do you not say? How do you stand out? As recruits obsess over each word and phrase, college coaches are seeing their inboxes flooded with emails. Coaches receive anywhere from 50 emails per day to 500 per week, especially during peak recruiting season. Understanding what coaches look for and how they handle incoming emails is crucial for prospective recruits. To help players learn what to do—and what not to do—when reaching out to a coach, we spoke with five New England college coaches about the state of recruiting emails in 2026. The responses range from Division 1 schools such as Fairfield and UNH to Division 3 NESCAC programs such as Tufts and Bates. Regardless of the league or division, all five coaches agreed on what every recruiting email needs and the common mistakes that raise red flags. Here’s everything you need to know about sending an email to a college coach. 1. What coaches actually do when an email hits the inbox College coaches typically receive hundreds of emails per week, especially during the height of recruiting season. But all five coaches said they prioritize opening and reading every email. The most important thing to remember is that your email will be read—and logged. “I will open an email and read it, especially if someone shows sincere interest in our school,” said UNH women’s coach Steve Welham. “It may get a response right away, then be logged in a list of players who have reached out.” From there, the goal for all coaches is to see that prospect play live. Thanks to the email, you are now on their radar.

We’re leveling up our community with a brand-new platform named "The Recruiting Hub" designed to give you everything you need to succeed in your college recruiting journey—and I want you to be among the first to experience it. Our new community is built just for you—to help families like yours create a focused, step-by-step college recruiting plan that quickly generates real coach interest, so you’ll always know exactly what to do and when. As a founding member, you’ve already shown your commitment. Now, I’m thanking you with an exclusive founders’ price you won’t see again. Here’s why you don’t want to miss this move: - Personalized Classroom Support: Our 5-step foundation process transforms confusion into clarity. You’ll build a recruiting plan that attracts genuine coach interest within 6 months, with proven methods for highlight videos, social media, coach outreach, school targeting, and ID camp planning. No more wasted time wondering what to do next. - Expert Guidance Every Week: Join me, Steve, on two live group zoom calls each week. You’ll get your questions answered, receive honest feedback, and stay motivated as you take action. This regular support keeps you on track and accelerates your progress—no more going it alone! - ID Camps & Clinics Directory: Never miss an opportunity! Our up-to-date listing empowers you to choose the camps that fit YOUR goals and timeline. This saves hours of research and puts the best events at your fingertips. - College Commitment List: Stay inspired and motivated seeing others achieve their dreams, and discover which paths actually get results. You’ll know exactly what’s possible when you have the right plan. And because you’re an original member, you can lock in your special founders' price of just $29/month—that’s $20 less than what new members will pay after launch. Your rate is guaranteed for as long as you remain, and you can cancel at any time. Don’t let confusion, wasted time, or missed opportunities keep you from getting the offers you deserve. Join us as we build the most supportive, actionable recruiting community out there—tailored just for you.