What is college tennis recruiting REALLY like, and what happens once you get to campus? In this conversation, I sit down with Bianca, a former DLM Coaching client from Canada who is now a sophomore on the Furman University women's tennis team (NCAA Division I). Bianca shares her honest experience of the recruiting process as an international player: starting a little later than she wanted, sending around 100 emails, hearing back from only some coaches, and visiting five schools before finding the right fit. She also gives an inside look at life as a D1 tennis player, including the weekly schedule, the fall vs. spring season, summer expectations, missing class for travel, and what current players think when recruits come to visit. In this video, you'll learn: - Why you shouldn't wait for your UTR to be "perfect" before emailing coaches - How campus visits can change what you think you want in a school - Why team culture and teammates matter so much - The biggest adjustments from junior tennis to college tennis - What a 20-hour week looks like in season - How D1 athletes balance travel, classes, and professors - Why doubles and unedited match video can make a big difference in recruiting - How current players help with recruiting, and why their opinion counts TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 Introduction 0:44 Bianca's recruiting journey as an international player 3:17 When she started the process and when she committed 5:54 Should you email coaches before your UTR is where you want it? 8:14 Why campus visits matter (official and unofficial) 11:47 How your preferences can change during recruiting 13:03 How important are the coach and teammates? 15:03 Junior tennis vs. college tennis: the biggest transition 18:07 How the college tennis season works: fall vs. spring 20:08 A typical 20-hour week as a D1 player 23:07 Off-season 8-hour weeks 23:50 Summer training expectations 28:07 Travel, missed classes, and working with professors 31:35 Why the player, not the parents, needs to own the process

One of the most common questions I get from families is some version of: “Are we behind?” Usually the answer is no, but that question comes up so often because nobody hands you a clear recruiting timeline. So I built one for you. 👇 Page 1: The big picture by grade Recruiting isn’t just emails to coaches. It’s three things moving together: Academics, Tennis, and Recruiting.This page shows what to focus on in each area from 9th through 12th grade. A few things I want you to notice: 🎾 9th grade is about foundations, not offers: Development over winning today, good grades, and the athlete starting to take ownership while parents shift into a supporting role. 📧 10th grade is when things start moving. Your list comes together and intro emails to coaches go out in the spring. 🔥 11th grade is the big one. Evaluations, campus visits, building real relationships with coaches, and possibly verbal commitments. It’s also a critical academic year, so don’t let grades slip. 🎓 12th grade is the finish line. Applications, staying sharp in the classroom, and preparing for your transition to the team. Page 2: The 8-Step Recruiting Roadmap steps over time This shows when each step of our Roadmap typically starts and how long it runs. The key takeaway: these steps oftentimes overlap. You'll be researching schools while communicating with coaches, and doing evaluations while visiting campuses. That’s normal, and it’s exactly how it should feel. Remember, this is a guide, not a deadline. Every player’s path looks a little different depending on level, goals, and the schools on their list. If you’re running a bit ahead or behind, that’s okay. What matters is that you’re moving forward with a plan.