Guide for Conversations with College Coaches

The college recruiting process is exciting but also requires patience and persistence. Every program operates on its own timeline, and response times from coaches can vary greatly depending on the season, their recruiting needs, and NCAA rules. Some coaches may reply quickly, while others might take weeks or even months before reaching out.

It’s important to remember that a delayed response does not necessarily reflect your abilities or potential fit for a program. Coaches often balance a wide range of responsibilities, including training their current athletes, travel, competitions, and future recruiting cycles.

By staying organized, continuing to improve both academically and athletically, and keeping communication consistent yet respectful, you will put yourself in the best possible position as opportunities arise.

DO’s

• Choose a quiet place, silence your phone, remove distractions.
• Know your “why” — 2–3 reasons you like their school/program.
• Share how you’re a good fit athletically, academically, and personally.
• Practice your answers beforehand with a friend or parent.
• Ask thoughtful questions — show real interest.
• Take notes during/after the call.

DON’Ts

• Don’t be shy — let your personality and energy show.
• Don’t only talk about swimming — highlight character and academics.
• Don’t take over the conversation — make it two-way.
• Don’t give short or vague answers — be engaged.

PHONE CALL SCRIPT (feel free to revise to fit your style)

INTRO:
“Hi Coach [Name], I’m [Your Name], a [Grad Year] at [High School/Club]. I sent you an email with my [events/times] and wanted to follow up. Do you have a few minutes to talk?”

IF YES:
“Thank you. I really admire your program, and I’d love to learn more about what you’re looking for in a potential recruit.”

SHARE:

• Why you’re interested (2–3 reasons)
• Why you’re a good fit (both swim & school)
• Ask 2–3 thoughtful questions

CLOSE:
“Thanks for your time, Coach. I’ll follow up by email with my info. I’m looking forward to staying in touch!”

KEY TALKING POINTS

• “My coach has taken a long-runway approach — building training gradually to avoid burnout and set me up for long-term success.”
• “I didn’t peak early — my best swims are still ahead of me.”
• (Example) “I believe I can go [:42 in the 100 Free] and be a strong contributor to the team.”

VOICEMAIL EXAMPLE (Under 45 Seconds)

“Hi Coach [Name], this is [Your Name], I’m a [Grad Year] [High School] student athlete. Just following up on an email I sent with my [current best times]. I’d love to connect and hear your feedback. I’ll send another email when I have more updates, and I’ll try calling again soon. You can reach me at [XXX-XXX-XXXX]. Thank you!”

📬 AFTER THE CALL

• Send a thank-you email the same day.
• If there is no reply in a week: resend your email with an update.

• Fill out their recruitment questionnaire if you haven’t already.
• Ask your club coach to connect with the college coach, if needed.
• If there’s no response after a few tries, with various communication methods — move on.

GOOD QUESTIONS TO ASK (feel free to revise and/or add your own questions, especially as you gain more experience and comfort with the process)

TRAINING & COACHING

• Based on my current best swims, which group would I train with, and who coaches it?
• What’s their coaching style?
• How involved is the head coach with daily training?

ACADEMICS & ADMISSIONS

• What majors are common on the team?
• What’s the team’s GPA?
• Are SAT/ACT scores required?
• Do athletes get priority registration?

TEAM CULTURE & LIFESTYLE

• Do athletes live together?
• Are tutoring or study halls required/offered?
• What’s the athlete meal plan like?
• What’s off-season training like (i.e. summer training)?

COMPETITION & TRAVEL

• How many athletes travel to away meets?
• What does it take to make the travel team as a freshman?

RECRUITING & FIT

• What kind of athletes thrive in your program?
• What are your needs for the [2026] class?

• How many swimmers are you currently recruiting in my events?

IF FINANCIAL AID COMES UP

• What’s the estimated annual cost to attend your institution?
• How are scholarships awarded and renewed?
• Are full scholarships ever offered?
• Are there academic or other aid opportunities?

FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS (LATER STAGE, IF PRIOR COMMUNICATION HAS BEEN MADE)

• Where do I currently rank among your recruits?
• What’s your timeline for offers and commitments?
• What are the next steps?

What Questions Might College Coaches Ask Recruits?

During the recruiting process, coaches will often ask questions to get to know you better both as a student and as an athlete. Common questions include:

• How are you doing academically? (GPA, test scores, coursework)
• What major(s) are you interested in pursuing?
• What do you consider your strengths and weaknesses as an athlete? What are you currently working on improving?
• What type of training are you doing outside of practice?
• Why are you interested in our school and/or program?
• What are your interests or hobbies outside of your sport?
• What other schools are you considering?
• What other programs are currently recruiting you?
• Why do you believe you can compete at this level?

NCAA Official Recruiting Visits

An official recruiting visit is a campus visit to a college or university that is paid for, in whole or in part, by the athletic program. These visits give student-athletes an inside look at the school, athletic facilities, team culture, and academic opportunities.

Key Facts

• Who qualifies?
• Prospective student-athletes who are academically eligible according to NCAA rules.
• Athletes must provide the college with transcripts and standardized test scores (if applicable).
• Athletes must be registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center https://web3.ncaa.org/ecwr3/
• How many?
• A student-athlete may take up to five official visits to Division I schools.
• There is no limit on the number of official visits to Division II or Division III schools, but only one per school is allowed.
• What’s covered?
• Transportation to and from campus.
• Meals (up to three per day).
• Lodging for the athlete (and sometimes parents/guardians).
• Complimentary admission to a home athletic event.
• Length of visit
• An official visit may not exceed 48 hours in duration.

What to Expect on an Official Visit

• Meetings with coaches, staff, and academic advisors.
• A campus tour and housing/dining overview.
• Time with current team members to experience team culture.
• Opportunity to attend a practice, game, or training session.

Tips for Student-Athletes

• Ask questions about academics, team expectations, training schedules, and campus life.
• Remember that you are evaluating the school just as much as they are evaluating you.
• Be respectful and professional throughout the visit—it’s part of the recruiting impression.

(Verbally) COMMITTING

• If you receive an offer, you may or may not need to commit right away.
• After thanking the coach, ask: “How long do I have to consider the offer?”

1. When ready, call the coach to commit

• Thank them and explain your choice
• Send a follow-up email to confirm

EXAMPLES OF SOME POTENTIAL UNIVERSITY SWIM PROGRAMS

Check out potential schools on SwimCloud to see if your events and times align well with their programs! Here are a few to get you started:

Division I Programs

• Cal Berkeley (Cal) – Men & Women, scholarships offered
• Stanford – Men & Women, scholarships offered
• University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) – Women only, scholarships offered
• University of Southern California (USC) – Men & Women, scholarships offered
• UC Santa Barbara (UCSB) – Men & Women, scholarships offered
• UC San Diego (UCSD) – Men & Women, scholarships offered
• UC Davis (UCD) – Women only, scholarships offered
• University of Hawaii (UoH) – Men & Women, scholarships offered
• University of Las Vegas (UNLV) – Men & Women, scholarships offered
• San Diego State (SDSU) – Women only, scholarships offered
• Fresno State – Women only, scholarships offered
• Cal State Bakersfield – Men & Women, scholarships offered
• San Jose State – Women only, scholarships offered
• Cal Baptist – Men & Women, scholarships offered
• University of New Mexico – Women only, scholarships offered

Division II Programs

• Cal State East Bay – Women only, scholarships offered
• Fresno Pacific University – Men & Women, scholarships offered

Division III Programs

• UC Santa Cruz – Men & Women
• California Institute of Technology (Caltech) – Men & Women
• California Lutheran University – Men & Women
• Chapman University – Men & Women
• Claremont McKenna–Harvey Mudd–Scripps Colleges – Men & Women
• Occidental College – Men & Women