One of the first steps in the college recruiting process is to email the coach of the team you are interested in attending. Once you are in contact with them, try to set up a meeting at the university. Interviews can seem intimidating, but the key to making a good impression is to prepare. The famous, “Do you have any questions” can be a crucial part of any interview. Curiosity shows interest. Asking the right questions can be the key to getting the information you need as well as keeping the conversation going.
Here’s a few suggestions to jump start your brainstorming:
ONE
“What division/league are you in?”
TWO
“How often do you practice?
THREE
“What is your training regimen like?” (Many teams have three practice groups: sprint, mid-distance, and distance.)
FOUR
“Do you have a women and men’s program?”
FIVE
“What are some schools you compete against?”
SIX
“Are there any benefits available to varsity atheletes?” (i.e. tutoring)
SEVEN
“Where do you go on your training trips?”
EIGHT
“How much scholarship money is available?” (Keep in mind: division 3 teams do not give athletic scholarships.)
NINE
“How do study abroad programs affect your team’s training schedule?”
Don’t be afraid to speak your mind in an interview! Showing interest and engagement is one of the things that makes a coach want you on their team. Remember to be yourself, and remember to listen closely.
These seem like good ones if you are talking to a coach for the first time.
Once you get to know them a little better you should ask some less cursory questions.
Ken-H’s questions seem to me like things a parent would ask a coach.
If I going through recruiting again I would ask things like:
What’s your general plan for yourself in the next 4 years
What’s your best-case scenario for the program
1-10 how good of a job are you doing
What’re your strengths in coaching
Weaknesses
What’s your favorite set
What do you value the most in swimmers
What coach do you admire the most
… Read more »
This is my first year in the Netherlands.I am graduating school in 2016.I did not join the team this year.I been practising swimming 6 years.What I need to enter or if I need to get something from my teacher in Athens.If this is good to enter
BEFORE the meeting ask the coach if he can get a “read” from admissions on your academic profile. This will obviously occur as a matter of course for “official trips” but if you are in the early stage of the process and scheduling an unofficial trip this is quite relevant. If for whatever reason this doesn’t happen then on your visit you need to ask how your academic profile compares to admitted swimmers from last year’s class
BTW, coaches cannot tell you they get you “admitted”…..they can offer an opinion ( based on admissions decisions in the past) but cannot assure you of a spot. In my experience, you pretty much can’t be below the 25 percentile re GPA… Read more »
What is the graduation rate among your teammembers? How many go on to graduate school? How is your institution rated academically in national reports and publications?
Come on! If you’re going to college just to swim, you don’t have very high academic or career goals.
What is your stance on peeing in the pool?
the first six are easy to google
Yes, the answers to Q 1, 4 & 5 are available to anyone with internet access. Please do your research on collegeswimming.com, or in the ‘College’ section of Swim Swam, or the team’s website.. The coach of one of the programs my son has been in contact with was featured in a Swim Swam interview just yesterday. He now know s more about the coach than 99% of the other recruits.
That said, the other questions are spot on and should start a nice conversation with the coach.
No. These show you did no homework at all before seeing the coach. 1-5 are embarrassing, except #2, if you don’t already know someone on the team to ask…. Leaving 6 – 9 as awkward first priorites.
How about:
1. How is your program funded. Does title IX impact funding and how many swimmers, of each sex, can be in the pool? Is the administration cutting any sports for funding or title IX issues?
2. Do you cut swimmers based on title IX compliance requirements?
3. What are the requirements to be on the team? Grades, speed, attend practice, away meets, championships?
4. Drinking policy? How has it been enforced. Eg. Stanford.
5. Summer training… Read more »
Thank you! This is timely for my daughter.