Finding the Right College Program
As you begin the college search process, looking to balance your academic and athletic needs, there are a few secrets that will help ensure your success in finding a program that is right for you. Unfortunately, too many players find themselves in a college tennis program where one’s game stagnates or erodes, where one feels athletically unchallenged, or perhaps, one finds oneself just outside of the starting lineup. College tennis should be one of the most challenging and fulfilling experiences a young tennis player has in their tennis career.
In selecting a college, the education and the educational support a school offers should be the most important part of your decision. Period! Your college degree provides the foundation for success in your life. Having said that, listed below are a few tips to consider when choosing a college tennis program for you.
Do your homework
Tennis Recruiting network (TRN) is a valuable online tool in helping a player understand the basic dynamics of a college tennis team. Players can find both Men’s and Women’s teams for NCAA DI, DII, DIII, NAIA, NJCAA and CCC Schools, listed by conference and school name. Players should ask the following questions:
â–ºOver the past two years, what level or star ranking players have been recruited to this school?
â–ºHow do I compare to these players?
â–ºWhere are the players from … local or abroad? Top programs typically target highly-rated players from both the U.S. and abroad. Some schools favor American players, some foreign, while others like a balance between the two. Still other schools may draw a majority of their players from certain geographical regions within the U.S. or favor local players for whom the coaches may be more familiar. Tennis Recruiting Network can help you understand these basic recruiting trends for each school so you can better target your search.
Visit the school’s Web site
Questions to ask yourself as you review the school’s site include:
â–ºWho are the coaches and what is their contact information (e-mail and phone)?
â–ºHow long has the coach been a part of the school’s program? This will provide insight in the stability of the program and build confidence that the coaches recruiting you will more likely be the ones you will be guided by during your four years of eligibility.
â–ºWhat is the coach’s background and coaching philosophy? Does it match your own?
â–ºWhat is the team’s match schedule? What is the strength of that schedule? What is the mix between dual matches, tournaments, and post season play?
â–ºDoes the coach allow/promote you to play tournaments outside of your schools competition schedule?
â–ºHow many players on the team graduate the year before you become a freshman? This will give you an idea as to how many openings a coach may have to fill for the year you will be joining as a freshmen. Typically, teams look for one to three new players each season.
â–ºHow does the team’s freshmen’s TRN rankings compare to your own? Where did they play in the lineup? What were their results? Be aware that the coach’s job is to recruit the “best players” they can each year and they typically will recruit for the top of the lineup. This results in players being pushed down the lineup. So, if you select a team where you are number five, six, seven or eight in the lineup your freshman year, and if players above you are not “graduating” out of the lineup, you run the risk that the new recruits may push you lower, or out of the lineup entirely. Look for a school where you can start at least in the third or fourth position as a freshman. Your goal is to improve your game and having a few teammates stronger than you will provide you with good practice partners as you build your foundation in your freshman year and strengthen your game during season match play. This way, you are better prepared to improve or defend your position in the lineup your sophomore and subsequent years.
Understand the tennis facilities and training support at the school
â–ºWhere does the team practice and play? The quality of college tennis facilities vary widely, from world-class courts and amenities, to renting courts at local clubs, to practicing on multi-sport gym floor surfaces.
â–ºHow are the outdoor and indoor facilities? The number of courts for each? Some schools have top-notch outdoor facilities, but limited on-site indoor court access or off-site indoor courts. A minimum for adequate practice and match play would be six indoor and six outdoor.
â–ºWhat is the access to these facilities? Understand if your facility is dedicated to varsity tennis or has additional clients to serve such as gym classes, members and/or faculty, and the times they are allotted to use the courts. NCAA rules limit how much formal, structured practice time you can have with your coach. In most cases, this is less total practice time than many top junior players put in prior to college. If your goal is to continue to improve during your college career, you will need to find additional practice time on your own. So easy and convenient access to courts is important. Travel time to off-site courts or clubs eats up valuable practice and study time.
â–ºWhat type of fitness and training facilities do they have? What time(s) do you and your team have access to them? How well equipped are they?
â–ºWhat is the quality of the trainers? Are they generalists or do they have specific knowledge in training tennis players? How well do they know the game, techniques, skills and training regimens that will help you excel and develop as a player? This makes a big difference.
Connect with the coach
Reach out to the coach and get to know them and help the coach get to know you. Develop a relationship within the NCAA recruiting guidelines. Send an e-mail expressing your interest and perhaps asking a few questions that will let you learn more about the program and the coach. Ask about their coaching and training philosophy as you will be spending a lot of time with this person practicing, training and traveling to matches. Make sure your philosophies are aligned. You will be influenced by this person during your four years of college. Look beyond just their tennis knowledge and assess their character by asking the following questions:
â–ºWill this person be a good mentor and role model for you and your teammates?
â–ºIs this someone you can trust and respect?
â–ºCan he/she help you grow as a person, player and student?
â–ºDoes he/she possess the tennis IQ to have a positive impact on your development as a player?
â–ºIs he/she willing to help you achieve your individual tennis goals in conjunction with the team’s goals?
â–ºWill the coach help you transfer/release you from the school in a manner that does not hurt your eligibility elsewhere if the school/program turns out not to be a good fit?
Market yourself
If you are a highly-ranked TRN player (Blue Chip, 5-Star and 4-Star players), you will likely have a slightly easier road. Typically, you will have played top national events and some ITF tournaments, and coaches from top tennis schools may already have some insight into who you are as a player. You may have interacted with them at recruiting events in the past. However, you will still need to do the work and contact schools and coaches.
â–ºYou should develop a spreadsheet of target schools during your freshman or sophomore year of high school. Include the school name, coaches’ names, e-mails and phone numbers. Know that the list will change and evolve throughout your high school years.
â–ºE-mail the coaches of the prospective schools, developing a regular, but not excessive, schedule of contact.
â–ºGo on both unofficial and official visits.
â–ºCreate a video between three to five minutes, including all key shots and highlight your specific strengths (big serve, forehand, etc.). Include match play with a well-balanced partner or opponent to show your skills in a competitive situation.
â–ºLink your video and any articles about you to your TRN account and send the links directly to coaches, as well as posting them on YouTube with limited access.
â–ºSend e-mails updating coaches on key tournament results and share your practice and training routines.
â–ºRespond to all inquiries coaches send you. Network with all the coaches who have reached out to you even if you believe that you may not be a good fit for a specific school. It will be productive because these coaches may know another coach, school or program that would be a great fit for you.
â–ºAsk coaches for help and guidance.
â–ºMany schools have summer tennis camps so discuss this option with the school’s coach. If they are actively involved, interacting at tennis camps may be a great way for you to really get to know the coach and for them to get to know you and see you play.
Here are just a few of the sites and resources you may wish to explore to assist with your college search process:
â–ºIntercollegiate Tennis Association
â–ºFee based consulting services such as Scholarship for Athletes, NCSA Athletic Recruiting and Donovan Tennis Strategies.
