How do you know if you’re getting application support from a track coach? Or if you’ll be on the team?
I’m a senior just started emailing coaches. (Yes, I late I’m late into the game.) I throw javelin, so I sent a link to my history of throws plus 2 videos. I also sent attachments of scans from my SATs and transcripts.
I’m grateful that I’m getting responses, but I don’t understand what to make of them. Here are generally the responses:
Some coaches have been replying in effect “cool, go ahead and apply” I’m not sure if that means I’m getting any coach support. It seemed fast after 1 or 2 emails. One said we encourage applying early because there’s more wiggle room with discretionary funding. Some of them I’m most nervous about because they are reaches academically. By chance, all of these schools offer Early Action, so I suppose I can apply that way?
Some of the other coaches have been saying in effect “stay in touch” but I’m not sure what’s there to stay in touch about because I’m a thrower–mainly javelin–so my main season isn’t until spring. Yet applications are due fall/winter
Relatedly, one coach said if I can improve my jav throws by about another 5-10 feet, I should be good. Though again, I won’t be throwing jav until the spring
As some background:
I’m not looking for any money, though of course I wouldn’t turn any down. I just want to know if I’d be on the team. Also, some of these colleges, I’m not sure I’d get into on my own based on just SAT and GPA and might need any coach support. I’ve been contacting a range of D3s and less competitive athletically D1s
One coach told me my throws won’t cut it. I was expecting more responses like that, which were more clear cut. Either “your throws are good, you’ll be on the team”, “your throws are good, we’ll support you academically”, or “your throws aren’t good enough” and I’m not really getting much of any of those. . Unless coach speak is just all different than I’m used to
Why did you wait so long! We talked about finding programs where your jav would be competitive and how to initiate contact back in June of 14.
At any rate, a response of “cool, go ahead and apply”, doesn’t mean coach support. The coach support thing at the academically selective schools usually plays out over several months involving many conversations, submitting official transcripts, visits, etc. Most of the kids that will end up getting support are taking Official Visits now.
“improve your throws by 5-10 feet”, “stay in touch (said in late September)”…well, it’s pretty easy to interpret those responses.
As we discussed earlier, you may want to research conference results to see where your throws are going to be competitive and reach out to those coaches. As I recall, your academics are pretty strong - you may be a nice late surprise for a good D3 program.
Thanks for your feedback! I know, I’m extremely late in the game!!
Primarily, I’m wondering if I’d be on the team and when/how I can find out how likely that’d be
For the most part, I don’t think I’ll need application or financial support at most of the colleges I’ve been talking to so far. In fact, I’ve already submitted my college application to some of them, before I had even contacted the coach. Probably shouldn’t have done that order, but I’ve just been vacillating a lot about a lot of things pertaining to college
I’m not looking at any schools that are too selective academically. In fact, most are academic safeties. One or two my SAT is below average and on the lower side of the 25-75 range, so I was hoping ideally for possible application support there if that might be possible. At one of these places, one of the coaches talked with me about maybe scheduling a visit but still told me to go ahead and apply because the Early Action deadline is approaching.
Also none are big reaches athletically. I did the research as you’ve stated, and I’m either above or consistent with the current throwers. I’m not contacting any D1 powerhouses. Mostly D3s, one or two D2s, and some very low-ranked D1s
You will need to contact the coaches and ask them where you stand if their responses are unclear or non-existent. Tell the coaches you have already applied. In my son’s case, he applied to several schools that he was interested in going to, even though he had not heard back from coaches yet to make sure he was being considered for all merit/academic dollars, (since as you know for men’s track there is very little athletic money). One coach gave him a code to call admissions and have added to his app, another came out and told him that he would have no open roster spots for someone in his event and he could not even walk on the team. The majority responded, just like you have seen, with a generic “keep in touch”. You could not tell by the emails he got if he was being recruited to come try out or if in fact he was being offered a definite roster spot and just no athletic money. He told all the coaches that he would not come to their school if he could not be on the team. He had to come right out and ask the coach “what do you mean” is there a try-out or will I be on the team? Only one D1 team said that all athletes try out each and every year, scholarship or not, but everyone else said he would know exactly where he stood before housing deposits were due.
He sent coaches regular performance updates and then sent an e-mail when he received an acceptance. He was not offered any OVs until Jan. and only to schools that he had already been admitted to. We got the impression that coaches did not provide much admission help but would talk to him if he got in on his own. He did however have solid grades and none of the schools were really an academic reach. He did well in his first few meets in spring and then unsolicited contact from coaches ticked up, but by then he had already applied to all the schools he was interested in. Same athlete, same grades, yet coaches responses where all over the place.
I will share however, from my son’s experience, don’t read too much into the enthusiasm from the initial contact. He ended up going to a school where the coach seemed really excited to have him be part of the team and initially discounted a coach/school that sent him a lukewarm answer. Fast forward two years later and he has transferred from school A to school B and loves the school/coach that originally didn’t seem too interested. Come to find out that the coach’s style is very low key, he hates email and tries to make sure you really want to go to his school before he will talk to you much at all. So try to figure out where you really want to go and see if you can work it out with that coach rather than leave it up to them.