
The Recruiting Roadmap
Weekly insights to help field hockey players navigate the college recruiting journey
Post-tournament emails that actually work
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"Thank you for watching me play this weekend!"
If this is your post-tournament email strategy, you can do better - and today I'll show you how.
College coaches get dozens of these after every showcase. Most get skimmed and filed away.
Why? Because they show no insight. Th...
by Alan Good —
Apr 29, 2025
communication
emails
Email hooks that actually work
You have 3-5 seconds to grab a coach's attention.
That's it.
If your email doesn't stop their scroll in those critical moments, you've lost your chance.
Most players start their emails with:
"Hi Coach! My name is Jane Smith and I'm a forward from Random High School..."
And coaches have seen that...
by Alan Good —
Apr 22, 2025
communication
emails
How to know when you've found the right fit
"This just feels right."
That's what players often say when they've found their school.
But feelings can be misleading. Campuses are designed to impress. Teams put their best foot forward. Coaches are skilled at selling their programs.
How do you know when you've truly found the right fit?
Beyon...
by Alan Good —
Apr 15, 2025
list building
selection
Being boring can be your secret weapon
"What's the secret to getting recruited?"
Players always ask this, hoping coaches will reveal some hidden pathway to their dream school.
They want to hear about the perfect email template, the best event to attend, or the magic questions to ask.
But he...
Apr 08, 2025
Making campus clinics count
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A two-hour clinic on campus can tell coaches more about you than three days at a showcase.
Not because you have more time with the ball. But because they get to see how you:
Respond to their coaching
Handle new information
Interact with others
Approach challenges
Carry...
Apr 01, 2025
camps & clinics
When coaches give vague answers
"We're taking things slow with this recruiting class."
"We're still evaluating a lot of players."
"We need to see more of you before making decisions."
Sound familiar?
When coaches give vague answers, most players:
Get frustrated
Feel confused
Keep hoping
Waste time
Miss signals
But vague answ...
by Alan Good —
Mar 25, 2025
coach communication
The questions that actually matter
"How do you balance academics and athletics?"
Every coach has heard this question hundreds of times. Along with:
"What's your coaching style?"
"How would you describe the team culture?"
"What are you looking for in a player?"
Generic questions get generic answers. And generic answers don't hel...
by Alan Good —
Mar 18, 2025
coach communication
Every practice is a test
Getting recruited is the easy part.
Now comes the real challenge: earning your spot. Every. Single. Day.
Most players don't realize the massive shift that happens once you arrive on campus to play college field hockey:
You're no longer the best player
You're starting from zero
Your history mean...
Mar 11, 2025
playing time
What makes coaches really notice players
Many recruits underestimate how much your personal conduct matters to the college coaches evaluating you.
Yes, the field hockey piece is important.
But that's going to be only a part of the recruiting puzzle.
Your talent might get you in the door, but it's your character that will keep you in t...
by Alan Good —
Mar 04, 2025
character
Stop re-introducing yourself to college coaches
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Imagine this scenario:
You meet someone through a mutual friend. A week later, you see them again and introduce yourself like it's the first time. A few days after that, you bump into them and... yep, another fresh introduction.
Awkward, right?
This is what being a coll...
by Alan Good —
Feb 25, 2025
coach communication
emails
The club coach conversation most players avoid
"The biggest obstacle is understanding where your child fits regarding level of play."
This was the most common response when I surveyed parents about their recruiting challenges.
The solution? A conversation most players avoid having with their club coach.
Here's why this matters:
Long before y...
by Alan Good —
Feb 18, 2025
club coaches
The 97% principle that changes everything
You'll have the ball for about 3% of your game time.
That's not a typo. Three percent. If you're lucky.
So here's today's big question: What are you doing with the other 97%?
The 97% Principle In Action
A player I used to coach was the inserter on a penalty corner, which was mis-trapped by her t...
by Alan Good —
Feb 11, 2025
performance
The Recruiting Roadmap
