The Recruiting Roadmap

Weekly insights to help ambitious field hockey players navigate the college recruiting journey

Follow Me

Categories

Email hooks that actually work

If your email doesn't stop their scroll in the first few seconds after it's opened, 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 opening hundreds of times before. The Patte...

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 creation & curation 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 her...

by Alan Good — Apr 08, 2025 process overview

Making campus clinics count

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 yourself Most players mi...

by Alan Good — 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...

by Alan Good — 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

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 college coach feels like when ...

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...

by Alan Good — Feb 11, 2025 performance

What actually matters in your college search?

Everyone will tell you to consider five things in your college search: Academics Athletics Financial fit Geography Social aspects But here's what they don't tell you - it's not about knowing what matters. It's about knowing how much each thing matters to you. Think You Know Your Priorities? Le...

by Alan Good — Feb 04, 2025 list creation & curation

1 2 3