Essential Tips for High School Athletes Aspiring to Compete in College Track & Field

Aspiring to compete in college track and field? It’s a thrilling journey filled with dedication, hard work, and strategic communication. Recently, we posed a question to college track coaches on Twitter: "What advice would you give to a high school athlete who wants to compete at the college level? How can they properly get your attention? What actions should they take?" Here’s a compilation of their invaluable advice to help bridge the gap between high school athletes and college coaches.

1. Craft a Simple, Direct Email

Shawn Coleman (@CS_Coleman) emphasized the importance of a straightforward approach:

"Simple email about their interest with PR’s, GPA, and maybe some videos. Essays are not necessary."

2. Use the Right Channels and Be Brief

David Burnett (@DavidBurnett02) provided detailed steps on how to reach out effectively:

"If you are a recruit and want to learn more, contact the coach/open your DM’s. If it’s email—subject line include name, PR’s, grad year. Be brief. Go to the school website, look up our info and reach out. Questionnaire is a +. Include contact info, video, transcript, intended major. Research the school before contacting. Look up results on tfrrs.org. All results are there. Make good grades/choices."

3. Recruit the Coach Too

Coach Alex (@Ramichie82) highlighted the mutual nature of recruitment:

"Bonus: you are recruiting the coach as much as they are recruiting YOU! Give them a reason to want you besides your times!! Talent is global! Character is not!"

4. Elevate Your Game and Mindset

LaMonte Vaughn Jr. (@KoachVaughn) stressed the need for a mindset shift when transitioning to college athletics:

"Understand that you leave boys and girls T&F behind when you graduate from HS. You’ve entered men’s and women’s T&F. You will be coached, treated like, spoken to, and held accountable like an adult. The way you studied, trained, competed in HS doesn’t automatically translate to college. You will have to elevate all. Be mindful of whom you share your time and your talent with. Not everyone that follows you is for you. With opportunity comes expectation. Production matters over potential. Probability outweighs possibility."

5. Be Persistent and Respectful

Jamal Johnson (@HeadCoachJJ) pointed out the importance of persistence and respect:

"Be persistent in communication if there is a school you are really interested in. Sometimes coaches simply don’t see your first message/email. Also, be respectful of how/when you talk to a coach. Recruitment is a 2-way street and takes effort from both parties."

6. Learn to Love the Sport

A coach known as Part 4 (@Part4) shared a piece of advice that goes beyond just the technicalities:

"Become a student. Stop liking the sport just to get by and learn to love the sport in order to excel."

7. Go Where You’re Wanted

Coach Alex (@Ramichie82) added another key point about choosing the right school:

"Go where you’re wanted and can get better. World class facilities ≠ you getting better. Do your research on a school before talking to a coach shows you actually care! Understand what’s important to YOU at this level. Division doesn’t matter."

8. Be Realistic and Proactive

Ashley DeWitt (@RashaeDeWitt) advised being realistic and proactive:

"Be realistic with your school choice in correlation to your performances—all divisions are highly competitive. Email your event-specific coach/DM. Make an IG (throws especially) follow teams page."

9. Keep Your Grades Up

JD Davis (@2star3jd) reminded athletes to prioritize academics:

"I may be an athlete, but they need to keep your grades up and be ready to humble yourself when the workouts come and be ready to work hard in classroom and track."

Conclusion

The transition from high school to college track and field is significant, requiring athletes to step up their game both athletically and academically. Coaches are looking for more than just talent—they seek character, dedication, and effective communication. By following this advice, high school athletes can better position themselves to attract the attention of college coaches and make a successful leap into collegiate athletics.

Let's help athletes and coaches communicate together and build a brighter future for track and field!

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