About to Email my school's coach-Any Tips?

don't write too much first of all.

best to show him a recent race result if you've got one. if not, maybe describe a hard workout. you just need to prove you're not going to embarrass yourself if he let's you try out.

ask for the summer training program.

don't be surprised if he doesn't get back to you. in fact, you may want to call or go by his office.

gumby wrote:

ask for the summer training program. .

Violation of NCAA rules.

It depends on how the tryouts at your school work. I went to a Big Ten school and basically anyone could try out. Most people at the tryouts were invited, but it seemed like they'd let anyone sign up. They didn't really advertise the tryouts or anything, but if you called in a week or two before they'd give you a number and put you on the list without even asking your PRs. There were typically 70 or 80 people on the track for the time trial including current team members.

Of course, every program is different. Some might have more stringent requirements. But it's worth an email or a phone call. Don't feel like you need to give them a biography of your running career and don't write a longwinded persuasive essay about why you would be a great addition to their team. Just tell them who you are and let them know that you want to try out and maybe tell them your PRs if they help your case.

Tell him how badly you want to be coached by him, you can run xx for whatever distance and if he gives you a chance, you will make him famous.

ask one of the team-members for the summer training program.

What Big East school? Have you run any races recently which point to your fitness?

Yea really depends on what school. Big difference between Georgetown and Seton Hall.

Also I know at my school you would really have wanted to talk to the assistant coach not the head coach as he did most of the recruiting.

Every BigEast school will take walk ons but expect to face a time trial at some point unless you have recent race results.

Also my coaches would never give someone not yet on the team a schedule.

Hope this helps

Geoffrey, is that you?

Don't email him. Write him a letter. Include your email in the letter but write him one. It's amazing how such a simple gesture as taking the time to do so can make a difference.

NCAA complience wrote:

gumby wrote:

ask for the summer training program. .

Violation of NCAA rules.

okay, i'm not an NCAA expert.

is it a violation for a student to ask his school's coach for a training program? really?

if you mean it's against the rules for the coach to actually provide a program to someone who hasn't been cleared with the NCAA that's different.

i just meant it would be good to show that you wanted to be prepared come fall.

i'm interested though. what part is the violation. coaches absolutely do give out summer training programs, even to incoming freshman not on scholarship. maybe they're not supposed too?

I can't find an email for the head coach or any assistant coaches.

There is a prospective student athlete form online but it seems to be for high schoolers. Should I just fill that out and hope for the best?

send him a picture of your johnson

HERES A GREAT IDEA wrote:

send him a picture of your johnson

Great idea, I'll put that under awards and honors recieved, or maybe special skills.

Go to his office and politely ask to chat. Come at a quiet time when he's not likely to be distracted or rushing off to practice.

People are much more likely to take the time when they see a human face. An email or phone message is easy to ignore. A visit also shows your dedication.

As people above said, be ready to tell him about recent race results, training or something to show your level of fitness. Otherwise, he has no idea if you're a 4:20 or 5:20 miler.

Prepare talking points ("Ive been running XX miles per week for XX months....I recently ran a race in this time...I'm ready to train hard over the summer to make the team in the fall" etc).

If you can, find some guys on the team and talk to them first. Tell them what you want to do and ask for their advice.

Have a plan B. If he blows you off, are you going to train anyway?

Many years ago, I was a walk on and a Div 1 school. I called the coach over the summer and he basically blew me off. He never sent me the team training plan but I continued to train on my own and just showed up on first day with a lot of miles under my belt. He took me and several other walk ons--we just had to commit to do the work. He wasn't going to go out of his way to do an unknown freshman any favors (probably a screening tactic) but when we proved ourselves we earned his respect and he became very generous with his time.

Good luck...and run hard!

bump

it is a violation to give specific workouts for specific days. It is not a violation to give non specific program.

example of a violation

for the week of july 10-17 run 10 miles on monday, mile repeats on tuesday, 8 miles on wednesday, etc , etc.

correct way.

run 70-100 miles a week with a tempo run and fartlek run

The way I've seen it is that a coach provides an "example" schedule of what it might take to come back to school in shape.