
The Recruiting Roadmap
Weekly insights to help field hockey players navigate the college recruiting journey
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
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 β
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 β
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.Β
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 β
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 β
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 β
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 β
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 β
Feb 04, 2025
list creation & curation
Why coaches barely look at most emails
90% of recruiting emails start exactly the same way: "Hi Coach! My name is [name] and I'm a [position] from [high school]..."
These emails all end up in the same place: a recruiting folder to check before tournaments.
Not because they're bad emails. Not because the players aren't good enough. Bu...
by Alan Good β
Jan 28, 2025
make yourself memorable
How more schools can mean fewer options
"I want to keep my options open!"
That's what the sophomore said when she showed her club coach her target list. 47 schools π³
Here's what happens when your list has too many schools at this crucial stage of your recruiting process.
You start with good intentions:
Research every program thorough...
by Alan Good β
Jan 21, 2025
list creation & curation
Two recruiting events, two very different outcomes
"More than 100 college coaches will be there!"
That's what convinced a family to spend $2,000 on a major showcase.
Travel and food costs
Hotel stays
Registration fees
Their daughter played five games in three days.
There were multiple coaches on the sideline, but most leftΒ at or before half-ti...
by Alan Good β
Jan 14, 2025
event management
The Recruiting Roadmap
