Tracking an Athlete's Recruitment
1. Hand Written Letters
If you're not getting hand written letters, you are not being recruited. Hand Written letters (not typed!), are the greatest form of flattery in the college athletic recruiting process. At every college I've worked at, regardless of Division 3 or the Pac-12, the staff were always writing hand written notes to the top recruits on an almost daily basis. Before each meeting at UCLA and SMU, the Recruiting Coordinators would have 3-5 cards placed at each coaches place on the conference table with a list of who to write to that day. If you are on one of those lists, that's how you know that school is really serious about you.
2. Phone Calls
I know it's 2016, but talking to a recruit on the phone is still a big part of the recruiting process and getting to know a coach or player. Technology has changed recruiting so much that college coaches no longer need to spend 3-4 hours a night on the phone talking to recruits, they can simply text or twitter DM all night long while they sit on the couch. While this simplifies contact with players and makes it easier on the coach, it also means he can be in touch with a large amount of players because it's so easy these days. By receiving a phone call from a coach, you can ensure that you are building and developing a relationship with that coach outside of your twitter DMs.
3. Campus Visits
A particular coach may be responsible for an entire city, region, or state, known as his or her recruiting area. This may include 100's of schools. It is pretty much impossible to visit each one of these schools during a recruiting period, which may only last a couple of weeks. If a coach is taking the time to visit your school to either talk to you or your high school coach, that is a very positive sign because it means he has chosen your school out of possible hundred's of others.
