It seems counterintuitive to ask for an invitation. An invite isn’t something you ask for, it’s something gifted to parties, weddings or Junior Days…usually.
Remember, however, recruiting usually runs counter to common sense.
If you never ask, the answer is always no.
The average college coach has too much going on to remember to send an invite out to each and every player they’re recruiting.
So, it is your job to help them make a decision that will help them win more games and keep their job safe.
Once you’ve made contact with a coach you can consider sending the following script:
Coach, thanks so much for connecting. Not sure if able to or not, but my folks and I would love to attend an upcoming Junior Day or check out a spring practice. Might there be a better date to try to do that? Thanks again - Johnny
That’s really it.
In fact, the phrasing “Not sure if you might be open to it or not but…(insert request)” is probably the single most powerful phrase anyone can use to request things politely.
When you say you’re not sure, you genuinely aren’t - they might say no after all!
And, more importantly, you’re taking the pressure off the coach to say yes to you by giving them an out.
This phrase works great with trying to get your parents, kids or boss to say yes to something you need or want quite readily. (It even has helped a few players I work with ask that person out to prom they always wanted to date!)
But, as with all things, it also might not work either.
To give a coach a chance to say yes to you, you need to risk them saying no to you.
They’re not saying no to you as a person, they’re saying no to you as a player.
And, if your self worth is too tightly wound up in your identity as a football player, recruiting can be grueling.
Summing It All Up
The answer is always no if you never ask.
It is common and even polite to request an invitation to a junior day.
Use the magic phrase “Not sure if you’re open to it or not but…(insert request)”
Risking a yes, also means risking a no.
Delineate between yourself as a person vs yourself as a player.
That’s all for now,
Brendan
P.S. When you’re ready, here are a few ways I can help you:
Ebook: Grab a copy of my ebook How To Kick In College
Course: Participate in my course, How To Use Twitter To Dominate Your Recruiting
1:1 Consultation: Email me [email protected] for a personalized recruiting or kicking consultation.