Click here to submit your question to our coaches. Any question, big or small!
Click Here to Return to the AskACoach Page
How can I get recruited to swim in college? What questions should I ask a college swim coach?--Mike D, Grapevine, Texas
Response from
Kyle H.,College Swimmer, Swim Coach
Ask them anything and everything you can think of. Questions about the program, how they train, swim, lift weights, do dry-lands, when they practice, how long they practice, and what a typical practice consists of. You want to get a very good idea of the kind of stuff you will be getting yourself into. If you come from a club program that does not do a whole lot of training (or maybe not even a club program at all), you will need to decide if you will be able to handle the type of work that will be required. Some swimmers can be overwhelmed by a sudden increase in training that comes from jumping from a low-yardage high school program to a college team.
You should ask what is expected of every swimmer, both in the water and out. Ask what the main focus is for the season. Some teams will focus on their dual meets or conference championships, whereas others will put all of their eggs into one basket and train with the goal of performing well at one meet one national championship meet at the end of the season.
Whatever type of program you discover, you will want to make sure that you are "on board" with what they are trying to do. Find the best fit for you. Ask the coaches how they think you will fit in with their program. What will they be using you for? What are their expectations of you? These are important things to know not only so that you can be sure and meet those expectations, but also so that you can strive to exceed expectations.
Ask what the goals are of the team. A program without goals is not going anywhere. Look for realistic goals, but also, look to see if the ENTIRE team (athletes, coaches, staff, etc) all had a hand in developing the goals, and fully believe in those goals. Many times teams will set goals, but nobody on the team thinks they will ever happen. Goals should be attainable: not easily attainable, but not clearly out of reach. Confidence is very important in a program; not just for the coaches, but for the swimmers as well. Asking the coach questions is very important, but getting to know the team will tell you much more. It is important to find out how you will fit in with the team.
Everyone is looking for something different in a college program, so you need to make sure that the team is the right fit for you. Talk to the guys or girls. They will tell you things that the coaches cannot. Yes the coaches are at practice every day, but the swimmers are the ones who are in the pool working their butts off every day.
The best way to get a coaches attention is to contact them. A simple email telling them that you are interested in swimming in college, and that you would possibly be interested in their program. They will appreciate your interest, and will let you know if you are:
a) at their level, and they are also very interested in you,
b) not quite at their level yet, but should you improve down the road they would be interested, or
c) not at their level, and that you might want to look into a different level of program.
Nothing bad can come from contacting a coach. It will get you on their radar, regardless of your speed, and from there, they will know your name and will be looking for you. Even after the initial email, if they express interest of any level, continue to stay in contact with them. If you have a fantastic season and drop lots of time, let them know. Remind them again that you are interested, and that you have continued to improve. Your interest in their program will go a long way in telling them about yourself.
