The College Talk Guy breaks down how to get Division I coaches to your tournament. Juniors should email coaches 2-6 months before MLS NEXT Fest or FLEXED, and ask "May I shake your hand in person?" instead of just inviting them to a game. That specific question gets a yes or no and locks in a meeting.
Preface this with this MLS NEXT Fest and FLEXED tournament is the biggest way, number one way to get recruited to play Division I college soccer or any division for that matter. The most coaches are going to be at this basically single event. Generation Adidas is probably another one, but the reason it's so important is because if you are a freshman or sophomore, college coaches will come to your games depending on if you've been in communication with them, and many of them will even tell you while we may not be able to come to most of your games, the fact that we now know that you're good enough to be at this tournament means we want to keep an eye on you so the next time they do come and watch you. Now, if you're a sophomore or a junior, you must have been sending emails 2 to 3 months prior, if not 6 months prior, to actually convince one of them to come. Now, let's assume you're 2 weeks out from this incredible tournament, then you must send videos beforehand. Now, if you're unsure if they're going to be coming to your game, you must ask this question in your emails: May I shake your hand in person at the tournament? Now many of you will go, well, they're not allowed to shake your hand. That is correct, they're not allowed to. So let them respond to you saying they're not allowed to. If you're a junior, they're allowed to. And on top of the fact, they break the rules all the time, okay? It's called soccer, not college football. Nobody really cares. So the point is to say this is about you getting attention. And the reason this question is the best one is because if instead you ask, will you come to my game, and they don't respond, then you don't know if they're coming. If they— if you ask them May I shake your hand in person? Now they'll probably respond with yes if they want to meet with you, and that means they're coming to your game. So now you've booked a meeting and they're coming to your game. And on the flip side, if you say, will you just come to my game? And they say, yes, I'll be there. Now you don't even know if you'll see them. You don't even know if you'll meet with them. You don't even know if they'll watch the game when you're in. So it doesn't really help you. By trying to meet with them, it's a game changer in the recruiting process. I'm the College Talk Guy. If you want more help playing college soccer, give me a call. Links in the bio. Talk soon.
