Don't Ghost the Coach: A Halloween Guide to the Scariest Recruiting Mistakes

Happy Halloween, recruiting families. Here's the truth: families aren't scared of ghosts. They're scared of coaches who never write back. The inbox that stays empty. The camp that came and went without a follow-up. The season that ended and nobody called. The scariest part of recruiting isn't the stuff you can see. It's the mistakes you don't see coming. So let's walk through the haunted house together — and turn on the lights.

Remember: recruiting is sales. And in sales, deals rarely die because someone said no. They die because someone stopped showing up.

1. Ghosting: Going Silent After the First Email

The most common mistake I see is the one-and-done email. A recruit sends a message in September, hears nothing, and quietly assumes the answer is no. Then they disappear. In sales, a lead goes cold without follow-up. Great reps follow up with something useful — an update, a result, a new piece of film. Coaches are busy, especially in-season. Silence is usually "not yet," not "never." Don't be the one who ghosts.

2. The Costume: Pretending to Be Someone You're Not

Inflated stats. A 40-time nobody can verify. Highlight film that's 90 seconds of one great game and nothing else. That's a costume — and coaches see through costumes fast. Coaches recruit what's real. Honest measurables, full-game film when asked, and a profile that matches what they'll see in person. Trust is the whole deal.

3. Trick-or-Treat Emails: Only Showing Up to Ask

"Dear Coach, I'm interested in your program. Please watch my film and let me know." Copied, pasted, sent to 80 schools. That's a trick-or-treat email: knock on the door, hold out the bag, give nothing back. The best sales reps personalize. They mention a recent win, a roster need, a player who graduated at your position. Show you did your homework before you ask for anything.

4. Zombie Lists: A Target List That Never Changes

Some families build a list of schools sophomore year and never touch it again. That list is a zombie — it's walking around, but it's not alive. Rosters change. Coaches change jobs. Your athlete grows, gets faster, or discovers they want a different academic fit. Revisit your list every season. Add schools where you fit academically, athletically, and financially. Cut schools that have gone quiet or no longer make sense.

5. The Headless Horseman: Nobody in Charge

When nobody owns the process, it rides off in every direction. Parents send some emails, the athlete sends others, the club coach makes a call — and no one knows who said what to whom. Pick roles. The athlete owns communication with coaches. Parents own organization, research, and the calendar. Meet weekly at the kitchen table and review the pipeline. Every great sales team has a plan and a person accountable for it.

6. Skeletons in the Closet: Your Social Media

Coaches look. They look at what you post, what you repost, and what you like. One old post can quietly take you off a board — and you'll never know why. Clean it up now. Then use your profile the right way: as a digital resume that shows your work ethic, your character, and your film.

“The only thing scarier than a 'no' is silence you created.”

Treats Instead of Tricks: Your November Checklist

Fall seasons are wrapping up, winter sports are starting, and coaches are building their target lists for next year. This is a great time to act. Here's your list:

1. Cut updated fall film while the season is fresh. Put your best clips in the first 30 seconds.
2. Send a season-recap follow-up to every coach on your list: results, stats, new film link.
3. Refresh your target list: add, cut, and research each program's roster needs.
4. Clean up social media and update your recruiting profile.
5. Plan winter and spring camps at schools that are actually on your list.
6. Set a weekly kitchen-table meeting to review who you contacted and what's next.

Want the step-by-step plan your family can run on its own? The U90 DIY Guide walks you through it: target lists, email templates, and the follow-up schedule. Recruiting doesn't have to be scary. You just need a plan and the discipline to keep showing up. College recruiting starts with YOU.