College recruitment can be a complex and challenging process for both athletes and coaches. At Mojo Softball, we’re committed to giving our coaches and players every advantage in navigating this journey. Recently, we held a comprehensive coaching seminar focused entirely on mastering the college recruitment process, featuring insights from our recruitment experts Brittany Lewis and Jake Hyatt.
Building Relationships: The Foundation of Successful Recruitment
One theme resonated throughout the entire meeting: relationships matter. Our experts emphasized that successful recruitment isn’t just about talent—it’s about building and maintaining genuine connections with college coaches. This means:
- Consistent, professional communication
- Respecting coaches’ time and schedules
- Following up appropriately after tournaments and camps
- Being honest about player abilities and potential
As Jake pointed out during the meeting, credibility is everything in the recruitment world. Once lost, it’s nearly impossible to regain. Our coaches are advised to be realistic about their players’ capabilities, neither overselling nor underselling their potential.
Strategic Tournament Selection
Tournament selection emerged as a critical factor in effective recruitment. Our experts advised coaches to be strategic about which events they attend, focusing on:
- Tournaments with proper brackets and competitive divisions
- Events where college coaches are likely to be present
- Being on the right fields at the right times
- Prioritizing quality of competition over quantity of games
Colorado, Atlanta Legacy, and Kansas City were highlighted as “must-attend” events.
The Social Media Advantage
In today’s digital world, social media presence has become a powerful recruitment tool. Our coaches received specific guidance on helping players develop an effective online presence:
- Encouraging weekly updates on Twitter/X
- Posting tournament schedules, highlights, and training clips
- Maintaining a professional and positive online image
- Using platforms like GameChanger for creating highlight reels
- Developing YouTube channels for easy sharing with college coaches
Being Transparent with Athletes and Parents
Perhaps one of the most important topics addressed was the need for transparency with athletes and parents about realistic college prospects. Our experts stressed that:
- Honesty is always the best policy, even when difficult
- Clear expectations help protect athletes’ interests
- Understanding each player’s academic and athletic potential leads to better college matches
- Not every player will reach D1, and that’s okay
Effective Camp Strategy
Camps represent a significant investment of time and money for families. Our coaches received guidance on maximizing the value of these experiences:
- Focus on camps where players have been specifically invited
- Start early (around age 14) to help players become comfortable in front of coaches
- Coaches should inform college programs when their players attend camps
- Follow up with college coaches before and after camps
Resources for Success
To support our coaches in implementing these strategies, we’ve developed several resources:
- Daily updates via the team stack app
- The newly updated Mojo website for team information
- Recruiting seminar materials and parent workshop resources
- Direct access to our recruitment experts for personalized guidance
The Mojo Difference
What sets Mojo apart is our commitment to authentic, relationship-based recruitment. While many programs rely on recruiting platforms (which our experts candidly described as often being “money grabs”), we emphasize personal connections and direct communication.
As our Director of Operations, Lex, highlighted during the meeting, the credibility of Mojo coaches is our greatest asset. By following these strategies and maintaining our professional standards, we aim to give every Mojo athlete their best opportunity to compete at the collegiate level.