Strategies for Finding the Right School to Play College Tennis

A college tennis team is usually not placed in a designated division based on the strength of that team. Thus, if you are interested in playing college tennis, you need to look beyond the division designation of the school’s tennis team to determine whether the team would be a good fit for you. If you are a top nationally ranked player, the top college teams will find you, but many strong athletes are not in this position and need to be proactive to find the right team and college that coincide with their athletic skills and academic ability. Here are some tips for finding the right team for you.

Overview the Current Team

Narrow down colleges you would like to attend based on academics, school size and location. Determine which division each school is in and spend some time looking at the team online. Identify how many seniors are on the team because this will indicate the number of slots that will be available for the following year. Conduct Internet research to see if you can find statistics for any of the current players. Compare their statistics to your own to determine how your own record stacks up. Examine the team’s record to determine the team’s strength.

Note the size of the team. Some schools have small teams and everyone on the team plays. In other schools, teams are larger, but there may be players who have potential and practice with the team, but do not actually play in matches. Do some self-searching and decide whether you would be willing to practice with a team and be a part of it without actually playing in matches the first year, if necessary.

Evaluate the Coach

If the team and school seem like they match your skill set, contact the coach and indicate your interest. Coaches will often set aside time to meet with you when you visit the school. Coaches will encourage you to take the time to attend a match since this will enable you to observe the team and watch the players in action. You will be able to determine whether you can comfortably hit with them and see the camaraderie of the team on and off the court. You should also pay attention to how the coach conducts himself during the match and how the players respond to him.
Watch Team Performance and Coach Interaction

Most coaches usually tell you about the team schedule, time commitments, and the necessity of working with teachers to best coordinate your academic schedule with the team’s schedule. Try to pay attention to the coach’s demeanor and ask about his coaching style. If you decide to play, you will spend a lot of time with the team and the coach so you want to make sure that your personalities mesh well.

Other Details

If you still have an interest, follow-up with the coach further. Some coaches may request a videotape of you playing. If you have been playing in tennis tournaments, the coach may look up your most recent statistics. Keep the coach updated on your progress and be accessible if he wants further contact. Many coaches will also ask about your academics so put yourself in the most positive light to be a promising candidate for both the school and the team.