A free look at how recruiting conversations actually go

Three short pages for junior volleyball parents. No pitch deck. No playing-time promises.

Written for club parents — plain English, grade-by-grade.

What college coaches actually ask after the first email

How to talk about her game without inventing highlights

When Athlete Pro helps vs when the full Playbook is enough

What happens after you hit send

After the first email, some coaches write back the same week. Some don't write back at all. That spread is normal. It is not a verdict on her.

Silence is not a rejection. Staffs get a stack of notes on a tournament weekend. A message can sit unread while they're on the road.

If you haven't heard anything after a couple of weeks, one short follow-up is enough. Don't stack a third note on top of a second.

Don't attach a 12-minute film, a highlight reel you built last night, or a line about playing time. Send a clean introduction, a short clip if you have one, and where she plays.

Reply rates vary. We will not invent one, and we will not tell you a coach is going to recruit her.

Language that matches how she actually plays

Parents reach for the same three words: hustle, coachable, high motor. Coaches already hear those. What helps is language that matches the position and how she actually competes.

If you've taken PACE, use that. A libero who stays organized under serve-receive is not the same as an outside who takes over a sideout. Say the thing you can point to on film.

She's a [position] who [one thing you can show on film] — happy to send a short clip and her club schedule.

If you don't have that language yet, take PACE free. It gives you a plain-English read on how she competes, so you're not inventing a highlight in the email.

When $119 helps — and when $97 is enough

The excerpt is the map. Athlete Pro is how you keep score — PACE profile, share with coaches, a clear read on where she stands. $14.99/mo billed annually · $119/yr.

The full Recruited Playbook is $97 one time — templates, visit questions, grade-by-grade paths. A map you keep. Not a subscription. If you want the year-round tools, start with Athlete Pro. If you want the written map and you're not ready to pay yearly, the Playbook is enough. You can do both. You can do neither and stay free.