How to Become a Stand-Out Tennis Recruit
College coaches receive hundreds of emails weekly from high school students and parents worldwide hoping to secure a spot on their teams. With so many inquiries, it’s nearly impossible for coaches to respond to everyone. So, how do they decide who gets their attention?
The answer often lies in metrics. For some coaches, unless your UTR rating or ranking meets a certain threshold, you might not even receive a reply. For others, UTR and rankings are only a small part of the equation.
As a recruit, where should you focus? How can you ensure your profile stands out and gets noticed? Here are five actionable tips to help you rise above the crowd and make a lasting impression.
1. Don’t Work on Your Rankings—Work on Your Level
Awards and accolades are secondary to learning, improvement, and passion.
Your focus shouldn’t be on chasing rankings or ratings but on developing your skills and refining your game.
Here’s how:
1. Identify a professional player with a similar playing style to yours.
2. Study 2-3 things they execute exceptionally well, such as their serve placement, footwork, or tactical approach.
3. Use their success as a blueprint and implement it into your own training regimen, refining your process over time.
4. Improving your level of play naturally impacts your results, which will eventually reflect in your rankings.
2. Provide Value Beyond the Court
Ask yourself: How can you contribute to a college team and the broader community?
During my time at the University of Virginia, our team had players with UTRs ranging from 7 to 12 across 13 roster spots. Every player had a vital role in our success, whether competing in matches or supporting the team in other ways.
One teammate, who rarely played dual matches, was a standout because:
1. He was the hardest worker during fitness sessions, often finishing first in trials.
2. He had the highest GPA on the team.
3. He volunteered in the local community, giving back to foundations that supported the area.
He was a leader in every sense, and every coach dreams of having a recruit like that. None of these qualities had anything to do with his UTR or ranking—they were about his character and contribution.
3. Showcase Your Intangible Qualities
What do you bring to the table beyond your stats?
Here’s what two top Division 1 coaches shared with me about recruiting:
Coach #1 (Top 30 Program):
“A high UTR means you know how to win matches, but I’ve passed on players with great UTRs because they didn’t fit our team culture. Poor competitors, bad attitudes, or players who aren’t coachable or lack leadership qualities aren’t worth pursuing.”
Coach #2:
“Sometimes I rely on my players for feedback about recruits. If they tell me someone is a known cheater or has a bad reputation, I usually don’t pursue that player.”
Your behavior, sportsmanship, and reputation matter as much as your performance on the court.
4. Build Relationships with Coaches Early
Even though coaches can’t contact you directly before June 15th of your sophomore year, you can take the initiative to reach out and express your interest.
Here’s how:
1. Congratulate them on a big win or an accomplishment for their program.
2. Share updates on your progress or tournament results.
3. Show genuine enthusiasm for their program.
4. Small efforts like these can go a long way in building rapport.
5. Excel as a Student-Athlete
Coaches value recruits who succeed both on and off the court. High academic performance paired with athletic success makes for a standout candidate.
1. Maintain a strong GPA and take challenging courses to show you’re serious about academics.
2. Balance your commitments effectively to prove you can handle the demands of being a collegiate athlete.
3. The combination of athletic and academic excellence positions you as the total package.
Final Thoughts
Becoming a stand-out tennis recruit isn’t just about your UTR or rankings. It’s about developing your skills, contributing value to a team, showcasing strong character, and excelling academically. By focusing on these areas, you can differentiate yourself and create a lasting impression on college coaches.
Remember, success lies not in chasing rankings but in becoming a player and person that every coach would be proud to have on their team.
Jarmere Jenkins | Crimson Tennis Lead
Launch Your College Journey Today
Dan
UC Berkeley • Rugby
"We had eight schools come back to us overnight after my player profile was sent out to coaches - and that was places I never would have dreamed of, like Harvard, Columbia, Brown, Dartmouth and obviously Berkeley."
