New Feature: Practice Calls
For a high school athlete with a college dream, a phone call from a college coach is a thrilling, heart-stopping moment. It’s a validation of years of hard work, a sign that all the early mornings and late nights have paid off. But it can also be one of the most nerve-wracking experiences of the recruiting process. Even with a well-researched list of questions and talking points, the pressure to make a great first impression can cause your mind to go blank. You get one shot to sound confident, prepared, and ready to compete at the next level. So, how do you practice for an audition that only happens once?
Introducing Practice Calls, a new feature from RecruitReach designed to help you prepare for phone calls with college coaches using AI to simulate realistic conversations. We've taken the stress out of the most important conversation of your life by giving you a chance to have a full, unscripted dress rehearsal.
How It Works: Your AI Coach on Demand
The premise behind Practice Calls is simple: realistic repetition. With this new feature, you can select an AI to act as a specific coach from a specific school you’re interested in. The AI will then initiate a mock phone call that lasts between 3 to 10 minutes, mirroring the duration of a real introductory recruiting call. The scenario is designed to be as authentic as possible: the coach is calling you after you've had some brief email exchanges.
Once the call begins, you will be talking to the AI in a free-flowing, natural conversation. The AI is programmed to act like a real college coach, asking common questions you're likely to hear in a real introductory call. You'll be given the space to answer, ask your own questions, and show your personality. The goal is to get you comfortable with the conversational format and help you build your confidence without the pressure of a high-stakes recruiting call.
RecruitReach’s Practice Call Feature
What to Expect: Real Questions, Real Prep
The questions the AI coach asks has been designed based on real conversations that coaches have with recruits. We’ve worked with real college coaches and recruiting advisors to get feedback on the AI. The AI is trained to feel out your interests and get a sense of who you are, both as a person and as an athlete. You should be prepared for questions like:
About Your Performance: "Tell me about your season this year. What do you think you did well, and what are you working on?"
About Your Academics: "What classes are you taking, and what are you thinking of majoring in?" "How do you handle your school work during the season?"
About Your Interests: "What are you looking for in a college? Why are you interested in our school in particular?"
About Your Character: "Tell me about your role on your team. How would your teammates describe you?"
This is your chance to practice your answers out loud, refine your talking points, and learn how to speak confidently about your skills and goals. A good athlete practices on the field, but a smart recruiter practices for the conversation that gets them to the field.
The Secret Weapon: Immediate, Actionable Feedback
The most valuable part of the Practice Calls feature comes after the mock conversation is over. The AI provides an immediate and detailed breakdown of how you did. It will give you feedback on:
Clarity and Confidence: Did you sound confident and clear, or did you hesitate and use filler words?
The Quality of Your Answers: Did you provide specific, thoughtful answers, or were your responses generic?
Areas for Improvement: The AI will highlight areas where you could provide more detail or better articulate your interests, helping you refine your talking points for the real call.
Strengths to Lean On: The feedback also points out what you did well, helping you understand and build on your strengths.
This feedback loop is what makes Practice Calls so powerful. You're not just practicing; you're getting a personalized critique that helps you get better with every single call. It's like a coach giving you instant feedback after every drill—it’s how you truly improve.
Why This Matters: The Confidence to Close the Deal
For many athletes, the difference between getting an offer and being overlooked isn't just a matter of talent; it's a matter of preparation and confidence. A coach can tell when an athlete is prepared. They sound poised, professional, and knowledgeable. A prepared athlete knows what they want, and they have the confidence to express it clearly.
Practice Calls helps you achieve that level of confidence. By going through the conversation multiple times, you'll be able to work through your nerves, refine your answers, and learn how to be a great conversationalist. When you finally get that call from a college coach, you’ll be ready. You won’t be fumbling for words or struggling to articulate why you're a great fit. You'll sound like the mature, focused, and professional student-athlete that coaches are looking for.
This feature is the ultimate tool for turning a dream into a reality. Don’t just hope for a phone call from a coach—prepare for it.
