Interpreting “Coachspeak” as a Recruit: Are You a Buyer or a Seller?

[Unregistered]

http://www.tier1athletics.org/2012/1...r-or-a-seller/

"Are You the Buyer or the Seller?

One very good way to get a read on the tone of the interaction with a coach is to ask yourself, “Do I feel like the buyer or the seller in this relationship?”

The “buyer” in the relationship is the one who is evaluating choices. In the conventional sense of the word, the buyer is the one with the money and needs to be convinced that the seller is offering something worthwhile. In the Coach / Recruit relationship – the coach is trying to sell his product (the school and team) to the top recruits, while the lower level recruits are doing their best to sell their talents to the coach.

For example, are you the one making more of the calls and waiting for your messages and emails to be returned? If so, that sounds like you’re the seller.

Is the coach calling you regularly just to check in and let you know interesting or exciting things that are happening on the team? In that case, you’re the buyer – he’s the seller.

If he tells you that he thinks you could be an impact player right away instead of spending 2 years on the bench like you might at School X, he’s selling. But if he tells you that your times or academics are good, but he’d really like to see them at _____, he sees you as the seller, and your product needs to be a little better.

I think the buyer/seller analogy is a good way to help you interpret the strength of the coach’s commitment to you. But don’t make the mistake of thinking that acting like a buyer will give you an advantage. No, no, no. Acting like one who has a lot of choices to evaluate and really needs to be shown exactly why this school is better than the competition is a great way to be put on he “do not call” list as a potential attitude problem.

Be respectful, be polite and be professional as you go through the process. But when you’re trying to determine where you’re really wanted, ask yourself: Do you feel like a buyer or a seller?"

Basically it comes down to knowing how good you are relative to the talent level of the program.

[Unregistered]

Interpreting Coachspeak as a recruit: are you a buyer or a seller?

http://www.tier1athletics.org/2012/1...r-or-a-seller/

"Are You the Buyer or the Seller?

One very good way to get a read on the tone of the interaction with a coach is to ask yourself, “Do I feel like the buyer or the seller in this relationship?”

The “buyer” in the relationship is the one who is evaluating choices. In the conventional sense of the word, the buyer is the one with the money and needs to be convinced that the seller is offering something worthwhile. In the Coach / Recruit relationship – the coach is trying to sell his product (the school and team) to the top recruits, while the lower level recruits are doing their best to sell their talents to the coach.

For example, are you the one making more of the calls and waiting for your messages and emails to be returned? If so, that sounds like you’re the seller.

Is the coach calling you regularly just to check in and let you know interesting or exciting things that are happening on the team? In that case, you’re the buyer – he’s the seller.

If he tells you that he thinks you could be an impact player right away instead of spending 2 years on the bench like you might at School X, he’s selling. But if he tells you that your times or academics are good, but he’d really like to see them at _____, he sees you as the seller, and your product needs to be a little better.

I think the buyer/seller analogy is a good way to help you interpret the strength of the coach’s commitment to you. But don’t make the mistake of thinking that acting like a buyer will give you an advantage. No, no, no. Acting like one who has a lot of choices to evaluate and really needs to be shown exactly why this school is better than the competition is a great way to be put on he “do not call” list as a potential attitude problem.

Be respectful, be polite and be professional as you go through the process. But when you’re trying to determine where you’re really wanted, ask yourself: Do you feel like a buyer or a seller?"

Basically it comes down to knowing how good you are relative to the talent level of the program.

This is one of the most insightful and brilliant posts I have seen. As someone who is in sales, I totally understand your seller/buyer analogy. College soccer coaches, as all of you know, have a limited number of scholarships and, as would be expected, dish out as little as they can for the biggest return.

Appreciate the edification, far removed from the whining and sniveling from crybaby-soup-eating trolls.

[Unregistered]

This is one of the most insightful and brilliant posts I have seen.

Appreciate the edification, far removed from the whining and sniveling from crybaby-soup-eating trolls.

Except that it wasn't a post. It was a cut and paste from an article.

As for edification, in what way are you feeling edified?

[Unregistered]

Except that it wasn't a post. It was a cut and paste from an article.

As for edification, in what way are you feeling edified?

PMS? Crampy?

[Unregistered]

Except that it wasn't a post. It was a cut and paste from an article.

As for edification, in what way are you feeling edified?

Jeez. Enough already. Guess you are just one of those trolls that can't stand good honest discussion. TS must have to be fraught with discontent in order for you to be satisfied.

[Unregistered]

Jeez. Enough already. Guess you are just one of those trolls that can't stand good honest discussion. TS must have to be fraught with discontent in order for you to be satisfied.

Where was the good honest discussion? Missed that part. And the poster who declared the post (article) the best of all time also seemed to think some point was proven in referencing the "crybaby-soup-eating trolls." Just asking what the poster thinks was proven. Now that might lead to an actual discussion.

[Unregistered]

Where was the good honest discussion? Missed that part. And the poster who declared the post (article) the best of all time also seemed to think some point was proven in referencing the "crybaby-soup-eating trolls." Just asking what the poster thinks was proven. Now that might lead to an actual discussion.

Their post was an honest reaction to the material. They agreed with it, why is that such a problem for you? What sort of narrative could you add to that first post that would say it was incorrect?

[Unregistered]

Their post was an honest reaction to the material. They agreed with it, why is that such a problem for you? What sort of narrative could you add to that first post that would say it was incorrect?

There wasn't anything controversial in the material. So there was no "gotcha" angle to exploit. And so the gratuitous dig was incomprehensible.

[Unregistered]

I'm guessing the brasher is also a seller. People don't want to hear, from any source, that their child might not be as desirable as other players.

The buyer seller analogy is a concrete way to keep perspective in an emotion filled process.

[Unregistered]

No, it is one of the big "themes" on this board. Ultimately it seems that most people put themselves into the "seller" position by overshooting their customer. That is precisely why we are constantly talking about soccer programs like UNC and academic instructions like Williams, the expectations are set so high around here that it almost seems like every club player has a Mensa level IQ and is destined to play for the national team.

[Unregistered]

No, it is one of the big "themes" on this board. Ultimately it seems that most people put themselves into the "seller" position by overshooting their customer. That is precisely why we are constantly talking about soccer programs like UNC and academic instructions like Williams, the expectations are set so high around here that it almost seems like every club player has a Mensa level IQ and is destined to play for the national team.

This column speaks to exactly what you posted.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michel...b_5896976.html

[Unregistered]

No, it is one of the big "themes" on this board. Ultimately it seems that most people put themselves into the "seller" position by overshooting their customer. That is precisely why we are constantly talking about soccer programs like UNC and academic instructions like Williams, the expectations are set so high around here that it almost seems like every club player has a Mensa level IQ and is destined to play for the national team.

Knew you would break down and confirm your agenda. You sure do live by the Jimmy Valvano creed, BTDT, "Never, never give up."

[Unregistered]

This column speaks to exactly what you posted.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michel...b_5896976.html

And you are the absolute worst offender of what the column is talking about, by far, which is the great irony of your mission here.

[Unregistered]

And you are the absolute worst offender of what the column is talking about, by far, which is the great irony of your mission here.

You got the wrong guy. Keep trying Perspective. Even a blind squirrel as the saying goes.

[Unregistered]

The article misses the boat because there is actually a middle ground between being the overly obsessed parent this school administrator is talking about and the hands off parent that they are pinning for. Honestly, what school administrator doesn't wish parents were more mellow? If you are in the profession you know that is all they tend to talk about so you do have to take some of this person's advice as rather self serving. I personally think where people like this author lead everyone astray is when they start attacking process as though it is the foundation of the problem. Process is not the problem, unrealistic expectations are and people like this author (an administrator of a private, presumably elite, school) are just as guilty as anyone in creating those expectations. They actually make their living building them so to turn around and then criticize how other people go about meeting those expectations is rather hypocritical if you ask me.