Steve Coxon College Soccer Network
Steve Coxon > CT Soccer Hall of Fame | 18-Year D1 Head Recruiter | $30M+ in Scholarships Facilitated
June 15th - First Call Framework & Top 5 Coach Questions
First Coach Call: The Game Plan
Goal: Stop acting like a nervous fan trying to impress a coach. Start acting like a future teammate. Coaches don't want a robotic, rehearsed script. They want to see if you have the maturity to play for them.
Section 1: Three Things To Do Before the Call
Coaches know within two minutes if you’ve done your homework or if you’re just winging it.
Check the Roster: Look at the team’s current roster before you pick up the phone. Know who plays your position, what year they are in, and who is graduating. Don't walk into a call blind to what the team actually needs.
Know Their Record: Look up how they did last season. Who is their biggest rival? Did they win their conference or have a tough year? Referencing a real game or a recent milestone shows you actually pay attention.
Lock In Your Space: Go to a quiet room. Sit at a desk or a table with a notebook and a pen. No background noise. You do 100% of the talking. Parents need to sit back, stay quiet, and just listen.
Section 2: How the Call Flows
A first call usually lasts 10 to 15 minutes. It follows a simple pattern. Know the pacing so you don't get flustered.
Phase Time Goal How to Execute
The Opening 1–2 Min
Say hello and State your name, high school, and club team clearly.
2. The Coach's Turn
5–7 Min Answer their questions like a ballplayer.
Listen. Don't interrupt. Give short, direct answers. Talk like a teammate who wants to win, not a fan who likes the uniform.
3. Your Turn
3–4 Min
Ask your own smart questions.Flip the script. Ask questions that show you care about how they run their program and how they develop players.
4. The Finish
1–2 Min
Get a clear next step.Don't just say goodbye. Find out exactly when you'll talk next and what they need to see from you. Thank them for their time. (VERY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE NEXT STEPS!)
Section 3: Top 5 Coach Questions & How to Handle Them
Coaches ask the same basic questions to see what kind of kid you are. Here are the traps rookies fall into and how to answer like a vet.
Question 1: "Why are you interested in our school?"
The Rookie Mistake: "You have a beautiful campus," "I like the weather," or "My friend goes there." This tells the coach you didn't do any research.
The Right Answer: Connect their style of play or their program's reputation to your own game. Mention a specific academic major they offer that you want to pursue.
Question 2: "What are your biggest strengths and weaknesses?"
The Rookie Mistake: "I don't really have a weakness," or giving a fake one like "I just care too much about winning." Coaches hate a lack of self-awareness. It means you aren't coachable.
The Right Answer: Name a specific strength (like your communication on defense or your work ethic in transition). For your weakness, name something technical you are actively working on with your current coach right now.
Question 3: "Who else are you talking to?"
The Rookie Mistake: Lying about a bunch of top-tier schools to sound important, or getting defensive and refusing to say. Both destroy your credibility immediately.
The Right Answer: Be honest but general. You don't have to give a list of school names, but tell them the conferences, regions, or levels you are currently in contact with.
Question 4: "How do you handle tough coaching or criticism?"
The Rookie Mistake: "I love tough coaching!" with nothing to back it up. It sounds fake.
The Right Answer: Give a quick example of a time a coach got on you for a mistake, how you took the feedback without pouting, and how you fixed the problem on the very next play.
Question 5: "What are your grades looking like?"
The Rookie Mistake: "Uh, I think it's around a 3.something," or acting like school doesn't matter. If you are an academic risk, coaches will drop you immediately.
The Right Answer: Know your exact GPA. Tell them your intended major. Show them you handle your business in the classroom the same way you do on the field.
Section 4: Questions You Need to Ask the Coach
When the coach asks, "Do you have any questions for me?" do not say no. Pick two of these and ask them confidently:
"What is one benchmark you want your incoming freshmen to have mastered before they hit campus in August?"
"How would you describe the culture of your locker room after a tough loss on the road?"
"Based on the film you’ve seen of me, what is the #1 thing you want to see me improve over the next 60 days?"
Section 5: The Follow-Up Text
The call isn't over when you hang up. Within two hours, send a short text or email to lock in the connection.
"Coach [Last Name], thanks for taking the time to talk today. I really liked what you said about the team culture and what you expect from freshmen. I’m working on [insert the weakness/feedback you discussed] in my training sessions this week. I'll keep you updated on my summer tournament schedule. Good luck with the rest of your summer workouts."
XG Sports Northeast Girls Summer College Showcase
Get ready to elevate your game at the XG Sports Northeast Girls Summer College Showcase, taking place this July 8–9 at the premier facilities of Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, CT!
This elite, two-day camp offers female players an unparalleled recruiting and development experience, featuring technical training, separate goalkeeper sessions, small-sided games, and full 11v11 matches.
Attendees will receive full kits, daily lunch, and video recordings of all matches for post-event review. Most importantly, players will work directly with an incredible lineup of college coaches, including top-tier programs like UC Berkeley, Northwestern, Columbia, and UPenn.
While the general early bird window has passed, subscribers to this newsletter can still score an exclusive $100 discount by using the coupon code SCN100 at checkout.
The 30-Day Scholarship Ready Plan
So much of the anxiety in this process comes from feeling like you are guessing. When you have a clear map, the "complexity" of the landscape suddenly becomes manageable, and the stress drops significantly.
I built the 30-Day Scholarship Ready Plan to take the guesswork out of your hands. We strip the emotion out of the process and replace it with a repeatable framework.
The Silence Protocol: What to actually say when a coach ignores your first two emails.
The Video Audit: How to build a reel that gives them confidence to hit 'send'.
The Blueprint: A step-by-step guide to take back control of the summer.
Head straight to the Classroom inside our Skool community and start the 30-Day Plan today. Stop guessing. Let's get to work!
The Blueprint in Action
This isn't theory. Take a look at Michaela—her family joined our program late in her recruiting journey, executed the strategy, and she just officially committed to Merrimack (DI).
Here is what Michaela’s s mom had to say about the process:
“We joined Steve’s program late in our daughter’s recruiting journey and only wish we had found it sooner. His ID clinic listings, coach communication templates, recruiting tips, and highlight video guidance were invaluable and easy to use. Steve was always available to share his expertise, and his resources and support gave us confidence that we were on the right track.”
Linda Poidomani
Michaela didn't just "show up" and get an offer. Her family used the platform, stayed consistent with outreach, and used the exact templates we provide. We take the noise out of the equation so your athlete can focus on performing.
Steve Coxon: The Hall of Fame Standard
Steve Coxon doesn't just understand recruiting; he lived it at the highest level for 18 years as a Division 1 Head Recruiter. With over 20 years of collegiate experience and a seat in the CT Soccer Hall of Fame.
As the Co-Founder of CFC (ECNL) and the Soccer Network, he has bridged the gap between club talent and college commitments, facilitating more than $30 million in scholarships for student-athletes. He isn't a "recruiting service"—he is the veteran insider providing the map to the finish line.
