Getting a call from a college coach: That’s the goal for most college athletes, especially those of you who are finishing up your Junior year and looking at getting the attention of a college coach before time (and opportunities) run out.

I’m going to tell you how to start getting phone calls from college coaches in the coming months. Pick a few of these and try them (I strongly suggest the #1 way) and get aggressive in your efforts to attract the attention of as many college coaches as possible:

#10 Fill Out a School’s Online Recruiting Form. For many coaches, that is the way the recruiting process starts, along with getting information sent to them directly by Top Prospects (recruit your Self). Many times, coaches who get an athlete that submits a form online through the program’s website will call the athlete immediately, or at least send them information about the program.

#9 Return a Recruiting Questionnaire. You know those recruiting questionnaires that often come along with a letter from a coach? It’s critical that you fill it out and send it back. Most coaches will not contact you if you don’t take that first step and return the questionnaire.

#8 Go to a Summer Camp. Most college coaches hold summer training camps for prospective athletes. Try to get to a couple of camps this summer (or at least one) and make a point of expressing your interest in going to the school with one of the coaches that works with you there. Camps, which give you a personal face-to-face meeting opportunity with a coach, are a great way to spark conversations with a coach.

#7 Be Interested. What should you do when a coach contacts you from a school you’ve never heard of before? Be interested. What should you do when you get something in the mail from a coach you’ve never talked to before? Be interested. Not replying to a coach is a great way never to play college sports. Remember, the time to say no to a college is at the end of the process, not at the beginning.

#6 Ask Your Coach to Tell You Who They Know. Your high school or club coach probably has names and contact numbers of college coaches that they’ve talked to before. Ask him or her for those contacts, and give them a call to inquire about possibilities. #5 E-mail a Coach. Tell them you are interested, and ask them what the best way to go about getting recruiting to their school is. E-mail, for many coaches, may be the best way to strike up a conversation with a college coach. At Top Prospects (Recruit your Self), we’ve developed really good back-and-forth e-mail communication with thousands of college coaches, so I know it works.

#4 Look for Out-of-State Programs. Sometimes, college coaches notice out of area athletes and reply to them right away. For many schools, getting out of state players is rare so the fact that you are expressing interest in their program might spark their interest.

#3 Keep a Coach Updated. Don’t just send one letter or e-mail. Don’t just place one phone call to their office. Keep in regular contact with coaches that you have an interest in. Give them an ongoing reason to keep in touch with you and keep abreast of your progress.

#2 Show Them What You’ve Got! Sending a highlight DVD, or posting your video online through Top Prospects (Recruit your Self), is something that can get a coach’s attention. Give them a look at you right away. Then, after you know they’ve had a chance to watch the video, send a follow-up e-mail and ask them if you would be a good fit for their program.

And the #1 way to get a call from a college coach is…

Register as a Top Prospects Student-Athlete. For athletes that want to be proactive, there’s simply no better way to do it. I actually do all of the things we just talked about on your behalf, saving you the time and potential mistakes in how you present yourself to college coaches. I founded the Top Prospects years ago because I saw athletes and parents needed help going through the process…help that I wish I had received when I was in your shoes.