A Sendcoach user recently asked a great question about how sophomores should respond to ID camp invitations. As we know, D1 coaches can’t discuss university-specific recruitment with sophomores, but they can invite them to ID clinics, so there might be some coded messages in these invites.
For any player, receiving an ID camp invitation is a positive sign—though it may also be part of their strategy to fill camp slots with players. It's still an invitation, and you should acknowledge it in a few ways:
We’ve created a response template for Sendcoach users (Templates > Example Templates) that you can duplicate and personalize. For those who may not have access, here’s the suggested template you can copy and paste
-----------
Subject: Thanks for the invite
Body:
Hi Coach [coach last name],
Thank you for your ID camp invitation. I'm interested in [school name] and would like to attend. Let me talk with my parents and get back to you.
I hope to see you at [upcoming tournament details].
Thanks,
[student first name]
------------
Feel free to change any of the above around.
Get recruiting tips and advice delivered right to your inbox.
Parents should support their student-athlete’s recruitment journey by providing guidance and tools like Sendcoach, but the outreach must come directly from the athlete.
Break down communication into small, consistent updates to build trust and ensure your key message resonates over time.
When you’re reaching out to coaches, it’s easy to get caught up in “happy ears”—assuming a positive response means you’re close to an offer.