Does a Club’s Reputation Affect a College Coach’s Perception?
How Much Your Club Really Matters in Volleyball Recruiting
Featuring insights from Cori Murphy, Allison Roberts, and Susan Forbes
A common question in volleyball recruiting is whether the club you play for can help or hurt your chances with college coaches. Many athletes assume that playing for a well-known club is a major advantage, but the reality is more nuanced.
Q: Does club reputation matter to college coaches?
Cori Murphy:
“I think it can factor in, but mostly through relationships,” Cori says. “Coaches are going to find the good players no matter where they are.”
She points to what she has seen at major tournaments, where top college programs often evaluate athletes from smaller or lesser-known clubs.
“I saw multiple Power Four programs recruiting at a very small club last year,” she explains. “If there is a player they want to see, they will find them.”
For Cori, club reputation may influence initial awareness, but it is not what ultimately drives recruiting decisions.
“It might help get your foot in the door,” she says, “but it is not what determines whether a coach recruits you.”
Q: Should athletes choose clubs based on reputation?
Allison Roberts:
Allison agrees that the club name alone should not drive decisions.
“If we are talking about choosing a club, you need to think about coaching, development, and exposure opportunities,” she says. “Not just the name on the jersey.”
She also notes that support can vary widely within the same club system.
“Just because a club has a recruiting coordinator does not mean every athlete is getting the same level of attention,” she explains. “Athletes on second or third teams often get overlooked if the system is not structured well.”
Her advice is to focus less on prestige and more on opportunity.
“What matters is whether you are getting good coaching and whether coaches can actually see you play at meaningful events,” she says.
Even athletes from smaller clubs can get recruited at the highest level if they are proactive.
“If you are communicating, sending video, and doing the work, coaches will come watch you regardless of club name,” she says.
Q: How much does club influence communication with college coaches?
Susan Forbes:
Susan emphasizes that volleyball recruiting is fundamentally athlete driven.
“This process is very proactive on the athlete side,” she says. “Coaches expect players to reach out and take ownership of their recruiting.”
While club directors and coaches can support the process, she says they are not the ones driving it.
“I can tell a college coach all day why a player is a good fit,” she explains. “But ultimately, they want to hear directly from the athlete.”
That direct connection is what builds trust.
“Coaches want to know who you are, not just what someone else says about you,” she says. “They are trying to build their own relationship with you.”
Because of that, she encourages athletes to take responsibility for communication and follow through.
“Be responsive. Be proactive. And make sure you are showing coaches who you are as a person and a player,” she says.
The Bottom Line
Club reputation can help create exposure in some cases, but it is not what determines recruiting outcomes.
Coaches prioritize athletes they can evaluate directly, communicate with consistently, and trust based on their own observations.
Or as Cori summarizes:
“If a coach wants to find you, they will find you. The club you play for is not the deciding factor.”
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