The Athlete Blog

Tennis recruiting, college profiles,
and the mental game.

Practical guides for athletes and families navigating the college recruiting process.

Featured article
01
Case Study Tennis Recruiting
21 Colleges in Days: How a $97 Profile Changed Everything for Ava Cortez
She shared it once on Facebook. Twenty-one colleges and universities expressed interest in speaking with her. Here's exactly what we built — and why it worked.
1580 Creative · 5 min read
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The Mental Game Series 4 Parts
Mental Health · Part 1 New
When the #1 Player in the World Says She Wants to Quit Tennis
Aryna Sabalenka was leading 6-3, 4-1, 30-0 when she fell into what she called "a very deep, dark hole." What happened to her happens to junior players at every level — and nobody talks about it enough.
1580 Creative · 7 min read
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The Mental Game · Part 2 — For Players New
Inside the Dark Hole: What's Actually Happening in Your Brain When You Lose Control on the Court
You were up. You were playing well. Then one missed shot opened a door you couldn't close. Here's what's actually happening in your brain — and what you can do about it in real time.
1580 Creative · 8 min read
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The Mental Game · Part 3 — For Coaches New
What You're Missing When You Focus on the Score
You have ninety seconds at the changeover. What you say — and what you don't — can either interrupt a spiral or accelerate it. Here's what the research says.
1580 Creative · 9 min read
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The Mental Game · Part 4 — For Parents New
The Most Important Thing You Say to Your Child After a Loss Has Nothing to Do with Tennis
The car ride home is twenty minutes. What happens in those twenty minutes shapes your athlete's relationship with this sport more than any match they'll ever play.
1580 Creative · 8 min read
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Tennis Recruiting
Tennis Recruiting · Coach Outreach New
How to Email a College Tennis Coach — With a Real Template
Most recruiting emails get ignored. Here's exactly what college tennis coaches want to see in a first email — plus a real template you can use today.
1580 Creative · 7 min read
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Athletes & Recruiting · College Tennis
The Courts Are Going Quiet. Don't Let Your Athlete.
College tennis programs are disappearing at an alarming rate — collateral damage in a billion-dollar settlement reshaping college sports. Here's what every family needs to know right now.
1580 Creative · 5 min read
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Recruiting Profiles · Honest Comparison
NCSA vs BeRecruited vs a Custom Profile — Which One Actually Gets Your Athlete Recruited?
You can spend $0, $150, or $3,000 on recruiting platforms. Here's an honest breakdown of what each one actually does — and what none of them tell you before you pay.
1580 Creative · 8 min read
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Tennis Recruiting · Parents Guide
What Is a UTR Score — and Why Do College Coaches Care So Much?
Every tennis parent hears about UTR. Most nod along without fully understanding what it means, how it's calculated, or why a 0.5 difference can determine whether a coach picks up the phone.
1580 Creative · 7 min read
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Tennis Recruiting · College Coaches
What College Coaches Actually Look for in a Tennis Recruiting Profile
UTR numbers matter. But they're not what makes a coach pick up the phone. Here's what actually drives recruiting decisions — and how to make sure your athlete's profile addresses it.
1580 Creative · 8 min read
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Recruiting Profiles
The Difference Between a Database Listing and a Real Recruiting Profile
Recruiting platforms put your athlete in front of coaches. A 1580 Creative profile tells coaches who your athlete actually is. Here's why that difference matters when a coach has 30 seconds to decide.
1580 Creative · 5 min read
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College Tennis
How to Contact College Tennis Coaches the Right Way
Email timing, what to include, follow-up cadence — and how having a real profile link changes every conversation you have with a coach.
1580 Creative · 6 min read
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Athlete Recruiting
Your Athlete's UTR Score Is Not Their Story — Here's What Is
A 4.5 UTR and a 9.0 UTR both get ignored if there's no human being behind the number. Here's what actually connects with coaches at every division level.
1580 Creative · 5 min read
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