What College Tennis Coaches Really Want to See in Recruits
The performance, mindset and preparation that puts your name on a college coach’s shortlist.
- UTR and rankings are first filters. NCAA DI men typically need UTR 11.5+, women 8.5+.
- Attitude gets checked. Coaches contact your coach for references on work ethic and team fit.
- Video brings your game to life. 3–4 minutes shot making video demonstrating all elements of your games as well as full match video from your highest level tournament
- Tournament history: Coaches will look for a detailed list of your tournament results were you can demonstrate strong performance even in losing matches and can demonstrate you are taking as many chances to play ITF tournaments as possible.
1. UTR & Rankings: The First Thing Coaches Look At
College coaches are flooded with prospects, so they rely on metrics to filter quickly. The most important?
UTR: Universal Tennis Rating
UTR is a global, algorithm-based rating from 1.00 to 16.50 that evaluates your match performance, not just wins and losses.
- Calculated based on who you play, scorelines, and consistency
- Updated daily; most college coaches filter by UTR before watching any video
- Works across age groups and countries - making it the go-to metric for recruitment
Target UTRs by College Level:
|
Level |
Typical UTR (Men) |
Typical UTR (Women) |
Other Indicators |
|
Top 20 NCAA DI |
11.5 – 13+ |
8.5 – 11+ |
ITF Jr < 150 or WTN ≤ 10 |
|
Mid-major DI / top DII |
11.0 – 12.4 |
8 – 10.4 |
TRN 4-Star+, ITF < 300 |
|
DII / strong DIII / NAIA |
10 – 11.4 |
7.5 – 8.9 |
National U18 top-300 |
Tip: UTR isn’t just about the number today - coaches want to see your trajectory.
Rising from 9.5 to 10.5 in six months says more than being stuck at 11.2 for a year.
2. The Intangibles: Coachability, Grit and Team Fit
Tennis might be an individual sport - but college tennis is a team environment. Coaches want players who elevate the group.
They’ll often contact your current coach or academy to ask about:
- Your work ethic in training
- Body language under pressure
- How you handle setbacks
- Whether you’re a positive influence in team settings
Prep your reference: Make sure your current coach or mentor knows your goals and can speak confidently when a college coach calls.
3. Video: Your 3-Minute Highlight Reel
A clear, concise recruiting video lets coaches assess your movement, technique and match play. Keep it short and punchy.
|
Segment |
What to Show |
Time Guide |
|
00:00–00:30 |
Best rally + serve + first-ball combo |
Lead with impact |
|
00:30–02:00 |
Groundstroke consistency, volleys, overheads, returns |
Film from baseline with full court visible |
|
02:00–03:30 |
Two match-play points vs. competitive opponents |
Show decision-making and composure under pressure |
Include your name, grad year, UTR, and latest fitness scores at the start of the video. Upload it to YouTube and your FirstPoint USA profile.
Title it:
“[Your Name] College Tennis Recruiting Video | Class of 20XX”
4. Tournament history
College coaches don’t just scan for titles—they study your tournament history to understand your level, consistency, and competitive mindset.
They want to see:
Progression over time – Are your results improving? Are you learning from early exits and coming back stronger?
Match toughness – Close losses against higher-ranked players can impress just as much as easy wins. Coaches want to see you fight.
A willingness to test yourself – Players who consistently enter ITF, UTR, national, and regional events show ambition and resilience, even if it means taking some tough losses.
Action Step: Keep a spreadsheet or online record of your tournament performances, highlighting:
· Opponent UTR/ITF ranking
· Match score
· Surface
· What you learned or improved
5. Putting It All Together
If you’re serious about playing college tennis, aim to have:
- A competitive UTR with visible upward momentum
- Strong references who will back your attitude
- A short sharp video that shows your best self
- Play as many ITF tournaments as possible
These aren’t just tick-boxes - they’re the foundation for your recruiting strategy.
Ready to Get Recruited?
At FirstPoint USA, we help players like you connect with college coaches across the U.S. Our recruitment experts will:
- Evaluate your current UTR and fit for U.S. schools
- Build a tailored list of target universities
- Promote you to the right coaches at the right time
Register your interest today and let’s build your pathway to U.S. college tennis.
