Your Overseas Coach Call: A 15-Minute Prep Checklist

A call with a coach in the UK or Australia is a chance to find out how the team fits your plans for grad school. Spend 15 minutes getting your details and questions in one place so you can focus on the conversation.

Before the call

• Check the time zone. Put the call in your calendar in your local time and test the meeting link.
• Have your details handy. Keep your graduation date, intended master's subject, recent stats or results, and a link to your game film or performance footage in front of you.
• Look up the team. Check its recent results, roster and Instagram. Look for match clips or training posts, then turn one thing you noticed into a question: “I saw your squad trains in the mornings. Is that the usual schedule during the season?”
• Practise a 30-second introduction. Try: “I'm a senior at [college], I compete in [position or event], and I graduate in [month]. I'm interested in studying [subject] and continuing to compete.”

Questions to ask the coach

Pick the three or four that matter most to you:

• Role: “Where could I fit in your squad, and how do you decide who competes?”
• Schedule: “What does a typical week look like, including training, competition and travel?”
• Course fit: “How have other master's students managed training around classes, labs or placements?”
• Costs and support: “Is there scholarship support I could apply for, and what costs would I still cover myself?”
• Next step: “What would you like me to send, and when should I follow up?”

After the call

• Write down what was confirmed. Keep any potential roster spot, scholarship or admission decision marked as pending until the university confirms it.
• Send a short thank-you email. Include anything you promised to share and confirm the next step. If you're working with Athlete Futures Abroad, send your advisor a quick recap so they can help you compare your options.