10 QUESTIONS TO EXPECT FROM A COLLEGE COACH

The initial phone conversation is a big step in developing a recruiting relationship.  Unfortunately, many prospects have no idea what to expect from that phone call. Here is some information to shed some light on how prospects in ALL sports can prepare for a phone call from a college coach…Before we get into what a recruit can expect from a phone call from a college coach, here are a few important ideas to keep in mind:

- The first day a college coach can call a prospect is not always the first time they have spoken on the phone.

• Prospects are able to call college coaches at any time. The prospects that are farther along in the process might have already made phone calls to college coaches and spoken with them prior to the initial period which makes it permissible for a college coach to call the prospect. In cases like this, the phone call might go a little differently than for the prospects who are speaking with a coach for the first time.

- By the time the first day a college coach can call a prospect rolls around, many student-athletes already have offers!

• This is very important to realize. DI college coaches in just about every sport have already begun to offer scholarships to 2016 (junior) graduates…and some might even be finished recruiting the class of 2016 completely. This has all taken place and coaches haven’t even been able to call them yet in some sports! This should be a strong indicator of how early college recruiting takes place and why freshmen and sophomore year are so important in the process.

- Know the dates for your sport!

• The first thing every recruit should do is to learn when a college coach is able to call them for the first time. Find out that date for your sport. If you are unsure when this date occurs, be sure to download the “Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete” Here.

Now that we have that out of the way, let’s talk about some of the most common questions prospects can prepare for when speaking with a college coach.  Obviously every staff will ask different questions, but many will have an actual script of questions and topics to assist the coaches in their phone call…It might be a good idea to have a script of your own, or at least some answers prepared in advance.  Here a few of those questions as well as some advice for answering them:

Q:  How are you doing in school?  What is your GPA, test scores, etc?

Advice: Make sure you are always aware of your current academic standing.  Always know your GPA (both core and cumulative), class rank, and test scores.  Even if your GPA or test scores are lower than you would like, be honest with the coach and let them exactly what you are doing to improve.  Tell them you are receiving extra tutoring or taking a SAT / ACT prep class to raise your scores.  The worst thing a student-athlete can do is simply not know their academic information.  If you don’t know your GPA, what do you think a college coach will assume? (Hint…they are not going to assume you are earning straight A’s)

Q:  What are your strengths as a player?

Advice: Do not be modest here!  This is your chance to shine and tell the coach what you do best.  Be informative and honest.  You have been working your whole life to develop these strengths…be proud of them and communicate their value with answers that consist of more than one word.

Q:  What areas of your game are you working to improve?

Advice: While this can be a tricky one, it is important to be honest.  Do not spend too much time discussing your weaknesses, but rather let the coach know how your off season workout is going to address those areas and how you are going to turn them into strengths.

Q:  What are your goals for the upcoming season?

Advice: This is something every student-athlete should think about.  We encourage student-athletes to set measurable goals and write them down to hold themselves more accountable.  Make sure to mention both team and individual goals.

Q:  Do you think you are capable of playing at our level?

Advice: Always Yes!  Explain why you think you can compete at their level or what you are doing to ensure you would be an asset to a team at any level of play.

Q:  What improvements have you made over the past couple of years?

Advice: Focus on things you have done to improve your game over the years.  Do not be afraid to tell the coach how much better you are now than a year or two ago!

Q:  What type of scholarships are you looking for?

Advice: This is your chance to bring up financial issues if they will be a determining factor in your decision making.  Be open to options and always ask about other types of aid besides athletic scholarships.  Never directly ask for a scholarship, but rather let the coach know what sort of impact that need will have on your decision.

Q:  What are your interests or hobbies?  Do you have a  girlfriend, boyfriend, etc?

Advice: This is the coach’s attempt to get to you know you on a personal level.  Remember, in many cases, these coaches are many years older and they are doing their best to relate to the prospect.  Let the coach know more about you!  This will help you connect on a more casual level and also give the coach something to ask you about next time you speak.  Have some fun with this question!

Q:  Who is going to help you make your college decision?

Advice: Let the coach know who will be a part of the decision.  Will your high school coach play an integral role?  Will the decision be made by you and your parents?  Are your parents involved?  This information will greatly help the coach understand who needs to be included and involved.

***This is the million dollar question***

Q:  What other schools are recruiting you?

Advice: Let them know who else is interested…and be honest!  If the coach finds out that many other schools are recruiting you then you will immediately look like a better recruit.  Try to let them know about schools that are similar to the one you are talking to.  For example, if you are speaking with the coach at Yale and you have heard from four other Ivy League schools, make sure you go into detail about their interest.  No coach wants to lose a recruit to a rival school.

This is your chance to show off how wanted you are by other coaches with the hope that it motivates the coach you are speaking with at that time to take action.  If you have offers, let the coach know.  In order to create this type of leverage, you must have a number of options.  If you are concerned about the number of options you currently have, be sure to expand your search and let more coaches know about you.

Q:  What questions do you have for me?

Advice: Be sure to check back next week when we explain what sort of questions prospects should be asking when they have the opportunity to speak with college coaches.  This is your chance to find out valuable information…don’t pass it up!

ADVICE FOR CALLING COLLEGE COACHES

Before calling the coach, a student should visit the college’s website to learn some facts about the college and the team. Does the college offer the athlete’s major? What are the graduation rates? What was the team’s record last year? How many senior players are graduating? An athlete should know all this information going into the call. If a student calls to inquire into a program at a school that doesn’t offer their major, the athlete will be embarrassed and the coach might be irritated.

Parents should consider role-playing with the recruit before the  first phone call. For adults, the process seems easy: Pick up the phone and call the coach. But parents need to remember that their child is inexperienced and needs to practice calling authority figures. They should have their child record his or her practice calls. Play them back and help their child eliminate “ums” and “ahs.” A confident voice mail can pique a coach’s interest.

Contacting coaches one at a time is the next step for a student-athlete. Ideally, recruits will call those colleges that have sent questionnaires or have their name on their “recruiting list” since it will make the identification easier.  That being said, recruits should also be empowered to call the schools they are interested in attending, but have not heard from yet.

Coach’s Tip
After five or ten calls, a student-athlete will start to get into the rhythm and develop confidence and comfort leaving messages. Practice makes perfect!

To get acclimated to the process, an athlete should start by calling those colleges who rank at the bottom of their list of favorite colleges. Recruits will probably be nervous, stumble, and mutter when they talk to this coach. By talking to a coach at their least favorite college, they will gain confidence for when they call the coaches that are higher on their priority list. Recruits can also call during off-hours so they are able to leave messages, allowing a chance to warm up to the process.

A student-athlete should have a list of questions, as well as a script, to work from when calling the coaches.  Below is an example script that recruits can follow:

Sample Script
Student-athlete: Hi. My name is Jane Student. I’m a soccer player at Boulder High School in Boulder, Colorado. I received your questionnaire last week. Thanks for sending it. I sent it back a few days ago, and I’m really interested in your program. I’m wondering if you have a few minutes to answer some of my questions.

[Pause and wait for coach to affirm his ability to spend time answering questions.]

What GPA and ACT or SAT would I need to have a chance to attend your school and play for your program?

Have you had a chance to see me play? [If the student-athlete has not sent the coach a highlight or skills video, replace this question with: Would you like me to send you a link to my video?]

When would be a good time to visit your campus?

How many players are you recruiting from my position?
Thanks so much for your time. I just have two more questions:

What else would I need to do to have a chance to compete for your program and earn a scholarship?

What is the next step I should take with you?

Great! Do you have any questions for me?
[Pause to allow the coach to answer questions, which the student has prepared for in advance and will be covered in next week's newsletter]

I really appreciate your time, and I look forward to talking with you in the future.

The best way to improve your phone calls with college coaches is to establish familiarity prior to the call.  This can be done by contacting college coaches at an early age and making sure you are on their recruiting list.

Just because you’re a standout athlete doesn’t mean that college will be completely paid for with an athletic scholarship.

Just because you’re a standout athlete doesn’t mean that college will be completely paid for with an athletic scholarship. Very few college athletes earn a full ride, but there are other forms of financial aid available to help defer college costs, especially if you understand the FAFSA. Here are a few answers to a few questions about the importance of financial aid and how to get it.

Does an athletic scholarship ensure that all of my tuition and expenses are paid for?

Not necessarily. The stark reality is that full-ride athletic scholarships are extremely rare. According to the NCAA, only 2% of high school athletes are awarded athletics scholarships in college and very few of those are full scholarships. Big money Division I sports like football or basketball offer full rides, but smaller sports tend to spread scholarship money around between athletes.

How do I pay for college expenses if I’m only given a partial athletic scholarship?

If you don’t get a full athletic scholarship you’re still eligible for other financial aid. That’s why completing the Federal Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) is essential. Federal Student Aid distributes more than $150 billion of federal financial aid each year, and it’s available to you even if you’re an athlete.

When should I complete the FAFSA?

You can apply as early as January 1 of your senior year. Many forms of financial aid are given on a first come first served basis, so completing the FAFSA as soon as you can gives you the best chance of getting some sort of financial aid.

What types are financial aid are available?

Need-based aid includes grants, low-interest loans, and work-study jobs.Grants are financial gifts that don’t require repayment. Student loans let athletes borrow money for college expenses at low interest rates. Work-study lets students earn money towards college expenses through jobs on or off campus. (Note: The time that work-study requires may not be ideal for most student athletes.)

Non need-based aid includes merit-based awards, and other scholarships not associated with athletics.These types of financial aid can be awarded based on a strong academic record, excellent community service and school involvement, or other special qualifications.

Are there other resources besides FAFSA to consider for financial aid?

Absolutely. Ask your high school guidance counselor about awards and scholarships that your high school has that you may not know about. You should also get in touch the financial aid department at the college you plan to attend to ensure that you’re not missing out any scholarship opportunities.

Are there ways to earn scholarships at the Division III level?

There are no athletic scholarships in Division III, but that doesn’t mean that financial aid isn’t available. Many Division III schools have additional need-based and merit-based financial awards to help defer the cost of college.

How to make a great Skills Video

A well-made recruiting video is an essential tool for high school softball players trying to earn college softball scholarships. College coaches don’t have the time to see softball recruits in person. That’s why a good skills video is one of the most important parts of your online resume. It takes just a few minutes for a recruiting video to show softball coaches what a high school recruit has to offer. For your skills video to be effective, you need to know specifically what softball coaches are looking for. In terms of recruiting videos, every sport is different. For example, a softball skills video should show skills clips specific to your position, but doesn’t require any in-game footage.

If you follow these guidelines and create a standout recruiting video, you’re taking the first step toward earning a softball scholarship.

How to Film:

·         A tripod is highly recommended. 

·         Ideally station the camera 5 feet off the ground.

·         The camera view should not be obstructed (backstop or fence). 

·         Do not move the camera back and forth.  Get the angle from a wide view if necessary. 

·         Focus on the player being taped so that they are clear and in focus, but not too close! 

·         Skills footage only.  Do not send game footage

·         You only need to send footage of yourself playing your primary position. If you are not sure what position you will play in college and you film yourself playing multiple positions, cut all the numbers below in half.

·         Dress in spikes, pants or shorts, a tucked in shirt and helmet when hitting. (A uniform is preferred – NO cut-off shirts).

Position Specific Inclusions:

Hitting:

·         The pitcher should throw batting practice type fastballs OR use a pitching machine.

·         Footage should be filmed either outside on a diamond or in a cage.

·         With camera angle behind the catcher area film

·         30 swings

·         With camera angle 5 ft. directly to the right of the plate for right-handed hitters or left of the plate for left handed hitters.

·         15 swings 

Base Running:

·         Footage should be filmed either outside on a diamond or in a cage.

·         With Camera angle from 3B side of home plate (to show running form)

·         Take a swing and run through 1B.

·         Take a swing and run for home run. (Sliding into home is optional). 

Pitchers: 

·         Begin recording these pitches AFTER a complete warm-up.

·         RHP camera angle should be set up 3 ft. to the right and 5 ft. behind the mound to be able to see ball movement.  LHP should be to the left. 

·         We must be able to see the catcher catch the ball at all times.

·         With camera angle positioned 3 ft. directly behind catcher for half AND from the open side of the pitcher for half.

·         Log 20 varied pitches, with fastball at least 5 of them.

·         Go through each pitch: Rise, Drop, Curve, etc. (approx. 5-6 each pitch).

·         20 mix your pitches, with fastball being at least 5 of them. 

Infielders (SS & 2B)

·         Regardless if you are a SS or 2B, you will need to take your groundballs at SS in order to maximize range and arm strength.

·         With camera angle positioned 4 ft. to the left of the mound for half AND 4 ft. behind 1B for half.

·         8 Groundballs hit directly at you

·         8 Groundballs hit 8-10 feet to your left.

·         8 Ground balls hit 8-10 feet to your right.

·         6 Slow Choppers hit directly at you.

·         With camera angle positioned 2 ft. behind the mound for the first 4 shots AND  4 ft. behind 1B for last 2 shots

·         Double plays - 6 Feeds from the 2B coming across the bag and making the throw to 1B.

·         With camera angle positioned 2ft. behind the mound show fielding from SS position & throw to the 2B.

·         2 ground balls hit directly at you.

·         2 ground balls hit 4 ft. to your right.

·         2 ground balls hit 4 ft. to your left. 

Infielders (3B)

·         With camera angle positioned 4 ft. to the left of the mound for half AND 4 ft. behind 1B for half.

·         8 Groundballs hit directly at you.

·         8 Groundballs hit directly to your left.

·         6 Groundballs hit directly to your right/backhand.

·         6 Slow Choppers hit directly at you.

Catchers

·         With camera angle 10ft in front of the catcher

·         Framing Pitches (5 pitches on each corner).

·         With camera angle positioned 2 ft. to the left and 5 ft. in front of the mound.

·         Blocking Pitches (5 directly in front of you, 5 to your left, 5 to your right).

·         With camera angle positioned 3ft. behind the 2B for half AND 2 ft. behind the catcher for half.

·         Pop and Throws to 2B (8 throws).

·         With camera angle positioned 3ft. behind the 3B for 4 throws AND 2 ft. behind the catcher for 2 throws.

·         Pop and Throws to 3B (6 throws).

·         With camera angle positioned 3 ft. behind the plate for 2 throws AND 3 ft. to the right of the 1B for 2 throws.

·         Mock Bunts and Throws to 1B (4 balls up the 1B line, 4 balls up the 3B line). 

Outfielders

·         For all outfielders, regardless of whether you are a CF, RF, or LF, you will need to take your groundballs and fly balls in centerfield.

·         With camera angle positioned halfway between 2B and the mound.

·         4 ground balls hit directly at you and thrown to 2B.

·         4 fly balls hit directly at you and thrown to 2B.

·         4 ground balls hit to your left and thrown to 2B.

·         4 fly balls hit directly to your left and thrown to 2B.

·         4 ground balls hit to your right and thrown to 2B.

·         4 fly balls hit directly to your right and thrown to 2B.

·         Camera angle should be positioned directly behind 3B

·         4 ground balls hit directly at you and thrown to 3B.

·         4 fly balls hit directly at you and thrown to 3B.

·         4 ground balls hit to your left and thrown to 3B.

·         4 fly balls hit directly to your left and thrown to 3B.

·         4 ground balls hit to your right and thrown to 3B.

·         4 fly balls hit directly to your right and thrown to 3B.

·         Camera angle should be directly behind the catcher.

·         4 ground balls hit directly at you and thrown to home plate.

·         4 fly balls hit directly at you and thrown to home plate.

How to Write Letters of Interest for College Softball

Your sophomore and junior years in high school are an exciting milestone in your softball career. This is the time you should start showing interest in colleges across the nation.

According to ASA rules, a coach cannot physically approach you until July 1st, after your junior year in high school, but they can start speaking to you via written correspondence starting September 1st of your junior year. This means it's time to start your homework!

Your college search must be active. Sure, scouts notice players at exposure tournaments, but you want your name in their head before those types of tournaments. You want recruiters to look for you, not stumble upon you as you're playing.

A letter of interest is your first impression. You'll hardly get a second chance to evoke interest in college coaches so you need to sell yourself. Think of it like this: If you aren't your biggest fan, why should they be?

This guide will give you some helpful tips to producing the best letter of interest, one that will help you to stand out and speak out to the coaches you want to listen.

 

Finding a College

If you want to play collegiate softball, there is a school for you. But you may need to roll up your sleeves and do some work before finding it. The very first thing you need to have on hand is a college guide. Give yourself weekly assignments of finding at least 5-10 colleges that interest you.

Choosing schools is a process. You definitely do not want to be too selective, so make sure to widen your scope of interest. You'll want to start with your first-choice schools and go from there:

First choice: Find the schools you've always dreamt of attending. Even if it's a reach, there is no harm in trying!

Second choice: Decide on a division of play in which you can honestly compete and the location where you'd like to attend college. Locate schools that fit your criteria.

Third choice: Venture further. In the same division of play, locate schools in areas you might like to attend college.

Fourth choice: Keep Going! Sticking to the same division of play, find some schools in locations that you would possibly give a chance.

Fifth choice: Repeat all of these searches for every other division of play.

This process gives you one valuable thing — options. It will be a lot easier to play collegiate softball if you have numerous options from which to choose.

 

The Letter

There are two ways to show interest in a college. You can email the college coach and fill out a prospective player profile on the team's website, or you can send an actual letter. In today's world, everything is electronic, so that might be the way to go.

However, snail-mail letters are quite out of the ordinary these days. Even though each letter should be typed, a letter sent in the mail may stand out as a relief to coaches who sit in front of computers all day.

The Hook

A coach can do two things with your letter. A coach can be hooked and continue reading it, interested in you as a prospective player (this is what you want!). Or, a coach can get bored, having read similar letters a thousand times, and toss you into the abyss (this is definitely not what you want).

Always ask yourself one thing when you are writing: What would make you want to read your letter? The answer is liveliness! Try not to write in a monotonous tone. For example, what sounds better?

"My name is ____. I have a 4.0 GPA and my time to first base is 2.6 seconds."

"My name is ____. I play for (team) and I go to (high school)."

The first opening is far more likely to hook a coach. Of course not every athlete has a 4.0 GPA, but this type of introduction does wonders, so make sure to point out some stellar skills you have to offer!

 

The Body

The body of the letter is where you really want to sell yourself as a prospective player. Remember, these coaches read hundreds of letters every year so make yours memorable. You should list your positions and your hitting strengths. Are you an infielder? Middle infielder? Outfielder? Utility Player? Catcher? Power hitter? Slapper? They need to know exactly what type of player you are, so market your talents accordingly.

In college you will be a student-athlete. Your athletic abilities will put your foot in the door, but it's your academic performance — your grades and test scores — that will push you through to admissions. So before you get too preoccupied deciding whose colors you'd like to wear, remember that first and foremost, you are going to college for an education.

Lastly, study for those SATs and ACTs. These are very important tests for college admissions. Take them multiple times if necessary, so that you give yourself the best chance to get into the schools of your choice.

Coaches are looking for players who can perform in the classroom as well as on the field. In high school, make sure your teachers and counselors know your name.

Check in with your counselors on a regular basis to ensure that you're taking the correct classes, and keep your GPA up! Consult a tutor if necessary; in college, most teams have assigned tutors, so never be embarrassed to ask for help.

The next thing you want to do is describe what you can contribute to their team. Coaches love reading that a player is coachable. No coach wants a prima donna or an egomaniac, so make sure to include something along the lines of: "I play (position), but I'm willing to contribute by playing any position the team needs."

A coach needs to know that you aren't already assuming you're going to play the position you want. Their team is already comprised of veteran players. You might be able to take someone's spot after trying out and proving yourself, but don't assume it in the letter.

Conveying that you are a coachable athlete allows you to market yourself to a wider audience. For example, if you say that you are only a second baseman, it may give the coach the idea that you are only willing to play second base. This will essentially cause every team who already has a second baseman to lose interest in you.

Lastly, personalize each letter to make each coach feel special. Mention their colors, some school accolades, etc. Show the coach you've done some research on the team. What you don't want to do is make coaches feel like they're reading a generic letter that you've sent to hundreds of colleges.

 

Invite Further Correspondence

The last thing you want to accomplish in your letter is an invitation of correspondence. Rules prevent coaches from approaching you until July 1st of your junior year in high school, but they can start writing to you on September 1st of your junior year. Take full advantage of this!

The last few sentences of your letter should tell them that you are looking forward to seeing them at your games and hearing from them about the opportunity to wear their colors.

 

Your Signature

Always personalize your letter by including a handwritten signature. To add a little more flair, include a sentence at the bottom of your letter, quickly thanking them for taking the time to read the letter and convey your excitement in hearing from them. Just don't be sloppy!

 

What to Include with Your Letter

There are a few things that should be included with your letter. The first is a copy of your current schedule. Giving a coach your schedule is an invitation to your games. This way, they know exactly when you'll be playing so they can include watching you in their itinerary.

The second item is an official skills video or DVD. A skills video gives your letter life. In your video, make sure you demonstrate all of your abilities. You should include pitching (if applicable), hitting, base running, throwing, infield defense, and outfield defense because remember, you are willing to play anywhere. What coaches do not want to see are montages of trophies and medals. You should also try to add background music for some pizzazz!

The third (optional) thing to include is a player program. If your team's program includes something spectacular about you, go ahead and include it. If it doesn't, there is really no need to send it, since your basic information will be in the body of your letter.

 

Good Luck!

The deadlines set by ASA for July 1st and September 1st are crucial to follow. Most of your letters should be mailed out in September at the very latest. There is nothing wrong with expressing interest as early as your sophomore year since coaches often have prospective players already in mind.

If you want to play college softball, there is a school out there for you. If you need help finding schools in your area, use our Team Directory to find the colleges near you, and then venture further. It may take a little work, but you will eventually find the school of your dreams!

If you are already emailing coaches but not getting a response, here is some advice on how many times you should be emailing coaches.

How Many Times to Email a Coach

If you have committed to emailing college coaches, it can be frustrating when you don't receive an email back. Coaches are busy people and it is normal to not receive a response with your first email. If getting a coaches attention was as easy as sending a single email, the recruiting process wouldn't take much time at all. The process is hard and takes perseverance, you need to be prepared to email 250+ schools several times before you can expect to generate serious interest.

There is a fine line between emailing a coach enough to get attention and wasting your time with a program who isn't interested. The following advice is based on years of working with athletes who have emailed coaches on their own and gone on to play college sports. The following advice is assuming you have researched schools and are writing emails that coaches want to open. This advice is designed to help you know when to keep emailing and when to move on to another school.

Email a Coach 2-3 Times When First Sending Emails

When you are first sending your emails to coaches send 2-3 emails over 7-10 days. Try following this pattern:

• Day 1 – Email, complete the recruit questionnaire (if available) and follow up with a phone call
  
• Day 3 – Email again acknowledging the first email (don't send the exact same email from the first day).
  
• Day 8 – Email again and follow up with a call. Acknowledge your previous efforts to reach out and let the coach know this will be your final email until you have something new to share.
  

If you are attempting to reach coaches during holiday breaks or the middle of the season, you can expect to wait longer for a response. I suggest waiting until after the holidays or busy parts of the season.

Following Up With Coaches Who Didn't Respond to Your Initial Emails

If you haven't heard from a coach after your initial effort to contact them, you can continue to update them every 2-4 months. You want to send them updates on things like where you are playing, new highlight videos or updated academic performance. This can seem like you are wasting your time because you are emailing a coach that you aren't even sure is reading your messages; that is okay. The reason you are sending emails is you are exactly sure what is happening and you want to assume you still have a chance.

• If the coach you have been emailing finds themselves at a new program they will be scrambling for recruits. While you might have not been the right fit at their old program, you are at their new one.
  
• If a program has several of the recruits they thought were going to commit back out, they are going to need to find recruits quick. You will be top of mind if you have been emailing.
  
• While a coach might not think you are right for their program, they can and do recommend recruits to other programs. This doesn't happen often, but you are looking for any advantage you can get.
  

When to Stop Emailing Coaches

There comes a time when you should stop sending emails to a particular program.

If a coach has specifically told you don't qualify athletically or academically for their program, there is no need to continue to update them. The only exception to this rule is if you make drastic changes athletically or academically; if this does happen, you can try reconnecting.

If a coach has responded as said they are no longer recruiting for your class or position, there is no need to follow up. Keep in mind, some programs are finished recruiting for a particular recruiting class years in advance.

If you can see that a program has signed a full class of recruits for the year you are interested in (this is more common at large programs) there is no need to email coaches. An example of this would be going to website like rivals and seeing that Oregon has signed a full class; there is no need to email them. If you are interested in these types of programs, you should be contacting them a year in advance at least.

Some guidelines for email messaging coaches

Sample Email to College Coaches

Email has become the preferred method for introducing yourself to college coaches. Just having talent, playing for a travel team and attending showcases does not guarantee you will get discovered. Using email and some hard work, you can ensure college coaches know who you are and how to contact you.

The recruiting process is starting earlier than ever. In an effort to lock up the most talented recruits, the top colleges are recruiting and offering scholarships to athletes in the 8th and 9th grade. NCAA rules prohibit coaches from initiating contact with a recruit before their junior year of high school, but, they can talk to you if you if you contact them first.

Email is just an introduction

The email you send to a coach should serve as just an introduction. You want to show the coach you have researched their program, have the potential to be a college athlete and a give them a schedule of where they can watch you.

Guidelines for Emailing Coaches

Personalize each email – If you don't take the time to personalize the email to the coach, they won't take the time to respond. College coaches receive hundreds of emails each week. They can tell when an athlete has taken the time to write them a personalized email and when someone is using a form letter, just changing the name of the coach and school.

Include the contact information for your coaches – If you are emailing a college coach before they are allowed to respond to your email, they need the contact information for your coaches so they can let them know they are interested. Here is how it works, you email the college coach, and if they are interested, they will contact your coach and let your coach know when to call them so you can talk.

Just your basic athletic and academic information – Coaches don't expect you to be a college ready athlete when you email them; they just need to see that you have potential. Include your basic info, there is no need to detail every award or stat from the last few years.

Let them know where you will be competing – Second to your contact information, coaches need to know where/when they can watch you in person. Coaches bring a list of athletes they want to watch at a tournament or showcase; they don't go there hoping to discover talent. They need to know where you are playing so they can add you to their list of players to watch.

Template for Emailing College Coaches

 
 

Dear [Coach's Name],

My name is [Your Name], I am part of the class of [Your Graduating Class] at [Your High School] in [Your Hometown and State]. I am interested in [The Name of The University] and learning more about your program.

[Include information here about the research you did into their program]

I play [List your position or best events here and the name of your team]. Some of my best accomplishments to date are [list your top two or three best times, awards or recognitions]. You can view my complete online profile here [Link to your online profile if you have one]. Here is a link to my highlight tape [link to your online highlight tape]. Please feel free to contact my coach(s) [List the email and phone number for your high school and/or club team coach]. Here is my schedule:

Date                Location                      Name of Event                          My Team Name

2/22/2014    Sacramento, CA          Elite 7-on-7 Tournament          Nor-Cal All-Stars

[List your GPA and test scores here if you have taken them]. [Talk about what you like about the academic reputations of the school].

I will be following up this email with a phone call. I look forward to hearing back from you and learning more about your program.

 
 

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Email]

[Phone]

[Address]

 
 

Use This Checklist Before You Send Your Email

Have a professional sounding email address – Creating a new email account is free; there is no excuse for emailing a coach using your baller420@aol.com email address. Make it something simple with just your name and graduating class johndoe2015@gmail.com.

The title needs to make the coach want to open it – Include your name, position and graduating class in the email. Coaches appreciate being able to tell what the email is about in the title. For more on that, go here.

Do proper research – You should know things like if there are athletes from your hometown on the roster, how many upper classman at your position, the team's record and the athletic background of the athletes currently on the team.

Collect the coach's email and phone number – There are several ways to get a coaches email address. You can use our free recruiting profile or go to the athletic website and look for the staff directory. Here is how to find a coaches contact information.

Spell Check and use proper grammar – This is not the time to use "text speak". Have someone read the email before you send it.

Follow up your email with a phone call – The phone is the best way to get a hold of a coach, you should follow up you email with a phone call.