Emailing coaches
When writing to coaches, write in your own voice. Parents/guardians/third-party intermeadiaries should not do this for you. Coaches can tell when someone else is writing your emails. College programs receive hundreds of communications, so think about what makes you stand out. Be authentic and have something interesting to say using clear and concise language. Remember, the DI and DII coaching staff cannot reply to your emails until the summer before your junior year in high school, but they will read your email. Make sure you edit and reread your communications thoroughly, using the correct names and college specific details. If you really care about this, you will take the time to write individual emails and won’t try to cut corners with form emails or use companies that create form emails for you. Be authentic and take care of the details if you are serious about playing in college.
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The first email to a coach, and likely the first impression you make to a coaching staff. In this email you need to introduce yourself and tell them why you are interested in their soccer program and academics. Introduce yourself and tell them something interesting and unique about yourself and why you are a good candidate for your recruiting year. Make sure you do your research before you email, paying attention to coaches names and the team roster, identifying what positions will become available for your recruiting year (how many seniors will be graduating the year before you arrive?).
Email programs that are realistic with respect to your playing and academic ability. Talk with your coaches and guidance counselors and make sure you are devoting your time to building relationships with programs that are a good fit.
(Note: email templates are ideas to help you get started. There are many ways to structure your email, make them specific to you and your voice.)
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Make sure to send this email at least a month before your event. Unprepared players often email every coach on a tournament college attendance list a week or only days before an event. By emailing coaches early it can show that you are genuine in your interest and give insight into your organization and self-determination. It is okay to reach out and remind the coach a week or two prior to the tournament or showcase, and to provide current information on the game schedule and field locations.
In this email, include a link to your highlight video.
List your position, your jersey number, team colors, and your physical description so coaches can better spot you on the field.
Include why you think you would be an asset to their program and describe your strengths.
Give coaches a reason they should come watch you play.
(Note: email templates are ideas to help you get started. There are many ways to structure your email, make them specific to you and your voice.)
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Following an event, email the coaches you invited to watch you play. They may or may not have been able to attend your games, but it is important to write them immediately following to say thank you. You can use this as an opportunity to let them know when you will play next and/or add a video link to a great soccer moment that happened at the tournament or showcase.
Edit and reread all of your communications and be professional and genuine.
If you are contacting DI or DII coaches, and are not yet in your junior year of high school, provide your club coaches name and contact info should the college coach have any questions or be interested in how you played. Club coaches can talk with college coaches at anytime.
(Note: email templates are ideas to help you get started. There are many ways to structure your email, make them specific to you and your voice.)
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When writing this kind of email, you are staying in touch and trying to keep your name in the minds’ of the coaching staff. You can let them know about new or updated information, congratulate them about a program success you observed or read about, or just remind them you are very interested in playing for them and look forward to when you can connect next.
(Note: email templates are ideas to help you get started. There are many ways to structure your email, make them specific to you and your voice.)
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DI and DII college coaches can respond to your emails directly after June 15th following your sophomore year and prior to the start of your junior year in high school. However, indirect communication can happen through club or high school coaches.
When you are trying to get information from a coach, write an email outlining your questions and ask when/if there is a good time to talk over the phone. If this is before June 15 of your sophomore year, get help from your club or high school coach to arrange a time to make a call. (You can call a coach anytime at your own expense and they can answer the phone). If after June 15th following your sophomore year, you might want to know if the coach thinks you are a serious candidate for their program, and want feedback about where you stand amongst their recruiting pool and how/where/if they see you fitting into their team.
Note: conversations about potential scholarships happen at later stages of the recruiting process. NCAA DI teams have a total of 14 athletic scholarships to divide amongst their teams, and upwards of 22 to 30 players on a roster. Do not ask about athletic scholarships until you have an established relationship with a realistic chance of playing and studying there.
(Note: email templates are ideas to help you get started. There are many ways to structure your email, make them specific to you and your voice.)
Remember to attach your updated resume to your emails. Don’t assume coaching staffs know the details of who you are, even if you have had past interactions through email, a club coach, or ID/summer camps. Also, it is not unusual for coaches to change schools, so make sure you have current information regarding coaches names and addresses.