Ever since you were a child and found the sport you love, you've probably dreamt of becoming a collegiate athlete. Now, after years of practice and commitment to your sport you realize that there are two things you must take care of to get the attention of the schools you want to play for: finding coaches and approaching them in the right way. Here's how you can approach your coaches of choice and make an impression that counts.
Make the First Move
It all starts with the first email. When you send your potential coaches the first email, you should introduce yourself and tell them about your club team and high school team. You should also attach your schedules for the rest of the season and invite them to come observe some of your games. The best events to invite them too are tournaments as they will most likely be there for other potential recruits.
Related: 5 Key Guidelines for Emailing Coaches During the Recruiting Process
This should happen during your sophomore year of high school, but keep in mind that coaches will not be able to talk to you until June 15th after your sophomore year ends. But reaching out early is still important– coaches can still come to your events and just keep an eye on you.
Follow Up
When you enter your junior year, you want to reach out again, but the best part about this email is they can respond to you! So now, you want to send your highlight reels and ask to go to any camps that those coaches are hosting. This is a very good opportunity and shows how interested in the school and shows you have more trust in the coach since you are traveling to them.
Related: Rate your Coaches, Facilities, and Campus Visits
Hype Yourself Up (a Little Bit)
The most important part of writing to a coach is to not brag about yourself but still be able to talk about your best qualities. Coaches do not want to hear about every little accomplishment. Keep it short and tell them about the important stuff. Maybe talk about an injury you overcame or any type of leadership role you have. You have to nail the talking down if you want a chance to play in front of them (besides their camps).
If you are able to follow these steps during the recruiting process you should have a much easier time talking to any coach. These will not get you on the team but it will get you a much better chance then writing an email that doesn't work out for you in the long run.
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* Originally published on July 22, 2022, by Chris Russo
