How Do You Start Talking To College Coaches?
Most student-athletes who are just starting the recruiting process are trying to get noticed by college coaches. One of the best ways to get noticed by college coaches is to start talking to them, either over the phone, in-person or in an email. It can be intimidating to reach out to college coaches who you have never spoken with before. So how do you start talking to college coaches?
The best way to start talking to college coaches is to reach out with a brief introduction email. Email is a reliable method of communication that many coaches are familiar with. It’s normal for potential recruits to email a college coach to introduce themselves and learn more about the recruiting process for that school. If your skills are comparable to current players on the team, the coach will respond to you, and you can begin a conversation with the coach.
There are plenty of other methods of communication if you would prefer not to email a coach. Many recruits call college coaches to introduce themselves over the phone or make it a point to introduce themselves in-person at a tournament or showcase. The most important thing to do when talking with a college is to portray yourself as a quality recruit who is genuinely interested in the coach’s athletic program.
When Should You Start Talking To College Coaches
No matter what method of communication you choose, it’s important to start reaching out to college coaches to start a conversation with them. Reaching out early and often can be vital to being successful during recruiting. When to start talking to college coaches depends on many things, including your sport, division and skill level.
NCAA Restrictions: Depending on your sport, the NCAA restricts coaches from reaching out to you before June 15 of your sophomore year or September 1 of your junior year. You are allowed to contact college coaches before these dates, but they can’t respond to you. It can be strategic to wait until after the NCAA restrictions are lifted before starting to talk to college coaches.
Be Consistent: One of the best things you can do when you start talking with a college coach is to be consistent. Reach out to them regularly with updates on your season and development of your athletic skills. You never know if one of your updates will change the coach’s mind for the better about how you might fit on the team. Coaches shift around potential recruits on their recruiting lists as time goes on, so consistent communication is essential to staying on the coach’s radar.
Competition: Depending on how competitive your sport is and what division you’re targeting, you might need to reach out earlier. If you focus on significant Division I schools, you should start talking to college coaches early on in high school, around your sophomore year. If you compete in an individual sport, like swimming or cross-country, you can wait until your junior year to talk to college coaches.
No matter your sport, try to reach out as early as possible to college coaches. It doesn’t hurt to put your name out there and see what kind of response you get. But don’t be discouraged if you don’t get an answer right away. Coaches have hectic schedules, and they’re balancing recruiting with coaching their current team and other administrative duties.
How Write An Email to A College Coach?
To start talking to a college coach, you can send a quick email to get the conversation going and gauge their interest level. An introduction email gives the college coach all the necessary information about you to start recruiting you. As you continue to talk to college coaches, emailing back and forth is an excellent way for the coach to get to know you.
Why You’re Interested: Start by telling the coach why you’re interested in their team and what attracted you to the school. Whether you have a personal connection to the school or your skills are highly comparable to other players on the team, be sure to mention this to the coach. It’s crucial to coaches that you are genuinely interested in their team, and not just reaching out to build a list of back-up schools.
Introduction: Make sure to introduce yourself in the email, including your name, graduation year, position, high school or club name, athletic statistics, standardized test scores and GPA. Once the coach has all this information, they have a picture of who you are as a student-athlete.
Personalize: Never mass email a list of college coaches the same email. It comes across as not thoughtful and shows coaches that you aren’t serious about putting the time in to build a relationship with them. Address the coach by name in your email, and mention anything that stood out to you about the coach’s background or their coaching style.
Action Item: End your email by giving the coach something to do after the email. Ask them for feedback on your highlight video, or tell them where you’ll be playing next. You can even follow up on the email with a phone call to ask more questions about the coach. This first email is the start of a more extended conversation with the coach during recruiting.
Following this format can be helpful to calm your nerves and make sure you say everything you need to in an email to the coach. Remember to keep your tone respectful and professional. This will go a long way in impressing a college coach and ensuring you’re starting a conversation that will continue throughout your high school career and into college.
Why Should You Talk To College Coaches?
The main reason to talk with college coaches is to build a relationship with them, but there are other benefits. Below are some of the reasons to reach out to a college coach
More Likely To Recruit Players They Know: College coaches are more likely to recruit players that they have been able to meet and get to know. Coaches want to recruit players who have a strong personal character as well as the skills required to play on the team. Starting a conversation with a coach, proactively shows coaches that you have the self-assurance to compete in college sports.
Learn About The Recruiting Process: Talking with a college coach allows you to ask any questions you have about the recruiting process in a more informal setting. The coach can let you know of anything you should do for recruiting that isn’t listed on their website, either.
Get To Know The Coach: Talking with the coach also lets you get a sense of their personality. You’ll be working with them for the next four years if you accept a scholarship offer, and the coach can affect your college experience. Emailing or calling can help you figure out their personality and coaching style to see if it matches your expectations.
It can be intimidating to reach out to college coaches, but taking small steps outside of your comfort zone can help you get an offer. Breaking down your strategy for contacting coaches into small manageable steps can help you fit it into your schedule, around practices, homework and your social life.
Things To Keep In Mind
Why Reach Out: There are many reasons to reach out to a college coach beyond introducing yourself. You can utilize an opportunity to congratulate a coach on a game, ask if they will meet you during an unofficial visit or ask for feedback on your highlight video. The key is to have a reason to talk to the coach and think about how your conversation will impact them.
Do Your Research: Before starting to talk to a college coach, you should research the coaches and schools. Creating a list of potential schools can help you decide which coaches to email and what to say in your message.
Show Your Personality: Don’t be afraid to show off your personality a bit when communicating with a coach. They want to get to know you, so don’t be scared to be yourself.