Is It Better To Text Or Email A College Coach?
During the recruiting process, the most important thing you can do to improve your chances of playing your sport in college is to reach out to college coaches. But you might be wondering, is it better to text or email a college coach?
In short, you will most likely communicate with coaches through texting and emailing at different points in the process because they serve different purposes. Typically, emails are used for initial, more formal communication. Once coaches get to know you a little better, they may begin using texts or various social media platforms to communicate with you. The most important thing to remember, regardless of the platform you are using to communicate with college coaches, is to be respectful and professional.
One reason the recruiting process can be stressful for prospects and their families is because they are unsure how to communicate with college coaches. To help, we have explained the differences between the two main types of communication with coaches below.
Should I Text Or Email A College Coach?
There are many different ways to communicate with the coaches at the programs you are interested in. The two most widely used methods are texting and emailing. While the two play different roles in the recruiting process, they are both essential to maximizing your chance of receiving a scholarship offer.
The Purpose Of Emailing: Emailing is the most tried and true method of introducing yourself to a college coach. It allows you to include a multitude of attachments – including academic transcripts and highlight videos. Because of its relative formality and high functionality, coaches tend to lean on emailing earlier in the process. Make sure that you check your email at least once a day so that you don’t miss any emails from coaches at programs you are interested in.
The Purpose Of Texting: Once coaches become more comfortable with prospects, they will often begin informally texting you as their main method of communication. Texting allows you to respond faster and get to know the coach on a more personal level. However, remember to treat the coach like they are your potential employer, not your best friend. Coaches use your texting habits and the language you use, as well as other inputs during the recruiting process, to form an opinion of who you are and what type of player you could potentially be for them.
The NCAA’s Restrictions On Communication: There are certain times during the recruiting process, known as dead periods, where coaches cannot communicate with prospects. Knowing these dates will help you understand the best times to try to get into contact with college coaches. Athletes can receive non-recruiting materials, such as questionnaires and camp brochures, at any time. However, coaches cannot begin actively recruiting them until June 15th after their sophomore year. If you would like to communicate with a college coach before then, your high school coach can often serve as an intermediary.
While you may prefer either emailing or texting coaches, it is important to allow the coach to dictate the style of communication.
Different Forms Of Communication
Although emailing and texting are the two most common forms of communication with college coaches, they are not the only two. There are numerous other ways to get into contact with coaches and, if used correctly, they can help you do well in the recruiting process.
Social Media: Coaches will often follow recruits on social media. Here more so than anywhere else, you must present the best possible version of yourself to coaches. Keep your account clean and remain professional when DMing coaches.
Recruiting Letters: While these are becoming less and less common, some schools still send recruiting questionnaires to gauge a prospect’s interest in their program. If you receive any of these, fill them out as quickly as possible – it is always best to keep your options open.
Phone Calls: Calling a coach is a great way to get to know them personally. Before any calls, make sure that you do your research on the coach’s program. A phone call is a great opportunity to show that your interest in their program is legitimate. Similarly, you should always prepare four or five questions before the call. Finally, be prepared to talk about yourself! Most coaches will use phone calls to learn more about you as a person.
By using all five of the communication platforms mentioned here, you can maximize your chance of gaining traction with college coaches around the country. Keeping up with so many platforms can be difficult so do your best to stay organized. Keeping a list of coaches you are communicating with and what platform they are using will help prevent you from forgetting to respond.
Best Practices of Interacting With College Coaches
While you should be considerate of the form of communication you choose to use to interact with college coaches, it is equally important that you are respectful and professional in the way that you communicate. We’ve included some other tips below to help you win over coaches and secure yourself a spot in their programs.
Be Specific: This is something you will want to do whenever communicating with a college coach, regardless of platform. Coaches hear from many recruits each year, making it hard to stand out from the pack. Being specific and forward about why you are interested in the coach’s program will help you do this. If you give concrete reasons as to why you are interested in that specific program, and not the hundreds of others in the country, the coach will be impressed.
Be Engaged: If you actively participate in conversations with college coaches, and show that you are truly passionate about the opportunity to continue playing the sport you love, coaches will be much more likely to have interest in recruiting you. One easy way to do this is to prepare for your conversations with coaches. You can do this by asking yourself why you are interested in your chosen sport and the coach’s specific program. Having a list of questions will help prevent awkward silences and dull moments during your conversations with coaches.
Focus On The Whole School: A simple way of conveying that you care about the classroom in addition to the sports field is to ask about it. When talking to college coaches, do not be hesitant to ask them questions about the school’s academics or culture, especially as it relates to athletes. You can ask about the academic resources available to athletes, or even what majors are common among athletes in the coach’s program.
Don’t Give Up: Just because the coaches you try to get into contact with don’t respond immediately, that doesn’t mean you should give up! There are certain periods during the recruiting process where coaches are not allowed to reach out to prospects. Additionally, as long as you are respectful and polite, no coach will be put off by you sending them a follow up text or email – in fact, they may appreciate it.
Coaches use communication as a way of evaluating how well you would fit in with their program’s culture, making it essential that you understand the best practices of interacting with college coaches. As long as you remain respectful and focused when talking to coaches, you will have a great shot of landing a spot on a college team.
Things To Keep In Mind
Composing A Perfect Introductory Email: When composing an introductory email it is important to be direct. If you are responding to an email, be sure to clearly answer all the questions the coach asked. If you are introducing yourself, make sure to give some background information about yourself and explain why you are interested in the coach’s program.
Social Media Restrictions: College coaches cannot publicly comment on your photo until you have committed to their program. However, they can send you a private message.
Respond In A Timely Manner: Coaches are very busy people and can be hard to get a hold of. To prevent your response from being lost in their crowded inbox, respond as quickly as possible when one reaches out to you.
Be Yourself: Whether emailing, texting, or even calling a coach, remember to be yourself! Coaches have interacted with enough recruits to know when one is being dishonest. Regardless of the truth, coaches will respect you for being honest and genuine.