College coaches get a lot of email. The messages that get a reply are short, specific, and clearly written by the athlete. This guide walks through exactly what to send, who to send it to, and when to follow up.
Who to email
- Start with the coach who recruits your position. On many teams that is an assistant coach or recruiting coordinator, not only the head coach.
- Find names and email addresses on the school's official athletics website, on the coaching staff page for your sport.
- Many programs also have a recruiting questionnaire on their site. Fill it out in addition to emailing.
Write a clear subject line
A coach should know who you are before opening the message. Put your graduation year, position, and one standout fact in the subject.
- [Grad year] [Position] | [GPA] GPA | [First Last]
- [Grad year] [Position] | [Club or high school team] | [First Last]
What to include in the email
- Who you are: your name, graduation year, position, high school, and club team.
- Why this school: one specific, true reason you are interested in this program.
- Your highlights: two or three stats or achievements, plus your GPA and intended major.
- A link to your film and your recruiting profile. Use links, not attachments.
- Where they can see you play: your upcoming games, tournaments, or camps.
- Contact details for you and for your coach.
Keep it short
Aim for about 150 words. A coach should be able to read it in under a minute on a phone. Save the full story for a phone call.
A sample email you can copy
Subject: [Grad year] [Position] | [GPA] GPA | [First Last]
Hi Coach [Last name],
My name is [First Last], a [grad year] [position] at [High school] and [Club team]. I am very interested in [College] because [one specific reason: the program, the major, your style of play].
A few highlights: [stat or achievement], [stat or achievement], and a [GPA] GPA. I plan to study [major].
Here is my film and recruiting profile: [link]. My next events are [event, date, location].
I would love to learn what you look for in a [position] and how I can become a better fit for your program. Thank you for your time.
[First Last]
[Phone] | [Email]
[Club or high school coach name and contact]
When and how to follow up
- Wait about two weeks before following up.
- Follow up with something new: fresh film, a new stat, or an upcoming game.
- Keep follow-ups polite and short. After two or three tries with no reply, focus your energy on other schools.
- No reply is not always a no. Recruiting rules limit when and how some coaches can respond.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Sending the same email to many schools without changing the school name.
- A parent writing as if they were the athlete. Coaches want to hear from the athlete in their own words.
- Attaching large files instead of linking to film.
- Writing a long life story.
- Leaving out film, contact details, or graduation year.
- An unprofessional email address.
- Asking about scholarships in the very first message.
Recruiting and eligibility rules differ by sport and division, and they change. Always confirm the current rules with the NCAA, the NAIA, or the college you are talking to. GritRecruit is not affiliated with the NCAA.
Put this into practice for free
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