Email is going to be an important communication tool with college coaches during the college soccer recruiting process. Thinking strategically about how to email soccer coaches can be the difference between a successful recruiting conversation and a lack of response. Here are 6 things to keep in mind when emailing college coaches.

1. Don’t make the email all about you

If you want to stand out when you email soccer coaches, don’t send a long list of your accolades and achievements, that is what your resume is for. Instead, tell the soccer coach about his or her school and program! Send a personalized email that makes it clear to the coach that you have researched the college and are familiar with both the team and the academic programs. You can mention a great win of theirs, or their season. Find something that shows them that you are genuinely interested in their soccer program

2. Contact the entire soccer coaching staff 

Often players make the mistake of only sending emails to the Head Soccer Coach. The reality is that most Head Coaches are not involved with recruiting in the early stages. Any email that a Head Coach gets will often be forwarded to a Recruiting Coordinator or assistant coach. Email the Head Coach and CC the entire coaching staff so that the Recruiting Coordinator views your email.

3. Make sure the coach’s name is correct 

If you are emailing the entire coaching staff, you do not need to include all of their names. Address your email to the Head Coach of the program and make sure to spell their last name correctly .Using a generic title like ‘Coach’ tells the coach that you don’t care enough to send a personal email, so always include his or her last name when first reaching out.

4. Keep your email brief, coaches are very busy.

Soccer coaches probably won’t look at your email for more than a minute, so keep it brief. It will take some time to compose an email that is both personal and concise, but it is worth the extra effort if you really want to stand out from the other recruits in the coaches’ inbox.

6. Follow up! 

Following up with a college soccer coach multiple times shows that you care. If you don’t hear back after your first email, follow up within 7-10 days. Make your subject line ‘Just checking in’ or ‘Follow up’ in order to differentiate yourself in a coach’s inbox.  College coaches are busy and receive a lot of emails, so persistence is key.

Communication during the soccer recruiting process is a marathon not a sprint. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t hear back when you email college coaches at first. Be patient and you’ll soon be in contact with the soccer coaches at your Best Fit schools. Good luck!

Another important aspect of the process of going to a college to play soccer is being exposed to college coaches. Future 500 offers the largest and most effective college soccer coach exposure opportunity with 60 college coaches in attendance from a variety of D1, D2 and D3 schools. Learn more about how Future 500 will help you by clicking here.