The Coronavirus (and the D-1 Dead Period) are having a significant effect on the college recruiting process. High school soccer players unable to be seen directly by their desired college coaches may be getting anxious about missed recruiting opportunities with these coaches.

Despite being unable to play in front of certain coaches, there are a number of steps you can take to improve your chances of getting recruited. In this article we are going to be talking about how you can send effective emails to college coaches while you’re unable to speak with many of them face to face.

Email is going to be an important communication tool with college coaches during the college recruiting process. Thinking strategically about how to email soccer coaches can be the difference between a successful recruiting conversation and a lack of response, especially during Covid-19. Here are 5 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.

5. 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.

Bonus Tips:

1. Future 500 is working with many top D-1 programs and sending them all of the 11v11 film from our Fall Camps to review and identify players. This will provide great college exposure to D-1 colleges despite the Dead Period. Read more here.

2. Many top colleges are able to watch you live, and are attending Future 500’s Fall Camps. Come play in front of these coaches and have conversations with them in person, to add to your email conversations. Read more see the lists here.

3. Email coaches your high quality film and/or highlight reel obtained from attending one of Future 500’s Fall Camps. Sign up today before spots run out.

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!