Give me some pointers for my daughter writing a letter to a college coach

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Apr 16, 2013
1,113
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My daughter has her first interest in a school. I told her to start with writing a snail mail letter to the coach to start with. Here's a big one though, her travel ball org will be putting on a camp that has a lot of good school coaches signed up, including this one. So, she wants that coach to pay more attention to her. Should she simply state something like that in the letter? Or are there better ways to go about it? Your experienced help would be appreciated. :) (She just finished her freshman year, so she's a year away from the recruitment date.)
 

marriard

Not lost - just no idea where I am
Oct 2, 2011
4,312
113
Florida
My daughter has her first interest in a school. I told her to start with writing a snail mail letter to the coach to start with. Here's a big one though, her travel ball org will be putting on a camp that has a lot of good school coaches signed up, including this one. So, she wants that coach to pay more attention to her. Should she simply state something like that in the letter? Or are there better ways to go about it? Your experienced help would be appreciated. :) (She just finished her freshman year, so she's a year away from the recruitment date.)

Forget snail mail as first contact... email is preferred these days. Though snail mail can set you apart for thank you notes, updates etc.... A good way to stand out from the crowd. Coaches emails are on 99% of teams websites - they want to be found (or are state employees and it is required)

And yes, she can reach out to the coach before camp and should... Something like the below is a good start:

My name is X. I graduate from X in 20XX. i play position(s) X for team Y.

I am interested in your college and learning more about your program because X (academics as well as softball).

I will be at Y camp and look forward to seeing you there. The rest of our schedule is as follows.

Skills video link or highlights, achievements, etc, etc...

Yours, DD Name



At the beginning of camp, she should walk right up to the coach, shake their hand and introduce herself. Don't wait. Suck it up and do it. Even if they never have read your email, refer to it. Tell them what field you are on and where to find you during the day. It is just a start - from there it is being persistent. Even if they don't pay extra attention, say bye and thanks at the end of camp. Email thanks after. Provide updates on how you are doing and where you are going.... and so on. Believe me, coaches want to engage with kids who are genuinely interested in coming to their team and if it looks like it could be a fit, then it moves into something that resembles dating as both parties learn more and more about each other.

Remember D1 can't talk recruiting until Sep1 of Junior year (but can talk softball) but everyone else can. That doesn't mean they will, but they can. Don't worry about no response. They get hundreds of emails and are busy - they can't get to them all. Your job is to make them open YOUR emails by making sure they know who you are.
 
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Apr 16, 2013
1,113
83
Thank you Marriard. I'm still confused on the "lines" and how blurred they are with conversation between a coach and a prospective student. Can the coach say that she's "interested" directly to the player? As in, we're "VERY" interested in you. I know they can't say anything about recruiting or actually playing for the school. I just still don't exactly understand what IS allowed vs what isn't.

This is a camp specifically put on by the org so all of these coaches are coming to one field to watch the players of this org. Right now there are over 20 coaches signed up, most from D1 schools and some very high level D1 schools. The school my DD is interested in is D1, but not near the level of an Auburn or Oklahoma. Within the state, my DD's org is pretty well known as only having high level teams. They do a pretty good job at promoting their players. So they have a yearly camp for their teams solely for college coaches. I guess it's more of a combine vs camp. I already know my DD's bat is going to raise eyebrows. Not being conceited, it will. I just want this coach to know my DD is interested in her program and help her to talk with this coach. Of all the coaches attending, this one school is the only one my DD is interested in so far. Doesn't mean things won't change, she's just 14, but it's a start.

I certainly appreciate the advice. Directly talking to the coach before it all starts is a great idea, if it's allowed. I just didn't know if it's allowed or if the org will allow them to be approached. I, however, can easily find out.
 

marriard

Not lost - just no idea where I am
Oct 2, 2011
4,312
113
Florida
Thank you Marriard. I'm still confused on the "lines" and how blurred they are with conversation between a coach and a prospective student. Can the coach say that she's "interested" directly to the player? As in, we're "VERY" interested in you. I know they can't say anything about recruiting or actually playing for the school. I just still don't exactly understand what IS allowed vs what isn't.


For D1 schools only - until the Sept 1 of their junior year they can only say if they are interested or not. They are not meant to express level of interest or go beyond that. It also is not meant to matter who they are talking to - it is meant to be interested/not interested.

However you will be able to gauge how much they are currently interested by the amount of time they spend with your daughter or watching your daughter. It isn't subtle - the more they watch, the more they want to see more.

Also when you go to the specific college camp you can gauge real interest easily. If your daughter is separated with a specific group of players, then those are the ones they are interested in for their school versus the much larger group of players - who are the ones they are interested in for their camp fees. That may happen at a multi-college camp as well.

BTW, non-D1 school - It is actually now more enjoyable talking to D2, D3, JUCO and NAIA since they are free to say and do pretty much whatever they want to whoever they want no matter age.
 
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marriard

Not lost - just no idea where I am
Oct 2, 2011
4,312
113
Florida
I certainly appreciate the advice. Directly talking to the coach before it all starts is a great idea, if it's allowed. I just didn't know if it's allowed or if the org will allow them to be approached. I, however, can easily find out.

It will be allowed.

Your org wants their players recruited and probably spent money on the coaches being there. The coaches will be strutting around in their college gear - they want to engage. That is what everyone is there for. Stand out. Coaches remember who stands out.

My DD has blue hair, talks to the coaches, knows the schools that are going to be at a camp, introduces herself, ask questions and plays hard - coaches remember her even when they are not interested.
 
Apr 16, 2013
1,113
83
Ha, blue hair. My DD is a natural blonde, but has "fire red" hair. I often call her Phoenix. :)

I'm going to have to work with her on talking in person, she's very introverted and not much of a talker.
 
Nov 27, 2012
197
18
Like marriard said, start off with an email, with a nice introduction and a small one or 2 minute skill video. She can also attach her travel schedule. Keep emailing the coach in the same email thread. Coaches cannot talk to your daughter or her travel coaches till September of Junior year.
Make sure your daughter stand out at the camp. She should introduce herself at the beginning. Also tell her to pay attention when the coach is talking, like nodding or looking in the coaches eye when she is addressing her. Your daughter need to ask questions and listen patiently to what the coach is saying. Coaches love to talk to kids about softball and teach them new things. Recruitment is a long process and your daughter should build a rapport with the coach, stick to discussing about softball and not try to be friends with the coach.
 

obbay

Banned
Aug 21, 2008
2,199
0
Boston, MA
Even though email is usually best, I think snail mail is a good way to initially get a coaches attention, especially in this instance where you would not be looking for him to reply to it. I use email at work, get tons of email and am quick to discard anything i dont need. Im sure coaches get lots of email so that its difficult to make one email stand out over another.
If you have a good, short recruiting video, include that whether you go snail or email.
 
Dec 2, 2013
3,409
113
Texas
Even though email is usually best, I think snail mail is a good way to initially get a coaches attention, especially in this instance where you would not be looking for him to reply to it. I use email at work, get tons of email and am quick to discard anything i dont need. Im sure coaches get lots of email so that its difficult to make one email stand out over another.
If you have a good, short recruiting video, include that whether you go snail or email.

I totally agree with this. I would even take it a bit further and make a Postcard via Vistaprint. JAD's advice. Put about 5 or 6 pics on one side and on the other side include Personal info, team and coach info and logo. Also include your upcoming fall schedule and a enough space to write a quick note. It is much easier to ignore or delete an email, but it's hard to throw away a cool post card. I bet it stays on the coaches desk a lot longer than the email! I am looking at my own desk...piles of marketing material. It's fairly inexpensive and the process to make one is kind of fun. I assure you that not alot of players are doing it. Why not stand out!
 
Jan 28, 2017
1,661
83
No idea on email. I was standing by a college coach (friend) and a player's dad that has a daughter on her team and they started talking about recruiting and she coach said, if they get an email from a parent or the parent comes up and starts talking to them it means nothing. The player must be the one that they talk to. She doesn't want to talk with the parents at all ever. The dad said do you want me to leave. LOL. They have known each other since she was probably born.
 

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