Getting in contact with college softball coaches is a great way to increase your chances of being recruited to play collegiate softball, and even more so to the college or university of your choosing. There are a number of things to consider about how players can make the most out of the college softball recruiting process. One of those things is emailing college softball coaches and college softball recruiters directly.
However, emailing these important decision makers can quickly go awry. Subtle methods can make a big difference in how successful your communications are. We’ve compiled some tips to help you make the most of your outreach to college softball coaches.
Use a professional email address While many people use email addresses featuring their name, initials, and a combination of numbers, others use more creative avatars or screen names. Make sure the email you use to contact the coach sounds professional. Use an email address with your name, not nicknames or other more playful words.
Understand what is valuable to the coach How well do your skills align with what they’re looking for? Do your homework to understand what the program values, and what the coach might be interested in. Coaches don’t care what YOU want. They’re considering their needs. Make sure your message to them focuses on how you can solve a problem or be a solution for them.
Consider your subject line After considering the needs of the coach you are contacting, make sure you’re using a subject line that highlights those things. A good formula for an effective subject line for emailing college coaches includes these things:
Your grad year
Your position
State (if you’re emailing a local coach)
A piece of information that’s unique about you Do you have a killer batting average? The fewest errors on the team? How fast do you pitch? Include a few stats in your subject line to catch their attention and get straight to the point. (Ex: 2020 LH Pitcher, 67 MPH FB, 1400 SAT)
Include important details in the body of your email Now that you’ve got the subject line down, don’t forget to include other important information. It’s important to keep your message concise and clear. Try not to write more than a couple paragraphs of information. You’re not the only person contacting this coach, it’s important to make the email as easy to skim as possible. So you can effectively pique their interest without demanding a lot of their time. Here’s a helpful outline of what you should include:
Personal information: Name, graduation year, high school and club team or travel team name
Athletic information: Sports-specific stats about you as an athlete. Links to skills videos and social media accounts with footage of your performance
Academics: GPA, test scores, and any other notable information
Contact information: Your phone number and email. You should also consider including the contact information for your coaches, and even their testimonials about you.
Add a memorable sign-off While optional, feel free to showcase your personality at the end of your message. Share a sentence about why you’re passionate about joining their team. Let them know what you’ll be working on over the next few months, training you have planned, and other goals that are important to you. Use this space to showcase your determination and why you think you’d be an asset to their softball program.
Don’t forget to edit! A simple spelling error can send the wrong message to the coach. It’s also important that the message comes across the way you’d like it to. Feel free to ask your parents, coach and friends to read the note to ensure it is clear, error-free and accurate.
The coaches at The Backstop are here to help along the way. We’re always glad to read a sample email, and answer any questions you may have. Best of luck on your quest for finding the right fit on a college team!