Sending Emails That College Coaches Will Want to Read

This is Step #6 in the 10 Step BRC Recruiting Formula!

#6 – Sending Emails That College Coaches Will Want to Read

Follow Up with Coaches via Email and Phone

Email templates coaches will read

Here’s an example of what you need to communicate in an initial email to a college coach.

Template - Reach out to Coach

Dear Coach _______ (Make sure you use a specific name),
I want to quickly introduce myself with the hopes of an opportunity to play in front of you
at some point.
My name is ______ (Your name).
I play ______ (Position(s)) and will be a ________ (Grad Year)
Graduate from _______ High School in _______ (City, State).
I am extremely interested in ________ University from both academic and baseball
standpoints. I currently have a _____ GPA, a ____ on the ACT/SAT and am hoping to
major in ________(optional).
Please view my highlight video via the link below, and if you have the time, I would greatly
appreciate your input on how to be considered as a recruit for your program.
If you feel that I am not a good fit for your program, please do not hesitate to provide your
honest feedback.
My Highlight Video Link: ______________________________
I look forward to hearing from you. If you would like to contact me or one of my coaches,
please see the contact information below.
Thank you for your time.
Best Regards,
_________ (Your name, NOT parent's name)
Your personal contact information:
Your current coach's contact information:
Additional general information:
• High School/Summer baseball team
• Graduation year
• Position(s)
• 60-yard dash time (Only if it’s good)
• Other sports you play
• Personal awards or legitimate team championships (Don’t reference your summer
team’s runner-up showing at the state fair invitational baseball tourney)

How to email a coach (Do’s and Don’ts)

IMPORTANT:

What if a Coach Doesn’t Respond to my Email?

If you don’t get a response within a week, first check your dates to be sure you are within a time frame that the coach is permitted to contact you. If so, definitely send out a quick follow up email as a response to your first email. This way the coach can quickly refer to your first email and watch your skills video.

Don’t take it personally if you don’t get a prompt response from a coach. Continue to be proactive and send at least a few follow up emails before writing anyone off.

A follow up email (download in tools section) can be something like this:

Hi Coach ___,
I just wanted to follow up on the email I sent you last week.
I know you must get a ton of emails each week, but I wanted to reach out again in hopes that you’ll have some time in the near future to check out my skills video (link to your skills video) and provide some feedback on whether or not I fit the type of player you’re recruiting in the class of ____.
I’m very interested in ___(the university) and potentially playing for your baseball program.
I really appreciate your time.

All the best,
___ (Your Name, Not Your Parent’s)

BRC 10 Step Formula

#1 - Understanding How the Recruiting Process REALLY Works

#2 - The Role of the Parent

#3 - What Level of College Baseball is Right for You?

#4 - Make Your Hot List

#5 - How to Create a Skills Video that Coaches Will Watch Til the End

#6 - Sending Emails That College Coaches Will Want to Read

#7 - What College Baseball Coaches ACTUALLY Look For

#8 - How to Make Sure a College Baseball Program Is a Good Fit for You

#9 - How to Maximize Your College Visits

#10 - What to Do When the Scholarship Offers Start Coming In (How to negotiate)

Important Links!

Visit http://ncaa.org (Division I, II and III),
http://njcaa.org (National Junior Colleges) or
http://www.naia.org/ (NAIA) for more information, rules and regulations. “I didn’t know” is not considered an acceptable excuse by these agencies.

Please note that the highlighted rules here mainly apply for NCAA Division I and II. Rules vary for different associations, divisions and sports, so do your research!

Rules and Regulations for Communications with College Coaches

While they do change from time to time, current NCAA rules regarding communications between a prospect and a Division I college baseball coach are as follows:

Coaches cannot initiate any form of communication with ballplayers or their parents – including emails, texts, direct messages on social media and phone calls – until September 1st of your Junior year of high school.
Starting on September 1st, coaches can call prospects/parents one time a week except during a Contact Period when they can make unlimited phone calls.
Coaches can call prospects any time regarding a camp related issue for a camp they are putting on, but can’t talk recruiting with you during those conversations.
Beginning September 1st of the Junior year, ballplayers can coordinate unofficial visits with a school’s athletic department to meet and have recruiting conversations with the coach, coaching staff, and players while visiting the campus.
Beginning September 1st of the Junior year, ballplayers and their parents can begin taking official visits, where the college invites the player and pays for the trip.
During the five days before an official visit the coaches at the school you are visiting can call you as many times as they’d like.
Beginning July 1st before senior year, coaches can begin making off-campus visits to ballplayers at their home or school.
During the Senior year, coaches can conduct off-campus communications with athletes and their parents. This can happen no more than three times.
Once you sign a national letter of intent to play at a school, those coaches can call as much as they’d like.
High school players and parents can call a college coach at any time… just remember, they can only call you back if it fits into one of the bullet points above.

NCAA rules regarding phone calls between a prospect and Division II college baseball coach are as follows:

Ballplayers can be sent non-recruiting communications like questionnaires, NCAA materials and camp promotions at any time.
Beginning July 15th before a ballplayer’s Junior year, coaches can begin mailing out printed recruiting materials to all students at any time.
Beginning June 15th before a ballplayer’s Junior year, coaches can begin making phone calls or using video conferencing to communicate with athletes.
Beginning June 15th before a ballplayer’s Junior year, coaches can have off-campus communications with athletes and/or their parents.
Beginning June 15th before a ballplayer’s Junior year, they may start taking official visits to prospective colleges.
As with Division I, high school players and parents can call a college coach at any time… just remember, they can only call you back after June 15th.

Work Your Plan!

Every player will have his own pathway to college baseball, but download the BRC Checklist for you year. Use the information you learn on these pages to customize the plan that’s right for you.