What college coaches actually look for in recruiting emails from players By Matthew DohertyFebruary 5, 2026 It's important to know the do's and don'ts when sending a recruiting email to a potential coach. For many high school soccer players, sending an email to a college coach represents the first step in their recruiting journey. But drafting that initial email can be daunting. What do you say? What do you not say? How do you stand out? As recruits obsess over each word and phrase, college coaches are seeing their inboxes flooded with emails. Coaches receive anywhere from 50 emails per day to 500 per week, especially during peak recruiting season. Understanding what coaches look for and how they handle incoming emails is crucial for prospective recruits. To help players learn what to do—and what not to do—when reaching out to a coach, we spoke with five New England college coaches about the state of recruiting emails in 2026. The responses range from Division 1 schools such as Fairfield and UNH to Division 3 NESCAC programs such as Tufts and Bates. Regardless of the league or division, all five coaches agreed on what every recruiting email needs and the common mistakes that raise red flags. Here’s everything you need to know about sending an email to a college coach. 1. What coaches actually do when an email hits the inbox College coaches typically receive hundreds of emails per week, especially during the height of recruiting season. But all five coaches said they prioritize opening and reading every email. The most important thing to remember is that your email will be read—and logged. “I will open an email and read it, especially if someone shows sincere interest in our school,” said UNH women’s coach Steve Welham. “It may get a response right away, then be logged in a list of players who have reached out.” From there, the goal for all coaches is to see that prospect play live. Thanks to the email, you are now on their radar.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DS2yJNoEWG3/

Anyone attended one of these? 🧐 November is here! Fall seasons are winding down...time to plan for what's next, and what's next is.... The PPA 100 Winter ID Camp in Naples, FL from Feb 6-8, 2026! Be seen and evaluated by a top tier group of collegiate coaches over the course of 3 days! Have the chance to be coached by coaches from the following schools: Georgetown University Cornell University Amherst College Lafayette College Williams College Kenyon College WE ARE LIMITING THE CAMP TO ONLY 100 PLAYERS! WE WILL SELL OUT! Please compare the price of the PPA Winter Camp to other camps who have tried to replicate our model. PPA is run by coaches for players- not by business people! Click "Register Now" to begin your journey towards becoming a collegiate student-athlete. Price will increase after 12/1/25!! Any questions? Visit www.ppawintercamp.com or Email: [email protected] See you in Florida!! PPA Soccer

Welcome to Day 3 of the 5-Day Recruiting Challenge! So over the past 2 days you have created your highlight video and built your targeted college list. Now, it's time to connect with coaches and get on their radar. Today, you'll learn how to write a simple, powerful introductory email that gets opened and gets a response. Today’s Mission: Write Your First Email to College Coaches Your email is often a coach's first impression of you. A generic, mass-blasted email is easy to spot and even easier to ignore. A personalized, professional message shows you've done your homework and are serious about their program. Let's use the college list you built yesterday to start your outreach. ⚽ - Step 1: Craft the Perfect Subject Line Coaches receive hundreds of emails. Make yours stand out. Keep it clear, concise, and professional. Example: 2027 Goalkeeper | Oakwood SC MLS Next - 6 ft 2' Athletic, Brave, Winner! This gives the coach all the essential information before they even open the email plus it needs to stand out! ⚽ - Step 2: Write a Compelling Email Your goal is to be brief but effective. Provide the key information a coach needs to evaluate you quickly. Use this simple template: Introduction: Start with a personalized greeting. Briefly introduce yourself and state your interest in their specific program. Mention something you like about their team, school, or recent season. Key Information (Use Bullet Points): - Academics: Your GPA and any relevant test scores (SAT/ACT). - Athletics: Your team, league (ECNL, GA, MLS Next, etc.), and a few key athletic achievements. - Highlight Video: A direct link to your highlight reel. Make sure the link is clickable and easy to find. Closing:Thank the coach for their time. Express your interest in learning more about their program and mention that you will be following their season. Include your contact information and a link to your full player profile or sports resume. ⚽ - Step 3: Personalize Your Message

If you post your name below, I’ll make sure to tag you in all posts regarding 2027 commitments and updates. 👇 @Mike Levy @Michael Menadue @Deleted @Jill Ciminero @Mia Butcher @Bradley Rothman @Jerid Grandinetti @Frank Vella @Emily Vella @Liza Borches @Jill Ciminero @Amy Greaser @Jennifer Looney @Leila Sweet @Courtney Tucker @David Riedel @Kendal Sandlin @Jason Wheaton @Alexa Cergol @Qasim K @Sam Price @Greg Huffaker @Mike Johnson @Paul Bahia @Machaela Looper @Faith Hughes @Steven Slade @Bryuana Wells @Mattea Herman @Paul McDonald