WHY EMAIL UPDATES ARE IMPORTANT

College coaches are juggling dozens (if not hundreds) of potential recruits, and they can’t keep track of everyone’s progress without help. Regular email updates are a great way to keep coaches informed of your upcoming events, recruiting activities, and any notable athletic or academic accomplishments.

HOW OFTEN TO EMAIL COACHES

If a coach doesn’t hear from you for months, they may assume that you have moved on to other schools. You should email a coach at least once a month to keep your recruiting conversation warm. If you have significant news or an exciting update, do not hesitate to email them more than once a month. But do not bombard them with emails that have no substance.

WHAT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR EMAIL UPDATES

1. Provide information about upcoming events.

Alert coaches of any upcoming events you’ll be participating in that you think they might attend. This helps them follow your progress and plan opportunities to watch you play. This could be tournaments (e.g., Regional Club Championships, Winter Escape, etc.), Nexus events (e.g., AAU Junior Olympic Games, Junior Nexus Championship), or relevant camps and clinics (e.g., College-specific camps and clinics, LineUp events).

Example: “I wanted to let you know that I will be competing in the NFHCA Winter Escape Showcase from January 15-17, 2027, and have attached my game schedule in case you plan to attend. Thank you for your time and consideration, and I hope you’ll have the opportunity to watch me play!”

OR

Example: “I wanted to let you know that I will be attending session 2 of the 2026 Elite Camp on August 8-9. I am very interested in Cornell and look forward to working with you!”

2. Provide information about athletic achievements.

Share any notable athletic milestones or awards.

Example: “I wanted to let you know that I’ve been selected to compete at the 2027 Junior Nexus Championship.”

3. Provide information about academic achievements.

Share any notable academic milestones or awards that reflect your commitment to excelling in the classroom, as well as on the field.

Example:

“I’m excited to share that I scored a 1400 on my SAT and was recently named to my school’s Honor Roll for the fifth consecutive semester with a 3.95 GPA.

4. Provide any relevant personal updates.

Briefly mention other extracurricular or personal milestones that show you’re a well-rounded student athlete.

Example:

“Outside of field hockey, I’ve been volunteering with my school’s environmental club to help clean up local parks. It’s been a great way to give back to the community.”

WHY ASKING QUESTIONS MATTERS

Including questions in your email not only makes the conversation more engaging, but it also shows you’re genuinely interested in their program and its culture. Here are some ideas for thoughtful questions:

• “How is your season going? What has stood out to you about the team’s performance so far?”

• “What tournaments or showcases do you typically attend to evaluate recruits?”

• “What skills and characteristics are you looking for in future recruits?

You do not need to include questions in every email update, but when you do, make sure they fit the context. For example, asking which tournaments or showcases a coach typically attends makes sense when sharing an upcoming event schedule, while questions about team culture may be better suited to a future email or phone call.

TIPS FOR CRAFTING EFFECTIVE EMAIL UPDATES

• Be concise and clear. Stick to the most relevant points – coaches are busy.

• Personalize the email. Use the coach’s name and, where relevant, reference something specific about their program to show genuine interest.

• Provide context. When sharing athletic accomplishments, briefly explain how they reflect your progress.

• Include links or attachments. Share highlight clips or skills videos, if appropriate.

• Keep the conversation open. Conclude your email with an invitation for the coach to share updates about their season or some other call to action (e.g., schedule a call, schedule a visit), if appropriate.