E-mailing coaches

[JoeA1010]

This should probably be in the Rant and Raves section.

When girls are e-mailing college coaches, they want to be certain to include all necessary information in every single e-mail. Do not assume that a college coach knows who you are, no matter how many times they have watched you or even talked with you. College coaches receive hundreds of e-mails per week from girls.

Here are the things that should be in EVERY SINGLE e-mail:
1. Name.
2. Grad year.
3. Phone number.
4. Travel team name, and if relevant, your high school.
5. Home address.
6. Position(s).
7. Some reference to our last communication, or just the reason why you are writing. Give us some context.
8. Do NOT make us click links to find all of the information listed above. You can attach a profile or other info, but put the information I listed above in the body of the e-mail. We do NOT want to click on Captain U, NCSA or anything else to find your information or schedule. We have hundreds of e-mails to sort through and having to click on links takes too much time (especially if we have to find a login and password, at which point we're out) and about 10-20 percent of the time the link doesn't work.

 

[Admin]

Emaling College Softball Coaches

Joe great details about what to place in the Body of email. My Question,How importance is the subject line ? Or what should be placed inside the Subject line ?

We have a common practice when emailing Corp Staff, we always place relative information about the email in the Subject Line. We follow the 3 W rule for Subject Line. Who, What and When.

1.) Who will this effect
2.) What will it effect
3.) When is it time sensitive ?

Here's a example of the Subject Line we may use between Corp Staff. Below is a example only. Just in-case any of my staff read this, sure don't want them thinking I'm working.

Subject: Col, Oh Sup meet Zun Sup 24th 10 a.m.

The Translation is; Columbus, Oh Ricky Moorehead meeting Zun-co Supervisor on the 24th at 10 a.m.

Now before I even open the email I'm aware of 3 things.

1.) It Effect me.
2.) What will it effect ? My Golf outing at 11 a.m. : (
3.) Its Time Sensitive because it now 9 a.m.

I'm sure that in softball the Subject line would be more like a attention getter, but what if a player used the 3 W Rule ? Would it work or help you to determiner the importance of the email ?

Here my Example of the Subject Line usage if I was a Girls Softball Player trying to get information to a College Softball Coach or Coaches.

Subject: Stingrays TD, Candice Moorehead Dia #4 17th 12 p.m.

The Translation would be as followed;
Playing at Stingrays Tournament, Candice Moorehead on Dia #4 July 17th at 12 p.m.

I'm not sure if proper usage of the Subject Line could help or Not ?

Whats your thought on usage of the Subject Line Joe ?

 

[JoeA1010]

I think the subject line can be used to summarize the content of the e-mail. I have one girl who e-mailed tonight and her subject line is ASA Nationals Schedule Salem. That is perfect. I know exactly what is in the e-mail. Many girls put their name and their grad year, which is fine, but also repeat the grad year in the body of the e-mail.

 

[Louuuuu]

Joe,

While you're at it, mention that if the prospect makes a Skills Video, Do Not Add Music.

 

[DougA10]

I have been told by some coaches that if a video is not attached the email goes straight to the trash.

 

[JoeA1010]

I'm not sure how many coaches will ignore an email if it doesn't have a video. I would guess the higher the level, the more that may be true. But if a girl writes and says she is the shortstop for Batbusters Haning, that isn't going in the trash without a video. Of course, that girl probably verballed three years ago, too.

With music on the video, yes, most college coaches do not want it. I don't mind it, as I like to critique the music selections.

 

[ApogeeDemon]

Also, not the best idea to use an email with crazy names like meanbi*ch@yahoo.com or seriouspartygirl@yahoo.com Probably going to get you a red card right away!

 

[ccdteacher]

Joe,
I would like to see the potential recruits also add their current GPA and SAT/ACT scores in their emails.

 

[JoeA1010]

ccd: Great point, I definitely want to see that as well. When the GPA and ACT/SAT aren't in there, it's the first thing I'm trying to find out.

Also, to clarify, we do want video links attached, we just don't want to have to click a link to find information that can easily be put in the body of the e-mail, particularly pool play schedules for an upcoming tournament.

 

[Lester]

wow, big statement. Are you a college coach or coach material? If so, at what level and how does your statement not appear to be hot air? Let me say, I'm not mad at you. I'm simply asking what credentials you have to make it OK to say something so inclusive of 100% for all? "Every coach"... A bit dramatic to say things like "every". My kids say that stuff 'constantly' .

Things you didn't say but remind me of the same topic of "all encompassing" dramatic context are words/phrases like "all the time", "constantly", "never any other way", "that's all they do"... to name a few. Pet peeve of mine. Yes, I use them but for sure put thought to the usage and context of them.

 

[JoeA1010]

Cause every coach and situation is the same. Bag of hot air

Larry:

Thank you for your valuable input into this thread.

 

[coachjwb]

I foresee someone who had a temper tantrum in the middle of the night last night ending up in timeout ... aka penalty box ...