'So You Want To Play College Soccer?' - Connect, Engage, Recruit: How Student Athletes Can Use Social Media To Get Recruited

Early Bird Gets the Scholarship: Timing Your Emails to College Coaches + NCAA Eliminating National Letter of Intent

October 13, 2024

In Today’s Edition

Welcome to our important new blog series, where over the next 5 to 6 weeks, we will guide you through every step of the college recruiting journey. Whether you're just starting out or are well into your process, we'll cover essential topics like creating your standout highlight video, building a targeted college list, and strategies to secure that coveted scholarship. No matter where you are on your journey, our series is packed with crucial tips and advice to help you succeed. Join us each week as we empower you with the knowledge and tools you need to navigate the recruiting landscape with confidence.

This Week:

  • Connect, Engage, Recruit: How Student Athletes Can Use Social Media To Get Recruited

  • Early Bird Gets the Scholarship: Timing Your Emails to College Coaches

  • Join our FREE College Soccer Network Community!

  • Reach out today to book your complimentary 20-minute Zoom session and jumpstart your recruiting journey!

Connect, Engage, Recruit: How Student Athletes Can Use Social Media To Get Recruited

Often when social media and college recruiting pop up in the news, the articles tell cautionary tales of recruits who have lost an offer or a scholarship because of poor social media choices.

However, social media, when used properly, can be an effective recruiting tool. In fact, recruits can use the power of social media to contact coaches, show coaches what kind of recruit they are and even gain the attention of college coaches who weren’t previously recruiting them.

NCAA SOCIAL MEDIA RULES AND POLICY FOR STUDENT-ATHLETES

The NCAA social media recruiting rules for athletes and coaches are less restrictive than traditional recruiting rules. High school athletes are allowed to reach out to college coaches on social media at any time, public or private.

Coaches can communicate with recruits privately through a direct message (DM) once a sport’s contact period begins. NCAA social media rules allow coaches to “like” or “share” a student-athlete’s social media posts. However, coaches are prohibited from publicly commenting on a recruit’s social media profile until after the athlete has committed to their program. This is often referred to as the “click don’t type rule.”

Insider Tip: Many college coaches and athletic programs enforce their own social media policies that student-athletes are required to follow while representing the university. As you move through the recruiting process, be sure your social media presence and online behavior shows that you will be a reputable addition to their team.

HOW COACHES USE SOCIAL MEDIA FOR RECRUITING ATHLETES

Following the NCAA rules on social media and college recruiting, coaches can DM the recruits to introduce themselves or wish a recruit good luck before a big game. But most importantly, coaches turn to social media to get a better understanding of a recruit’s personality and character. Coaches can now connect, evaluate and gather information about a prospective student-athlete without ever leaving the office.

In fact, in a survey by Cornerstone Reputation, 83% of college coaches said their staff conducted online research of recruits. Of these coaches, 88% turned to Facebook, 82% have used Twitter and 54% have looked at Instagram to gain insight into a recruit’s character. Some coaches even use fake accounts to evaluate student-athletes and social media accounts.

TIPS FOR ATHLETES USING SOCIAL MEDIA

A well-managed athlete social media presence can increase a coach’s interest in recruiting you. Here’s how athletes can use social media for college recruiting to impress college coaches.


Be visible. You probably already have a Twitter, Instagram and TikTok account that you use every day. Utilize all your social media platforms to increase your chances of getting noticed by college coaches.
Use your resources. Do you play on a club team, or go to a personal trainer? Find their social media handles and “tag” them on related posts. Go the extra mile and politely ask if they will share it on their profile.
Be active. Actively engage with your top schools’ social media accounts to confirm you’re interested in being recruited. Check out their frequently used “hashtags” on Twitter or Instagram and apply them to your own social media posts when it makes sense. You can research schools and create a list of your favorites here.
Share good – not bad – content. Coaches track their recruits’ behavior on social media. Focus on material that implies you are coachable, dedicated to your sport and helping others.


When it comes to social media and college recruiting, not all coaches are the same. There will be some sports and coaches that gravitate towards certain platforms. We encourage you to always do your research on which platform is best suited for you in college recruiting.

Early Bird Gets the Scholarship: Timing Your Emails to College Coaches

The earlier you start contacting schools, the better! Especially if you have your heart set on playing at the NCAA Division I or II level. A great time to start sending these intro emails is right after club or high school season wraps up your Freshman year.

If most of the schools on your target list are NCAA Division III, NAIA, or NJCAA programs, you can start sending your introductory messages during your Sophomore year as these programs typically recruit a bit later.

Once you're ready to start emailing, find a school and gather the current coaching staff's contact information. Don't forget to select every coach on staff so that you maximize the chances your email gets read.

What Information Should I Include in My Emails?

It's important to use a clean and professional structure that includes basic information about yourself when emailing college coaches. We recommend the following structure:

  • Subject Line: Your subject line should always have your name, grad year, position, and reason for reaching out. Example: Emily Smite | 2026 | Attack | Introduction

  • Addressing Coach: Email the full coaching staff. Each program has a specific person in charge of recruiting. That could be the Head Coach or Assistant Coach, so address all of them at the start of your email! Example: Dear Coach Smith, Coach Jones, Coach White

  • Basic Information: This includes information surrounding where you go to school, if you play for a club, etc. This also includes the essential information you have within your subject line.

  • Express Interest: In every email, no matter the topic, you should always express interest in the program. It does not need to be lengthy, a sentence or two will work! Example: “I’ve been keeping tabs on (program)’s current season, and wanted to congratulate the team on their win over (rival school)!”

  • Include Important Academic or Athletic Achievements: If you received a perfect score on the SAT or ACT, or if your team made it to some sort of state championship, include that in your emails. Anything that would be impressive to a coaching staff should be included in all of your emails.

Importance of Communication Surrounding Recruiting Events

When attending recruiting events, you must communicate with coaches both before and after the event.

  • Before the Event: Coaches do not attend events walking around trying to find the best athlete. They are attending recruiting events with a pre-determined list of student-athletes who reached out beforehand to let them know they will be attending. Make sure to send your event schedule 7-10 days before the event!

  • After the Event: After events, specifically camps, clinics, or events where you are working with coaching staff, you should reach out and thank them for their time. If your team did particularly well at the event, or you have new recruiting video from the event, you can share that with coaches who were unable to attend in person.

How Often Should I Be Emailing Coaches?

There is no magic timeline for how frequently you should be reaching out to a college coach. The basic rule is that you should only be reaching out when you have new information to share. You should have some new information to share at least every three months.

Below is a list of reasons to reach out:

  • Introduction

  • Inform them of an event you are attending

  • You have added or updated video on your profile

  • You have added or updated your transcript on your profile

  • You plan to visit their campus

  • You are within five days of your official or unofficial campus visit

  • On the day of a coach’s off-campus visit with you

  • Wishing a coach good luck in a pivot game/match

  • Any new athletic accomplishments

  • Setting up a phone call to learn more about the program

Parents/Guardians: How You Can Help Your Student-Athletes Contact Coaches

College coaches want to hear directly from the student-athletes. They should be the ones sending the messages and driving their recruiting process. However, there are still several ways you can assist them in this process!

  • Help Build Target List: Take the time to sit down as a family and discuss what is important in a college or university. Attending college is a family decision, so discussing what types of schools should be on their list will be helpful.

  • Check Grammar & Spelling: Take the time to read through and make sure their grammar is correct. Also, ensure they are addressing the correct school and coaches!

  • Practice Interviews: After your student-athlete starts to narrow down their list they will most likely be having phone calls or even official visits. Take the time to practice interview questions, and help them come up with questions to ask college coaches.

Communications from the Coach Perspective

There are no rules for student-athletes contacting college coaches. However, there are rules surrounding how much college coaches can communicate with you. Depending on your sport and the type of programs you are interested in, coaches may not be able to have direct recruiting conversations with you until June 15th or September 1st entering your Junior Year.

However, just because a coach may not be able to answer you directly does not mean they are not keeping tabs on student-athletes who have been proactively reaching out. Make sure you are putting in the work early on so when the time comes for college coaches to reach out, they know who you are.

Have you ever reached out to a college coach via email but didn't get a response?

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Join our FREE College Soccer Network Community and Share your Highlight Video for FREE!

Are you enjoying our weekly newsletter but craving more in-depth insights and interactions? Dive deeper into the world of college soccer recruiting by joining the College Soccer Network! In just 10 days, we've welcomed over 75 passionate members, and we're just getting started. ⚽️

By joining our community, you can:

🔍 Get answers to your pressing questions from experienced parents, players, and our seasoned ex-D1 coach, Steve.

📹 Share your highlight videos and resumes directly with coaches, getting your talent noticed.

📚 Utilize our comprehensive guide to track commitments and stay informed every step of the way.

This is your chance to be part of a fast-growing team that's dedicated to elevating your recruiting journey. Join us today and take the next step towards your college soccer dreams!

Join the College Soccer Network for Free and become an essential part of our vibrant community.

Poll Question: Is your highlight video easily accessible on a platform used by college coaches?

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NCAA eliminating National Letter of Intent

Historic changes are coming to college sports. The NCAA Division I Council approved Wednesday to eliminate the National Letter of Intent program.

The changes come as the NCAA undergoes its most seismic changes to date. The House v. NCAA settlement would permit schools to pay athletes more than $20 million annually, spurring the NCAA and its leaders to rethink their amateurism rule.

The National Letter of Intent (NLI) program started in 1964 and is the binding agreement signed by recruits for generations. Instead, financial aid and scholarship agreements are expected to be used. The entire NLI will not be ditched, however, as the recruiting rules around the program will still be commonplace. When athletes enter the transfer portal and move schools, most just sign an athletics aid agreement.

For years, the NLI has been under the purview of the Collegiate Commissioners Association (CCA), which pushed for the change in recent months. The National Letter of Intent will not exist but similar written aid offers are not going away.

The CCA met in September to discuss the proposal of eliminating the National Letter of Intent. Previously, when signing an NLI, an athlete agreed to attend an institution full-time for a year. NLI penalties changed last year, no longer forcing athletes to sit a semester if they signed a request for release after a coaching change.

While the House v. NCAA settlement still faces a months-long process to be approved, a new binding document between a school and athlete will need to be created with the introduction of revenue sharing which spurred the elimination of the NLI.

Where are you on your recruiting journey?

If you're a 2025/26 athlete and starting to feel uneasy about the lack of interest, it's time to take action. Remember, most schools will have their rosters locked at 28 players by 2025 and 2026. This means players could face cuts or decommitments due to limited roster spaces. Don't wait until it's too late—email me now to schedule your free 20-minute analysis and get ahead in your recruiting process.

Simply send an email to [email protected]

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About: Steve Coxon College Soccer Network

Steve has 20 years of college-level experience, 17+ years in D1 as the Head Recruiter. He has facilitated more than $30 million in college scholarships.

Location - Connecticut, USA