In Today’s Edition

Soccer Showcases: How to ‘Show Out’ at a College Showcase

Reaching out: Emailing College Coaches 101 - A Rookies Roadmap

Boost Your Success Rate: Improve Your Recruitment Prospects This Summer with These 4 Key Actions

Need help? Join the College Soccer Network: We are currently reviewing qualified players and will be only accepting FIVE candidates for July.
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How to ‘Show Out’ at a College Showcase

Showcases are a recruit’s time to shine. But what if you’re headed to a college showcase soon and don’t know how to grab the attention of the coach at your dream school? Stand out from the crowd by following these tips for success!

Arrive Fit: Ensure match fitness prior to the event. ‘You only have one chance to make a first impression’ Stay hydrated in advance to maintain peak performance.

Reach Out: Email coaches you're interested in before the showcase. Showing interest beforehand increases the likelihood of being noticed at the event.

Introduce Yourself: Embrace small talk and introduce yourself to coaches. Make a memorable impression and show your excitement.

Come Prepared: Bring essentials like water, snacks, gear for all weather conditions, and sunscreen. Being prepared showcases your professionalism and care.

Be Confident: Believe in your abilities and showcase your skills confidently. Show your personality and be a well-rounded individual.

Shake it Off: Recover gracefully from mistakes. Coaches observe how athletes handle setbacks.

Encourage Others: Create a positive training environment by encouraging and supporting others. Coaches value good sportsmanship and team spirit.

Ask Questions: Be proactive in asking thoughtful questions during Q&A sessions. Prepare questions that demonstrate your interest and research.

Follow Up: Reach out to coaches post-showcase to express continued interest. Seek feedback on your performance to maintain communication and initiative.

By following these tips, you can effectively capture the attention of college coaches and make a lasting impression at showcase events.

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Emailing College Coaches 101- A Rookies Roadmap

One of the most frequently asked questions we receive is how to email a college coach.
Sending an introductory email to a college coach can get your foot in the door with a program you’re interested in. But here’s the thing: coaches receive a ton of emails from recruits – sometimes hundreds or even thousands. So, just sending an email isn’t enough to get noticed. 

To improve your chances of the coach opening and replying to your email, you’ll need to write a clear, personalized email with a subject line that catches their eye. We’ve gathered some useful resources, including examples and templates, to show you how. 

Here’s a quick rundown on how to write an email to a college coach: 

1. Craft a good subject line - You need to capture the coach's interest ‘John Smith, 2026, lightning-fast forward’ 

2. Introduce yourself and the purpose of your email

3. Make it personal

4. Include notable athletic and academic stats

5. Give an action item to the coach

6. Be clear about your follow up plan

7. Proofread for errors - Be especially diligent in confirming the coach's name and the school's information 

Read the full article here

4 Things To Do this Summer to Improve Your Prospects

The college athletic recruitment process is a big ball of intimidating unknowns for students and families trying to navigate it. Summertime can be a great opportunity for high school student-athletes to get in front of college coaches at showcases, tournaments and clinics, and visit college campuses.

Here are four things high school athletes can do over the summer that may help them manage the recruitment process and improve their recruitment chances.

1. FOCUS ON IMPROVING YOUR GAME

Summertime is the perfect opportunity to make significant progress in your own development. Do you wish you could throw more weight around in the gym? Is there a certain aspect of your game you’d like to strengthen but you never had the time to do it? Well, now you have a chance to make significant progress.There’s no need to do this alone, though. Developing a plan of attack is crucial toward achieving any goal. Reach out to a trusted adult (trainer, high school coach, club coach, etc.), share what you’d like to accomplish over the summer, and devise a plan to follow so you can get there.

2. LEARN HOW TO MARKET YOURSELF

The college admission and athletic recruitment experiences provide lessons high schoolers can use forever. One such skill that’s uncomfortable for many is marketing yourself. You may not be comfortable putting yourself in a vulnerable position to receive criticism, but it may be necessary, especially if you’re not a "blue-chip" recruit. 

3. LOOK INTO COLLEGE SUMMER SHOWCASES

Participating in a college showcase is an opportunity to play in front of multiple colleges at once, although you should be aware of the limitations of showcases. You can't simply show up and expect to get a scholarship offer the next day. Online recruiting platform SportsRecruits advises student athletes to think of showcases as just one piece in the recruitment process. "You should think of the event as an opportunity to be seen by college coaches who already know about you, but want to see you play live.” However, many coaches use showcases as a tool to select students they may want to pursue further.

4. DO THOUGHTFUL (& THOROUGH) COLLEGE RESEARCH

There’s nothing wrong with having athletics drive your college application experience. However, just be mindful that there are many factors that you should consider when evaluating a college.

Coaches and administrators can leave or get fired. Upperclassmen teammates will either graduate or transfer. You could get injured, and it’ll change your entire trajectory, or maybe you won’t even be able to play anymore. The last thing any college athlete needs to realize is he or she is only attending a school for the athletics program, and actually hates every other aspect of the school.

This is where thoughtful college research comes into play. Always check out the athletics program and do your due diligence, but also apply that to everything else. What kind of majors are available? What kind of internships do students in those programs get? How are the dorms? Is the food bearable? What does the general vibe of the campus seem like?

There are no wrong questions to ask — if it’s on your mind, it’s worth finding out. The goal of a final college list is to be excited about every single one of the schools that land on it, whether sports are part of the picture or not.

Read the full article here

Join the College Soccer Network: Your Guide Through the Recruiting Process

Navigating the college recruiting timeline can be incredibly confusing. Misinformation spreads quickly, leading to poor decisions and, ultimately, frustration and disappointment.

When should you start? The earlier, the better, but it’s never too late to take action. Our College Soccer Network offers comprehensive support and guidance throughout the entire recruiting process. We’re here to help you understand the timeline, avoid common pitfalls, and maximize your opportunities to play soccer at the collegiate level.

We are currently reviewing qualified players and will be accepting 5 qualified candidates for the month of July.
Interested? Book your FREE 30-Minute consultation and explore your college pathway.
Simply send an email to [email protected]

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