Has anyone used the Scouting Zone app? It seems like a great tool for coaches and replaces all the individual messaging. Surf Cup will be using it this year (not sure if they used it in the past).
These "helpful hints" are from ScoutingZone:
The DO's and DON'Ts of Contacting College Coaches
Let's strike while the iron is hot! You are in the midst of your summer tournament schedule, and college coaches are flying all over the country to watch YOU PLAY...
NOW is the perfect time to contact college coaches of schools that you are interested in - either for the first time as an introduction or as a follow-up to previous contact. Let's talk about the messaging, frequency, and how to be most effective! Path to college soccer start here...
DO: Introduce yourself / DON'T: Send a fill-in-the-blank mass e-mail
•An introduction letter is very important and not a reproduced one. Make this letter something personal, not a fill-in-the-blank, mass e-mail. Make sure YOU are writing it, not mom and dad. The fastest way to find yourself in the virtual trashcan is to send a canned email {insert no real interest in your program} or by just sending an email to every program across the US! {Yikes!}
•Set yourself apart somehow…You have to remember the coaches get a lot of emails. Give them something that triggers them to remember who you are, express yourself in a way that you want them to know you are interested! Follow up on the season; ask about experiences with the team; reference a recent game; let them know if you will be in attendance at one of their upcoming games. Doing this shows real, genuine interest.
DO: Be mindful of the “right amount of contact” / DON'T: Be obnoxious or over-attentive
•Coaching is a full-time job. There is a difference between contacting, showing interest, and the other side, which is being a little obnoxious and overbearing. Trust me, you want to be memorable, BUT a coach shouldn’t have your phone number memorized because you are listed on their missed call log 10 times a day!
•NCAA has a rule that coaches can only contact you once a week.
•Every 10 days, maybe twice a month for contacting. If you contact a coach more than once a week, you’re starting to overbear.
•The easiest way to contact a coach is through e-mail (you don’t want coaches to start avoiding your calls). A phone call is okay too, but make sure YOU are doing it and not your mom or dad. YOU represent YOU, the best!
DO: Be persistant / DON'T: Get frustrated
•Let them know why you want to attend the school (e.g. coaching style, academics… this is why I think I would be a good fit for the team...).
•Talk about why you personally would be a great addition and what you would bring to the team. Confidence is a great thing and knowing when to appropriately inject it proves respectfulness and great awareness - not arrogance.
•Maintain a dialog at your prospective schools. Most of the time, schools will not respond to your communications. This can be frustrating but they are listening. Be persistent. Remember, recruitment is selling yourself and persistence is the key.
DO: Include the link to your SCOUTINGZONE player profile, ALWAYS!
•Make sure it has been recently updated with a current photo, your accolades, upcoming tournaments, include a video, your Top 10 Colleges... etc!
•In your email header always include: Name, Grad Year, Club Team