How to Write College Coaches Letters

Good high school athletes can find themselves in a difficult and awkward position if they want to continue their athletic careers at the college level. They may need to get the attention of college coaches by writing letters to them. When you are writing a letter to a college coach, the idea is to get their attention and explain to them why you would be a good fit for their program. This is not easy since most college coaches are interested in outstanding athletes and someone who was merely a good player in high school may not have the talent to succeed at the next level.

Things You'll Need

  • Printer
  • Computer
  • Newspaper clips
  • DVD
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Instructions

    • 1

      Make an honest assessment of your athletic ability. Don't romanticize your talent or your achievements at the high school level. Be realistic with yourself. Write down all your skills and your flaws. If you believe that your skill level is high enough to compete at the college level, you can go ahead and write a college coach a letter.

    • 2

      Make your letter brief and to the point. You also need to convey the enthusiasm that you have for your sport and for the college. Write about the skills that you have that may have been overlooked and why they will translate at the college level. Write about the best games you played and your overall achievements during your career.

    • 3

      Include a DVD that has your career highlights. In order to be considered viable, you should have a 5-to-10 minute highlight reel of your best overall plays as well as other moments that indicate your ability to function as a team player. Coaches want to know that they are getting a talented player as well as someone who is interested in the good of the team.

    • 4

      Include any newspaper clips that shed light on your overall talent and the career you have had. The written accounts may be from your high school newspaper, the local weekly newspaper or a local daily. It shows that independent sources have valued your ability and career.

    • 5

      State what you want to achieve through the letter. If you want a scholarship, say so. If you want a grant-in-aid or a partial scholarship, make sure the coach understands this. If you want a tryout, let him know. If you have put together a strong letter, with video highlights and newspaper accounts of your ability, you will get noticed and you may get a chance to prove yourself.