How Many Emails Should I Send to College Soccer Coaches?

If you’re wondering how often to email college soccer coaches, you’re not alone. This question keeps parents and players up at night—send too few and you might get overlooked, send too many and you risk annoying coaches.

Here’s the reality: there’s a sweet spot that changes as you progress through high school.

Email Volume by Grade Level

The magic number isn’t actually magic—it depends on where you are in your recruiting journey. At a minimum, below is our recommendation.

Want to give yourself the best chance at getting recruited? Instead of per season, take this volume and target per month.

Freshman (9th Grade): 5-10 Emails Per Season: Start building relationships early. Send brief introductory emails to programs that interest you. Keep it simple: who you are, your position, and basic stats. Think of this as planting seeds, not harvesting crops.

Sophomore (10th Grade): 10-20 Emails Per Season: Ramp up your outreach, especially before showcases and ID camps. Coaches are starting to pay attention to your class, so make sure you’re on their radar. Include updated highlight videos and academic progress.

Junior (11th Grade): 20-40 Emails Per Season: This is your peak recruiting year. College soccer recruiting accelerates significantly during junior year, so your email volume should match that intensity. Follow up consistently with programs showing interest, and don’t be afraid to reach out to new schools.

Senior (12th Grade): 20+ Emails Early in the Year: Focus on schools actively recruiting your position. Time is running short, so be strategic about which programs you target. Quality becomes even more critical at this stage.

The Volume vs. Quality Balance

Here’s an insight many families miss: these numbers represent the minimum. If you want to maximize your chances, consider these ranges per month rather than per season. However, this only works if you maintain quality.

Quality Always Beats Quantity Mass-sending generic emails is worse than sending fewer personalized ones. Coaches can spot template emails from miles away. Take time to mention something specific about their program—recent wins, playing style, or academic offerings.

Key Strategies for Email Success

1. Update Coaches Regularly: Don’t just email when you need something. Share new highlight videos, upcoming tournament schedules, improved GPA, or standardized test scores. These updates keep you fresh in their minds.
2. Be Consistent, Not Overwhelming: A steady drip of communication works better than radio silence followed by email bombing. Space your emails 2-4 weeks apart unless you have significant updates to share.
3. Track Everything: Keep a detailed log of every email sent, responses received, and follow-up dates. Many families lose momentum because they can’t remember who they’ve contacted or when.
4. Understand NCAA Timelines: Don’t panic if coaches don’t respond immediately. NCAA eligibility rules restrict when coaches can contact recruits directly. Your patience during quiet periods shows maturity.

The Bottom Line

College soccer recruiting is a numbers game, but it’s also about building genuine relationships. Start early, stay consistent, and always prioritize quality over quantity. The coaches who don’t respond aren’t necessarily uninterested—they might just be waiting for the right time.

Remember, every email is an opportunity to showcase not just your soccer skills, but your character and communication abilities. Make each one count.

Ready to streamline your college soccer recruiting process? CollegeNovo’s tracking tools help you manage coach communications, deadlines, and follow-ups in one place, so you never miss an opportunity to connect with your dream program.