Should I Be Emailing Coaches in the Fall?

Yes, absolutely. Fall is actually one of the most critical times to reach out to college soccer coaches, even though your full season highlights aren’t ready yet.

Here’s exactly why timing matters and exactly what to send.

Why Fall Communication is Essential

College soccer coaches are actively evaluating prospects during the fall season. They’re watching videos and building their prospect lists in preparation for December national showcases . You want to get on their radar before these major events, not after.

Waiting until spring means missing crucial recruitment windows. Coaches use fall months to identify which players they’ll prioritize watching at winter showcases. If you’re not already on their list, you might get overlooked even if you perform well.

Even when head coaches seem swamped with their current team, assistant coaches are constantly scouting for new talent. They’re the ones building recruiting databases and identifying prospects for future classes. Your email might land in front of an assistant coach who has more time to evaluate your potential.

Most coaches finalize their recruiting boards by winter, so getting on their radar early gives you a significant advantage in the college soccer recruiting process.

The Recruiting Process Never Stops

Here’s the reality: recruiting is a year-round process that shouldn’t stall until you’re committed. While head coaches focus on their current roster during the season, their staff is always thinking ahead. Assistant coaches use fall downtime between practices to review prospect emails and update recruiting boards.

This means your fall outreach often gets more attention than you’d expect, especially from programs building their pipeline for future recruiting classes.

What to Send When You Don’t Have Full Season Highlights

Don’t let incomplete highlight videos stop you from reaching out. Here’s what coaches actually want to see in fall:

Recent Game Footage

Send 2-3 minutes of your best plays from recent games. Even if it’s just a few clips from your phone, coaches can assess your technique, decision-making, and game awareness. Quality matters more than quantity.

Updated Player Profile

Include your current stats, recent achievements, and any position changes. Coaches want to see your development since last season.

Academic Information

Share your GPA, test scores, and course load. NCAA eligibility requirements are strict, and coaches need to know you’re academically qualified before investing time in recruiting you.

The Perfect Fall Email Template

Keep it short and focused:

• Subject line: “2027 Midfielder – [Your Name] – Recent Game Film”
• Opening: Brief introduction with grad year and position
• Body: 2-3 sentences about recent performance or achievements
• Attachments: Short highlight reel and player resume
• Close: Express genuine interest in their program

Assistant coaches often handle initial prospect evaluations. Those who show they’ve researched the program and can contribute immediately get flagged for head coach review.

Timing Your Fall Outreach

Send emails on Tuesday through Thursday mornings. Coaches are swamped with Friday and Saturday games (might be emotional wrecks too) and Monday catch-up. Mid-week communication gets better attention from both head coaches and their assistants.

Follow up every 4-6 weeks with updated footage or achievements. Persistence shows genuine interest without being annoying.

What Not to Send

Avoid these common mistakes:

• Mass emails with generic templates
• Overly long highlight videos (keep it under 4 minutes)
• Outdated footage from last season only
• Emails without any video content
• Trying to trick the coach in the subject line

Building Your Fall Strategy

Start with target schools where you realistically fit athletically and academically. Research their roster, recent recruits, and playing style. Coaches appreciate players who understand their system.

ID camps during fall can supplement your email outreach, giving coaches a chance to see you play live while your name is fresh in their inbox. There’s not a lot of them but if you can find one and you are interested in the school, then I say go for it if your finances allow!

Remember: the recruiting process never truly pauses. Even during busy fall seasons, coaching staffs are building relationships with future prospects. Don’t wait for the perfect highlight reel. College recruiting moves fast, and coaches make decisions based on potential as much as polished footage.

Your fall outreach could be the difference between getting recruited and getting overlooked.

Ready to streamline your recruiting process? CollegeNovo helps players and families organize their college soccer recruiting journey with tools for tracking communications, managing deadlines, and connecting with the right programs.ocess? CollegeNovo helps players and families organize their college soccer recruiting journey with tools for tracking communications, managing deadlines, and connecting with the right programs.