You don't get a second chance to make a first impression!

so when you and your parents decide to contact a college coach you all should be on the same page.  Preferred maximum  distance from your home should be determined.  Your honest and actual assessment of your financial need should be determined prior to your college search.  With that said let us take a minute and put a light on the do's and don'ts when corresponding with college coaches or recruiters.

1. Do begin your contact letter to a college coach with his last name in the salutation. For example:

Dear Coach Burnside,

 
Note: 90% of all letters that start "Dear Coach", are tossed in the trash can so if you are serious about winning a scholarship at a particular college, at least know the name of the coach. College coaches are not impressed that you did not take the time to find out their name. They are looking for exceptional players that are resourceful and mature.

2.  Take the time to fill out your own questionnaires. This is the first chance that you have to impress a coach. Show them that you are serious about the opportunity to play in college. This is your first impression that you make to a coach, make it a good one!

3.  You should return all questionnaires to ALL schools that write to you. Even if you are not interested in attending that school, still return the questionnaire they took the time to send you.  It is just common courtesy, since some coaches talk to each other about players they have dealt with. If the college you do want to go to asks the coach from the college you forgot to respond to, they may tell them that you never even responded to the questionnaire. This makes you appear irresponsible considering the seriousness of this task.

4.  Student athletes should call the coach's office themselves to make sure that the information arrived.  Mom and Dad are nice, however, the player is the person the coaches are most interested in meeting. Your phone skills and how you communicate will allow them to formulate an impression of you. Make sure that you give them a reason to like you before they meet you "face-to-face". 

6.  Do not stretch the truth about your academic standing, athletic abilities, or accomplishments. Realize there is a difference between highlighting a player's skills and misleading or lying to a coach. There is no quicker way to lose credibility than to misstate the facts.

7.  Do not send your school application to the coach to be processed. They do not walk all applications over to the admission's office. After you apply and are accepted at that school, notify the coach on your acceptance. If a problem arises, then contact the coach and let him know about it. Remember to send applications to the admissions office, unless the coach specifically requests that you send the application to him or her.