How To Get Your Highlight Video Seen By College Coaches (& Get Offers)
Are you eager to grab the attention of college football coaches with your highlight video but frustrated by the lack of responses? If so, you’re in the right place. In this guide, we’ll lay out the step-by-step approach you need to take to not just get coaches to watch your video, but also potentially earn a campus visit or a full scholarship.
Step 1: Identify the Right Coach
Most athletes make the mistake of sending their highlight videos to the position coach at their desired schools. However, this isn’t effective since the position coach often isn’t the one recruiting for your position. Your first step should be identifying the area coach who recruits for your position before you send out your video—otherwise, you might be wasting time.
Also, avoid using recruiting software to send your video. These tools send generic, template-based emails that can easily be ignored. Instead, use your regular email and consider direct messaging through social media platforms like X and LinkedIn.
Step 2: Craft an Engaging Subject Line
A common error athletes make is cluttering their email subject line with personal stats like class year or 40-yard dash times, which signals a recruiting email and often gets overlooked. Instead, use the name of the coach’s school or football program in the subject line. This generates curiosity because the coach may think it’s coming from someone within their network.
Step 3: Personalize Your Pitch
Avoid the lengthy emails that overwhelm with accolades and stats, as they usually result in the coach not clicking the video link. Your communication should create curiosity—enough that the coach decides, "I must watch this video."
Instead of talking about yourself in your emails or DMs, focus on the coach, their program, and how you can contribute to their success. Personalized research is key here. Craft emails that are specific to each coach's tactics and program needs, demonstrating how you fit in and how they can benefit from your skills.
For example, you could write: “I admire how you utilize slot receivers in your spread offense to read defenses. This is my specialty, having scored seven touchdowns with similar play structures last season. Watch this video to see what I mean.”
Step 4: Execute an Omnipresent Outreach
Once you contact the right area coach, use multiple channels to ensure your message gets through. Our tactic involves contacting them via five mediums: calls, voicemails, emails, LinkedIn messages, and X messages. Create a video of you reading your personalized email to share on X. Our approach has seen a 96% response rate when implemented carefully.
Step 5: Follow Through Consistently
One message is rarely enough. We have found that sending emails three through five can increase response rates by 70%. Consistently follow up weekly until the coach responds. Receiving a response—positive or negative—is crucial because it lets you either pursue the opportunity further or move on.
Many athletes underestimate the level of sustained effort required to secure a scholarship. Remember, consistent execution of the right activities over time is key.
Pro Tip: Target the Right Schools
Make sure your efforts aren’t wasted by contacting schools that don’t align with your potential or personal preferences. Select about 60 schools that match your profile in terms of academics, size, location, and program type that can realistically offer a scholarship based on your height, weight, and capabilities.
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