Questionnaire vs Email To college coaches

[jamesbond4]

Hi guys.
I am in the recruiting process and I was wondering what you guys think is more effective, sending a personalized email to the coach, or filling out questionnaire that many schools have on their website?

Also to those that have written emails. How do you compose your email and what content do you put in them?

thanks in advance.

[eeytennis]

I would advise you to do both but the e-mail is definitely more effective. If you fill out the questionnaire and send the coach and e-mail the coach can get a lot more information on you than if you just filled out the questionnaire. Not filling out the questionnaire and just e-mailing the coach comes across as a bit arrogant...like you don't have time or your too good for the questionnaire. Besides, the questionnaire offers up a lot of helpful, basic information for the coach to refer to.

In the e-mail, just say something to the extent of, hi, I am interested in playing for the *insert college* tennis team, i would like to know a little bit more about the tea, blah, blah, etc. Or something to that extent.

[tennismom42]

Originally Posted by jamesbond4

Hi guys.
I am in the recruiting process and I was wondering what you guys think is more effective, sending a personalized email to the coach, or filling out questionnaire that many schools have on their website?

Also to those that have written emails. How do you compose your email and what content do you put in them?

thanks in advance.

I'd say use both too. Furthermore, follow it up with a timely telephone call. As in, call the coach about 2-3 days after you did the latter (questionnaire or e-mail).

If you want, I'll send you the letter my son used, in template format. But you'll have to go back into your profile set up & click on the box that says "OK to receive e-mails from other users." Then let me know.

It's a good letter. A recruiter said they wanted to use it in their book.

Good luck

[MIGHTY MANFRED THE WONDER]

Here's a choice that has not been mentioned, that may be a little more sucessful.... I hate giving away all my secrets, BUT-
How about a short WRITTEN LETTER, maybe even HAND WRITTEN mailed along with the questionare?

Maybe that is very, very "old fashioned" But don't you think that a coach would be better impressed with a player who would think enough to actually write a unique and individual appeal?

Mass mailers where you stick a school's (NAME) and Coache's (NAME) and whip it out in EMAIL format does not impress me.
You want a coach to stop and say..."Hey, look at this", right? What's going to make the coach OR his staff even stop and look?
(I'm talking to "on the bubble" posters here- Not ones being recruited).

The questionare takes care of your "application" But a letter that mentions FACTS about a team- The players, last year's big successful meet- All these "small" points- A little homework can show a coach you actually know something about his program, and that you can write a complete sentence.

Here's a question that may shed some light on my suggestion-
When you get this mass mailer crap in your mailbox from schools, how impressed are you? Exactly.

[tennismom42]

Originally Posted by MIGHTY MANFRED THE WONDER

Here's a choice that has not been mentioned, that may be a little more sucessful.... I hate giving away all my secrets, BUT-
How about a short WRITTEN LETTER, maybe even HAND WRITTEN mailed along with the questionare?

Maybe that is very, very "old fashioned" But don't you think that a coach would be better impressed with a player who would think enough to actually write a unique and individual appeal?

Mass mailers where you stick a school's (NAME) and Coache's (NAME) and whip it out in EMAIL format does not impress me.
You want a coach to stop and say..."Hey, look at this", right?

The questionare takes care of your "application" But a letter that mentions FACTS about a team- The players, last year's big successful meet- All these "small" points- A little homework can show a coach you actually know something about his program, and that you can write a complete sentence.

Here's a question that may shed some light on my suggestion-
When you get this mass mailer crap in your mailbox from schools, how impressed are you? Exactly.

I think he was talking about the on-line questionnaire that can be submited electronically from the school's athletic web page. Most colleges have that on-line option

I would assume that there would be some mixed results, with the variance being the coach.

Regardless of what you send in I would suggest you try to send in a photograph of yourself. That's helpful to the recruiters to remember you.

[MIGHTY MANFRED THE WONDER]

A photo would be a good idea (if you are URM*) And especially a good idea otherwise,
'cause frankly, all country club sports / tennis players look pretty much alike to me.

As far as the questionaire- fill it out, print it out and mail it with the letter was my point.


* PC- admissions application speak for Under Represented Minority

[jamesbond4]

tennismom and mighty thank you for the responses.
Tennis mom if you could send the template that would be great.

thanks

[tennismom42]

Originally Posted by jamesbond4

tennismom and mighty thank you for the responses.
Tennis mom if you could send the template that would be great.

thanks

I'll send it after work today

[Cameron]

[quote=

If you want, I'll send you the letter my son used, in template format. But you'll have to go back into your profile set up & click on the box that says "OK to receive e-mails from other users." Then let me know.

It's a good letter. A recruiter said they wanted to use it in their book.

Good luck[/QUOTE]

Hi, I am a 16 year old girl starting the recruiting process also. I was wondering if you could send me your son's template too. Thank you!

[Cameron]

Originally Posted by tennismom42

I'd say use both too. Furthermore, follow it up with a timely telephone call. As in, call the coach about 2-3 days after you did the latter (questionnaire or e-mail).

If you want, I'll send you the letter my son used, in template format. But you'll have to go back into your profile set up & click on the box that says "OK to receive e-mails from other users." Then let me know.

It's a good letter. A recruiter said they wanted to use it in their book.

Good luck

sorry i accidentally messed this up earlier. I was just wondering if you could send me the template too. Thanks

[tennismom42]

Originally Posted by jamesbond4

tennismom and mighty thank you for the responses.
Tennis mom if you could send the template that would be great.

thanks

James Bond,
I am unable to e-mail it to you. I don't think your profile is set up yet to receive e-mails. Did you check the box for it.

[cmb]

I called the coach before I sent anything. I called him and asked if he was looking for a player, the assistant asked me some questions and then I sent an email.
If your a good player they expect you to be arrogant to some extent. Either way, but I was definitely not going to fill out some stupid questionaire that the coach is going to laugh at.

[jamesbond4]

Sorry, I would rather not display my email over this fourm. Is there any way I can email you first?

thanks

[tennismom42]

Originally Posted by jamesbond4

Sorry, I would rather not display my email over this fourm. Is there any way I can email you first?

thanks

you can e-mail me by clicking on my profile name. That is what I was trying to get you to set up -- it does not display the e-mail address. You will see that when you click on my profile name. So that's fine, just e-mail to me & I'll e-mail the letter to you.

[rizz]

Originally Posted by cmb

I called the coach before I sent anything. I called him and asked if he was looking for a player, the assistant asked me some questions and then I sent an email.
If your a good player they expect you to be arrogant to some extent. Either way, but I was definitely not going to fill out some stupid questionaire that the coach is going to laugh at.

speaking from experience as a d1 college coach, that is one of the dumbest things i've ever read.

if you are too cool to fill out my questionnaire, maybe you are too cool to work hard in practice, bring the water to the courts, pick up your own balls, etc.

[jamesbond4]

Sorry I Think because my email is not displayed I am unable to see anyone elses email or else I am unable to see it.

[tennismom42]

Originally Posted by jamesbond4

Sorry I Think because my email is not displayed I am unable to see anyone elses email or else I am unable to see it.

Well, I'll try to post it here, but it isn't going to be pretty.

[jamesbond4]

you could post it and then delete it after I make the next post

[Chauvalito]

Originally Posted by jamesbond4

you could post it and then delete it after I make the next post

You can change the setting in your account so that you can receive e-mails.

[tennismom42]

Originally Posted by jamesbond4

Sorry I Think because my email is not displayed I am unable to see anyone elses email or else I am unable to see it.

Sorry for the delay. Telephone rang.

Well, this is going to be really ugly, but here goes. This is a sample letter to send to recruiters:

January __, 2009

University of ___________________
Attn: Coach ________ and Assistant Coach _________


Dear Coaches ________ and __________:

My parents and I have noticed that you have viewed my profile on the tennisrecruiting.net website. As you may have noticed, I am very interested in attending college in the South and I am qualified to play Division I men’s tennis. Please consider me for your team.

[Use this paragraph to tie yourself to the University, such as your Uncle graduated from there or you’ve visited the school.] I was born and raised in the Florida and I really want to return to the South. It just feels like “home” to me. During my junior tournament years I have intentionally traveled to multiple national tournaments in Florida and the South because I am drawn back there. In the near future, we are contemplating my participation in another tournament in the South. Hopefully you can attend and watch me compete. However, we are also very interested in an official visit to the <Mascot’s name> campus.

After contemplation and research, I believe that you and the University of ____________ offer the elements that I value most: [give your OWN list of what’s important to you] similarly-talented teammates; Southern location; a great business school; challenging training, along with fair and reputable coaching.

My value to the team is as follows: great court reputation for honesty and hard work; a need for competitive challenge; and a thirst to be trained. Presently, I am USTA ranked #____ and a tennisrecruiting.net ??-star, ranked #?? with a solid TennisRPI at ??. Please note that on this system, I have a strong Schedule of Strength (SOS) of ??? In ________, I began boarding at _______ in _______, ________. Below is a list of my recent, favorite victories:

Victory over>>>> Tournament Name>>>>Date>>>>Score>>>>>Details

[there's a table grid here, you'll just have to make one with the above column headers]


[Also, list your High School accomplishments (in tennis, academics, clubs, volunteering.]

Thank you for taking this time to read my letter during your busy recruiting season. I hope to hear from you soon. The academics, tennis and tournaments keep me very busy, so the best times to reach me are _________ weekdays and _________ weekends. Otherwise, I will call you very soon.

Respectfully submitted,

Your Name herer

Type your name here
_____________ cell or _____your e-mail address___

If you know how to set up an e-mail address, set one up with a short, nifty name so coaches can remember it.