How many schools should high school atheltes reach out to during the recruiting process?
This is one of the most common questions high school athletes and their families have. The idea of getting recruited can be exciting, but it’s also easy to feel lost. How many emails should you send? How many coaches should you try to talk to? Can I email the same coach more than once?
The simple answer is: reach out to more than you think. To give yourself the best chance of finding the right school, you should plan to reach out to at least 50 schools across different levels of competition.
Why 50 Schools is the Magic Number
Reaching out to 50 or more schools may sound like a lot of work, but it’s a smart strategy. Think of it like a funnel. You start with a wide group of schools, and as you go through the process, that group will get smaller and smaller. By your senior year, you’ve likely narrowed from 50 schools down to 10 that are actively recruiting you and likely to give you an opportunity or even scholarship. If you’re reaching out to 50 schools and still not getting responses. Use a tool like our RecruitChat to assess whether you’re an athletic fit for a program. It’s possible you’re reaching out to too many reach schools - or you need to adjust your messaging to gain more interest from coaches.
Here's why a large number is so important:
Not all schools will respond. College coaches are very busy. They get tons of emails and messages. Some won't have time to reply, and that's okay. By reaching out to many schools, you make sure you get enough responses to move forward.
You need a mix of schools. Your list of 50 schools shouldn't all be the same. You need what experts call "reach," "target," and "safety" schools.
Reach Schools: These are the schools that might be a tough academic or athletic fit. They're your dream schools, and you have to shoot your shot. Of your 50 schools, about 10 should be reach schools. If you’re a top 100 recruit in the country, then your reach schools may just be considered target schools.
Target Schools: These are schools where you are a very good fit. You have the right grades and athletic ability to be a strong candidate. Target schools should make up most of your 50 schools that you’re reaching out to.
Safety Schools: These are schools you know you can get into, both for academics and athletics. Having these on your list gives you peace of mind that you will have a good option no matter what.
Your interests will change. As you go through the recruiting journey, you might realize you want a different type of school. Maybe you thought you wanted a big university, but after a few visits, you realize a smaller campus feels more like home. A big list gives you the freedom to change your mind without starting over.
Quality Over Quantity? (It's Both!)
You might have heard the saying "it’s about quality, not quantity." When it comes to reaching out to schools, you need both. Sending a generic email to 50 schools won't get you far. The key is to make each message personal and specific.
A coach can spot a copy-and-paste email from a mile away. You need to show them that you've done your homework. Mention something specific about their team, a new player they just signed, or a program the school is known for. This shows you are truly interested and not just spamming every school in the country. Use RecruitReach to help you create quickly personalized emails.
Will schools reach out to me?
It's true that some of the best high school athletes in the country are highly sought after. Coaches from 30, 40, or even 50 schools will reach out to them. For these athletes, the challenge isn't finding schools; it’s picking the right one. Recruiting platforms like RecruitReach that help you keep these opportunities organized and ranked help you stay on top of all your offers.
But for the typical high school athlete, the process is a little different. Instead of coaches reaching out to you, you need to reach out to them. This is how you take control of your future. By being proactive and organized, you can make sure you're getting noticed by the right schools—the ones that are a great fit for you.
The Takeaway
Starting your recruiting journey with a list of 50 or more schools is not just about having a lot of choices. It’s about being smart and organized. It’s about making sure you find the perfect school for your education and your athletic career. By being proactive and showing a real, personal interest in each school, you can turn a big list into a solid plan for success.
