Recommendation Letters for Student-Athletes

Updated 10/16/2026.

Some awards (as well as college/job applications, scholarships, etc.) require letters of recommendation. We are happy to help our student-athletes with these, but please consider how much time and thought these take to do them well. All requests must come directly from the student (not a parent) with 3 weeks' lead time (we may need more than that during the coaching season, but ask anyway!).

We understand that there are websites that let you build an athletic profile and send automated outreach to college coaches while including your high school coach's contact information. We will not respond in depth (letters, questionnaires, etc.) to requests sent directly from organizations unless we hear from the student-athlete first. This protects our time and helps us understand where you have serious interest.

If a person from an outside organization asks for your contact information, we will forward the email directly to you to respond if interested.

The following articles are among the best we’ve seen regarding recommendation letter requests, whether you’re asking a coach, tutor/teacher/professor, or family friend. Hope this helps!

• "Etiquette for Requesting Letters of Recommendation" by Linda Lopez of YEAH co-op. Used with permission. Important read!
• https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-in/your-high-school-record/how-to-get-a-great-letter-of-recommendation
• https://professionals.collegeboard.org/guidance/applications/teacher-tips (download and complete the Student Self-Assessment to help your recommenders learn more about you)