The recruiting playbook for injured players
Email templates, film study framework, and the vulnerable sharing that keeps you visible
A few weeks ago, I wrote about controlling your narrative when you can’t control the injury.
It clearly struck a chord as I got quite a few responses. Questions about what to say, how often to say it, and whether coaches actually care about recovery updates.
So here’s the tactical playbook. The execution of what I outlined in that piece.
If you aren’t injured, this newsletter might not be as relevant for you today - but it’s here in case you need it.
The email you send immediately after injury
When to send: Within 1-2 weeks of diagnosis
Why it matters: Coaches you’ve been emailing with need to know what happened, so they know why you won’t be at tournaments for a while.
Template:
Subject: Injury update + what I’m learning
Coach [Name],
I wanted to let you know that I tore my ACL on [date] during [specific game/moment]. Surgery is scheduled for [date], and my recovery timeline is 9-12 months.
This means I’ll miss [specific tournaments/showcases], which is disappointing as those are missed evaluation opportunities.
