A Recruiting Website Is the New Digital Sports Resume for Student Athletes (What to Include)
If you’ve started looking into the recruiting process, you’ve probably seen articles listing 50 or 60+ things to include in a “sports resume.” And honestly, it can feel overwhelming.
We found ourselves wondering: what actually matters, and how are coaches really looking at this information?
Because at the end of the day, it’s not about checking every box on a long list. It’s about making it easy and fast for a coach to quickly understand who your athlete is and what they can do.
That’s when we started thinking about the concept of a sports resume differently.
What coaches really need is a simple, organized, easy-to-access profile — a digital sports resume. A recruiting website is exactly that: a centralized place where coaches can quickly evaluate an athlete without searching for information.
And for parents, it becomes one link that makes it easy to share everything in one place.
A strong recruiting profile isn’t about including more. It’s about organizing the right information in a way that is easy to find, easy to watch, and easy to understand.
What Coaches Look at First
Coaches don’t spend a lot of time digging. They are typically looking for a quick snapshot of:
Who the athlete is
What position they play
Whether they can perform at the level needed
And where they can see it immediately
That’s why video and key details come first.
If a coach has to search, scroll, or click through multiple links, there’s a good chance they won’t.
What to Include in a Digital Sports Resume
✔️ Athlete Overview
This is the basic information a coach needs to see immediately. It should be clear, easy to read, and placed right at the top of the recruiting profile.
Coaches expect to quickly identify who the athlete is and understand the most important details at a glance.
A strong athlete overview should include your full name, graduation year, primary position, height, and weight.
You should also include your city and state, high school, and travel organization so coaches can quickly understand your background and where you play.
The goal is to give a coach a quick, complete snapshot without requiring them to search for key details.
✔️ Video
Video is the most important part of a recruiting profile because it allows coaches to quickly evaluate an athlete’s ability.
Include a short highlight video along with additional clips that show the athlete performing in game situations or demonstrating key skills specific to their position.
First impressions matter. Coaches often decide within seconds whether they want to keep watching or move on.
The goal is to show the right video, not the most video, and make sure it’s easy to access without clicking through multiple links.
✔️ Stats and Metrics
This will vary by sport, but every recruiting profile should include the key stats and measurable data that help coaches quickly evaluate performance.
Coaches use this information to compare athletes and determine whether they meet the level they are recruiting for.
Include the most relevant and up-to-date metrics for your sport and position, along with a clear summary of recent performance.
Make sure all information is accurate and current so coaches can trust what they’re seeing.
A simple season recap from your most recent high school and club or travel season can help provide context and show consistency. The goal is to give coaches a quick, accurate snapshot of how the athlete is performing right now.
✔️ Contact Information
This should be simple and easy to find. Coaches should never have to search for contact information.
Include the athlete’s email, phone number, and coach contact information. You may also choose to include an NCAA Eligibility Center ID if applicable.
✔️ Schedule and Upcoming Events
If a coach is interested, they want to know where to find your athlete. A recruiting profile should make it easy for coaches to see when and where an athlete is playing.
Include upcoming games, showcases, tournaments, team name and organization, and jersey number.
✔️ Academics
Coaches often look at academic information to understand whether an athlete is a fit for their program and what they may be looking for in a school.
Include GPA, optional test scores, intended major if known, and any academic honors. You may also choose to include a recent transcript, but make sure it is current and easy to access.
The goal is to give coaches a clear understanding of the athlete’s academic standing without requiring them to ask for additional information.
✔️ Achievements and Experience
Coaches look at accomplishments to better understand an athlete’s experience, role, and impact on their team.
Include awards, team accomplishments, leadership roles, and rankings if applicable. The goal is to highlight meaningful achievements without overwhelming the reader.
If possible, adding a short quote from a coach about the athlete’s work ethic, attitude, or team involvement can provide valuable insight beyond stats and video.
✔️ Social and Recruiting Profiles
Include links to X, YouTube, or other recruiting or showcase platforms you may be utilizing or listed on.
These platforms can support your recruiting profile, but they should not replace a clear and organized presentation.
✔️ Training and Development
This section gives coaches insight into how an athlete prepares, trains, and develops outside of games. Coaches look for consistency, work ethic, and a commitment to improvement, not just game performance.
Include details about in-season and off-season training, such as strength training, conditioning, agility work, and position-specific development.
You can also include information about trainers, coaches, or programs the athlete works with, especially if they are well known or respected in the sport.
The goal is to show how the athlete is working to improve and what their development process looks like over time.
✔️ Photos
Photos can help support a recruiting profile, but they should not replace video or key information.
Coaches may use photos to get a quick visual sense of the athlete, but they rely on video and performance data for evaluation.
Include a few high-quality action shots that show the athlete in competition, or in training, along with photos from showcases or college camps attended.
Avoid including too many images or anything that does not add value. If it doesn’t help your athlete pass the “eye test,” leave it out. The goal is to support the profile visually without creating distraction or unnecessary clutter.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, most athletes already have what they need — video, stats, schedule, and contact information.
The difference comes down to how that information is presented.
Coaches are not looking for more; they are looking for clarity. They need to be able to quickly identify the athlete, evaluate performance, and access key details without searching.
A well-structured recruiting profile makes that process easier, faster, and more effective.
Some athletes also choose to include a simple, printable version of their recruiting profile as a one-page summary that can be shared or saved alongside their website.
Building a Recruiting Profile That Works
Creating a clear, organized recruiting profile takes more than just gathering information. It requires structuring that information in a way that aligns with how coaches actually evaluate athletes.
When everything is presented in one place — clean, up to date, and easy to navigate — it creates a more professional impression and allows coaches to quickly assess fit.
If you’re looking to build a recruiting website that follows this structure, you can explore how we build recruiting websites for student athletes here.
