Your athletic resume is often the first impression college coaches have of you as a student-athlete. It's a one-page snapshot that highlights your athletic achievements, academic credentials, and personal information in a clear, professional format.
A well-crafted athletic resume can open doors, spark interest from coaches, and serve as a powerful tool throughout your entire recruiting journey. This guide will show you exactly what to include, how to format it, and common mistakes to avoid.
Coaches review hundreds of recruiting inquiries. A professional resume helps you stand out and shows you're serious about playing college sports.
Provides coaches with all your key information in one convenient document they can quickly reference when making recruiting decisions.
Attach to emails, bring to camps and showcases, share with your high school/club coaches, and post on recruiting websites.
Shows coaches you're organized, mature, and understand the recruiting process - traits they value in recruits.
What to include at the top:
Academics are just as important as athletics:
Pro Tip: If your GPA has improved significantly, consider adding "Upward Trend: 3.2 (Freshman) → 3.8 (Junior)"
This is the core of your resume:
Quantify your impact on the field/court:
Vary by sport, but examples include:
Name your resume file professionally:
"FirstName_LastName_Sport_GradYear_Resume.pdf"
Example:
"John_Smith_Basketball_2026_Resume.pdf"
Wilmington, NC | (555) 123-4567 | [email protected]
Highlight Video: youtube.com/michaeljordan23
High School: Laney High School
Graduation Year: 2026
GPA: 3.8 (Unweighted) / 4.3 (Weighted)
SAT: 1340
NCAA ID: 123456789
Honors: Honor Roll (All 4 Years), National Honor Society
Primary Position: Shooting Guard
Secondary Position: Point Guard
Height/Weight: 6'6" / 195 lbs
Jersey Number: #23
Years of Experience: 10 years
Club Team: NC Warriors AAU (Coach: Dean Smith)
High School: Laney HS Varsity (Coach: Phil Jackson)
Contact: [email protected] | (555) 987-6543
* This is a simplified example. Your resume should be tailored to your sport and achievements.
Attach your resume when emailing college coaches for the first time. Include it along with your highlight video link.
Bring printed copies to college camps and showcases. Hand them directly to coaches during registration or breaks.
Give copies to your high school and club coaches so they can share it with their college coaching contacts.
Upload your resume to the TNS platform where coaches actively search for athletes like you.
Bring updated copies when visiting college campuses. Leave one with coaches even if they already have it.
Update your resume each season and send the new version to interested coaches. Shows continued improvement.
A well-crafted athletic resume is an essential tool in your recruiting journey. It provides coaches with a clear, professional snapshot of who you are as a student-athlete. Take the time to create a polished, accurate resume that showcases your best achievements and makes coaches want to learn more about you.
Remember to update it regularly as you achieve new milestones, and always proofread before sending. Your resume, combined with your highlight video and proactive communication, will set you apart in the competitive recruiting process.