In an athlete’s life, a coach plays a vital role. From shaping the individual into a polished sportsperson to being there during the good and bad times, a coach does much for an athlete. Therefore, it is not surprising that athletes are often grateful for their coaches and wish to write a thank-you letter. In this article, we will discuss how to write a thank you letter to coach from athlete and include some samples for the same.
What is a thank you letter to coach from athlete? When is it required?
A thank you letter to coach from athlete is a document that an individual writes to his or her coach to express gratitude. This letter can be written by athletes of any age at any stage of life when they feel grateful for their coach. This letter tends to be drafted in an informal format but can be formalized as well.
The best time to write a thank you letter to coach from athlete is soon after the occurrence of an event that brought forth the feeling of gratefulness. This occasion could be anything from winning a tough match to getting drafted into a national team. You can also write this letter to thank coaches for showing you around the campus or for selecting you in their team.
Tips to write an effective letter to your coach
Writing an effective thank you letter to a coach from an athlete takes proper practice and needs you to follow certain guidelines. Here are some tips to follow when drafting this document.
1. Be professional
It is given that your coach is no less than a parent. You spend a lot of your time under their purview and getting tasks and training from them. However, when writing a thank-you letter, it is always smart to be professional, especially if you are writing it soon after getting selected into a team. Doing so helps you create a good impression on your coach with your words, pleasantly surprising them with your language skills.
2. Personalize the letter
Always personalize the letter. Don’t write or copy off a generic template for thank you letters. Instead, include bits and pieces from your daily conversation with them to make the letter more memorable. This is an important step if you are bulk writing letters to multiple coaches for showing you around the campus. In such situations, you can add specific details about the coach or the university or school they are associated with.
3. Write it by yourself
As a student-athlete, you may not know how to write a letter to coach from athlete properly. Hence, you may ask for help from your parents, which is not a bad thing. However, make sure you are writing the letter and no one else. This also includes not copying from a template you will find online. If you do copy, your coach is likely to know you did because they would know how you communicate on a daily basis.
4. Keep it short
It is a golden rule to keep letters short and sweet. Writing too much will result in the recipient being bored and not reading the entire document. While adding details is necessary to personalize the letter, it is equally important to stick to the point. As a general rule of thumb, don’t cross 200 words when writing a letter.
5. Add details
As mentioned earlier, it is necessary to add details to make the letter more personal. Details include the specific instances where your coach or their coaching has helped you. You can also include the overall positive impact of the coach on your life. Adding a bit about your struggles before you met the coach is also a great idea. However, make sure to not go off a tangent and stick to the point.
6. Use appropriate salutation
The thank-you letter is a personal and informal letter. Therefore, the salutation in the letter must be appropriate to the format, meaning it should be less formal. You can start your letter with a simple “Dear [coach name]” and end with a “yours sincerely.”
7. Spelling and grammar check
Finally, once your letter is done drafting, it is time to edit and spell-check. No one, not even your coach, will like a letter filled with grammatical and spelling errors. Therefore, read and edit your letter repeatedly until it is free of any issues. Make sure to double-check all the spellings, especially that of your coach or any award names to avoid embarrassment.
Samples of thank you letter to coach from athlete
1. Thank you letter from an athlete
Andrew Carson
(260) 212-0112
322 N Line St
Columbia City, Indiana(IN), 46725
26-10-2021
Subject: Expressing gratitude for coaching
Dear coach Carson,
I, Lee Carter, write this letter to express sincere gratitude for your contribution in making me the athlete that I am today. Being an athlete has given me a lot of advantages including the development of teamwork and sportsman spirit. Today, it helps me greatly when I play volleyball for college.
Not only did being an accomplished athlete help me get a scholarship for university fees, it also made me a better person. I have only you to thank for this development. You have always guided me to be a better sportsperson and honed my hidden skills.
I will forever remember all the lessons you taught me, coach. Once again, thank you for all your guidance and support.
Yours Sincerely,
Lee Carter
(317) 546-4238
7961 Washington Ctr Rd
Columbia City, Indiana(IN), 46725
2. Thank you letter from a senior student-athlete
Gregory Manson
(239) 233-8073
7837 Estero Blvd
Fort Myers Beach, Florida(FL), 33931
26-10-2021
Subject: Expressing gratitude for coaching
Dear coach Manson,
Today, I received the confirmation letter for the sports scholarship from Florida State University. As you know from our previous conversations, you know how much this means to me, and I got in because of you. So, I write this letter to express my sincere gratitude for all the support you have given me.
Four years ago, I wasn’t the most motivated athlete to enter high school. Then, you took me under your tutelage and changed my life. You always pushed me hard to hone my skills as a sportsperson and stood by my side whenever things got hard. I want to thank you for all your guidance as that is why I am where I am today.
Yours Sincerely,
Gina Rodriguez
(239) 233-8591
160 Curlew St
Fort Myers Beach, Florida(FL), 33931
3. Thank you letter from a new athlete
Samuel Jenson
(276) 889-2310
2834 Peppers Ferry Rd
Christiansburg, Virginia(VA), 24073
26-10-2021
Subject: Expressing gratitude for coaching
Dear coach Jenson,
I am Cornelia Mathers- we met yesterday during the open house at the University of Virginia. I am writing this letter to let you know how grateful I am for the tour you gave me of the college. As a freshman and a new athlete under your purview, I had a lot of questions to ask, and you patiently answered all of them.
I also appreciate how you took some time out to watch me and the other students play our respective games. I wasn’t able to catch up with you yesterday for feedback. I was wondering if you could share your take on my skills and let me know how I can improve. I look forward to your reply. Thank you in advance.
Yours Sincerely,
Cornelia Mathers
(540) 382-3522
235 Robert St
Christiansburg, Virginia(VA), 24073
4. Thank you letter after a game/championship
Sarah Joseph
(402) 664-3090
517 6th St
Scribner, Nebraska(NE), 68057
26-10-2021
Subject: Expressing gratitude for coaching
Dear coach Joseph,
I, Zack Hill, write this letter to express my sincere gratitude for your support throughout the softball championship. Today’s victory was a milestone in our high school’s athletic achievements, and you are the reason we won against the Mickeys High School. So, on the entire team’s behalf, as a captain, I would like to thank you for your expert guidance.
Earlier this year, we were struggling as a team with our performance and dwindling victory streak. It was at that point you taught all of us an important life lesson that whether we win or not, what mattered was how we play. You constantly kept us motivated and continued our schedules even on days when losses had crippled our confidence. I would like to thank you for all your support and more. Keep rocking, coach Joseph!
Yours Sincerely,
Zack Hill
(402) 664-2700
120 S 9th Ave
Scribner, Nebraska(NE), 68057
5. Thank you letter after a draft
Kline Henderson
(518) 250-4277
1 Farnsworth Dr #APT 10
Slingerlands, New York(NY), 12159
26-10-2021
Subject: Expressing gratitude for coaching
Dear coach Henderson,
Today, I received the confirmation letter for having been drafted into the NBA junior team. I am thrilled about this opportunity but mostly grateful for your guidance that led me here. You were always there for me, pushing me forward to constantly improve my game. So, I write this letter to express my sincere gratitude for all the support that you have given me over the years.
Years ago, in high school, when you first started coaching me, I was a mediocre basketball player. Since then, you have slowly transformed me into the player I am today. You have been my confidant all these years, which has given me the strength to keep pursuing my dreams despite the constraints that I faced.
I remember times when you bought me meals and supplements because I couldn’t afford it. Without your generous contribution and expert coaching, I wouldn’t be here today. I, once again, thank you for all your kind gestures and support.
Yours Sincerely,
Tate Jackson
(518) 452-0470
627 Vanderlyn Ln
Slingerlands, New York(NY), 12159
6. Thank you letter from an olympian
Mitchell Branson
(515) 272-4421
4003 80th Ave
Swea City, Iowa(IA), 50590
26-10-2021
Subject: Expressing gratitude for coaching
Dear coach Branson,
I’m Jonah Hillcrest, a student of yours in high school. I was one of the athletes you coached in Gregory High School. I hope you remember me. I haven’t been able to keep in touch with you over the years; I apologize for that. Today has been a monumental day for me, and I felt I needed to express my gratitude for all your guidance through this letter.
In high school, you helped me become the athlete I am today. Without the support you had shown me during those years, I wouldn’t have reached here. Today, I won a gold medal at the Olympics; did you watch me win? I hope you were proud of me if you recognized me. I certainly am proud and grateful that I was your student.
I would like to thank you for all the love you had shown me in high school and for pushing me harder to hone my skills.
Yours Sincerely,
Jonah Hillcrest
(515) 272-4433
4302 80th Ave
Swea City, Iowa(IA), 50590
7. Thank you letter after making the team
Kathy Willows
(408) 496-4100
3945 Freedom Cir
Santa Clara, California(CA), 95054
26-10-2021
Subject: Expressing gratitude for coaching
Dear coach Willows,
I am thrilled to have made it to the main team in the upcoming match. I write this letter to express my gratitude for this development.
Being a hockey player has been a lifelong dream. My father was a university-level hockey player, and I have always admired him for his sportsmanship. Today, being selected among the main players is a wonderful achievement as I can finally work towards becoming an athlete as good as my father. I have only you to thank for the trust you have put in me by selecting me today.
Since I joined the team, you have always been very supportive and encouraging, giving me feedback on how I can improve. I feel I have evolved a lot as an athlete under your purview. As the match draws closer, I am excited and nervous at the thought of being among the main players. I hope you can continue supporting me on my journey as you have done so far.
Yours Sincerely,
Kevin Spencer
(503) 696-4024
2200 Mission College Blvd
Santa Clara, California(CA), 95054
