•  Understanding your Level of Recruitment 

Freshman Boys

Freshman Girls

• Research 2-3 schools per week
• Create a list of 100 prospective schools consider both athletics and academics
• Look into joining ID camps for the summer, Top 3-5 Choices for Schools
• Make a highlight tape
• Send introduction letters to coaches
• Contact Coaches on a regular basis 2-3 per week to build relationships
• Go on unofficial visits to colleges
• Build relationships by making phone calls, send letters and emails, YOU MUST BE PROACTIVE.
• Division I Timeline is Accelerated, Attend National Events and Showcases that will expose you to these coaches. (see clubs suggested tournament list).

Rules/Tips to Remember:

• Coaches are watching your development throughout high school at camps, in school and on the field
• Standouts are proactive, it’s never too early for YOU to write a letter or make a call to coaches
• DI and DII coaches can’t personally contact you until Junior year, but YOU can contact them. Girls are committing late Freshman to End of Sophomore Year at Top Programs.
• DIII and NAIA coaches can contact you at anytime
• Important to do be familiar with the school both athletically and academically

Sophomore Boys (Along with all items Freshman Year)

• Film your highlights tape- film your games
• Look into joining ID camps for the summer, Top 3-5 Choices for Schools
• Continue to research prospective schools
• Narrow down your prospective list of schools
• Continue to build relationships by making calls, sending letters, emails
• Fill out questionnaires
• Make unofficial visits
• Invite College Coaches to watch you play at National Events and Showcases.

Sophomore Girls (along with all Items from Freshman Year)

• Film your highlights tape- film your games
• Contact Coaches on a regular basis 2-3 per week to build relationships, remember the accelerated timeline for DI programs.
• Look into joining ID camps for the summer, Top 3-5 Choices for Schools
• Continue to research prospective schools
• Narrow down your prospective list of schools
• Continue to build relationships by making calls, sending letters, emails
• Fill out questionnairesMake unofficial visits
• Invite College Coaches to watch you play at National Events and Showcases.

Junior Boys

• Continue to film your highlights tape
• Follow-up with coaches you’ve contacted in a TIMELY manner, Invite coaches to watch you play at National Events and Showcases
• Ask coaches where you stand on their recruits list, proactive in asking DI coaches questions
• Fill out questionnaires
• Respond to EVERY coach
• Make unofficial visits to schools, Narrow down your prospective schools list

Rules/Tips to Remember:

• If you haven’t heard from DI coaches, start reaching out to DII, DIII, NAIA programs
• If you are considering NAIA program, register with NAIA Eligibility Center
• Contact coaches at least once a week

Junior Girls

• Continue to film your highlights tape
• Invite College Coaches to watch you play at National Events and Showcases.
• Follow-up with coaches you’ve contacted in a TIMELY manner, ask for feedback from your play.
• Ask coaches where you stand on their recruits list, proactive in asking DI coaches questions
• Attend I.D. camps over the summer, Top 3-5 Choices
• Fill out questionnaires
• Respond to EVERY coach
• Make unofficial visits to schools
• Narrow down your prospective schools list

Rules/Tips to Remember:

• If you haven’t heard from DI coaches, start reaching out to DII, DIII, NAIA programs
• If you are considering NAIA program, register with NAIA Eligibility Center
• Contact coaches at least once a week

Senior Boys

• Make official visits – allowed only 5
• Continue to get fully evaluated
• Follow-up with coaches and respond in a TIMELY manner
• Continue to communicate with coaches and build relationships
• Apply to the schools- applications
• Apply for financial aid- FAFSA.edu.gov starting Jan. 1st
• Sign and Commit to a school and program (Offers in Fall/Winter for DI, signing in February, last day to commit is August 1st)
• BEGIN PREPARING FOR YOUR COLLEGE CAREER

Senior Girls

• Make official visits – allowed only 5, If committed you may only take one!
• Continue to get fully evaluated, as needed
• Follow-up with coaches and respond in a TIMELY manner
• Continue to communicate with coaches and build relationships, if committed build that relationship with your new coaches!
• Apply to the schools- applications
• Apply for financial aid- FAFSA.edu.gov starting Jan. 1st
• Sign and Commit to a school and program (Offers in Fall/Winter for DI, signing in February, last day to commit is August 1st)
• BEGIN PREPARING FOR YOUR COLLEGE CAREER

Understanding Levels of Recruitment

According to the NCAA, less than 2% of high school athletes earn college athletic scholarships. It’s important to gauge the level of attention that you’re receiving from college coaches so that you know what to expect from the recruiting process.

There are several levels of recruitment. See where you stand in the list below.

Heavily Recruited athletes are top-tier recruits who will likely go on to compete at the Division I level. The recruiting process for these high-level athletes is outlined below.

• Freshmen – At least one scholarship offer. Receive an abundance of letters from coaches, questionnaires, camp invites and admissions information, and generous amounts of letters asking you to call or email.
• Sophomores – Several scholarship offers and unofficial visit invites. Overflow of letters and evaluation at high school games and summer tournaments.
• Juniors – 10 or more scholarship offers and 10 or more unofficial visits. Pre-evaluation from admissions. Multiple calls from coaches in April, May, June and July and asks for a verbal commitment.
• Seniors – National Letter of Intent signing during the early signing period.

Seriously Recruited athletes are high-level recruits who will certainly play sports at the college level.

• Freshmen – Receive a fair amount of letters from coaches, questionnaires, camp Invites and admissions information, and some letters asking you to call or email.
• Sophomores – At least one scholarship offer. Abundance of letters, questionnaires and letters inviting you to call or email. Evaluation at high school games and summer tournaments.
• Juniors – 5 or more scholarship offers and 5 or more unofficial visits. Handwritten letters from coaches. Pre-evaluation from admissions. A few calls in April, May, June and July.
• Seniors – 10 or more offers and at least one official visit. In-home visits.

Moderately Recruited athletes may not end up at the Division I level, but there’s a good chance that they’ll find the right fit at Division II or Division III.

• Freshmen – Some letters and questionnaires from coaches, a few camp invites and some admissions information.
• Sophomores – A generous amount of letters, camp invites, admissions information, and questionnaires.
• Juniors – A few scholarship offers. A few handwritten letters and some calls in April, May, June and July. Evaluation at summer tournaments.
• Seniors – Less than 10 scholarship offers and less than 10 official visit invites. Pre-evaluation from admissions.

Lightly Recruited athletes need to draw more attention to themselves if they want to earn scholarship offers.

• Freshmen – A few letters from coaches and a few camp brochures.
• Sophomores – Several letters from coaches. Some camp invites, admissions info and questionnaires.
• Juniors – A couple of handwritten letters and a few questionnaires. A few evaluations at summer tournaments.
• Seniors – 3 or more offers and 3 or more official invites. Some unofficial invites and some invitations to walk-on.

Not Recruited athletes aren’t on the radar either because they haven’t reached out to college coaches, or they don’t realistically have the athletic ability to play at the collegiate level.

• Freshmen – No recruiting materials.
• Sophomores – A few camp brochures.
• Juniors – Some camp invites, admissions information and questionnaires.
• Seniors – Camp and tryout invite, admissions packets and unofficial visit offers only.