Just4Everyone Athletics
Recruitment Resources
Studies show that it is not a lack of talent that prevents athletes from being recruited, but a lack of knowledge about the recruitment process. Here, we have researched what you need to know to have a shot at recruitment. Our PowerPoint presentation, handouts, and worksheets have everything you need to start your recruitment process. These materials are always FREE and available to share with anyone and everyone!
Playing Sports After High School
There are many ways for an athlete to stay active and engaged in their sport after high school, regardless of whether or not they play in college. Most gyms offer discounted rates for young adults; some offer access to facilities like courts, fields, and pools. Some gyms run recreational sports programs or classes like yoga, swimming, soccer, pickleball, and basketball. Community spaces also often run recreational leagues or have open court and field times. Good resources for finding adult leagues in your sport and community include Facebook, coaches' leagues, and community centers. There is also a shortage of referees- becoming a referee in your sport is also a good way to stay involved.
Varsity sports are not the only way to be an athlete at college; many schools also have club sports that athletes can join or create. Club teams vary in their level of commitment and structure. Some teams require try-outs, dues, etc., while others do not. Club teams offer athletes more ownership than varsity sports; club teams are responsible for equipment, uniforms, and hiring a coach.
Varsity collegiate athletics are usually recruitment-based, but many DIII teams accept walk-ons or run try-outs. Athletes can email the coach to ask whether they accept walk-ons. Varsity sports require a higher level of commitment. Most programs have a main season where commitment can range from 20-40 hours per week, including weight lifting, film, team meetings, practice, games, and travel. They also have off-seasons of lifting and practice, which usually range from 5-20 hours per week. Even during breaks, athletes complete training programs, so they are always working. Some programs require students to pay for all of their equipment and gear, while most do not. You can ask college coaches what they offer and if they have a low-income fund to cover additional costs you might face. Most athletic departments also provide insurance through athletic training, meaning that any medical bills related to a sports injury will be reimbursed by the college. In general, varsity sports offer more support, resources, and connections.
Division I
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Usually state schools with higher acceptance rates (+ the Ivy League)
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Harder to make the roster
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Some offer athletic scholarships
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A lot of travel, some athletes are only on campus 2-3 days per week
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Higher time commitment and more restrictions on academics and extracurricular options
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Athletes usually can not study abroad
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Often have more opportunities for NIL deals (paid sponsorships)
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Access to the best resources (athletic trainers, weight coaches, team doctors, sport psychology consultants, nutritionists, etc.)
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Larger fan bases and media exposure
Division II
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A mix between DI and DIII
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Offer more sports scholarships overall than DI
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Some teams are highly competitive, and some are not
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Schools are more widespread, and athletes often need to travel far for games
Division III
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Mostly private schools with lower acceptance rates
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Usually easier to make the roster; sometimes accepts try-outs and/or walk-ons (joining the team after being accepted into the college)
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Typically give more financial aid than state schools for lower-income students (need-based, merit-based, grants, work-study, etc.). It is a myth that state schools are always more affordable.
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If recruited, athletes can go through a special admissions process that can increase the acceptance rate
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More emphasis on academics, athletes are generally able to study in any major, have jobs, join clubs, play additional sports, and study abroad
The Recruitment Timeline
Freshman + Sophomore
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Continue to work hard in the classroom and in your sport.
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Research schools and programs you're interested in.
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Consider if your skill level and interest would realistically fit with DI, DII, or DIII.
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Consider which schools would be a good fit athletically and academically
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Find your measurables (mile time, 40-yard dash, vertical jump, etc.).
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Collect film and put together your highlight video.
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Research and sign up for tournaments, clubs, events, and camps.
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Start reaching out to coaches- send your schedules (including which tournaments you will be at), measurables, and highlight video.
Junior
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These grades will be very important, so keep up the good work!
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Take the SAT and/or ACT if your schools require them.
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Update your measurables and highlight video.
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Reach out to all coaches on your list.
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Keep up the communication- junior year and the summer following is when coaches will start having more serious conversations about your place on the team.
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Attend tournaments your coaches will be at, attend their clinics and camps if you can, and let them know where you will be, so they can see you in action.
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Visit campus if you can, if you can't- schedule a Zoom with the coach and a Zoom with some players. Ask about an official visit.
Senior
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Know your application deadlines
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Take the SAT and/or ACT again if your school requires them
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Consider applying early decision- coaches have the most sway in the admissions process if you apply early decision.
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Complete your applications and financial aid forms like the Common App, FAFSA, CSS, and IDOC.
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Interview through the admissions office, even if it isn't required. Another letter of recommendation will help.
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If you get your financial aid package and it is less than you expected, advocate for yourself and set up a meeting with the financial aid office.
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Plan financial aid for your four years. There have been significant changes in recent years with OBBA.
NIL
Athletes in all three divisions can earn money through the NCAA's Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) regulations. Athletes are most likely to make significant money on DI elite basketball and football teams, but all athletes can benefit from NIL. Regulations differ from state to state, program to program, and are constantly changing. If NIL is something you or your athlete is interested in learning more about, they should reach out to their coach or NIL compliance director at the colleges they are considering to learn about NIL opportunities on thier perspective teams.
Identifying Schools
The first step in the recruiting process is creating a list of schools that interest you. If you're not sure where to start, begin with a simple Google search using terms like "best colleges for biology," "NCAA women's soccer programs in Massachusetts," or "Division III baseball schools in New England." You can also search by division, geographic region, academic major, school size, or other factors that are important to you. Some websites, such as College Navigator, BigFuture, and College Scorecard, help you compare colleges by size, majors, graduation rates, costs, and financial aid. NCAA and conference websites, athletic department pages, and college admissions websites can help you explore athletics, academics, campus life, and financial aid. Team social media pages can help you get a sense of the team's culture and daily life.
As you research, remember that choosing a school is about much more than athletics. Consider factors such as academic programs, division and competitiveness, team culture, campus size, location, cost, financial aid, coaching philosophy, and the overall student experience.
Keeping your information organized from the beginning can help the process be less stressful. We recommend creating a recruitment spreadsheet or using our spreadsheet template to track your schools, contact information, recruiting and application deadlines, requirements, visits, etc. An organized system will help you compare opportunities and stay on top of the recruiting process.
Remember that there is no single "best" school- only the school that is the best fit for you. Your goal is to find a place where you can grow both as a student and an athlete.
Download our free recruitment spreadsheet template below to help you organize your college search and recruiting journey.
Communicating With Coaches
The three divisions have different rules on when and how coaches can communicate with athletes, and these rules may vary based on sport, so be sure to look up your sport-specific rules in each division. These can be found through the NCAA, NCSA, a Google search, or by asking an athlete who has already been through the process.
DI and DII coaches can not email an athlete back until the summer before their junior year. They can, however, talk to prospective athletes in person or through "recruiting agents" like parents and coaches. In fact, DI coaches can extend verbal offers to athletes before they are even allowed to email back, which means it's essential for athletes to send emails and have someone speak on their behalf, even if the coach doesn't respond.
DIII is easier, coaches can email back once the prospective athlete starts high school.
Emailing a Coach
Coaches receive a lot of emails; if they don't respond, try again! The more communication you have with a college coach, the more interest you are showing in their program, the more likely they are to spend more time with you.
You can email, text, phone, and video call with coaches. Find your coach's email through the school's athletics website; some schools also have recruiting forms to fill out. After filling out the form, send an email to follow up.
A good way to get a sense of the program is by video-calling with the coach and players. Ask the coach if you can meet with players in your intended position and/or area of study.
In your email, your subject line should include your first and last name, graduation year, and position(s).
The body of your email should include your first and last name, hometown, high school, graduation year, position(s), club or travel team if applicable, and your jersey number on each team. It should also have your GPA, test scores, extracurricular interests, and why you are interested in their school. This information really helps coaches understand you holistically. It helps them decide if you are a good fit athletically and academically.
Emails should include measurables and highlight film. See more information on measurables and film below. Athletes can also include Instagram handles for their current teams and current coach contact information- connections will only boost your athletic resume.
A coach will tell you what else they need to know from you in future meetings, so don't worry about missing something!
Film, Measurables, Visits, Events
While talent is important, college coaches can only evaluate athletes they have the opportunity to learn about. Film, athletic measurables, campus visits, and recruiting events all help coaches understand who you are as a player and whether you may be a good fit for their program.
Although some athletes have greater access to expensive club teams, showcases, and travel opportunities, you do not need an unlimited budget to build a strong recruiting profile. High-quality film, accurate measurables, thoughtful communication, and strategic decisions about which visits and events to attend can significantly increase your exposure, and the research shows that exposure is far more important than talent in the recruiting process.
Measurables
Measurables are objective data that help college coaches evaluate an athlete's physical abilities alongside their game film and competition experience. Depending on the sport, measurables may include height, weight, wingspan, sprint times, agility tests, vertical jump, throwing or hitting velocity, personal records, race times, lifting numbers, or other sport-specific performance metrics.
The best way to determine which measurables are important for your sport is to research college athletic websites, recruiting questionnaires, and camp registration pages. Many college programs list the information they ask prospective athletes to provide. You can also speak with your high school or club coach, attend recruiting clinics, or contact college coaches directly to ask which measurables they find most helpful.
Many measurables can be collected at your high school by a coach, strength and conditioning staff member, athletic trainer, physical education teacher, or even a parent, teammate, or friend. Keep your measurables organized and update them as you improve.
Film
Sharing some video is better than sharing no video, so even if your film isn't perfect or professional, you should still send it in. Videos should be about 3-5 minutes and start with your strengths and best clips. Coaches will often not watch the entire video; high-quality short videos are best.
While it is not required, it is nice to include a title page in the video with your name, number, and measurables, like height for volleyball or basketball.
Film can be of games, practices, or staged reps. Be sure to point yourself out with an arrow or circle so the coach can easily identify you in the video.
Coaches prefer no background music or noise.
See the videos below for examples of how to make a good film highlight. While these are volleyball and soccer players, the same principles apply to every sport.
Visits
The more times an athlete visits a college, the more exposure they get to the coach, the more likely they are to make the team.
Athletes are allowed one official visit at each school. Official visits include tours, overnights with team members, classes with team members, and practice observation. Essentially, the athlete becomes a part of the team for a day or two, which provides a sense of how the athlete will fit in with the team. For official visits, some colleges provide financial assistance for travel; athletes should ask coaches at schools further from home what they are able to cover.
Unofficial visits (day visits) are unlimited. Athletes must provide their own transportation and food. During these visits, they can schedule meetings with the coaches or team members, go on campus tours, watch games, and interact with the parts of campus that are open to the general public. Athletes should tell their coaches when they will be on campus and ask if they can observe practice from the stands.
Events
Athletes should send coaches their high school and club team schedules and invite coaches to their games; they might be able to send an assistant to watch, especially if the game is within 1-2 hours of the college. Ask coaches where they'll be and what events they run on campus.
Tournaments, clinics, and camps are the best way to gain exposure to many coaches at once and show skill and coachability, but they can be expensive. The NCAA does not allow coaches or colleges to provide financial assistance for camps or clinics. Athletes should talk with their families and determine what they can afford, narrow down schools, and see if they can attend a few tournaments, clinics, or camps.
At these events, coaches watch athletes on and off the court/field. Athletes should be respectful and clean. They should be nice to themselves, their teammates, parents, opponents, and refs. Athletes should show off their leadership skills and take the initiative to introduce themselves to the coaches at the event.
Importantly, athletes should have fun at these events!
Questions to Ask Coaches
Asking questions is important for the athlete to understand if the school, team, and coach are a good fit for them. They also help athletes figure out their chances of making the team and being accepted into the school.
It is important to ask questions early on to help you narrow down a list of schools so your time can be spent on teams that are the best fit. If you play a sport-specific position, like a goalie or pitcher, asking what the coach has available is especially important.
Questions for Coaching Staff:
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What positions are you looking for in my class year?
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How does financial aid work at your school?
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Have you had any athletes in your team major in ___? What has their experience been like?
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Do you support athletes interested in studying abroad?
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How would you describe your coaching style?
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Does your team have a low-income fund/support low-income athletes with equipment costs or other fees?
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Can you talk about how your athletes balance sports and athletics? What resources does your campus have?
Questions for Current Players:
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What is your favorite and least favorite thing about playing on this team?
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How would you describe the team culture?
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How do you support each other?
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What is your favorite and least favorite thing about the college?
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How do you balance academics, athletics, and other interests?
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How does the team interact in and out of season?
