Resources
Everything you need to navigate the college recruiting process. Have a question? Check the FAQ or email us.
Official Links
NCAA Eligibility Center
Required if you plan to play D1 or D2. Register as early as 9th grade and track your core course requirements here.
FAQ About the Recruiting Process
Official NCAA answers to common recruiting questions, organized by division and topic.
Guide for College-Bound Student Athletes
The NCAA's official PDF guide covering core course requirements, eligibility rules, and the recruiting calendar.
University Athlete
A searchable directory of college athletic programs — useful for researching programs, rosters, and coaching staff contact info.
NAIA.org
Home of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Covers NAIA eligibility, scholarship rules, and a directory of member schools.
NJCAA.org
National Junior College Athletic Association. Your starting point if you are considering the junior college (JUCO) route to a 4-year program.
Division Guide
Not sure which level is right for you? Here is a quick breakdown of each division.
- • Highest level of college athletics — largest schools and budgets
- • Full scholarships available (headcount sports like football/basketball) or partial (equivalency sports)
- • Strictest academic eligibility requirements — must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center
- • Recruiting contact rules are tightly regulated; most sports can contact recruits starting Sept. 1 of junior year
- • Enormous time commitment — sport is essentially a full-time responsibility
- • Competitive athletics at smaller schools with a stronger academic balance
- • Partial scholarships available using the equivalency model (split among athletes)
- • NCAA Eligibility Center registration required
- • More recruiting flexibility than D1 — coaches can contact recruits earlier in some cases
- • Often a great fit for athletes who want a full college experience beyond just athletics
- • No athletic scholarships — financial aid is merit- and need-based only
- • No NCAA Eligibility Center registration required
- • Still very competitive — many D3 athletes are D2 caliber
- • Strong academic environments, often smaller liberal arts colleges
- • More flexible practice and travel schedules compared to D1/D2
- • Separate from NCAA — governed by its own body with different rules
- • Athletic scholarships are available and can be significant
- • Often small, faith-based, or community-focused schools
- • NAIA Eligibility Center registration is required
- • Less restrictive recruiting contact rules than NCAA — easier to get in front of coaches
- • 2-year colleges — often a springboard to a D1 or D2 program
- • Great option if you need to improve grades, develop athletically, or want a second look
- • NJCAA Division I and II schools offer athletic scholarships
- • Allows athletes to reset eligibility or build their resume before transferring
- • Many high-profile D1 players started their careers at JUCO programs
Recruiting Timeline
Recruiting is a four-year process. Here is what to focus on each year.
9th Grade
- • Focus on academics — your GPA starts now and every semester counts
- • Identify the sport(s) and position(s) you want to pursue at the college level
- • Attend camps and showcases to start getting exposure in front of coaches
- • Begin filming game footage — coaches want to see you compete, not just practice
10th Grade
- • Create your NCAA Eligibility Center account at eligibilitycenter.org
- • Research programs across all division levels for your sport — build a long list
- • Start emailing coaches with a brief intro: who you are, your sport, grad year, and a highlight link
- • Take the PSAT; begin SAT/ACT prep so you know what scores you need to hit
11th Grade
- • Your most active recruiting year — coaches are evaluating juniors most aggressively
- • For most sports, NCAA coaches can initiate contact starting Sept. 1 of junior year
- • Attend unofficial campus visits to get a feel for programs before being offered
- • Take the SAT/ACT and aim for the academic ranges of your target schools
- • Send consistent weekly outreach emails using GetTheShip — volume matters
12th Grade
- • Keep emailing — many coaches fill roster spots in the fall of senior year
- • National Signing Day: early period is in December for most sports; main period is in February
- • Review your National Letter of Intent (NLI) carefully before signing
- • Finalize your NCAA/NAIA eligibility certification through the Eligibility Center
- • Confirm enrollment, financial aid packages, and scholarship renewal terms
Helpful Books
The Athletic Scholarship Playbook
by Jon Fugler
A complete recruiting roadmap for high school athletes and parents. Covers timelines, outreach strategy, campus visits, and scholarship negotiation from start to finish.
Recruiting Success: A Parent's Guide
by Kenneth Thompson
Written for parents navigating the process alongside their athlete. Covers what to expect at each stage, how to be supportive without overstepping, and common mistakes to avoid.
College Athletic Scholarships
by Marc Nolan
Updated to cover NIL, the transfer portal, and the post-COVID scholarship landscape. Practical and current for the modern recruiting environment.
Significant Recruiting
by Matt Rogers
A playbook for prospective college athletes focused on standing out and building genuine relationships with coaches rather than just sending form emails.
YouTube Channels
NCSA College Recruiting
Tips from one of the largest recruiting networks — covers outreach strategy, campus visits, scholarship negotiation, and sport-specific advice.
NCAA
The official NCAA channel. Great for understanding what D1, D2, and D3 competition actually looks like and what the college sports experience involves.
Sport-Specific Channels
Search YouTube for your sport + 'college recruiting' (e.g. 'college soccer recruiting tips') — there are excellent sport-specific channels covering position-by-position advice, highlight tape tips, and division fit.
Social Media Tips
Coaches research their recruits online. Use social media strategically.
Audit your profiles before you start outreach
Coaches will Google your name. Anything public on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter/X, or Snapchat is fair game. Remove or privatize anything you wouldn't want a coach and their athletic director to see.
Share highlight clips consistently
Post game film, practice moments, and milestone plays. Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts get good reach. Always include your sport, position, graduation year, and stats in the caption or description.
Follow and engage with programs you are targeting
Like, comment, and share content from schools you're interested in. Coaches and their staff notice genuine engagement from recruits — it signals real interest in their program.
Use a consistent, professional handle
Make it easy for coaches to find you across platforms. Use your real name plus grad year (e.g. JohnSmith2026) rather than a nickname or jersey number. Consistency builds a findable personal brand.
Social media alone won't land you an offer — direct outreach will
Most athletes wait to be discovered. Coaches are overwhelmed with content. Use GetTheShip to send personalized emails directly to coaches — that is what actually drives conversations and visits.