Recruiting Guide Year by Year
Freshmen
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You are declared a recruit once you enter high school in your freshman year.
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Contact with college coaches through phone, instant messenger, letter, email, fax, or visit can only be made by you. College coaches cannot call, email, write, fax, or visit you.
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You should let your club and high school coaches know that you're interested in competing at the college level, and add them to your Hudl profile as a reference.
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If you're interested in playing Division I or II, check the NCAA Core Courses and discuss them with your school counselor to make sure you're on track.
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You are eligible to take an unofficial visit.
Sophomores
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Contact with college coaches through phone, instant messenger, letter, email, fax, or visit can only be made by you.
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Non-recruiting materials: Athletes can receive brochures for camps, questionnaires, NCAA
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materials, and non-athletic recruiting publications at any time.
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You are eligible to take an unofficial visit.
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You should have an active Hudl Recruiting profile and Instagram Recruiting profile and BOTH should have current video highlights for coaches to view.
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Upload your academic transcripts to your Recruiting profile as a PDF.
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Make sure you have followed schools of interest on Instagram with your recruiting profile.
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Message 10-20 schools and provide links for them to your Recruiting profile, and include the link to your Instagram profile as well.
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The PSAT, ACT, and SAT are not required for NCAA Eligibility, but good scores can help you get into academically competitive schools.
Juniors
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June 15th after your Sophomore year (Division I and Division II):
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Coaches can extend verbal scholarship offers, call athletes, and send athletes all forms of private electronic correspondence, including text messages, instant messages, direct messages, and emails, as well as all recruiting materials.
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Division II: Athletes may start taking official visits starting June 15 after an athlete’s sophomore year.
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August 1st before Junior year (Division I):
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Athletes can begin taking official visits, and they can also arrange unofficial visits with a school’s athletic department and meet with the coach while on campus. Coaches can begin conducting off-campus contact with athletes at their residence or school.
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January 1st of Junior Year (Division III):
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Athletes can begin taking official visits after January 1 of their junior year.
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Non-recruiting materials: Athletes can receive brochures for camps, questionnaires, NCAA
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materials, and non-athletic recruiting publications at any time.
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This is a good time to take the ACT or SAT (if you're planning on it) because it will give you time to retake it if needed (not required for NCAA eligibility)
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At the end of the year, have your counselor send your transcript to the NCAA Eligibility Center after completing your sixth semester.
Seniors
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October 1st - Complete your FAFSA. The FAFSA determines your eligibility for federal grants,
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loans, and work-study funds. For the 2024-25 academic year, it opened on December 1st, 2023.
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Do this ASAP, as aid is awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis.
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Apply to schools! Make sure you keep up with the application deadlines! NOTE: MOST APPLICATIONS ARE DUE BY JANUARY.
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End of year: Have your counselor send your final high school transcripts and proof of graduation to the NCAA Eligibility Center.
CLICK HERE for detailed NCAA Recruiting and Eligibility Information
CLICK HERE for the complete NCAA Guide and Toolkit
-THINGS TO CONSIDER -
Learn what you want to get out of your college experience
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What matters most to you and your family
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Different colleges offer different experiences, weigh the pros and cons
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Love the school, not just the name
Academic Fit
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NCAA Core Requirements and Test Scores
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Find schools with academic programs that suit your interests
Athletic Fit
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Not everyone can play for University of Wisconsin - Madison, and not everyone wants to play for University of Wisconsin - Madison
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Find Your Niche - play right away, wait in line, travel, position, off-time
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Discuss this with your coaches, and get their opinion about where you would excel!
Governing Bodies
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Eligibility Centers