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VOLLEYBALL RECRUITING CHECK-LIST
FALL/WINTER/SPRING OF JUNIOR YEAR
>> Take the SAT and/or ACT
Sign up with your school counselor and be sure to take on a national testing date. Most schools accept either test, but check to be sure. Don’t worry about sending your scores directly to colleges yet, but DO SEND YOUR SCORE TO THE CLEARINGHOUSE!
>> Play Volleyball
Coaches can’t recruit you if they don’t see you play. Make copies of your schedule and send it to all the colleges you are interested in. Most recruiting takes place at club tournaments, but not all. When you are competing, be sure to let your personality shine through. Be natural and play hard!
>> Make a video
It may be difficult for coaches to watch you play in person right away, especially if you’re interested in schools in a different part of the country or if your club team doesn’t go to major tournaments. Make a video of skills and game footage and keep several copies on hand to send to schools that you’re interested in or that show interest in you.
>> Do your homework
Find out as much about each university you are interested in as you can. Visit their web-site, ask the coach for specific information, and talk with alumni (athletes and non-athletes) or other people familiar with the school. The best thing to do is visit schools if it is financially and physically possible, but this is not necessary.
>> Communicate
Let the coaches who are writing you know what you are thinking about school. Coaches enjoy hearing from prospects...it keeps your name on their minds and lets them know you are interested. Even if a college is not a possibility on your list, coaches want to know that. Be sure not to eliminate schools too early, make sure your top choices are really considering you too. Don’t make any final decisions until you’ve done your homework.
>> Know the rules
The NCAA has developed a long list of rules to make the recruiting process fair to all involved. A booklet explaining the rules is available to all aspiring student-athletes by calling: 1-800-638-3731. Ask for the 'NCAA Guide for the College Bound Athlete,' it’s free, and definitely worth the call.
>> Know your goals
In order to determine which university and volleyball program is best for you, you must know you personal needs. Determine your priorities among academics, athletics, and social life. Stick with programs that have the same priorities as you do. As far as volleyball goes, you need to decide how important things such as playing time, position, success, support, competition level and your role on the team are. Do some serious thinking about these things before you narrow your choices.
SUMMER BEFORE SENIOR YEAR
>> Register with the NCAA Clearinghouse
Don’t worry about this until you’ve finished your junior year. Your counselor should have forms for you to fill out and send in with a transcript. Full in the bubble that lets all schools have access to your information, this will save you money and time later on. Remember to send your SAT/ACT scores to the Clearinghouse as well!
>> Send out transcripts/SAT-ACT scores
Schools will need a copy of your final junior transcript. Just make photocopies and send them directly to the coach. If your SAT/ACT score is not listed on your high school transcript, be sure to photocopy that and send it along as well.
>> Narrow your choices
If you’ve done all of the things listed under the fall/winter/spring section above, then you should be ready to start narrowing your choices. Before you head off to your final club tournament, make a list of 10 to 15 universities you can see yourself attending and playing volleyball for. Make sure those schools have you high on their lists as well. Include a few long shots and a few sure things. Also reserve room for one or two schools who might see you play for the first time at your last tournament.
>> Answer the phone
Starting on July 1, 2003 college coaches can finally call you! You will receive calls from several schools. In order to save time (both yours and the coaches); don’t be afraid to say what you think. If you are not interested in a school let the coach know. If a school has piqued your interest, be sure to have questions ready! This is your time to figure out if you can relate with the coaching staff on a personal level. If the schools on your list have not called you, call them to find out what’ going on!
>> Decide where to visit
The NCAA allows you to take five, all expenses paid, visits to universities. These are called 'official visits.' They are designed to let you experience directly what it is like to be a student-athlete at that school. Not all recruits take all five visits, in fact, it very rarely happens. Most people end up taking 2 or 3, to the top universities or their choice.
FALL OF SENIOR YEAR
>> Take visits
On your visits be sure to ask questions. Talk with the players to find out what it’s like, check out the dorms, get a feel for campus life. If you know what you want to major in set up an appointment with a professor. Be sure you are on the same page as the coach in regards to what is being offered to you financially and when you are expected to make a decision.
>> Verbally commit
A verbal commitment may be made between a prospect and a college at any time during the recruiting process. When a player verbally commits, she is promising to attend that school and play volleyball. A coach accepts this promise, and does not recruit any more players for that spot. This is a ‘gentleman’s agreement,’ based on the integrity of the program and the prospect. A ‘National Letter of Intent' can be signed either in November 2003 or April 2004. This is the legal document on which you commit. Most Division I programs want to be done recruiting by Thanksgiving, so expect to have your decisions made by then, if not earlier.
RECRUITING TIMETABLE FOR PLAYERS
Sophomore year
- May--send out introductory letters and résumé’s to colleges
- Summer--if financially feasible, attend camp at a college
Junior year
- August--send school schedules out to colleges that have responded
- Fall--players should update colleges on season results
- December--wrap up season in letter
- January--try out for club team and send club schedule to schools
- Spring--put videotape together, send to colleges by May
- Summer--narrow choices to 10 or 15, make sure they are realistic
- --attend camp at one of your top 15 colleges
Senior year
- Fall / Early Winter--take official visits to schools (only 5 are allowed)
***if there are no schools making offers for visits be sure to call all interested schools and find out where you stand
- November or April--sign a National Letter of intent with your school of choice!
KEYS TO BEING RECRUITED
1) Don’t wait until your senior year to let universities know about you
2) Make a video during your junior year and always keep copies on hand
3) Play club volleyball in the winter/spring/early summer
4) Don’t be shy!! Coaches enjoy hearing from prospects...it keeps your name on their minds and lets them know you are interested
Recruiting Sources:
1) National Directory of College Athletics
-will give you all addresses of colleges and coaches names
-to obtain contact: Collegiate Directories, INC 1-800-426-2232
2) NCAA Guide for the College Bound Athlete
-pamphlet that explains all the NCAA rules you need to know as a prospect
-to obtain contact: NCAA 1-800-638-3731
>> Take the SAT and/or ACT
Sign up with your school counselor and be sure to take on a national testing date. Most schools accept either test, but check to be sure. Don’t worry about sending your scores directly to colleges yet, but DO SEND YOUR SCORE TO THE CLEARINGHOUSE!
>> Play Volleyball
Coaches can’t recruit you if they don’t see you play. Make copies of your schedule and send it to all the colleges you are interested in. Most recruiting takes place at club tournaments, but not all. When you are competing, be sure to let your personality shine through. Be natural and play hard!
>> Make a video
It may be difficult for coaches to watch you play in person right away, especially if you’re interested in schools in a different part of the country or if your club team doesn’t go to major tournaments. Make a video of skills and game footage and keep several copies on hand to send to schools that you’re interested in or that show interest in you.
>> Do your homework
Find out as much about each university you are interested in as you can. Visit their web-site, ask the coach for specific information, and talk with alumni (athletes and non-athletes) or other people familiar with the school. The best thing to do is visit schools if it is financially and physically possible, but this is not necessary.
>> Communicate
Let the coaches who are writing you know what you are thinking about school. Coaches enjoy hearing from prospects...it keeps your name on their minds and lets them know you are interested. Even if a college is not a possibility on your list, coaches want to know that. Be sure not to eliminate schools too early, make sure your top choices are really considering you too. Don’t make any final decisions until you’ve done your homework.
>> Know the rules
The NCAA has developed a long list of rules to make the recruiting process fair to all involved. A booklet explaining the rules is available to all aspiring student-athletes by calling: 1-800-638-3731. Ask for the 'NCAA Guide for the College Bound Athlete,' it’s free, and definitely worth the call.
>> Know your goals
In order to determine which university and volleyball program is best for you, you must know you personal needs. Determine your priorities among academics, athletics, and social life. Stick with programs that have the same priorities as you do. As far as volleyball goes, you need to decide how important things such as playing time, position, success, support, competition level and your role on the team are. Do some serious thinking about these things before you narrow your choices.
>> Register with the NCAA Clearinghouse
Don’t worry about this until you’ve finished your junior year. Your counselor should have forms for you to fill out and send in with a transcript. Full in the bubble that lets all schools have access to your information, this will save you money and time later on. Remember to send your SAT/ACT scores to the Clearinghouse as well!
>> Send out transcripts/SAT-ACT scores
Schools will need a copy of your final junior transcript. Just make photocopies and send them directly to the coach. If your SAT/ACT score is not listed on your high school transcript, be sure to photocopy that and send it along as well.
>> Narrow your choices
If you’ve done all of the things listed under the fall/winter/spring section above, then you should be ready to start narrowing your choices. Before you head off to your final club tournament, make a list of 10 to 15 universities you can see yourself attending and playing volleyball for. Make sure those schools have you high on their lists as well. Include a few long shots and a few sure things. Also reserve room for one or two schools who might see you play for the first time at your last tournament.
>> Answer the phone
Starting on July 1, 2003 college coaches can finally call you! You will receive calls from several schools. In order to save time (both yours and the coaches); don’t be afraid to say what you think. If you are not interested in a school let the coach know. If a school has piqued your interest, be sure to have questions ready! This is your time to figure out if you can relate with the coaching staff on a personal level. If the schools on your list have not called you, call them to find out what’ going on!
>> Decide where to visit
The NCAA allows you to take five, all expenses paid, visits to universities. These are called 'official visits.' They are designed to let you experience directly what it is like to be a student-athlete at that school. Not all recruits take all five visits, in fact, it very rarely happens. Most people end up taking 2 or 3, to the top universities or their choice.
>> Take visits
On your visits be sure to ask questions. Talk with the players to find out what it’s like, check out the dorms, get a feel for campus life. If you know what you want to major in set up an appointment with a professor. Be sure you are on the same page as the coach in regards to what is being offered to you financially and when you are expected to make a decision.
>> Verbally commit
A verbal commitment may be made between a prospect and a college at any time during the recruiting process. When a player verbally commits, she is promising to attend that school and play volleyball. A coach accepts this promise, and does not recruit any more players for that spot. This is a ‘gentleman’s agreement,’ based on the integrity of the program and the prospect. A ‘National Letter of Intent' can be signed either in November 2003 or April 2004. This is the legal document on which you commit. Most Division I programs want to be done recruiting by Thanksgiving, so expect to have your decisions made by then, if not earlier.
- Sophomore year
- May--send out introductory letters and résumé’s to colleges
- Summer--if financially feasible, attend camp at a college
- Junior year
- August--send school schedules out to colleges that have responded
- Fall--players should update colleges on season results
- December--wrap up season in letter
- January--try out for club team and send club schedule to schools
- Spring--put videotape together, send to colleges by May
- Summer--narrow choices to 10 or 15, make sure they are realistic
- --attend camp at one of your top 15 colleges
- Senior year
- Fall / Early Winter--take official visits to schools (only 5 are allowed)
***if there are no schools making offers for visits be sure to call all interested schools and find out where you stand
- November or April--sign a National Letter of intent with your school of choice!
KEYS TO BEING RECRUITED
1) Don’t wait until your senior year to let universities know about you
2) Make a video during your junior year and always keep copies on hand
3) Play club volleyball in the winter/spring/early summer
4) Don’t be shy!! Coaches enjoy hearing from prospects...it keeps your name on their minds and lets them know you are interested
Recruiting Sources:
1) National Directory of College Athletics
-will give you all addresses of colleges and coaches names
-to obtain contact: Collegiate Directories, INC 1-800-426-2232
2) NCAA Guide for the College Bound Athlete
-pamphlet that explains all the NCAA rules you need to know as a prospect
-to obtain contact: NCAA 1-800-638-3731