GET NOTICED EARLY!

After making a highlight film and informational profile you need to create a business plan. Getting an athletic scholarship is about much more than how many points you score or what all league teams you make. It’s also about research, contacts, academics, commitment and strategy. The recruiting game or getting noticed has its own rules and begins only when you start. To better help you understand I have included recruiting checklists/timelines: http://www.mygamefilm.com/

SOPHOMORE YEAR
Research
Learn about the difference between Division 1, 2 and 3 schools.
Become familiar with NCAA Recruiting Rules.
Get a copy of the NCAA Guide to College Bound Athletes @ www.ncaa.org
Make a list of 10–15 schools that interest you.
Ask parents, coach and guidance counselor to make a list of schools that they believe might be a good fit.
Make a file for each of the schools on your list.
Begin collecting information on: school's profile, student body composition, GPA and test scores for incoming freshman.
Contacts
When traveling, check out schools on your 10-15 list.
E-mail or write each coach on your top 10-15 colleges.
Academics
Become familiar with NCAA academic requirements for core courses.
(Eligibility Button – Clearinghouse Division 1 and 2. None for D3.)
Maintain a strong GPA in as rigorous a schedule as you can manage.
Sign up for the PSAT and ACT tests. Use as practice run.
If your school offers practice SAT/ACT testing, take advantage of it.
NCAA Rules
Division 1 or 2 schools cannot contact you in any way.
Division 3 schools can contact you but not in person.
You may write, E-mail or call D1 and D2 coaches and talk to them, but they cannot return your call.
The only written responses allowed from them are brochures, generic letters and questionnaires.
Unofficial visits to the college, initiated by you, are not limited.
You can meet with college coaches on campus.
Sport
Find a good club team with coaching and competition that you need to develop.
Maintain a strong practice schedule and work ethic.
Set goals for the up coming three years.
Ask your coach if your goals and college choices are realistic.(Adjust if necessary.)
Talk with your coach about your interest/desire regarding your sport.
JUNIOR YEAR
Research
Start thinking about what is important to you in your college choice.
Narrow your list of colleges of interest to approximately 10.
Make sure you have a good mix of colleges on your list.
Include at least two that will be “sure things”. (Confident of being accepted.)
Research schools program, coaching staff, academic strengths, culture and location.
Research financial aid opportunities generally, and at each school on your list. (Particularly important if you don't believe that you will be able to secure a full scholarship.)
Contacts
Prepare a highlight video and profile of yourself and send it out to your schools of interest.
Try to develop a steady dialog with Coaching Staff.
Take unofficial trips to the colleges on your narrowed list.
Take a tour of the campus.
Set up meetings with the coaches.
Talk with athletes if you can.
Ask a lot of questions.
Send thank you note to coach.
Academics
Take a SAT or ACT class, if necessary.
Start meeting regularly with high school counselor.
Continue to maintain a strong GPA.
Make sure you are continuing to meet all NCAA core courses.
Take the SAT and ACT, and the SAT 2 if required for your selected colleges.
Take these tests early and often.
Possibly determine whether you have a specific interest in an area of study in college.
Evaluate potential colleges based upon whether they offer this area of study.
Closely review the requirements for the schools on your list.
Which require which test?
Are essays needed with the application?
Obtain the applications and requirements of the schools on your list.
NCAA Rules
Familiarize yourself with the Rules and follow them.
September 1 – you can receive recruiting materials from Division 1 and 2 schools.
Division 1 and 2 coaches will still not talk with you if you do not initiate the call.
Parents cannot talk with coaches at competitions, or any time off campus, no matter who made the contact.
Coaches can E-mail you, as this has been ruled printed material.
You can continue to make unofficial visits to colleges, at your expense.
Coaches can talk with you at length during these visits to the campus.
You can be given a tour of the campus, watch practice and attend meetings.
Verbal commitments can be made on both sides.
Sport
Play year round with your club.
Maintain a strong practice schedule and work ethic.
Continue to work toward achieving the goals – revisit those goals and adjust if needed.
Continue talking with your coach about how best to achieve your goals.
Share your narrowed list of prospective schools with your high school coach.
SENIOR YEAR
Research
Select the colleges to which you will apply.There is no limit on the number of applications you can submit. (Keep in mind there is a fee associated with each application.)You should have narrowed your preferred list to approximately 5, plus “sure things”.
Keep up to date on the local news, and college team results for those schools you are considering.
Continue to research and apply for scholarships and financial aid.
Contacts
Prepare or Update Highlight Film and Profile - send to schools of interest.
Send College Coaches a schedule.Continue to show interest in the programs on your list.
Make official visits, and continue unofficial visits if needed.Apply to your selected colleges. (Work on your applications early.)
Submit your financial aid forms as soon as possible after January 1.National Letter of Intent signing dates.
Academic
If you haven’t taken the SAT and/or ACT. GET IT DONE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!
Sign up with the NCAA Eligibility Clearinghouse if you intend to participate in Division 1 or 2.
Maintain a strong high school schedule and GPA.
NCAA Rules
After July 1 before your Senior Year, you can be contacted by Division 1 Colleges by phone once per week.
Division 2 Colleges can begin contacting you after July 15, phone calls are limited to one per week.
Division 3 can meet with you after the end of your Junior Year.You may be contacted in person, off campus, three time.(Subject to Recruiting Calendar Restrictions.)
Parents (or you) can talk with coaches at competition or other events, but this will count as one of the three contacts allowed, no matter how limited the conversation.
From the first day of classes your senior year, you may make up to 5 official visits. (Paid by the college.)
You may not make more than one official visit to the same school.
Sport
Continue playing with club team.
Maintain strong practice schedule and work ethic.
Work toward achieving your goals.
Talk with your coach about how best to achieve your goals.
Share your narrowed list of prospective schools with your coach.
Regularly update your coach on the recruiting process.