Most NCAA sports have an early signing period. This signing period, early in November, is often overlooked in the planning by high school athletes but it can dominate the timing of everything involved in recruiting. Calls by coaches, home visits, official visits to colleges all will happen before that early signing period for the students who sign early.
At some schools and in some sports a majority of the scholarships will be offered at this time, leaving fewer for the regular signing period. If your sport has a first semester early signing period, it is even more is essential that you become visible to recruiting coaches as early as possible. The numbers mean that competition for sports scholarships is stiff.
Not all high school athletes are going to be eligible to play at the college level. Not all high school athletes will be have the size, strength, speed or other attributes that coaches in particular sports are looking for. Not all high school athletes will come to the attention of college recruiters. The numbers mean that most high school athletes will need to work for every advantage they can get in the recruiting game. That means preparing, learning and being proactive in the recruiting process.