When should I start the recruiting process?

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Getting good grades and having good test scores is just as important as having good statistics in your sport. A coach can only recruit you if you are academically eligible to compete at that specific school. Not only do you have to qualify for the academic requirements of the NCAA or NAIA but you will want to make sure you know what the academic requirements are for the school you are interested in attending. Don’t believe the myth that a coach can get you into the school if he wants you bad enough. A coach still has to answer to the university and NCAA or NAIA on the GPA and graduation rates of their athletes. Most coaches won’t gamble on a student-athlete who hasn’t demonstrated he can handle the academic responsibilities of the school. Remember it’s called Student-Athlete. You need to perform in both.

 Should I use a recruiting service?A recruiting service can make sense for student-athletes who need maximum exposure. But just because you have help with the recruiting process doesn’t mean you have any less work to do. You need to be VERY active in your recruiting process whether you use a recruiting service or not. All recruiting service 

What are my chances of playing college sports?

Only 2% of High School athletes go on to play college sports.

 But don’t let the numbers mislead you–The only statistics that matter are the numbers you put up in the sport you play.

Do your research on teams that interest you. See how you line up with their current players and don’t hesitate to contact the coach to see if he is interested in an athlete with your talents. Every team is looking for something a little different in their athletes. You have options: Be open to looking at NCAA Division 1, 2 & 3 programs as well as NAIA and Junior College Programs.

Even if you don’t have the skills a coach is looking for in a scholarship athlete there may be an opportunity to walk onto the team. At the very least a coach can advise you on what you should be doing to get closer to your goals 

The main difference between the different NCAA divisions is their ability to give athletic scholarships to student-athletes. Division 1, 1-A and 2 can give athletic scholarships. Division 3 schools cannot give athletic scholarships, but the school can give academic scholarships and other types of financial aid.

What is the NCAA Clearinghouse?

The NCAA department that used to be called the clearinghouse is now known as the eligibility center. The eligibility center is the organization that determines if you are academically eligible to play college athletics. In high school there are a certain number of core courses required and minimum GPA and ACT/SAT scores you need to earn. You only need to register with the eligibility center if you plan on playing at the NCAA Division 1, 1-A or 2 levels. 

What is the NCAA Clearinghouse?

The NCAA department that used to be called the clearinghouse is now known as the eligibility center. The eligibility center is the organization that determines if you are academically eligible to play college athletics. 

In high school there are a certain number of core courses required and minimum GPA and ACT/SAT scores you need to earn. You only need to register with the eligibility center if you plan on playing at the NCAA Division 1, 1-A or 2 levels. 

  How important are grades and test scores?

Getting good grades and having good test scores is just as important as having good statistics in your sport. A coach can only recruit you if you are academically eligible to compete at that specific school. 

Not only do you have to qualify for the academic requirements of the NCAA or NAIA but you will want to make sure you know what the academic requirements are for the school you are interested in attending.