How to Get Recruited, Step by Step
Recruiting rewards the families who start early, keep their grades up and make it easy for coaches to say yes. Here is the timeline by grade, what goes in a recruiting video and how to contact coaches.
How recruiting actually works
Coaches recruit through calls, texts, emails, social media messages, visits to your high school, campus visits and aid offers. The NCAA says recruiting can begin as early as ninth grade, but in most cases it starts in 11th grade. NCAA 2026-27 college-bound guide
The rules about when coaches may contact you depend on the division, the sport and your grade. Division I uses recruiting calendars, Division II follows recruiting reminders, and Division III uses neither. You can always email a coach; depending on your sport and grade, a Division I coach may not be allowed to write back yet. NCAA guide
Your recruiting checklist
- Take NCAA-approved core courses and protect your GPA from day one. Division I needs 16 core courses and a 2.3 core GPA; Division II needs 16 and a 2.2. NCAA guide
- Create a free NCAA Eligibility Center Profile Page account if you are not yet being recruited. NCAA Eligibility Center
- Start a simple log of stats, times, marks and game film. You will use it for years.
- Make a short highlight video and a one-page athletic resume.
- Research 20 to 30 schools across levels: Division I, II and III, NAIA and junior college. Academic fit matters as much as athletic fit.
- Email coaches with your name, position, graduation year, NCAA ID, highlights and schedule. NCAA guide
- Go to camps or showcases at schools you would actually attend.
- Finish 10 of your 16 core courses, including seven in English, math and science, before your seventh semester. This is the Division I "10/7" rule. NCAA guide
- If a Division I or II school is recruiting you, switch to an Academic and Athletics Certification account. You need it for Division I official visits and to sign an athletics aid agreement. NCAA guide
- Take unofficial visits (you pay) and, once permitted for your sport, official visits (the school pays). Each school may give you one official visit. NCAA guide
- Register with the NAIA Eligibility Center at PlayNAIA.org if NAIA schools are on your list. NAIA guide
- Compare offers in writing: what is covered, for how long, and what happens if you are injured or the coach leaves.
- When you sign an athletics aid agreement with a Division I or II school, other schools that offer athletics aid must stop contacting you. You can only sign with one school. NCAA guide
- Signing dates vary by sport. NCAA Eligibility Center
- Apply for admission separately: NCAA certification is not admission. Ask your counselor to upload your final transcript with proof of graduation.
New for the class of 2027 and later: the age-based clock
Students who first enroll full time in fall 2027 or later get up to five years of eligibility under the NCAA's age-based model. The clock starts at the earlier of full-time college enrollment or the start of the academic year after you turn 19, and it does not pause for redshirts or transfers. Only a few exceptions apply, such as military service, religious missions and pregnancy. NCAA Eligibility Center
The NCAA warns that a gap year or delayed enrollment past 19 can reduce your eligibility, so plan the timing carefully. Students enrolling in 2026-27 can use whichever model is better for them.
A recruiting video coaches will finish
- Lead with your best clips. Coaches watch a lot of film; don't make them wait for your best moments.
- Show who you are in each clip. Use a brief arrow or circle at the start of each play, or start the clip on you.
- Keep it short. A few minutes of your best, most recent work beats a long reel.
- Put the facts on the first screen. Name, graduation year, position or events, height and weight where relevant, school, club, GPA and contact email.
- For timed sports, show the proof. Link results pages for your times and marks rather than only stating them.
- Add full-game film as a separate link for sports where coaches want to see the whole match.
A coach email that gets read
- Subject line: graduation year, position or event, a key stat, and your state. For example: "2028 midfielder, 3.8 GPA, Ohio, highlights."
- First two lines: why this program, specifically. Mention their style of play, a recent season or the academic program you want.
- The facts: stats, times or marks, club and high school, GPA, NCAA ID, and your upcoming schedule.
- Links: highlight video, full game film, results pages.
- Contacts: your email and phone, plus your high school and club coaches.
Follow up after a new result or a new video, not every week.
Paid recruiting services: what to ask before you pay
Companies such as NCSA and others sell recruiting profiles, video editing and coach outreach. Some families find them useful; plenty of athletes are recruited without one. We don't recommend or rank any service. Before you pay, ask:
- What is the total cost, does it renew automatically, and what is the cancellation and refund policy in writing?
- Exactly what will you do that I can't do myself with a free email account and a video link?
- Who contacts coaches, and can I see the messages sent in my name?
- Do you promise a scholarship or a number of offers? (A guarantee is a red flag; the FTC warns that no one can guarantee a scholarship.) FTC
Looking at smaller schools too?
Division II, NAIA and junior colleges have different aid rules and different academic standards.
Common questions
When should I start the recruiting process?
The NCAA says recruiting can begin as early as ninth grade, though in most cases it starts in 11th grade. Starting your film, school list and coach emails in 10th grade gives you room to adjust.
Can college coaches contact me as a freshman or sophomore?
It depends on the division, sport and grade. Division I uses sport-specific recruiting calendars, Division II uses recruiting reminders and Division III has neither. You can always email coaches yourself.
What should a recruiting video include?
Your best and most recent clips first, a clear way to spot you in each play, your contact and academic details on the first screen, and links to full-game film or results pages.
Do I still need the SAT or ACT for NCAA eligibility?
No. NCAA Divisions I and II removed standardized test scores from initial-eligibility requirements in January 2023. Some colleges still use them for admission or academic scholarships, and the NAIA still counts them as one of its options.
What happens after I sign an athletics aid agreement?
The Eligibility Center records it, and other schools that offer athletics aid must stop contacting you and your family. You can only sign with one school, and talking to another requires a release.