Getting Recruited to Play an NCAA Sport in College

Some students aspire to continue the sport they played in high school in college at the NCAA level. Many want or need athletic scholarships. NCAA Division I and II schools offer them, and some Division I scholarships cover the full cost of attendance, but many awards are partial; Division III schools and Ivy League schools do not offer athletic scholarships. The college application process for these individuals is different than for most students. It takes planning and starting early to be successfully recruited.

Students need to consider that playing a sport in college will add extra stress on top of academics. Thus, players need to develop good time management skills in high school and be sure of their desire to devote a significant amount of time in college to their sport.

In 9th grade students should begin the research process. The NCAA has certain academic requirements to qualify for Division I and II college teams, including 16 NCAA-approved core courses and a minimum core-course GPA (2.3 for Division I and 2.2 for Division II). Standardized test scores are no longer part of NCAA initial eligibility, though colleges may still use them for admission. The NCAA recommends creating a free Profile Page with the NCAA Eligibility Center before ninth grade. Students recruited by a Division I or II school must transition to an Academic and Athletics Certification account, which is needed to compete at those schools. Division III schools set their own academic standards and certify domestic students on campus, so domestic Division III athletes use a Profile Page; international Division III students need an Athletics Certification account. Information on account types can be found at https://www.eligibilitycenter.org. Academics are important for all high school students looking to play varsity sports in college because coaches will not be interested in students with very low GPAs.

Recruiting can begin as early as ninth grade, especially for students who have earned awards or high rankings at the state or national level, although in most cases it starts around the summer before 11th grade. Students will need to have film of their game play to get the attention of top programs and many programs in general. High school students must take initiative and should reach out to coaches by sending emails, letters, or calling coaches directly (contact information can be found on college team pages). Depending on the sport and grade level, NCAA rules may not yet allow Division I coaches to respond, and Division I and II schools follow recruiting calendars or reminders that limit when coaches can call, visit or meet with recruits.

Taking all of the steps listed above will help students stay on track to be recruited by the colleges that fit them best. Again, starting early and being persistent is key.