NCAA Athletics

How to Get Recruited for College Sports

Getting recruited to play college sports doesn’t happen overnight. It takes planning, initiative, and the right strategy. Whether you are aiming for a D1, D2 or D3 program or exploring NAIA or JUCO options, understanding the key steps in the college recruiting process can help you stand out and stay on track. Here’s a quick breakdown of how to get recruited for college sports:

Start early, ideally before junior year. This College Recruitment List will help you to get started.
Set goals explore what schools and divisions fit you
- The NCAA Eligibility Center includes lists of colleges for every sport at every level. Start exploring college options with these lists, and ask your College Coordinator for help.
- In addition to your sport, your future college should also be a good academic fit, financial fit for you and your family, and "feel" right to you (culture, coaches, climate, location, etc).
Build a strong profile with a highlight video, stats, and academics. Include an updated profile every time you email a coach.
- This is an example of what your profile should look like. Make sure to use a professional personal email, not your school email.
Be proactive and reach out to coaches, don’t wait.
- This is an example of what your first email should look like. Ask your College or Career Coordinators to review the first few emails before sending them to coaches and assistant coaches.
Attend recruiting events like camps, showcases and tournaments.
Stay eligible and ensure you meet academic and NCAA/NAIA requirements.
Stay organized to track communication and deadlines.
- This is a free template of a spreadsheet that will help you stay organized.
Evaluate offers to compare fit, scholarships, and timing.

NCAA GPA Requirements

Your high school GPA really matters!

"The NCAA does not use the GPA listed on your transcripts; instead, it calculates your GPA using only NCAA-approved core courses. Every year, student-athletes are declared academically ineligible because they took the wrong courses and didn’t know until it was too late.

We strongly suggest you meet with your high school counselor and go through the NCAA GPA Worksheet, but below we break down all the information you need to know to be prepared for that meeting."