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How Do You Get Recruited For College Sports?
By
Varonika Ware
Varonika Ware is a content writer at Scholarships360. Varonika earned her undergraduate degree in Mass Communications at Louisiana State University. During her time at LSU, she worked with the Center of Academic Success to create the weekly Success Sunday newsletter. Varonika also interned at the Louisiana Department of Insurance in the Public Affairs office with some of her graphics appearing in local news articles.
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Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.
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Being involved in activities and sports can be a rewarding part of your academic experience. If you want to continue competing when you graduate high school, you might be wondering how to get recruited for college sports. This step-by-step guide will point you in the right direction, so keep reading to find out how to get recruited for college sports!
What is athletic recruitment?
Recruitment is when college coaches evaluate various high school sports programs to fill slots on their team’s roster. During this process, coaches and athletic scouts look for student athletes that will mesh well with their team and hopefully produce results. In exchange for attending their college or university, student athletes may even be offered athletic scholarships depending on the college division. As a result, recruitment is a competitive process. However, don’t let that discourage you from taking your best shot!
Further reading: What does being a D1, D2, and D3 athlete mean?
How do I get recruited for college sports?
Getting recruited is a process and requires a series of steps for you to compete at the school of your choice. It can be daunting when you start, but fortunately, this article can be a resource for you to build off of. Following these steps can help you continue your athletic career.
1. Create a list of schools.
Deciding what school you want to go to is one of the first steps you take in the college admissions process. However, you should still consider the quality of education at the college of your choice, even if you’re interested in their sports program. It’s a good idea to keep the tuition and expenses of each school in mind. While an athletic scholarship might cover some or all of your school fees, it’s in your best interest to always be prepared for different financial aid outcomes.
2. Discuss recruitment with your high school coach.
Speaking with your high school coach is an essential part of the recruiting process. Through these discussions, you’ll be able to gauge what level you’re competing at and how you can shine during the recruiting process. Your coach can also point you in the right direction for schools to reach out to. Also, your high school coach might have connections to get you in touch with college colleges.
3. Make a highlight video.
Your performance is one of the most important factors to securing a spot on your dream college’s roster. Coaches are interested in seeing what you might bring to their team, and you can do this through your highlight video. A highlight video is a compilation of your greatest moments as an athlete.
You can create your highlight video on a website like Hudl or use video editing software to do it yourself. First, put yourself in the shoes of the coaches. Try to figure out what a particular coach might need and want for their collegiate team, then demonstrate that in your video.
4. Maintain your eligibility.
Different schools and recruitment platforms have different requirements for eligibility. One of the common prerequisites is a GPA benchmark, so it’s imperative that you stay on top of your grades during this process. In addition, there are usually requirements for each sport, such as weight, statistics, and more.
5. Talk to potential coaches.
During this process, you want to connect with potential coaches as soon as possible. Whether it’s through your high school coach’s connections or simply emailing them, you want college coaches to remember you. This is especially important if you choose to opt out of recruitment platforms. Try to find recruitment events in your area for the schools you want to attend. Some teams might even host camps or combines to view your skills firsthand!
Related: Do college athletes get paid?
What should I do after I’m recruited?
During the recruitment process, schools will approach you with varying offers. Choose whichever aligns the most with what you want, especially which school you truly want to attend. Be sure to evaluate how much each school is offering and take campus tours to see how you feel about the university.
Once you’ve decided, your offer is official when you sign your letter of intent, which means you’re agreeing to attend that school. Then all that’s left for you to do is get ready for this new adventure into continuing your education while playing a sport!
What if I don’t get recruited?
While you might be excited about recruitment, it’s not your only option. Put forth your best effort to get into the school of your choice because teams still host tryouts for interested students. Even though you might have the opportunity to “walk-on” to the team, you unfortunately won’t be receiving an athletic scholarship from that college.
However, your financial aid options don’t stop there. Scholarships, grants and financial aid are all other avenues of paying for school that you should explore.
Key Takeaways
Don’t miss: Top athletic scholarships
Additional resources
Now that you’re starting to secure your academic future, it’s time to think about what you’ll do while you’re there. One of the first steps you might want to take is deciding on your major! There are tons of different fields to choose from such as anthropology, IT, kinesiology, and many more. No matter what you decide, make sure it’s something you can look forward to doing every day. You’ll also have to juggle it with any other outside commitments you have like clubs and sports.
Frequently asked questions about getting recruited for college sports
When do college coaches start recruiting?
Can I just try-out or walk-on to the team?
Do I need to use a professional platform to get recruited?
