CrossFit Athletic Group

On the sidelines of the Conamora vs. Sam Curtis soccer game a few months ago Sarah, Ashlyn, Coach Casey and I were talking about college "showcases" and other events designed to help kids get recruited. Coach Casey mentioned that it would be interesting if someone did a large-scale follow-up to see how many of those participants actually continued their sports career in college, to which I said, "I would literally pay you to do that." Then on the ride home I thought, Chris, just do it yourself you pansy.

But the more I marinated on it, the more I realized that wouldn't accomplish anything other than confirming my own bias about those events. The thing that's really needed is the truth about recruiting, and the truth about recruiting can only come directly from the sources: actual college coaches. Otherwise it's just a 7th grade game of telephone.

I came up with a list of 11 questions to ask coaches from different sports, then I cut that down to 3; the thought behind that is I'd rather have more coaches answer less questions than less coaches answer more questions. That also took most of my biases out of the picture: I had questions about playing multiple sports, the idea of having an off-season, spotting money-grabs, practice habits, financially-motivated youth coaching, and overrated aspects of recruiting that I don't think were appropriate for the purpose of this thing.

So with that in mind the emails went out over the last two months to head coaches, assistant coaches, and recruiting coordinators from 106 college programs from around the country - some of them I know personally, but most were just random, awkward emails. They went something like this:

Hey coach Carl, my name is Chris Sinagoga and I own a CrossFit gym in Madison Heights, MI. I am doing a post for our gym's website where I'm asking coaches from different sports a few questions about recruiting. If you have a minute, I would love to hear your input on them (I'm leaving out names of coaches and schools).

1. When should a high school kid start thinking about the recruiting process?

2. What would be the most efficient way for a kid to get recruited to your specific school?

3. What is something you want parents or kids to know about recruiting?

I'm sure you get a ton of emails to sort through, so I appreciate you taking the time to read this. Keep up your good work with the program coach!

All of the email addresses I used were taken from the school's athletic page; at first I only picked one coach from any given team to send to, then in the middle of May I started including the entire team's staff on the email. In total 35 coaches replied and their answers were copied and pasted here in the order that I received them, and sometimes edited to keep the school's name out of it.

You know my writing style enough to expect some kind of conclusion at the end with an obscure Hip Hop reference trying to get you to see it my way. This post doesn't have that; it's your take that's more important than mine here. However I'd like to use this brief moment to include my own bias, and that bias is completely in favor of the coaches. I do not fault any of the ones who gave short answers, or the ones who did not reply at all; for all they know I could be emailing them about how I inherited a small fortune from an African prince and just need someone's bank account to transfer the funds. Most of the ones who did reply not only went above and beyond what I expected, but also offered to talk to any of you guys if you have further questions, regardless of sport. Interacting with them has been one of the most insightful experiences of my young coaching life.

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When should a high school kid start thinking about the recruiting process?

• DIII boys basketball coach - I think it's important for kids to seriously start thinking about college in their junior year.  They should start thinking about what they might have an interest in studying, what type of school they would have interest in (big/small, location, etc) and then do some research about what sorts of schools best fit what they want.  By their late junior year or early senior year they should start scheduling visits to schools they would have an interest in and also contacting the basketball coaches at each of these schools to see if there is mutual interest.
• Juco boys basketball coach - Depends on level. If you're truly a D1 kid, you will probably start hearing things as a freshman or sophomore. If you're high D1 maybe even earlier. For DII/NAIA/DIII, start going to showcases and camps as a junior to get on coaches' radar. College coaches are lazy and stupid for the most part, so if one school offers then another (possibly higher level) might take a look.
• D1 football coach (phone call notes) - The summer after their junior year; anything before that the kid should just be focused on improving their strength and conditioning and actual football skills. Honestly, don't even worry about it before then.
• DII girls soccer coach - High school players should begin their process during their sophomore year. On June 15 after their sophomore year, college coaches can begin to contact them.  So, attending games, ID camps and providing game schedules during the sophomore year is key to the process.
• D1 football coach - In my opinion thinking about recruiting is a nonstarter, recruiting starts and progresses at very different rates for players. The thought shouldn’t be I have to get my recruiting up, the thought should always be to get better at whatever it is I do. The side effect or result of that process can lead to an increase in the recruiting process. This seems like an odd statement but for example, a kid can go to every camp in the country but if he doesn’t have the abilities a school is looking for then it doesn’t matter because they’re not interested anyway. On the flip side I’ve seen a kid go from not recruited at all to being a division 1 offer guy based on his development from one year to the next. No matter the talent level if a kid is a “guy”, then schools and coaches will find him. There’s entirely too much information out there today for a kid to fall through the cracks. I’m not saying everyone plays at the level of their ability but everyone who can play has a shot to play.
• D1 girls basketball coach (phone call notes) - It's really based on your skill level. If you don't have the game as a freshman, then you don't start the recruiting process. If you can play, then honestly earlier the better. To get a good gauge of that, go to elite camps and if you make the all-star team and coaches there are giving you a lot of individual attention, then you're on that level. On the other hand, you can try to recruit yourself all you want but if you don't have game then you won't get looked at. A girl from Florida calls us every week but we just aren't seeing the kind of game that would convince us she can play at this level.
• DII girls soccer coach - Freshmen year in high school to at least introduce themselves to the college game.  It gives them a vision. Especially in your area, they can go watch college games at many different levels to evaluate with their own eyes. When they are traveling with their club teams, just go walk through different college campuses. They can introduce themselves via email any time between freshman and early junior year.
• D1 volleyball coach - All girls start at different times depending on skill level and level of school looking, we do start watching kids as freshman but I would say we mainly watch kids soph and jr year. Some kids are later that that but it all depends.
• NAIA girls soccer coach - The recruiting process is different for everyone, including college coaches. So, start when you are ready. The earliest side of things usually starts toward the end of the sophomore year of high school. Most dive into the recruiting process the summer before or during their junior years. Then some even wait to dive into things when they are a senior. All are good options it just depends on where you are at with your decision process, when you want a decision done by, and when the colleges you are interested in are in with regards to their timelines.
• DII boys soccer coach - Looking at young high school kids, they should start reaching out to college coaches their Junior Year. That way, coaches have them on their radar and can watch their development throughout the last two years in High School.
• DIII volleyball coach -  I think a great time to start is the club season of the sophomore and junior year. Its when schools are really building the class of top prospects.
• DII football coach - [Our school] and our football program recruit a little bit differently than most schools, but hopefully these answers will give you a good idea. Keeping strong academics need to be the goal the entire high school career. The GPA is one of the main things that will open doors for people with opportunities to play at the next level. Junior Year in high school is the time that the recruiting process really picks up. That’s when schools are allowed to communicate with the player and they are closer to their physical peak. 
• D1 basketball coach - The time when a high schooler is "recruited" may be different for each person...but the work to be recruited starts immediately (ie. academics, skill development, strength and conditioning). Usually the actual process begins as a sophomore and ratchets up a notch into junior and senior year. Exposure in events (being "seen") is important, but good AAU teams need good players and colleges need those same players. If you have the game and the grades, coaches will find you.
• DIII girls basketball coach - I'd suggest start attending college games the freshman and sophomore years. Teach the student the value of grades and how that will improve their opportunities and scholarships. Summer before junior year attend Prospect camps of schools you've researched and are interested in. In the Junior year fall I'd start to visit schools.
• DIII bowling(!) coach - They should start looking at Colleges to find the ones that fit their major as soon as they know what they want to do. Could be as early as their Freshman year in HS. By the end of their Junior year, they should be narrowing it down to the top 5 schools and go visit those schools to see what the best fit will be for them in the Fall of their Senior year.
• DIII wraastling coach - A high school student should start thinking about the recruiting process in their Junior year of HS. This will allow them time to select the schools they are interested in and start taking visits in the summer and fall of their senior year. Wrestling takes up a large portion of the academic year, so it is hard to get visits in from November-March. While in the recruiting process, let coaches know how much or little contact you want from them. Coaches appreciate when recruits are honest with them and let them know how they are feeling.
• Juco cross country/track coach (phone call notes) - Beginning of their Junior year, and just go about it the same way you would if you were a regular student looking at a school; what kind of programs do they offer, majors, etc. But also on the sports side, start to get an understanding if you want to be good and successful or just get a scholarship, because then you'll be able to sort through schools that are giving you the best offer, and the ones that have a reputation for making kids better.
• DII girls basketball coach - In basketball if you want to be serious about pursuing college athletics you should start thinking about the recruiting process as you enter HS. Finding a good AAU program with proven success of getting players to the next level would be a great place to start. It is important to look at the events the program attends and get information on the amount of college exposure you will get at the events. You can play AAU for fun but if your intention is to get noticed by college coaches then there are AAU programs and events that are better than others. 
  I would also encourage a conversation with your high school coach to let them know your aspirations. Ask them for their help in the process and let them know you are willing to put in whatever the work required to achieve your goal. High school coaches can be great for reaching out to colleges throughout your high school career.
• DII volleyball coach - It is never too early to start think about the recruiting process, but for us typically we start watching a potential student athlete the summer after your Freshman year in high school.
• DII golf coach - High school players should start to think about their collegiate golf career as freshman. Work hard both on and off the course while keeping focused on high academic grades. Many universities provide academic based scholarships as well as athletic. Continue to develop skills by training with a persons led swing coach, dedicate a majority of practice time to 150 yards and in, and taking a strong mental approach to your overall game. Collegiate coaches can start to talk to recruits after their Sophomore year.
• DII softball coach - I would start thinking about the recruiting process sophomore year. If kids can start to identify how far they might want to go from home, what size of school, etc. that can really help them have a starting point for when they start to send out emails, video, etc.
• D1 girls rowing coach - Spring of sophomore year is usually best to start thinking about recruiting, coaches are allowed to start contacting recruits starting June 15th after their sophomore year so going in with an idea of what you are looking for is usually best. Junior year and the fall of senior year are spent visiting schools, talking to coaches, and narrowing down your list before signing!
• D1 girls rowing coach - We cannot talk to a recruit until June 15 prior to their junior year.  That is correspondence over email or phone. We cannot speak to them in person (on or off campus) until Aug. 1 that same summer. So, a kid can begin thinking about being recruited as early as their sophomore year but know they can't have actual contact until the dates I mentioned. That being said, there is no reason a kid well into their junior year or even their senior year can't get recruited as well. It is just a much more rapid process but we have done that and it has worked out well.
• D1 volleyball coach - A high school athlete should start thinking about college in their Sophomore year. It may sound early, but it's important to think about other things other than just volleyball. Location of the school (in state vs out of state, region/climate), size of the school, what field of study do you want to study, will you need financial aid? These are really important factors to consider as there are thousands of colleges and universities across that country that have volleyball programs but not every program or university is going to be a good fit. Once you have an idea of what is important to you, then you can start focusing on specific schools. With that said, coaches can't start talking to athletes until the summer before their Sophomore and Junior years. So that's when the actual recruitment process can start. Many colleges will have a shortlist already of who they want to contact once they are allowed to, but the process for most athletes is initiated and driven by the athlete themselves. [Edit from follow-up email - Had a slight typo - it should say between their sophomore and junior years. For the class of 2024, we can start having contact with them on June 15th this year.]
• DII girls soccer coach - At [our school], June 15th going into Junior year is when we begin to heavily recruit players. However, we are keeping an eye on them their sophomore year.
• Enthusiastic NAIA basketball coach - I THINK DURING THE JUNIOR YEAR IS BEST.
• NAIA baseball coach - I think it's different for each kid and where they are from a skill set standpoint and where they are as far as physical maturity. Some kids start getting recognized at 13/14 and some kids don't blossom until 17/18.
• D1 boys soccer coach - Kids should start thinking about the recruiting process as early as freshman year.  They should think about what size of school they may be interested in based on their own personality and characteristics.  They can also start thinking about geography of that school, in state vs out of state.  In region vs out of region.  Urban vs Rural.  Private vs Public.  These are all things they can start to think about when putting their list together.  This will give them a bit of clarity so they can target those schools when going to prospect camps or setting up visits.
• DII basketball coach - Spring and summer after your sophomore year of high school.  
  For the majority of kids, if they are a potential D3, D2, or low to mid level D1 type athlete, their recruitment will not start until the middle to end of their sophomore going into their junior year summer.
• NAIA baseball coach - It depends on the individuals level of player. If they are the elite of the elite, they need to start very early... freshman year ish. If they are a very good player but will not go to a major school, they can wait until their sophomore or junior high school seasons to start going to showcases.
• DIII swimming coach - Different programs at different levels start at different times.  The top programs are identifying potential fits before they can even talk to them.  At the division 3 level it's difficult to work too far ahead of a current cycle.  But this process should definitely be up and going by at least the spring of their junior year, if not before.
• NAIA girls soccer coach - Sophomore year in high school is always a good time to start, although it's never too early to begin researching schools of interest. A lot of girls make their college decision towards the end of their junior year, others during the fall of senior year.
• DII eSports/Super Smash Bros.(!!) coach - Usually students should be looking at colleges by the end of their sophomore year to build connections with college coaches.
• Retired NAIA basketball coach -Seriously thinking about recruiting, I feel the summer between 8th and 9th grade. I say that because a kid will have a better vision on where he believes what he can do.Usually they begin to think of a 4 year plan of what they can do to get on the recruit radar. Including, "Can I play on varsity as a freshman?" "Am I going to specialize (1 sport)?" "Am I going to start doing more physical development?" etc.
• Retired D1 basketball coach - If your goal is to receive an athletic scholarship then your focus and process should begin upon entering high school. The challenge is when parents and athletes have unrealistic views of their abilities.

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What is the most efficient way for a kid to get recruited to your program?

• DIII boys basketball coach - The most efficient way to get recruited is to make a one page resume of yourself to send to schools.  This resume should include academic information, high school basketball information, travel basketball information and any other pertinent information.  You can then email the resume to any of the schools that you may have an interest in.  It is also a good idea to include a video of yourself.  Most coaches prefer a full game video (not just highlights).
• Juco boys basketball coach - through a trusted contact. If a good coach calls, I'll look asap; otherwise if it's from Berkley or something I'll get to it when I get to it
• D1 football coach (phone call notes) - Come to one of our camps. We definitely invite specific players to our camps, but they are open to anyone, so if you think you can play you'll have an opportunity to show it.
• DII girls soccer coach - The most efficient way to get recruited here is by attending our on-campus camps, emailing us that you are attending a game (and making sure to say hello), completing our on-line recruiting form (followed by an email that you have done so), and consistently providing your showcase and game schedules.
• D1 football coach - This one is a little harder. As you go up in levels, division 3, NAIA, division 2, division 1 the process changes. For example I was at [DII school] last year and really if the position coach liked your film, and the head coach gave the ok you would be offered. Then fast forward to this year at [D1 school], I’m the real first point of contact. I see most film first, and if I believe they have the potential to be on the team I send it up the pipe to the position coach, coordinator, and so on. After those evaluations are made we create and organize a board of offer guys. They are then invited for visits, and to campus in order to get to know them better; as well as them getting to know more about us. I would think of it as the more resources a team or program has the more “barriers” someone has to go through to get there. It’s obvious but some don’t really think of it like this but it’s tougher to get into our program than it is a division 2 school, just like it’s harder to get on the team at [elite D1 school] than it is here.
• D1 girls basketball coach (phone call notes) - Go to one of our camps, email us, send us film. We can't contact you until you're a junior but that doesn't mean you can't contact us. You can ask questions about anything. And aside from the obvious basketball stuff, we place a high priority on intangibles, especially competitiveness and passing ability.
• DII girls soccer coach - Email the coaches and attend campus. Since a coach can’t officially talk to them prior to June 15 after their sophomore year, the player can put themselves in front of the coaches at a camp.
• D1 volleyball coach - Playing at the highest level, sending video/schedule, coming to elite camp all can help but our needs and the players skill set need to match.
• NAIA girls soccer coach - The most efficient way is to email the coach or go to their ID camps. The second best way is to play at tournaments, showcases or games that those coaches recruit at.
• DII boys soccer coach - Having good game film in the form of highlight tapes, reaching out per email, playing at college showcases. Most importantly, we look at kids that come to our ID camps, since we get a chance to evaluate and coach them in person.
• DIII volleyball coach - Email coaches with club schedule and video to start the process.
• DII football coach - Biggest thing for [us] is to get to campus. We have multiple opportunities including an individual visit, camps, games, or winter workouts. Visiting campus during a camp or winter workout is the best so that the player gets to work out and could potentially be offered a scholarship. The next best thing to do is just to stay on top of communication. If a coach emails or texts 20 kids and you are one of the responses, the coach will continue to recruit you. Simply showing interest back will move a player higher on a list than the others.
• D1 basketball coach - See above on being seen--that applies here as well. I would add that your network as a high schooler and that of your high school coach and AAU team help immensely. Your coaches should have enough clout to be able to get you evaluated if you are good enough. We have academic standards that have to be met as well. There are table stakes--academics, character, ability, unselfishness--that are non-negotiable to be here.
• DIII girls basketball coach - Send a personal email with the following: highlight tape, full game tape, PPG, RPG, Assist to turnover ratios, FG%, 3 Pt FG%, GPA, Academic interest if they have one.
• DIII bowling(!) coach - We have a [play for our school] link on our website that they can fill out. When I have someone interested, I will try my best to go watch them bowl.
• DIII wraastling coach - The best way to get noticed by any college is to fill out a recruit profile form. Most D3 and NAIA and some D2 colleges have recruit profile links on their individual sports webpage. PSA's (Prospective Student Athletes) can also directly email or call a college coach and let them know they are interested. Do not be afraid to talk with a coach at an event, camp, clinic when you see them. Also, be sure to follow up with the coach with your name, school, weight/position so the coach knows who you are. As special as each recruit is, many times coaches are meeting upwards of 30 kids at a clinic or camp and need a reminder on who they are. The more interest a PSA shows in a coach or college, the higher the chance the coach will be interested.
• Juco cross country/track coach - Contact coaches. And don't just email the head coach, email every single coach in case head coach is too busy. When you reach out include your name, school, GPA, times, and why you're interested in the program. The more the recruit knows about our program or me as a coach, the more I'm gonna take them serious. If they are willing to look up background stuff about me, our school, and our program, odds are they care. 
• DII girls basketball coach - The most effective way to get recruited to [us] would be to first fall in love with the process of getting better every day! I heard a great coach once say "Water finds its level".. to me that just speaks to the fact if you are good enough you will be discovered. You can't find a shortcut to being good enough... It takes a full commitment to your development as a player and person to achieve a college basketball opportunity. But steps to take while you master your craft would be.... 1) Getting with a strong AAU program, 2) Creating a 3-5 min highlight video (keep this updated each year) that you can pin on your social media accounts, send out to coaches in emails, etc..., 3) Attend summer camps at any school you are truly interested in attending. It is a great way to meet the coaches and make an impression on them. At [our school] that would be our Elite Camp, and 4) Have your High School coach and or AAU coach reach out to colleges directly to promote you as a potential recruit.
• DII volleyball coach - The most efficient way for a girl to get recruited is either come to our ID Camps, or send us a short email with a little about you, what club you play for, your club schedule, and any highlight videos you might have.
• DII golf coach - Communication! Communication is a skill that will get you noticed. Putting together a solid golf resume with career highlights and professional swing videos to show off your talents and get the attention of the coach or recruiter. 
• DII softball coach - Personalized emails are the best way. We want to recruit kids who want to come to [our school]. By sending emails to the coaching staff directly from them, not their parents, it shows us that they have an actual interest here. Emails is one of the easiest ways to send video, schedules, stats, updated info and more. They are also very easy to personalize.
• D1 girls rowing coach - A lot of programs have an athletics page where most teams have a recruiting questionnaire to fill out. That's the best way to contact us or to email directly. The more communication the better as it means an athlete is serious about coming to the university.
• D1 girls rowing coach - Reach out to a coach. It is the most direct and efficient way to make sure we know you are interested in our program and school
• D1 volleyball coach - The most efficient way for a kid to get recruited is to be signed up on a recruitment website. University Athlete is the #1 tool that college coaches use. Make sure to have your profile completely filled out and keep updating it. You can start by sending a friendly email to the coaching staff, letting them know that you are interested in their program (Pro tip: Don't just say that you would be a great fit. Tell them exactly why!). If you have a few back and forths with the coaches, then I would recommend signing up for a prospect camp over the summer. This is a great way for us to see how athletes play, how they are as teammates, how they handle feedback and implement it etc.
• DII girls soccer coach - Most efficient way to get recruited to [us] is by emailing us their interest, sending their highlight film, registering for our summer camp and continuing to stay in touch with updates as well as their match schedules for high school and club.
• Enthusiastic NAIA basketball coach - THE BEST WAY IS TO GO TO THE WEBSITE AND FILL OUT THE SPORT SPECIFIC RECRUITING FORM AND OR EMAIL THE COACH DIRECTLY.
• NAIA baseball coach - A concise email with introduction, academic information, intended major, and some film are great starts to get on our radar. Also if they are going to be playing in our area, an email in the week leading up is great as well.
• D1 boys soccer coach - The most efficient way a player would get recruited by [us] would be to get some film in front of us initially.  Send us your club schedule to get out and watch the player live.  It is hard for us to watch high school games as we are in season at the same time as the high school season in the fall and are focused on our team .  Then the final way, which is the easiest is to sign up for our prospect camp.  This way we can see the player and have conversations with them at the camp.  We get to coach the recruit and see how they respond to our training stimulus.
• DII basketball coach - If a kid is not from the midwest, then we will most likely not know of a kid unless they reach out to us expressing interest in the school and program.  If a kid is from the midwest, reaching out to us expressing interest in the program is still an option, but for the most part we know who the best players are and best possible fits to [our school] are through watching aau and high school games.  If a kid plays in a good high school program, and plays aau for a program that is fairly successful, that is their best bet for us noticing them.
• NAIA baseball coach - For a kid to get recruited by [us] they need to either, A. reach out to us on social media and if we like what they bring to the table we will respond. B. have somebody reach out to us personally on their behalf (summer coach, whoever, NOT PARENT) or C. stick out to us on PBR.
• DIII swimming coach - The easiest way to get the ball rolling is two fold --- first, email the coach, let them know who you are and that you're interested in learning more about the program.  The second is make sure you've submitted all of your information via the recruiting form.  Most coaches fill in the gaps and make sure all of the information is where it needs to be, but don't take the chance of something getting mixed up or lost in the shuffle.
• NAIA girls soccer coach - My advice would be to send a personal message of interest to the coach explaining who you are, where you play soccer and, most importantly, what your year of high school graduation is. From there, try to attend an ID camp at the school(s) you are most interested in, plus a campus visit is good. That way you can meet professors, players and coaches to get a feel for the school and its campus.
• DII eSports/Super Smash Bros.(!!) coach - The best way to get recruited would be to connect with us directly at our emails, discords or filling out our recruiting questionnaire.
• Retired NAIA basketball coach - It could start with a simple letter of introduction from a player. Giving name, position, class, etc., and just telling methey're interested in my program. You could attempt a camp at the school if offered. Lastly, if you get on a good travel team that gets exposure it helps.
• Retired D1 basketball coach - Well... it used to be AAU, posting great stats in high school, JC and Prep school routes. While those tracks are all still viable, they all have less impact because of the college transfer portal. Sending highlight videos is common and works with some programs to get attention.

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What is something you want parents or kids to know about recruiting?

• DIII basketball coach - Be realistic in what level you can play at.  Not everyone can play at a High Major Division I basketball school.  There are a lot of really good basketball players at every level.  Keep your options open to any level.  Sometimes kids lose sight in what level they are going to play at instead of going to a school that really wants you.
• Juco basketball coach - Coaches are lazy and stupid. If you can play and are willing to work, be patient and an opportunity will come up. Go to open gyms, go to workouts, take a walk-on spot, go to Juco, etc. Enough kids will quit that you will get your chance. If you are a DIII/NAIA kid with grades, name your price. They need you more than you need them. And their school does have the money. If you say "I can go to MSU for 10k a year to be a student," you can get to a DIII/NAIA school for 10k a year to play basketball. They can get you there if you have the grades. If you are low income, know all the federal money you are eligible for: TIP, PELL, Detroit Promise, etc.
• D1 football coach (phone call notes) - Do not recruit the coaches, let them recruit you. Also, I do a lot football evaluating by watching the kids play other sports. For example, I can tell a lot about how a wide out will get off a jam at the line of scrimmage by watching them work from a triple threat position in basketball. And if a kid has the mentality to put up 40 points in a basketball game, I know the kind of confidence he'll have for us to go his way when it's 3rd and 10 and we need to get this first down.
• DII girls soccer coach - Parents and PLAYERS, please enjoy the process!!  It's fun, exciting, nerve racking and can be extremely frustrating......It is all part of the process.  ALWAYS make sure to sign your emails with your current contact information and grad year.  Lastly, be careful of your expectations.  If you are only getting recruited by a bunch of D2 or D3 schools and not by D1's, then you probably are not a D1 player.  Typically, you are at the level that is recruiting you them most.
• D1 football coach - The first thing that comes to mind is something that I actually just started saying because it’s so true and most don’t think about it. LOVE THOSE THAT LOVE YOU! I see and hear from kids all the time trying whatever they can do to come be a part of the team when they just aren’t division 1 athletes. They will have other offers to play football for smaller schools or in a lower division and they don’t give those programs and schools the attention or respect they deserve. With that being said yes there are some guys that walk on and go on to have great careers but the numbers are the numbers. Most kids that walk on definitely don’t play early and in some cases don’t play at all. While maybe not as cool of a story being on a division 2 or 3 program would have been a much better experience in terms of playing. At the end of the day it’s each persons decision what they want to do, never quit on your dreams but life is better when your happy. LOVE THOSE THAT LOVE YOU!
• D1 girls basketball coach (phone call notes) - Don't be consumed with what level you're at; there's very good DII, NAIA, low-major D1 schools, and very bad Power 5/high major programs. Do your homework to find the right fit. Also, the better you are at shooting, the more recruiting you're gonna see. Can you shoot 45% from 3 when you're wide open?
• DII girls soccer coach - Find the right fit. Yes, financial aid and the cost of college will always be a factor but the happiness and joy when you find the right place academically, athletically and socially to thrive will last much longer. Don’t worry about timelines or what other teammates are doing. Run your own search.
• D1 volleyball coach - Timing and decisions are different for everyone, many schools also recruit differently so keep that in mind as well. Help your kids grow up by them doing the work because the coaches will have a relationship with the player not the parents. Don’t force a fit if you are not feeling because of level, there are great programs at all levels and divisions. Be honest with yourself and pick a place that fits for the right reasons.
• NAIA girls soccer coach - If I could tell people one thing it is to not get enamored by perception of schools. There are so many great colleges that play at all levels….regardless of division. Do your own research. Find the type and the schools that are right for you. Don’t pigeon hole yourself by looking at only D1 schools or only smaller schools. Find the schools that are truly going to be right for you, your development, and best suited to set you up for your future.
• DII boys soccer coach - It is definitely a continuous process where players have to be on top of everything in terms of filling out forms etc. Being proactive as a player definitely goes a long way in recruiting.
• DIII volleyball coach - We really want to get to know them as people. It is also great to have communication and updated video.
• DII football coach - Social media has turned recruiting into a numbers game. It’s really easy to be contacted or be recruited by schools all over the country. How many offers, how many visits, everybody wants to show how much people want them. Our advice is to shrink the list of schools you are looking at. Have a family conversation to figure out what specifically you are looking for in the school and football program. Sometimes you have to visit different types of schools to figure out what you like. But you need to have a way to remove schools or your head will be spinning trying to stay on top of recruiting. You can’t visit everywhere. The other advice is to ask specific questions. The word “offer” is thrown around so much in recruiting. You need to find out how interested they are in you. Hope this helps!
• D1 basketball coach - Recruiting is way more art than it is science. It is the business of people. There is no perfect formula nor is every recruiting process the same. Take the time to interact with the coaches that are interested in you--even if you believe you are at a higher level. Choose your high school and AAU programs wisely. Focus on improving your game more than offers or level. There are so many examples of under-recruited players that have made their dreams come true--and it isn't always because people "missed" on them. I hope that helps!
• DIII girls basketball coach - Do your research early and don't listen to what everyone else says "You should do". Do what's best for you.
• DIII bowling(!) coach - The number 1 thing is to choose a school based on the academics first and bowling second. Even the best professional Women bowlers have a job because there isn't enough money on the Women's tour to sustain a living. With that said a real good tool is to google a schools 4 year graduation rate and see if the school you are considering will get you out in 4 years. Most scholarships are only good for 4 years and if you end up needing a 5^th year that will all come out of your pocket. The final thought is keep your grades up. The biggest scholarships you get will be for academics not athletics.
• DIII wraastling coach - Parents and coaches need to be supportive but real with their kids. For every success story of a walk on having success and making it at a D1 or D2 school, there are many more who wash out and ultimately hate their sport because the school/program did not fit them. Find a school that fits the PSA and who they are. A great question to ask themselves is "If I was hurt and could no longer play my sport, would I still be happy at this school?" It is never too late to pursue going to a college. However, the earlier they start seeking schools, the higher chance they will have money to give for scholarships at NAIA and D2 schools. Do not expect a full ride scholarship and do not dismiss or close any doors before exploring them. There are many talented kids who could go D1 but choose D2, D3 or NAIA because it is a better academic and social fit for them. JUCO/Community College is a great route for someone who might not know what they want to do for a degree or are not ready academically for a 4 year college. Be honest with the coaches who are talking with you. If you are no longer interested in the college or program, let the coaches know and why. Do not just stop responding. You never want to burn bridges with coaches because you never know down the road how they may be able to help you. Be ready for a coach to put pressure on you about a decision. Do what is best for you and your future. If you are not ready, let them know.
• Juco cross country/track coach (phone call notes) - Recruiting is more on the athlete than the coach. However many seniors there are per year in any given sport, there's only x amount of coaches; it's impossible for them to reach out and talk to everyone. The more proactive you are the better off you'll be. Reach out once a week or every other week until you hear something back. Don't make it like a college application where you submit once and wait. And once you make the connection, keep it going. You can always ask if you're not sure. Now if a coach says "we haven't started the evaluation process yet," or "your times aren't what we're looking for" then that's a sign to maybe back off a bit. But I'd rather someone roll the dice with overcommunicating than undercommunicating.
• DII girls basketball coach - This is a great question and one I am passionate about. I will try to keep my answer short but I think there is a ton to be said here. 1) Work with your High School coach... They are hopefully someone you can really trust to have your best interest in mind. Make a plan with them on what you need to do to achieve your goals and dreams. Stay committed to being a great teammate and work to become the best player/person you can while in high school. 2) Don't fall for all the recruiting services that charge you thousands of dollars. You can make a highlight video on your computer and most kids are probably more talented with the technology than half the old people doing it for money lol. Your own highlight film, game film from your high school season, emails and calls from your high school coaches and AAU coaches is what you need to play at the next level. 3) Find a great AAU program with proven success of getting players to college programs and make sure they are attending events that put you in front of college coaches. The right program can guarantee you are seen and have a chance to be recruited. 4) Pick at least 1 college camp to go to each summer (more if you feel you can afford it)... but be honest with yourself... go to the camps at schools you believe you can play at. If you are going to Michigan or MSU camp to get discovered you are most likely out of your league. Those schools are recruiting the TOP of the TOP and they already know all those kids. Find schools you are serious about or that have shown TRUE interest in you, attend those camps. Hopefully, some of that is useful.
• DII volleyball coach - Every kids recruiting process is different. You cannot compare to a teammate or someone of the same position as you.
• DII golf coach - Parents play a huge role in the decision making process of their child’s education and athletic career. The perspective student should take an active role in the discussions with the university and the golf program staff. Do your research on the university and their program. Ask questions and keep the lines of communication open as it will make the process go smoothly. Also, kids these days are loosing the art of “mind over matter”. Professional sports are brainwashing these kids into becoming something they are not. Be yourself work within you and only you!
• DII softball coach - We are recruiting you as a person, not just you as a softball player. Your character, work ethic, grades, you as a team and so much are just as important as talent. There are many talented athletes, but if they are not the type of person we are looking for, talent doesn’t matter. We are also not just recruiting the athlete, but the family as well. Each player and family is a part of our program and lives for at least 4 years, so we want it to be a healthy and enjoyable for all.
• D1 rowing coach - It can be overwhelming at first but trust your gut and explore all options! Also, hard work always pays off so the best way to get recognized is to keep working hard and reaching out to programs you are interested in!
• D1 rowing coach - You do not need a recruiting agency or other outside help that requires a payment. The online recruiting sites (BeRecruited, NCSA, for example) are good enough for most coaches to track people down. If you know where you want to go, reach out to them and find out their criteria. If it is a good match, advocate for yourself but still ask questions to be sure it is the right fit.
• D1 volleyball coach - It's a long process, for both the athlete and the coaches. Be patient. Have fun with it. The athletes that put in the most work to play at the next level, will. [Then I followed up asking for clarification about signing up for a recruiting website] - I would definitely agree that an athlete should never pay to use a service. There are quite a few free ones out there and there are lots that charge and are truly just taking advantage of families. We actually have to pay to use University Athlete, even though it is free for athletes [...] We rely on University Athlete so much because it automatically connects with the AAU/USAV/JVA for scheduling and rosters. We get updated court schedules on tournaments, access to athlete information (contact info, graduation year, physical info, video if the athlete uploads it etc.). It also keeps track of whether athletes are committed or not because we aren't allowed to talk to athletes that have committed to other institutions. All of our communication with athletes is automatically logged so that when we have to do our monthly compliance checks with the NCAA and the institution then our bases are covered there. NCAA rules are complicated and extensive!
• DII girls soccer coach - It's definitely a process and takes time. Make sure you are looking for a great fit in all areas (Academics, Athletics, & Socially).
• Enthusiastic NAIA basketball coach - WE ARE LOOKING FOR KIDS WITH HIGH CHARACTER, LOW PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT (IN TERMS OF BEING OVERBEARING AND HELICOPTER-COLLEGE STUDENTS ARE TRANSITIONING TO ADULTHOOD), COMMITMENT TO BEING A GOOD TEAMMATE AND WORKING HARD, AND A COMMITMENT TO THE MISSION OF THE UNIVERSITY.  NEXT IS SKILL SET AND TALENT.
• NAIA baseball coach - Be patient, if you or your child is good enough, they will be recognized and recruited. Do your homework on what is a good fit athletically, socially, and financially before reaching out to schools of which you have interest. This helps ensure a campus visit and the time invested by both parties is well spent.
• D1 boys soccer coach - What parents and players should know first and forehand about recruiting is that its all about timing!  You may be a fantastic center midfielder but if we have 6 center midfielders we are not bringing another one in.  It doesn’t matter how good you are, we may not be in a need in that class.  Players and parents should do research on the roster to see if they are graduating players from your position any time soon.  Also, look to see the make up of the roster.  A lot of D1 schools go international players first and then fill in the rest of the roster with American players.  The last thing I would say to parents and prospective student athletes is you have to be diligent and put your self out there.  The player is the one who has to do the recruiting.  We get 50-70 on average emails a day from recruits.  What is going to separate you from the others.  There is a bit of leg work involved but it has to be done in this day and age.
• DII basketball coach - Going on visits to multiple universities is important.  It is important for a kid and their parents to spend time with the coaches in person, to get a feel for who the coaches really are and how genuine they are.  It is also really important for a kid and their parents to get time with current players on the roster without the coaches around, to talk to them and be able to ask questions.  The players on the current roster are the guys who a kid is going to be spending the most time with throughout their college careers, so if they don't see themselves fitting in with the current players and what they are about, going to that school is probably not a good option.  The type of individuals/personalities that a college program has on their roster, really helps represent what type of culture a program has.
• NAIA baseball coach - I would want the kid to know that majority of money earned in scholarships is GPA related. I would like both the parent and the kid to know that there is nothing wrong with playing college baseball at the non D1 level. Everyone is obsessed with playing division one baseball when it could be a horrible fit for the individual. Find your major, find a team you feel has a need, FILL THAT NEED.
• DIII swimming coach - Don't be afraid to ask the hard questions to the coaches and current team members.  This has to be a fit for all parties involved.  I would want to know how long the coach plans on being there, what the role/impact they see my son/daughter having in the program, what their recruiting goals are for this cycle... those are just a couple of things on the athletic side of things but you also need to know how the coach is going to support my child's academic ambitions and who they are as a human being.  It's okay to press on these topics because you need clarity.
• NAIA girls soccer coach - It can be a lengthy process with lots of tough decisions along the way. Make sure you stay in contact with coaches of programs you are highly interested in, make the effort to get to know the school and the soccer program, and ask plenty of questions.
• DII eSports/Super Smash Bros.(!!) - This is something that is for everyone.  You do not have to be the best player in your game to get involved in esports.  Many schools are looking for team managers, broadcasters, analysts and much more.  The better grades that your student has, the more likely more schools will be recruiting your student.
• Retired NAIA basketball coach - Ask questions. Do your homework about the program including players graduating, players entering the portal and why. If you can talk to a recently graduated player, do it. Current players may or may not mislead you. Is the school for you, academically? However, remember a professor is not recruiting you, the coach is, and although no one will admit it, you learn to fit the school.
• Retired D1 basketball coach - Only your game and your grades can get you an opportunity to play college basketball on scholarship. However there is a school for everyone to play if that is your main goal.