Getting Started with College Recruiting
Recruiting is a conversation, not a single application. It starts the moment a coach first hears your name and continues through every email, camp, and phone call until you commit.
The basic timeline
Section titled “The basic timeline”Most athletes start building their college list and reaching out to coaches during their sophomore or junior year of high school, though NCAA contact rules (see NCAA Contact Periods, Explained) determine exactly when a coach is allowed to respond.
What coaches are actually looking for
Section titled “What coaches are actually looking for”- Fit first, talent second. A coach needs to believe you’ll thrive in their program academically and athletically before your highlight reel matters.
- Consistency. Coaches track athletes over months, not days. A single great game rarely changes a coach’s evaluation on its own.
- Communication. How you write and respond is itself a signal — it’s often the first data point a coach has about you.
Your next step
Section titled “Your next step”Build a starter list of 10-15 schools across a range of competitiveness, then move on to Organizing Your College List.