The recruiting process can feel very overwhelming at times. There are a lot of opinions and sports myths that you hear about during the recruiting process. We are here to set the record straight and ensure you know exactly how to navigate crucial parts of the recruiting process to ensure you find the right fit.
Recruiting Myth #1: If I’m Good Enough, College Coaches Will Come to Me
Unless you are nationally ranked, or an elite athlete, you need to be the one reaching out to college coaches. Even if you are either of those things, sitting back and waiting for college coaches to approach you is not advantageous. Coaches will be keeping tabs on student-athletes who have reached out and expressed interest.
To get on a program's radar, it's essential to convey your interest to college coaches while consistently providing them with updates on your academic and athletic achievements, as well as informing them of your recruiting event schedule. Take control of your recruiting process and be proactive about letting coaches know who you are and why you would be a great fit for their program.
Recruiting Myth #2: I Can Wait Until Junior or Senior Year to Reach out to College Coaches
While every recruiting process differs, the earlier you start your communication, the better. While there are recruiting rules surrounding college coaches and how and when they are allowed to initiate recruiting-like conversations, there are no rules surrounding communication from student-athletes. Depending on the Division you are interested in and the sport you play, coaches may only be able to have recruiting-like conversations beginning June 15th or September 1st of your Junior Year. However, that isn’t when you should start your communication; that is when you will see all of your hard work pay off. You should be reaching out to coaches starting your Freshman Year in high school to get on their radar.
Recruiting Myth #3: All NCAA Division I Athletic Scholarships are Full-Rides
The sport and your particular recruiting circumstances will determine if your athletic scholarship is a full-ride or partial scholarship. Full-ride scholarships, officially known as headcount scholarships, are available for football athletes (FBS ONLY), men’s and women’s basketball, women’s volleyball, women’s tennis, and women’s gymnastics.
All other NCAA-sanctioned sports divide up their athletic scholarships using the equivalency method. This allows coaches to offer full or partial athletic scholarships to their recruits. To dive deep into the differences in athletic scholarship types, and how to receive one, check out our Athletic Scholarship Facts article.
Recruiting Myth #4: If I Call a Division I Coach at Any Time They Can Answer
Before a college coach can speak with you over the phone, they are required to ask your grade as there are rules barring college coaches from speaking to student-athletes until their Junior Year beginning June 15th or September 1st (see which of these applies to your sport here). This rule was set in place to help prevent student-athletes from committing too early in their process.
Recruiting Myth #5: If I Do Not Commit to a School, I Can Just Walk On
If you are accepted to a school and want to try to walk on to their program, you must still communicate your interest in doing so early to the college coach. Some programs may have already filled their walk-on positions, or some may not have open tryouts at all. Therefore, it’s important not to assume you can walk on to a program. If you are interested in walk-on positions or trying out for a program, we recommend contacting the coach to let them know as soon as you are accepted and that you are interested in their program.
Recruiting Myth #6: I Can Go on Unofficial Visits to DI Schools Anytime
It's important to note that in most sports, unofficial visits are only allowed beginning on August 1st of a student-athlete's Junior Year. You can learn more about this by checking out our NCAA Rules and Regulations article. An unofficial visit is when a student-athlete visits a program's campus and meets with coaches, but the student-athlete and their family must pay for this type of visit. There is no limit on how many unofficial visits a student-athlete can make, however, it's recommended that you visit campuses even if you can't meet with a coach yet. This will help you get a better idea of what you like and dislike at different college campuses.