College-Bound Athletes

Recruiting is how college coaches find, evaluate, and communicate with potential student-athletes. It’s also your opportunity to showcase your skills, share your story, and explore programs that are the right fit for you—athletically, academically, and personally.

What You Should Know:

• You don’t need to wait to be recruited. Most athletes are not “discovered”—they reach out to coaches first. That’s normal and expected.

• There’s no one-size-fits-all path. DI, DII, DIII, NAIA, and junior colleges all offer different experiences. Finding the right level is about fit, not just prestige.

• Recruiting starts early. Coaches often start tracking athletes in Grades 9 and 10, even if communication is limited by NCAA rules.

• Academics matter. Your grades, course selection, and eligibility status are just as important as your stats.

Getting recruited doesn’t happen by chance. It takes initiative, preparation, and consistent communication. Here’s how to take ownership of the process:

Be Proactive

• Do your research. Look into schools, athletic programs, and coaching staff to identify colleges that match your academic and athletic goals.

• Perform at a high level in both high school and club competition. Consistency matters.

• Attend camps and clinics—especially those hosted by colleges you’re interested in. Events run by college coaching staffs are often the most impactful.

• Compete in tournaments near schools you're targeting. Let coaches know your schedule ahead of time so they can attend or track your performance.

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Make Contact

• Fill out recruiting questionnaires on college athletics websites to express interest and get into their system.

• Email coaches with a brief, targeted message. Include your academic information, position, highlight video link, and athletic resume.

• Follow up with a phone call or another message if you haven’t received a response. Keep it professional and respectful.

• Keep a log of your outreach so you can track where you’ve applied, who you’ve contacted, and next steps.

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Take the Lead

• You are allowed to call or email college coaches at any time.

• You may visit college campuses at your own expense. Notify coaches in advance if you’re planning a visit and request a meeting if possible.

• You do not need to pay for a recruiting service. Many athletes are successfully recruited by managing the process on their own.

How you communicate with college coaches says a lot about your character—on and off the field. Your interactions should always reflect respect, gratitude, and professionalism.

Be Respectful and Professional

Always be polite and appreciative when a coach contacts you, regardless of the program or level. Coaches often speak with each other, and a strong reputation for being humble, coachable, and team-oriented can go a long way. This includes how you interact with your peers, coaches, and even your parents—character matters.

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Keep an Open Mind

Even if a school isn't on your radar, it’s important to respond with openness and respect. Regardless of what college is contacting you, your response should be: "Thank you. I’d love to hear more."

If, after continued contact, you know you’re no longer interested, let the coach know politely: "I really appreciate your interest and the time you’ve taken to connect with me. I’ve decided to focus on other schools, but if anything changes, I’ll be sure to reach out."

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Know the Rules

Recruiting timelines vary depending on the level of competition and sport:

• NCAA Division I: Most coaches cannot contact you directly until September 1 of your junior year, but you may contact them at any time by phone or email.
   

• NCAA Division II: Coaches may begin recruiting communication starting June 15 after your sophomore year, but just like Division I, you can reach out to them at any time.
   

• NCAA Division III: Coaches have more flexibility in when they can contact prospective student-athletes.
   

• NAIA & NJCAA: Coaches may contact you at any time during high school.

Be aware of NCAA recruiting rules, including “dead” periods when coaches are not permitted to contact or evaluate student-athletes on or off campus. For more, refer to the NCAA sport-specific recruiting calendars, which explain the difference between dead, quiet, and evaluation periods.

Visiting college campuses is one of the most valuable ways to determine if a school—and its athletic program—is the right fit for you. There are two types of visits: unofficial and official.

Unofficial Visits

• When to go: Start taking unofficial visits before your senior year to explore different types of colleges and begin narrowing down the programs that interest you.

• What to expect: You cover all costs for travel, meals, and lodging, but you may receive complimentary tickets to a home sporting event.

• No limits: You can take as many unofficial visits as you’d like, to any level of college program.

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Official Visits (Paid Visits)

• When you’re eligible: You may take official visits beginning August 1 before your senior year (for most sports).

• Division I: You are allowed up to five official visits, each up to 48 hours. Before your visit, you must be registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center.

• Division III: There is no limit to the number of official visits you can take.

• What’s covered: The school may pay for round-trip transportation, housing, meals, and provide free admission to a home athletic event. These expenses may be covered for you and your parents/guardians.

• Medical exam: Schools are permitted to ask you to undergo a medical exam during your official visit.

For student-athletes, committing to a college is both exciting and complex. Understanding the difference between verbal commitments and official commitments is key.

Verbal Commitments

Many athletes make verbal commitments during high school—sometimes as early as sophomore or junior year. A verbal commitment is when a student-athlete publicly announces their intention to attend and play for a particular college or university.

• Important to know: Verbal commitments are non-binding for both the student-athlete and the college. A coach can change their offer, and you can change your mind.

• These early commitments are often part of the recruiting process, but they do not guarantee financial aid or roster spots.

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National Letter of Intent (NLI)

The National Letter of Intent is a binding agreement between the student-athlete and the institution.

• By signing the NLI, the student-athlete commits to attending the college full-time for one academic year.

• In return, the college commits to providing athletic financial aid for that same year.

• Once you sign the NLI, other colleges must cease recruiting you.

• Only the signing of the NLI makes your commitment official. Until that point, nothing is guaranteed.

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Know the Signing Dates

Each sport has specific signing periods, which are official windows when you are eligible to sign the NLI. Be sure to:

• Know the signing period for your sport, especially if you're planning an official commitment.

• Discuss your timeline and options with your coaches, counselor, and the College-Bound Student-Athlete Advisor at ETHS.

There are many ways to make college more affordable as a student-athlete. At ETHS, we encourage students to explore all available financial aid options, including athletic, academic, need-based, and grant-based aid. Many students receive a combination of these to help cover college costs.

Types of Financial Aid

• Need-Based Aid is determined by your family’s income. To qualify, families must complete the FAFSA and, if required, the CSS Profile.

• Merit-Based Aid is based on academic performance, including GPA and test scores (when considered by the college).

• Grant-Based Aid includes specific scholarships, both school-based and external, that students can apply for.

• Athletic Scholarships are awarded by college coaches to students they actively recruit. These can be full or partial awards, depending on the sport and level of play.

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Understanding Athletic Scholarships

There are two types of athletic scholarships offered by colleges:

• Head Count Sports: These are sports where coaches can only offer full scholarships. If a student receives an offer, it must cover full tuition, fees, room and board, and books. Examples include Division I Football (FBS), Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Women’s Volleyball, Women’s Gymnastics, and Women’s Tennis.

• Equivalency Sports: In these sports, coaches are given a set number of scholarships that they can divide among multiple athletes. This means most athletes receive partial scholarships, and many receive no athletic aid at all. Equivalency sports include all other Division I sports, as well as all sports in Division II and the NAIA.

Athletic scholarships are not guaranteed for four years. When a student signs a National Letter of Intent (NLI), the school agrees to provide aid for one academic year. The scholarship may be renewed each year, but that decision is made by the coach. Division I schools may offer multi-year scholarships, and some institutions may provide support to complete a degree after athletic eligibility ends.

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Division III / Ivy League

Division III schools and Ivy League programs (which are Division I) do not offer athletic scholarships—but they do offer generous financial aid through need-based and merit-based packages. In many cases, these offers are more competitive than athletic scholarships at other schools.

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When to Talk About Financial Aid

Discussions about athletic scholarships usually happen at the end of official or unofficial campus visits. If you’re a top recruit, the coach will often raise the topic. Students are encouraged to ask about available aid—it’s an important part of the college decision.

Merit-based and need-based aid is handled through the admissions and financial aid offices. After submitting your FAFSA and required documents, families will receive an estimate of how much aid the student is eligible for. Coaches can often help connect families with the right contacts to get this information.