Developing a Recruiting Timeline

Whether you are just beginning the recruiting process or finalizing your decision, it is important to stay organized and have a timeline. The recruiting process can be a little intimidating as there is so much information out there. However, it is important to remember, the recruiting process starts early and continues late. It is never too early to start reaching out to colleges and compiling a list, just as it is never too late to start the process as there are 1,802 collegiate programs with women’s volleyball.

The recruiting process can be simplified into three phases:

1) Initiating Contact and Follow-Up

This is when you begin to contact schools you are interested in and schools that are interested in you. You will have a list of schools ranging from 50-100+.

2) Investment

This is the part of the process where you start to eliminate some schools and focus on the schools you could really see yourself at. Now is when you will begin to take visits and discuss scholarship. Your list of schools will be around 10-15.

3) Final Decision

This is the final stage of the recruiting process. This is when you have narrowed down your options to 2-3 schools. By now, you have already taken visits, met the coaches and players, and discussed scholarship. All there is left to do now is decide and sign the papers!

If you are in the first phase of the process, get your feet wet by researching schools and determine what is most important to you when looking at colleges. When choosing schools, it is important to have an idea what you are looking for. You may not know what path you want to take for the future, but it’s a good time to start thinking of what is important to you so you can have an enjoyable and rewarding collegiate experience!

Here are some pointers on what you should consider when choosing to contact a college:

• Location (Big city or small town? Far from home or close?)
• Education (Do they have your major? Or if you do not know, do they have a large range of programs for you to choose from?)
• Athletics (Are you looking to walk on or be a starting player?)
• Atmosphere (Are you looking for a large busy campus with big enrollment or a smaller more inclusive campus feel?)

It’s important to be proactive during this phase by sending introductory letters to coaches, filling out recruiting questionnaires, making phone calls, and creating highlight videos. Taking the time to network is so crucial to recruiting success and will give you more options to choose the right fit in the end.

The second phase of the process is when you will develop relationships with college coaches and start to narrow down your options. As the interest becomes more serious, visits and talk of scholarship offers will occur.

The final phase of the process will happen when you have received your offers and are ready to commit to a program and lock in your place on the team. This is the time to weigh your options and choose your future path! Some helpful advice to making that final decision: In the end, the decision is completely up to you. Make the decision that will make you the happiest, and not someone else.

As you can see, whether you are just starting the recruiting process or finalizing your decision, categorizing your priorities and developing a timeline will give you guidance when choosing the right college for you.