Recruiting Process: From One Parent to Another

The volleyball recruiting process can feel overwhelming. Mostly that is because no two paths look the same. Timelines vary. Budgets vary. Coaching needs change overnight. At the Durango Fall Classic I overheard a volleyball dad sharing his family's journey and his advice. He was thoughtful, realistic, and spoke from experience. I asked if he would be willing to share his perspective with our readers. Thankfully, he agreed.   Disclaimer: This is one parent's advice. Take what is useful, set aside what does not fit your situation. The intention is to help families who want a clear and honest starting point from one parent to another.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">About the Dad</h2>   With ten years of club volleyball behind him, this dad speaks from experience. He is fortunate to have one daughter currently playing at a Division I program and another already committed to a different Division I school. Along the way, his family has seen nearly every angle of recruiting: under recruiting, over recruiting, the challenges of entering the transfer portal, and the relief of being picked up again through that same system. Each step has been an exhausting and stressful process for both the athlete and the parent, but also one filled with lessons worth sharing.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Start with ownership, not pressure</h2>   First, your athlete has to be motivated. Let me say that again...your athlete has to be motivated. If they are not driving this, it will not work. As a parent, you have one job in this process and that is to support. This is their journey, not yours.   Second, make sure your student-athlete is the one leading the charge. Be the positive voice in the background and keep the pressure low. Recruiting is stressful enough without parents adding to it.   Third, think back to when you were 15, 16, 17, or 18. Most of us were stressed out, and your athlete is no different. The process is messy and there are no guarantees, so keep perspective and be patient with them.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Know the stats and keep it real</h2>   Be honest with your athlete and with yourself. Know the numbers, and use them to have positive conversations about what is possible.   Do not lock in on just the Power Five schools. There are hundreds of options. Right now there are about 347 Division I women's volleyball programs, which is a lot more than most families realize. And here is the truth: not every one of those schools is giving out full rides to every player on the roster. Many programs split scholarships into partials, or they do not have the budget to fully fund every spot. “Fully funded” means a program is allowed to use its full allotment of scholarships, but it does not always mean every roster spot has scholarship money attached. Some schools are limited, and some simply choose to spread aid differently.   Division I has historically been capped at 12 scholarships per team, while Division II runs on the equivalency model with 8 scholarships that can be divided among athletes. Starting in 2025–26, the NCAA is moving to an 18-player roster model that gives schools more flexibility to distribute aid. That means more athletes could get some level of support, but families should always ask coaches exactly how they handle scholarships at their school.   Division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships, but they often provide generous academic or need-based aid. And then there is JUCO. Do not overlook it. JUCO can be a real opportunity. At Division I junior colleges you may see tuition, books, fees, and room and board covered. At Division II junior colleges you may get tuition, books, and fees. At Division III junior colleges there is no athletic aid, but you are still playing college ball and building a path forward. The bottom line is this: be open, be realistic, and chase the best fit, not just the biggest name.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">About the timeline</h2>   A lot of people stress over dates. Yes, there are important ones. For Division I, coaches can start contacting athletes directly on June 15 after sophomore year. That is a marker, but it is not the finish line. Most athletes do not commit on that exact date, and plenty commit during their senior year. Do not panic if someone else posts their commitment early. Everyone's road looks different, and that is okay.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">A list to check off</h2>   Here is where the ball is in your court. Recruiting is not magic, it is a process. It takes steady and consistent effort.   Create at least two volleyball-only social media accounts — Instagram, YouTube, X (Twitter), TikTok. Use them to share highlights and updates.   Have your athlete set all non-volleyball accounts to private. Every year athletes lose opportunities because of social media mistakes. Keep personal accounts off the radar.   Register for an NCAA Eligibility number early. Learn the academic and core course requirements so there are no surprises.   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><a href="https://www.ncaa.org/sports/2014/10/24/how-to-register.aspx">How to register</a></li>   <li><a href="https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/volleyball-women/d1/ncaa-womens-volleyball-rpi">NCAA Volleyball RPI</a></li> </ul>   Find an advocate in your volleyball world. This should be someone who has played after high school, has a recruiting network, or is willing to be an alternate point of contact for your athlete. It might be a high school coach, club coach, or club director. Work with your recruiting coach on realistic expectations and always have a backup plan.   Register for a SportsRecruits profile. I am not being compensated by SportsRecruits, but it is a platform that allows your athlete to communicate with coaches directly.   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><a href="https://sportsrecruits.com">SportsRecruits</a></li> </ul>   Understand the College Needs List. This shows which schools need players by graduation year and position. Use it to guide your outreach.   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><a href="https://info.sportsrecruits.com/volleyball-needs-dashboard">College Needs Dashboard</a></li> </ul>   Do your research. Make lists of schools by division (D1, D2, D3), location, admissions standards, and academic programs. Look at graduation year needs and roster openings.   Use Hudl or BallTime to build and share video. I am not being compensated by these platforms either, but they are useful tools.   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><a href="https://www.hudl.com">Hudl</a></li> </ul>   Communicate directly with coaches. Email consistently. Break it into a manageable schedule, like five to ten emails per week across all prospective schools. Reference the needs list. If you get a no thank you, move on. It is not the end of the world.   Go to as many summer camps as possible. Email coaches before and after the camp. Programs are always in flux with transfers, injuries, and changes. Camps give your athlete a chance to feel out the program, the staff, and the school itself. Remind them that the most important piece is finding a place they would love to graduate from.   PrepDig is an invaluable tool Exposure / Education / Support / Knowledge of National and State Rankings / National and State information that is so necessary during this process. No PrepDig is not compensating me I'm just a fan of the platform and the knowledge based reporting   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Final thought from a volleyball dad</h2>   At the end of the day, volleyball is preparing our kids for life. It teaches them to work hard, to accept loss, and to keep going when things get tough. For me, it has also been the best time I have ever spent with my daughters. The recruiting process is stressful, but it is also full of memories you will carry forever.   Enjoy the ride, because it is over quicker than you think.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">If you enjoyed this article, please help us keep the momentum going!</h3>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/09/image_cf4e03.png" alt="" class="wp-image-885470" style="width:125px;height:auto" /></figure>   ✨ Help a player get discovered — share this article using the share buttons and tag us on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigca/?hl=en">PrepDigCa</a>!       <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-full is-resized"><a href="https://prepdig.com/subscribe/"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/04/image_ff10cb.png" alt="" class="wp-image-770394" style="width:98px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   🚀 <a href="https://prepdig.com/my-account/subscriptions/">Upgrade to a PrepDig+ Subscription</a> — exclusive rankings, in-depth analysis, and access to the full <a href="https://prepdig.com/prospect-index/">prospect index</a>.     <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   September high school volleyball is in full swing, and athletes are already making statements on the national stage. The Durango Fall Classic in Las Vegas lived up to its reputation as one of the toughest tournaments in the country, highlighting programs and players who rose to the challenge. This weekend is the Nike Tournament of Champions in Arizona, another premier stage where athletes will continue to showcase growth, leadership, and competitive drive. It is the perfect time to read, share, and support their journey as they compete in front of college coaches and elevate their game against top-tier competition.   🔥 Players — Use this article to grow. Take notes, study what makes others stand out, and apply it to your own journey. Want to go further? Reach out to a featured athlete and introduce yourself. Build connections, not just stats.   📣 Club Coaches & Directors — Share this with your teams. If your athletes are highlighted, celebrate them loudly. Post it, tag us, and help their stories reach the right eyes. Visibility is everything.   🎯 College Coaches — Tag these athletes in your University Athlete app and evaluate them as potential fits for your program. We're tracking their performance, growth, and impact through Recruitable Credentials — earned indicators college coaches recognize. Follow their journey with us and connect with athletes built for the next level.   🙏 Parents & Supporters — Thank you for being the backbone of this movement. Your subscriptions, shares, and belief in your athletes make this possible.   Thank you for making today's wins matter — one article, one player, one memory at a time.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247

The volleyball recruiting process can feel overwhelming. Mostly that is because no two paths look the same. Timelines vary. Budgets vary. Coaching needs change overnight. At the Durango Fall Classic I overheard a volleyball dad sharing his family's journey and his advice. He was thoughtful, realistic, and spoke from experience. I asked if he would be willing to share his perspective with our readers. Thankfully, he agreed.