Getting a Late Start on the Recruiting Process

While you may be behind in the recruiting process, there are certain things each recruit can do to help alleviate the situation and end up at a school or program that will make them happy at the end of the process.

1. Make sure your grades are acceptable

The biggest thing that you can do to help you catch up is to make sure that you will have no problem qualifying with the NCAA and gaining admission to the school of your choice.  While each school will have different admissions standards, by ensuring that your grades and test scores are high enough to not have any issues, you can start to focus attention on the schools you want to apply and reach out to.

2. Apply to the schools you want to go to

Pick the schools you want to be recruited by, and go ahead and apply to those schools.  It will make it a lot easier to have conversations with college coaches when you can go to them and say you're interested in their program, AND you have already applied or, better yet, been accepted.  By doing this, coaches will know that you are serious about their program, and will be more willing to give you attention when you reach out to them.

3. You recruit the programs

If you started the process late, there are still going to be opportunities out there for you.  But you must put yourself out there and be ready to deal with a lot of no's.  This is fine.  What you are looking for are programs that are receptive to you late in the process and begin dialogue with them as soon as possible.  Ask them the tough questions.  Is there still a spot in this years recruiting class?  Do you think I would have the opportunity to earn a scholarship if I came here as a walk-on?  While it can be tough to ask these questions when you're face to face with a college coach, if you come from a place of honesty, more often than not, the coaches will reciprocate that honesty to you.