Recruiting can be the most intense and stressful part of an athlete's life and it takes a detailed plan to get a recruit from the high school to the college level. So here is a checklist in one place to make sure you have absolutely everything you need year-by-year! 

FRESHMAN YEAR

• Express your interest in playing collegiate sports to your counselor. 
• Retrieve your high school's NCAA core classes from your counselor 
  • This ensures that you take all of the required classes
  • Typically these include English, Mathematics, Sciences, Social sciences, and a second language.
• Express interest in playing collegiate sports to your coaches. 
• Explore schools that you may be interested in attending along with their sports program 
• Write down a list of five schools that you are interested in
• Get a unique calendar with recruiting-specific dates 
• Research financial information for each school and what type of scholarships and aid is available. 

Related: 5 Things I Wish I Would Have Known My Freshman Year With UCLA Beach Volleyball Player Lexy Denaburg

SOPHOMORE YEAR

• Start meeting with your counselor regularly to develop a relationship and keep him/her updated on your progress academically 
• Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center 
• Continue to look at colleges that you might be interested in attending and widen your list.  
• Also look into a school's academics and the school's location.
  • Divide your list of schools into three categories 
    • Safety: This is a group of schools that you are most likely to get into academically/receive an offer
    • Target: This is a group of schools that you are likely to get into academically/receive an offer, and are solid choices for you from an athletics and academic standard.
    • Dream: This is a group of schools that you are least likely to get into academically/receive an offer, but really want to!
• Upload your freshman year transcript to your Signing Day Sports profile.
• Register to take the PSAT
  • This will allow you to gauge your projected scores 
  • SDS can also help you move schools into different categories based on your score (safety, target, reach) 
• Create a free profile page with the NCAA.
• Discuss final snail plans with your family, and decide on their estimated financial contribution (EFC).
• Explore the following of your most desired schools 
  • Where are they recruiting?
  • What measurables and stats are needed ?
  • Who have they recruited in the past?
• Continue to keep track of important dates on the recruiting calendar.

Related: 10 Ways to Track Basketball Stats during Your Recruiting Process

JUNIOR YEAR

• Meet with your counselor to ensure that you are going to 
  • complete your NCAA Core Classes on time
  • graduate on time
• Take the ACT and/or SAT 
• Once the school year has ended, ask your counselor to submit your official transcript to the NCAA Eligibility Center 
• Continue to keep track of important dates on the recruiting calendar.

Related: Rate your Coaches, Facilities, and Campus Visits

SENIOR YEAR 

• Complete all of your NCAA Core Courses.
• Update SDS profile
• Take the ACT or SAT again to achieve the desired score
• OCT 1: FAFSA opens. 
  • The FAFSA determines your eligibility for federal grants, loans, and work-study funds administered by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Remember, most athletic scholarships aren't full rides so you want to get as much outside financial aid as possible. Explore other scholarships, including state-based aid and academic scholarships.
• Complete your NCAA Eligibility questions on your Eligibility Center Account.
• Continue to keep track of important dates on the recruiting calendar.

POST-GRADUATION 

• Ask your counselor to submit your final official transcript that shows your proof of graduation to the NCAA Eligibility center.
• Celebrate! You did it! Enjoy your last summer home. 

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* Originally published on November 15, 2022, by Ava Soodek