A timeline for prospective collegiate athletes

YOU MUST BEGIN TO PREPARE EARLY!!

Sophomore Year

(1^st Semester Aug-Dec) - list of schools and begin to research.

(2^nd Semester Jan-Jun) - Begin to prepare 1 page informational on you and narrow your search.

Summer before Junior Year - Continue to develop resume & narrow search -where are you playing?

Junior Year

(before high school season or Thanksgiving) - Resume with future schedules included (high school or club) E-mail accessible & hard copy

(before Christmas) - tournament appearance(s) & updates to resume

(2^nd Semester Jan-Jun) - continue to narrow list based on feedback and generate feedback

- Unofficial Visit(s) to those that interest you and/or interested in you!

- Mail transcripts & SAT scores with senior courses included (if available)

REGISTER FOR THE ELIGIBILITY CENTER!

http://www.ncaa.org/about/student-athlete-eligibility

Summer before Senior Year

-Unofficial Visit(s)

-Camp(s)!

-July 1^st Recruiting Calls

College Coaches cannot initiate phone calls (“any transmitted human voice exchange”) to a prospective student-athlete until July 1 AFTER their junior year of high school.

Following July 1, a coach can only initiate one call per week to the student-athlete except in the five days prior to an Official Visit.

(Note: Recruiting materials may be mailed to a student-athlete after September 1st of their junior year.)

Official vs Unofficial:

Official à

College pays for food and lodging of the recruiting prospect

Pertains to DI and DII schools only

Taken only during senior year

5 total allowed (only 1 to any given school)

Can last no more than 48 hours

Unofficial à

College does not pay for visit

Pertains to DI, DII, and DIII schools.

All visits before senior year are unofficial

No limits on number that may be taken

Student-Athlete can meet with coach (except during dead periods) and players.

Senior Year

(1^st Semester Aug-Dec) - continue unofficial visits IF not taken

- official visits (5); DI obsolete, DII (trial at end of your season), DIII (visit at any time in college career)

- Visit CAMPUS in action (regular school day—attend class & game day—observe coaching style, caliber of players, your position)

-APPLICATION PROCESS/DEADLINES

-DECISION!!!

Senior Year (2nd Semester Jan-Jun)

-APPLY ON TIME

-FILL OUT FAFSA & PROFILE (pay attention to deadlines)

-NLI (February) or ACCEPTANCE LETTER (DI & DII)

-MUST CONTINUE TO PERFORM ACADEMICALLY

Prospective Student-Athlete (PSA) MUST take ownership of this process!!

Final Thought:
Would you come to this university if you didn’t make the soccer team? If the answer is no, don’t go to that university. If you would go to the university even if you didn’t make the team, this could be the right university for you. Enjoy this time, investigate and prepare yourself to make the right decision. It will be one of the biggest decisions of your life - but not to worry, you are ready!

Chapter 5: The Do’s and Don’ts