Create your recruiting roadmap. 

 

Create a roadmap for the recruiting process, which outlines every step you need to achieve in the recruiting process. Identify where you are now and where you need to go. Involving a third party like AIR makes the process much easier and keeps you on track.

 

Get evaluated. 

 

College coaches rely on verified sources like AIR to identify, screen and evaluate athletes. A neutral talent evaluator provides honest answers about your skill level, which helps you set realistic goals about what coaches you should contact. When a coach receives a recommendation from AIR, they know the athlete has completed AIR's evaluation process and that the athlete is an internationla athlete with talent.

 

Create your profile. 

 

Your academic and athletic resume is your primary tool in showcasing your ability to the right coaches. This is the first thing coaches will see. It needs to be done right and have all the necessary information that they want to see. 

 

Create a winning highlight video. 

 

Coaches receive hours of videos so make yours count.

• Make it short and simple. 4 minutes is long enough to convey your skills.

• No flashy background music or special effects is wanted.

• Start with the best first. Coaches may not watch the entire video, so make the first impressions count. Start with a short introduction with your name, school name, and graduation year. 

• Identify exactly what skills to include. Each sport has different requirements. Make sure to check the guidelines for your specific sport. 

• Display a wide range of skills. Use clips that show you you doing various skills in varying situations.

• Choose angles that ensure a clear view of you and the court of playing field so you are easily identified.

 

Start big.

 

Contact up to 100 Coaches to begin. Starting wide and narrowing down your choices throughout the process can help you find the best fit and give you leverage when deciding which school you ultimately choose to attend. The majority of college athletic programs aren’t in Division I, so set your expectations accordingly. 

 

Get familiar with the NCAA.

 

The National Collegiate Athletic Association is the governing body of all collegiate sports in America. It determines specific athletic, academic and recruiting regulations and ensures that all schools, coaches and athletes meets its requirements.

 

The NCAA Eligibility Center clearly outlines the academic requirements that high school athletes need to maintain in order to be eligible for participation in college sports. It’s essential to know the rules of eligibility to ensure that you’re taking the right classes as you build your high school academic resume.

 

Athletes that plan on competing at the NCAA Division I or Division II level are required to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center. The Eligibility Center evaluates your amateur status, core courses taken in high school, GPA, and standardized test scores to determine if you’re eligible at the Division I or Division II level as a freshman. You cannot participate in Division I or Division II athletics if you aren’t cleared by the NCAA Eligibility Center.

 

Online registration takes less than one hour at the NCAA Eligibility Center at www.ncaa.org

 

Ideally, you should register during the summer after your junior year of high school.