Where do I start?

The recruitment process can be daunting, but rest assured most PSA's and their parents are doing it for the first time, so educate yourself by asking questions, reading FAQ’s like this, and being proactive by reaching out to colleges and coaches.

It is also important to understand your own priorities when it comes to academics, athletics, finances and overall fit. Since very few athletes are going to make volleyball their profession, it is often wise to make the academic and financial commitments a very high priority. Start by finding schools that seem to be a good overall fit, and reach out to those coaches using some of the tips below.

Is playing college volleyball a possibility?

With well over 1,500 programs to play for spanning 4 year and 2 year colleges, the opportunity to play is out there for just about everyone who wants to. The real question is can you find a school that fits the academic and financial needs of the PSA, that will also offer the volleyball experience they want. According to NCAA.org less than 4% of HS volleyball players play in the NCAA which accounts for a little more than half of the college programs out there. This means that less than 8% of HS volleyball players actually want to make that commitment and are able to find the right fit. For those that want to play in college, finding that right fit is a function of having the right talent level, reaching out to schools, communicating with coaches, and being proactive.

If you’re not sure what level is the right fit, send out videos to coaches across the spectrum and see which schools respond with interest. It can also help to watch a few college volleyball matches live or online to see if you could realistically see yourself playing at that level.

What should I be doing to get recruited?

There is no one way to be recruited, or to initiate the process, but there are a few basic concepts that will get you pointed in the right direction.

1. Send coaches an e-mail outlining your interest in the school and program. Include basic information that highlight your strengths academically and athletically, and inviting them to watch you play (and/or including a video). You can also call coaches, although this can be a bit more intimidating it is also a lot more personal and will show she is serious.


2. Fill out online questionnaires for the schools you want to consider you. These are usually found on their volleyball website. Because this process is not automated and it requires time to do, it tells the coach that you have sincere interest.


3. Put together video for coaches to watch. Youtube has become the easiest and cheapest way to make film available to coaches. You can even make it private so that only certain people have access if you don’t want it available publicly.


4. Let coaches know your playing schedule. It is very easy to send an e-mail with your HS and/or club schedule. This allows coaches to know where you’ll be so that they can coordinate their recruiting schedules. Don’t forget to include your club team name (not just club name) and jersey number.


5. Don’t send out bulk e-mails that say ‘Dear Coach’. Especially early in the process you can copy bulk parts of your e-mail or letter, but address it individually, and try to add something personal to the school. Coaches are human and receive a lot of correspondence, so a personal touch can go a long way.

Don’t limit your possibilities. Reach out to a wide variety of colleges in terms of size, location, and competitiveness. Take visits, and explore options. It is very common for athletes to fall in love and find the right fit with campuses, schools, etc… that they initially didn’t consider.

What should the athlete do, versus what should the parent do?

The PSA needs to take ownership of her recruitment. This means she should be making the calls, sending the e-mails, researching the schools, and taking the lead. Coaches want to see a prospect who is owning the process, has the courage to ask questions, has an engaging personality, and will be someone that they enjoy being around every day for four years. When parents are sending most e-mails, returning calls, etc… it is a red flag to most coaches.

Club vs High School

The reality is that most college coaches focus on recruiting via the club season for numerous reasons. Club teams usually feature the most serious players, tournaments will host over 1,000 players in one site versus a HS game where there may be only 20 kids earning playing time, and logistically it’s not during the college season so coaches have time to travel. But, you don’t need to play club to be recruited, it just takes a little more diligence. A video becomes a necessity as it will be very difficult to entice a coach to drive any distance to watch a player who they’ve never seen play, in the middle of their competitive season. While you will certainly see coaches attending high school games, it takes a little more effort on everyone’s behalf and is usually more about showing their interest in a player they are actively recruiting versus finding new players.

What kind of video do coaches want?

Sending coaches video has never been easier and cheaper. If you are able to record video using a phone or iPad it is relatively easy and free to get it onto YouTube. From there you can set privacy preferences to your liking, and send links to coaches. There are three basic types of videos coaches receive:

1. Game video is straight game footage and is the preferred video of most college coaches. The best video location is stable (a tripod helps), high, and behind the center of the court showing the full court and all of the players (on both sides ideally). No editing is necessary, in fact, many coaches want to see body language and personal interactions during stoppages in play. Try and pick a game where you play well against good competition and include the full match if possible (at least one game). Most coaches would rather see a good game against strong competition rather than your best game against weak competition.


2. A skills video is usually done with a coach where the athlete runs through a series of drills to demonstrate their ability. Many coaches like this because it shows their potential in a controlled situation. This video should only be 3-5 minutes in length, and should focus on a player’s strengths. It is not uncommon for this to be sent out to generate interest early in the process.


3. A highlight video is edited game video to just show highlight clips. This can be a nice prelude to game video, or a way to generate interest as well. It should be short and sweet, and viewed simply as a teaser.

Regardless of what type of video you create, don’t be afraid to showcase your personality and ability early on in the video with an introduction (examples: a player riding up on a horse to introduce herself, and a player dunking a volleyball and then walking over to the camera to introduce herself). And more than anything, it doesn't need to be perfect. If the angle isn't quite right, it doesn't have music or fancy graphics, don't worry, coaches just want to see if you can play.

What stats do coaches want?

The most meaningful 'statistics' coaches are typically interested in are athletic measures (such as approach touch and block touch) and academic metrics (ACT, SAT, GPA, etc...). Volleyball statistics in the recruiting process are usually dismissed because there is no way to meaningfully verify the accuracy of them, and they are very dependent on the level of competition which can vary widely within the same area.

Should we hire a recruiting service?

Recruiting services vary in scope and service, some provide quality services, others do little more than offer an online profile and annoy coaches with a lot of e-mails about athletes ill-fitted for their program. Regardless, these services should be seen as a luxury not a necessity. In order to be recruited you simply need to reach out to college coaches; e-mail, phone calls, and online questionnaires. Making a video can help you a great deal as well, especially if you’re not playing for a club that travels to bigger tournaments or regularly accessible to the schools you are looking to attend. The video takes a little technical knowledge, but with smart phones and tablets it has become easier and cheaper (free usually) than ever before.

I'm nervous about reaching out to coaches, what should I do?

Coaches understand that this can be an extremely intimidating moment for PSAs. But coaches also want athletes that are willing to step outside their comfort zone, and that really want to play in college, so step up to the plate and call or e-mail (or both!) the coach. Write an e-mail that highlights your strengths (i.e. GPA, ACT, SAT, Height, major athletic awards, etc…), who you are, and why you're interested. It needs to be 3-4 short paragraphs at most.

With regards to phone calls, try writing a short script to introduce yourse. Again, coaches do this every day so if you make the call and can introduce yourself, most coaches can carry the conversation and take it where it needs to go. Be prepared with a voicemail message as well. Ask a parent to role play a little bit before you make the call so that it’s not completely unfamiliar, you don’t want it to sound like you are reading off of a paper.

What is the recruiting timeline?

This is a tough question because it varies by level of play, the specific school, and on an individual basis. As of May 1, 2019 the NCAA has changed contact rules, limiting contact between DI coaches and prospects who haven't entered their junior year even further. The true impact and consequences has yet to be determined.

Individual schools will see some years finish quickly, and other years it will take longer. Prior to the 5/1/2019 rule changes, it was common for prospects to reach out to DI coaches and have them respond through club or HS coaches and setup a time for the athlete to call the college coach. However, the 2019 rule changes prevent college coaches from reaching out to HS or club coaches, athletes, or parents (or any other representative) to discuss a player's recruitment or interest, and also prevents an NCAA coach from speaking directly to a player or their representative if the call is initiated from the athlete or on their behalf. If a player were to reach an NCAA DI coach via phone, the coach would be required to immediately share the rule and end the conversation. These conversations are now only legally permitted on or after June 15th prior to the athletes junior year. These rules theoretically make it impossible for prospects to verbally commit prior to the June 15th preceding their junior year which used to be very common place. There is a large degree of skepticism in the volleyball community as to how seriously some DI coaches will take these rule changes.

NCAA DII and DIII coaches are focused on finding and evaluating athletes as sophomores and juniors and seeking commitments between their junior and senior seasons. It is also important to realize that every school is different. There are NCAA DIII schools who have their classes committed as juniors, and there are DI schools who may be looking for seniors. The only way to know for sure is to talk to each coach individually.

In an attempt to push back the recruiting timeline, NCAA DI rules now prohibit contact between athletes and coaches or athletic representatives on their campus prior to August 1 of their junior year.

Traditionally it has always been safer to initiate contact earlier than later, and simply ask the coach what their school’s timeline is. This remains the case for DII and DIII, but the new legislation limits coaches for DI.

What are the role of summer camps and showcases?

Summer camps can play a pivotal role in the recruitment process, but it’s important to have realistic expectations. Since attending a number of camps will be difficult due to cost and conflicting dates, if you do attend a camp it should be one that is going to offer a lot of bang for your buck. If you are strongly considering a school, and they are actively recruiting you and want you to attend camp, it can be a great opportunity to spend time around the players and coaches. Other than that specific scenario, setting the expectation that you will probably be coached by players of the school, visiting HS and club coaches, or college coaches from other schools is important. Ask in advance if you’re not sure what to expect. This is rarely a good way to be ‘found’, and the quality of training varies greatly from school to school. Recruiting conversations are prohibited between DI programs and campers prior to August 1 of your junior year.

The other option for summer camps is to go to a camp like our Elite Prospect Camp where you are going to work with, and be seen by a wide array of college coaches who are there for the same reason you are; to meet and get to know prospects who may be fits for their program. These camps can be very helpful as you will be seen by a variety of schools and can start to build relationships with coaches to see who you connect with.

One day or half day showcases are also very popula, but frequently offer less in return than a camp. It is important to have appropriate expectations. If you are a middle who is highly reliant on passing and chemistry with a setter, you need to temper expectations if you are going to play with people you’ve never met before. The nice part is that coaches are usually able to gather official athletic data like your approach jump, etc… and strong players regardless of position are likely to stand out. My personal experience has been that these one day or half day showcases very limited in value.

When can we reach out to college coaches and vice-versa?

Prospective athletes can reach out to college coaches at any time, however rules vary by NCAA Division as to when coaches can respond or use certain technologies to communicate with PSAs. If a DII or DIII coach answers a call from a PSA, they are allowed to talk to them regardless of age or grade. However, NCAA DI coaches must inform the caller of the rules, and end the call immediately until June 15th after the PSA's sophomore year. NCAA DI snd DII coaches may not initiate a private electronic correspondence (i.e. text, e-mail, social media messaging, etc…) or phone call with a PSA or their parent until the June 15th immediately prior to their junior year. NCAA DIII coaches do not have any restrictions as to when they can call or e-mail athletes.

NCAA DI coaches may interact or host athletes on visits starting August 1st following the PSA's sophomore year. Prior to this, any visits to campus may not include athletic personnel or recruiting conversations. NCAA DII coaches may host athletes for unofficial visits at any time, but may not host an official visit until June 15 following the PSA's junior year.

How can my child make contact with a college coach if they can't call or e-mail?

Remember, prospective athletes can call, e-mail, text, etc… college coaches at any time. A college coach may not be able to respond based on your prospective athlete’s grade. So if you call a coach who can’t call you back you have two basic options.

1. Call or e-mail the coach and provide updates, but understand they may not be able to respond. For NCAA DII coaches, you or a representative may let them know when you will call, and they can answer your call and talk to you.


2. Have a third party (such as a club or HS coach) communicate with the DII coach to schedule a time for you to call the coach later on. Note that DI coaches are required to respond to third parties representing a recruit the same way they would that recruit.

What is the difference between an official visit and an unofficial visit

The basic difference between an official visit and an unofficial visit across all NCAA divisions is that a school can provide very few benefits while you are on an unofficial visit. On an official visit schools can pay up to the entire cost of the visit (transportation, meals, lodging, etc...). Each school’s visit will be different, and not all schools will provide the same level of benefits for an official visit. A prospective athlete is limited to only 5 official visits to NCAA DI schools, but may have unlimited official visits do NCAA DII and DIII institutions.

How do college scholarships work?

NCAA DI schools can offer up to 12 full-ride volleyball scholarships. It is a ‘headcount sport’ which means that scholarships cannot be split among multiple players (i.e. they cannot have 24 players on half scholarships). The exact benefits of that scholarship vary from school to school. Some schools may verbally promise an athlete less than four years of a scholarship in order to get more athletes on scholarship over time.

NCAA DII schools can offer up to 8 full-ride volleyball scholarships. It is an ‘equivalency sport’ which means that the scholarships can be split among multiple players, so it is not uncommon to see 12 or more athletes receiving some amount of an athletic scholarship.

NCAA DIII schools cannot offer a scholarship that is in anyway linked to their athletic participation or ability.

It is very important to note that there are many more students who receive academic scholarships, need based aid, and other forms of financial aid that are not reliant on athletic participation, than there are who receive athletic scholarships. It is also important to clarify with a coach how long the athletic scholarship lasts, and what happens if there is a career ending injury. One of the benefits to a non-athletic scholarship is that if a player decides to quit playing for any reason, their scholarship or financial aid remains intact.

What is the NAIA?

The NAIA is another organization like the NCAA. It is very prevalent in some geographic areas (the south, areas of the midwest, and the west coast), and rare in others (the northeast). Their schools vary significantly in resources and competitiveness just like the NCAA. These schools can offer athletic scholarships, and have much looser restrictions than the NCAA. NAIA schools offer a great opportunity for many athletes of varying levels to compete in the sport they love, and get a quality education.

What is the NJCAA

The NJCAA is the National Junior College Athletic Association. These are two year colleges that offer athletic programs throughout the country. Some programs offer athletic scholarships as well. Aside from offering great financial value in many instances, there are areas of the country that compete at a very high level in volleyball. For many athletes it can be a chance to get the education needed to get a job at an affordable cost while playing a sport they love. For some athletes it is a stepping stone to a four year college. If you browse the rosters of NCAA and NAIA programs at all levels (including top 25 DI programs) you will find athletes who started their careers in the NJCAA.