Navigating the High School Recruiting Process for Student-Athletes: A Year-by-Year Guide

Table Of Contents

Freshman Year (9th Grade): Lay the Foundation
Set up a Strong Academic Foundation   
Develop Your Recruiting Profile 
Sophomore Year (10th Grade): Begin to Get Noticed 
Academics  
Creating a Highlight Reel
Junior Year (11th Grade): The Crucial Year 
Academics 
Recruiting Prep 
Senior Year (12th Grade): Seal the Deal 
Academics 
Recruiting Prep 
Additional Tips for Success 

Navigating the high school recruiting process can seem daunting for student-athletes dreaming of playing at the collegiate level. Whether you're aiming for Division I scholarships or a spot on a competitive Division III roster, understanding the process and taking the right steps each year of high school is crucial. Here's a breakdown of what you need to focus on from freshman to senior year, balancing both athletic performance and academic achievement.

Freshman Year (9th Grade): Lay the Foundation

 While college may still seem far off, freshman year is the year to start laying a strong academic and athletic foundation. This section focuses on building a strong foundation both academically and athletically. It covers skill development, improving your technique, and joining competitive teams to increase exposure. You'll also find advice on prioritizing your GPA, using time management tools, accessing tutoring services, and the first steps for creating a recruiting profile, including recording game highlights and collecting quality footage.

Athletic Skill Development

Focus on skill development. Whether you're involved in team sports or individual competition, freshman year is a time to work on the basics of your game. Improve your technique, strength, conditioning, reflexes, and mental game.

Break down your movements. Watch videos of professional or high-level athletes or seek coaching / individual training to analyze proper form for key skills (e.g., shooting form in basketball, sprinting technique in track, first touch in soccer). Make small adjustments and practice these fundamentals daily.

Repetition is key. Consistent practice is the only way to master a skill. Commit to repeating drills and focusing on quality over quantity. Here are some professional athletes known for emphasizing repetition in their training:

• Steph Curry: Steph Curry is famous for his intense shooting routines, which involve making hundreds of shots from different spots on the court, including three-pointers and deep-range shots. He often practices by shooting until he makes a certain number in a row, building both muscle memory and consistency. Curry also focuses on repetitive ball-handling drills, including dribbling two balls simultaneously, to maintain control under pressure.

• Kobe Bryant: Kobe was known for perfecting his footwork in the post by repeating various post-up moves thousands of times during practice. He often spent hours working on a single move, like his famous fadeaway jumper. He also emphasized shooting the same shot over and over from multiple areas of the court, focusing on form and accuracy.

• Cristiano Ronaldo: Ronaldo is known to practice shooting drills repeatedly, focusing on hitting the ball with power and accuracy from various angles. He also spends hours perfecting free kicks, working on his technique and the curve of the ball.

• Tom Brady: Brady was known to constantly repeat passing drills, where he’d throw hundreds of passes in a single session to improve his accuracy and timing with his receivers.

• Serena Williams: Serena is known for spending hours on the court practicing her serve, repeating the motion until it's second nature, ensuring power and accuracy every time. She also constantly works on her forehand and backhand groundstrokes, repeating cross-court and down-the-line shots to build consistency and precision.

 Join a competitive team. If you're not already on a high school varsity team or club team, try to get involved in those teams where you can play against higher-level competition and get exposure.

Set up a Strong Academic Foundation

Prioritize your GPA from day one. It’s much easier to maintain a good GPA than to recover from a poor one. Colleges look for well-rounded student-athletes, so start strong.

Time Management Tools. Balancing sports practice, games, and academics requires excellent time management skills. These tools can help you stay organized:

• Google Calendar: Use this to schedule practice, games, study sessions, and assignment due dates. It helps break down your week so you can allocate time for both athletics and academics.

• Trello/Notion: These are great for task management. Use them to organize homework assignments, projects, and study goals.

• Homework/Planner Apps: Apps like myHomework or iStudiez Pro help you track assignments, tests, and projects, ensuring that nothing gets missed or rushed.

Tutoring Services. If you’re struggling in a particular subject, don’t wait until it becomes a problem. Use tutoring services to stay on top of your classes:

• Peer Tutoring: Many high schools offer peer tutoring programs where upperclassmen or academically strong students help their peers with homework and studying.

• Online Tutoring Platforms: Websites like Khan Academy, Chegg Tutors, and Tutor.com offer subject-specific help. Khan Academy, in particular, is free and covers a wide range of subjects with video tutorials and practice exercises.

• Teacher Office Hours: Don’t be afraid to ask your teachers for extra help. Many teachers hold office hours or are available after school to clarify topics or help with assignments.

Academic Counseling. High school counselors can be a valuable resource for staying on top of your GPA and managing the workload.

• Meet with Your Guidance Counselor: Regular check-ins with your counselor will ensure you’re taking the right courses to meet college requirements and balancing academics with athletics. They can also help you choose classes that align with your strengths and interests.

• Create an Academic Plan: Your counselor can help you map out your high school career, ensuring that you’re not overloaded with tough classes during your sports season and that you meet NCAA core course requirements for eligibility if you plan to play at the collegiate level.

Develop Your Recruiting Profile

Begin by creating your recruiting profile. While it may be too early to actively reach out to coaches, start building a profile by recording game highlights, keeping track of your stats, and working on personal skills like leadership and discipline.

• Recording Game Highlights and Collecting Quality Footage: The goal is to collect enough game footage of you between your freshman and sophomore years to create a 3-5 minute video showcasing your skills. Make sure it’s well-edited and highlights your best moments. The foundation of a good highlight reel is quality footage. Here’s how to get the best clips:

• Record Every Game: Start recording your games early in the season. Ask your coach, teammates, or parents to help if necessary. If your team already records games, request access to the footage.

• Tip: Make sure the footage is clear and focuses on you throughout the play. If possible, ask the camera person to zoom in on your movements when necessary.

• Use Multiple Angles (if possible): If you have access to multiple angles, use clips that show your play from different perspectives to give coaches a better view of your athleticism.

• Focus on Full-Speed, In-Game Footage: Coaches are interested in how you perform in real games, so avoid including slow-motion clips or over-produced graphics. Stick to full-speed gameplay that shows you against legitimate competition.

Sophomore Year (10th Grade): Begin to Get Noticed

Sophomore year is the time to start getting on the radar of college coaches, especially for Division I prospects.

Athletic Craft

Participate in camps and showcases. These events are great for gaining exposure to college coaches. Perform well, and your name might start circulating.

Choose the Right Camps and Showcases: Not all camps and showcases are equal, and selecting the right events is the first step to maximizing your exposure.

College-Specific Camps: Many college programs host camps where you can train with their coaching staff. Attending camps at schools you’re interested in gives you a chance to be seen by the actual coaches who may recruit you.

• Tip: If you're targeting specific schools, go to their camps. This is your opportunity to showcase your skills in front of the decision-makers at that college.

Position-Specific Camps: Some college programs host camps that focus on particular positions or skills (e.g., quarterbacks in football, setters in volleyball, center midfielders in soccer). These camps often provide more focused training and evaluation in your specific role.

• Tip: Attend a position-specific camp to hone your skills in the exact area recruiters will evaluate.

Do Your Research on Who Will Be There: Before attending a camp or showcase, find out which coaches or scouts will be present.

Research Colleges Attending: Look into which colleges will be at the event and what levels they recruit at (e.g., Division I, II, III, or NAIA). Focus on camps where coaches from schools you’re interested in will attend.

• Tip: If you have a dream school, target camps or showcases where their coaching staff will be present.

Contact Coaches in Advance: If you know a coach from a school of interest will be attending, send them an email with your highlight reel, athletic resume, and GPA, introducing yourself and letting them know you’ll be at the event.

• Tip: Personalizing the message can make a difference. Mention why you’re interested in their program and how your skills align with their team’s needs.

National/Regional Showcases: These events are designed to attract top talent and college coaches from a wide area. If you're competing at a high level, regional or national showcases provide opportunities to be seen by multiple college coaches at once.

• Tip: Choose showcases with a reputation for attracting college coaches from schools that match your goals.

Academics

Keep that GPA high. This is the year when many students hit their academic stride. Take challenging courses and seek help if you struggle in any subjects.

Take the PSAT. While it’s only a practice test, it can help prepare you for the SAT or ACT, which will soon be important.

• Take a FREE Full-Length SAT Practice Test Online: Many official SAT practice tests are available online and can serve as an excellent substitute for the PSAT.

  • How to Access: Visit Khan Academy SAT Practice to access the practice tests.

  • How to Access: Visit the College Board SAT Practice page for full-length tests.

• Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy: Khan Academy has partnered with the College Board (the creators of the SAT) to offer free, official SAT practice tests and resources. They provide eight full-length practice tests, which include detailed feedback and explanations.

• College Board Website: The College Board itself offers several free practice SAT exams. You can download the exams as PDFs and take them under timed conditions to simulate the real test experience.

Recruiting Prep

Make a resume. You need to create a resume during the college recruiting process because it provides college coaches with a comprehensive, organized snapshot of your academic and athletic achievements to quickly assess whether you’re a potential fit for their program. It also demonstrates professionalism, making it easier for coaches to track the athlete’s progress and contact relevant coaches or references. Check out our article on how to create an impressive resume, complete with a resume template.

Create a personal website. A personal website that includes your highlight reel, athletic resume, and contact information can serve as a professional portfolio for coaches. Free website platforms like Wix, Squarespace, etc., can give you that online presence at no cost. In the next two bullets, we discuss how to create a resume and highlight reel.

Start emailing college coaches. It's important for you to start emailing college coaches at schools you’re interested in as early as your freshman or sophomore year. This will help you get on their radar early in the recruiting process.

Keep in mind that for certain college sports, the NCAA restricts college coaches from directly contacting athletes until their junior year. However, the NCAA does not restrict athletes from initiating contact with coaches prior to their junior year. In other words, you’re allowed to contact college coaches as a freshman or sophomore despite the fact that the coach may not be allowed to respond to you under NCAA rules.

In fact, doing so demonstrates your interest and initiative which coaches appreciate as it shows you’re proactive about your athletic career. Even though coaches may not be able to respond to you as an underclassman due to NCAA rules, they can still keep an eye on you and begin tracking your progress.

This early outreach can help build a relationship and keep you top-of-mind as the recruiting process advances. Here are a few tips, as well as an example emails to reference, for when emailing college coaches.

Keep it concise and professional. Briefly introduce yourself and include key information like your name, school, position, graduation year, and any notable stats or achievements.

Personalize the message. Address the coach by name and mention something specific about their program to show you’ve done your research.

Include a link to your website. Make sure the link is prominent and easy to access.

Follow up. Following up is essential in showing your continued interest and keeping yourself on the coach's radar, but it's important not to overdo it. Reaching out too often can come across as pushy and out of touch, which may harm your chances of being considered by the coach. A good balance is to follow up every few weeks (2-4 weeks) or after important updates, like new game highlights or accomplishments, while being respectful of the coach's time and busy schedule. This approach demonstrates persistence without crossing the line into excessive contact.

Remember to send a personalized “thank you” email to coaches who attend your games. Sending a thank you email to college coaches who attend your high school game is a crucial step in building a strong relationship and showing professionalism. It demonstrates gratitude and respect for their time and interest in your athletic abilities, which can leave a positive impression.

A thank you note also provides a chance to reinforce your interest in their program and keep the conversation going after the game. By following up with a thoughtful message, you show maturity, appreciation, and dedication—qualities coaches look for in potential recruits. This small gesture can help set you apart from other athletes and keep you top of mind as they make recruiting decisions.

Email example for asking a college coach to attend your game.

Subject: Interest in [College Name] [Name of the Specific Sports Program You’re Interested in (e.g. Women’s Soccer)] | [Your Name], Class of [Graduation Year]

Dear Coach [Coach's Last Name],

My name is [Your Name], and I am a [Position] for [Your Club Team] and [Your High School] in [Your City, State], graduating in [Year]. I am extremely interested in attending [College Name] and being a part of your [Sport] program. I have been following the team’s success, and I admire [Include something that you admire about the program and/or the coach].

I have put together a personal website with my highlight reel, athletic resume, and stats, which you can view here: [Website link].

I would also like to invite you to attend one of my upcoming games. Attached is my game schedule for this season (NOTE: make sure you attach your game schedule). I understand that you’re very busy, so I’d greatly appreciate the opportunity to showcase my skills in person.

Thank you very much for your time and consideration. I am excited about the possibility of contributing to your program. I look forward to seeing you at one of my future games.

Best regards,

[Your Name]
[Your Club Team]
[Your High School]
[Position], Class of [Graduation Year]
[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email Address]
[Link to Your Personal Website]

Email example thanking a college coach for attending your game:

Subject: Thank You for Attending My Game | [Your Name]

Dear Coach [Coach’s Last Name],

I hope you're doing well. I wanted to take a moment to thank you for attending my game on [Date of Game] at [Location]. I truly appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedule to watch me play. I hope you enjoyed seeing me and the team in action.

I'm very excited about the possibility of playing for [College Name] and contributing to your program. I look forward to staying in touch as I continue my recruiting journey.

I appreciate your time and consideration.

Best regards,

[Your Name]
[Your Club Team]
[Your High School]
[Position], Class of [Graduation Year]
[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email Address]
[Link to Your Personal Website]

Attend college camps. These camps are often run by college coaches and can be a great way to get on their radar early. After the camp, follow up with a polite email thanking the coaches for the experience, and have access ready to your highlight reel and resume.

Email example thanking a college coach for your college camp experience.

Subject Line: Thank You for the Opportunity | [Your Name] | Recruiting Camp Follow-Up

Dear Coach [Coach’s Last Name],

I wanted to thank you for the great experience at your recent recruiting camp. I really enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about your program and the school. The facilities and coaching staff made a great impression on me, and I'm excited about the possibility of playing at [College Name].

For your reference, here is a link to my personal website with my highlight reel, athletic resume, and stats, which you can view here: [Website link]. (NOTE: Only include this if you don’t think the coach knows who you are yet. If the coach has already been to your games and you’ve already sent your highlight reel to him/her, then DO NOT INCLUDE THIS BIT IN THE EMAIL.)

I look forward to staying in touch as I continue my recruiting journey.

Thank you again for your time and consideration.

 [Your Name]
[Your Club Team]
[Your High School]
[Position], Class of [Graduation Year]
[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email Address]
[Link to Your Personal Website]

 Create a highlight reel. By now, you should have enough game footage to create a 3-5 minute video showcasing your skills. Make sure it’s well-edited and highlights your best moments.

Creating a Highlight Reel

Select Your Best Plays: A highlight reel should showcase your top skills and leave a strong impression. Choose clips that highlight the most important aspects of your game.

Focus on Your Strengths: Whether you're a soccer forward with a killer shot, a basketball player with excellent court vision, or a football linebacker with great tackling ability, prioritize clips that show off your strongest skills. Strengths in some areas can outshine weaknesses in other areas.

Include Variety: Don’t just show one aspect of your game. If you’re a basketball player, include shooting, passing, defense, and basketball IQ. If you're a baseball player, show both your fielding and batting.

Keep It Short and Sweet: A good highlight reel is typically 3-5 minutes long. College coaches have limited time and often watch dozens of reels in a day, so you want to lead with your best plays and put your most impressive clips at the beginning of the reel to hook the coach and make an immediately positive impression.

Organize the Highlights: Proper organization of your reel makes it easier for coaches to evaluate your talent.

Identify Yourself in Each Clip: Always highlight yourself at the beginning of each play. Use an arrow, circle, or spotlight effect to clearly identify where you are on the field or court. This ensures the coach knows who to watch.

• Tip: Avoid over-complicating this. A simple arrow or spotlight is enough to draw attention without being distracting. This isn’t about using every animation, sticker, or graphic functionality in a software program, it’s about conveying key information clearly.

Show Game Context: Make sure the plays you include are long enough to show context (e.g., an entire offensive drive in football or a full possession in basketball). This helps coaches evaluate your decision-making and ability to perform in game situations.

Sequence Plays Strategically: Group similar plays together to show consistency. For example, show all of your successful tackles or goals back-to-back before moving to another skill set.

Editing the Video

• Free Editing Software: Here are some free tools available to edit your highlight reel professionally.

• DaVinci Resolve

• Key Features: Advanced editing tools, color correction, and audio post-production.

• Why It's Great: Offers professional-level features for free, making it perfect for athletes who want to create high-quality highlight reels.

• HitFilm Express

• Key Features: Video editing, visual effects, and a variety of free templates.

• Why It's Great: Ideal for athletes who want to add a bit of flair with special effects and smooth transitions in their highlight videos.

• OpenShot

• Key Features: Easy-to-use interface, supports 3D animations, drag-and-drop functionality.

• Why It's Great: A simple yet powerful tool for creating clean, straightforward highlight reels.

• Shotcut

• Key Features: Wide format support, multi-track timeline, and built-in filters.

• Why It's Great: Great for athletes who need a simple, easy-to-learn editor that still provides a professional look.

• Lightworks Free

• Key Features: Multicam editing, trimming, and built-in effects.

• Why It's Great: Offers a pro editing experience, and it's been used in Hollywood films. It’s great for athletes looking to stand out with polished videos.

• iMovie (for macOS/iOS users)

• Key Features: Easy drag-and-drop video editing, audio enhancements, and filters.

• Why It's Great: Perfect for quick, polished highlight reels if the athlete uses Apple products.

Junior Year (11th Grade): The Crucial Year

Junior year is the most critical year in the recruiting process because it’s the time when college coaches can begin reaching out to student-athletes in many sports under NCAA rules. If you haven’t started proactively reaching out to college coaches yet, now is the time to start.

Athletic Craft

Stay consistent in training. By now, you should be performing at a high level. Continue honing your craft and work on improving any weaknesses in your game.

Compete in high-level events. For many sports, junior year is a time when scouts attend key tournaments, championships, or meets. Be ready to perform under pressure.

Academics

Take the SAT/ACT. Your standardized test scores will matter to both coaches and admissions offices. Prep well in advance and take these tests seriously. Here are some excellent free SAT and ACT prep websites:

• Khan Academy (SAT): Khan Academy offers official SAT practice in partnership with the College Board. It includes free personalized study plans, practice questions, and full-length practice tests.

• ACT Academy (ACT): ACT Academy provides free resources for ACT prep, including practice questions, video lessons, and full-length practice tests.

• College Board (SAT): The official College Board site offers free SAT practice tests, sample questions, and test-day tips.

• PrepScholar Blog (SAT & ACT): PrepScholar offers a variety of free resources, including practice questions, study tips, and detailed guides on the SAT and ACT.

• CrackSAT.net (SAT): CrackSAT offers a wide range of free SAT practice questions, subject-specific tests, and test-taking strategies.

• Number2 (ACT & SAT): Number2 provides free personalized practice for both SAT and ACT, including quizzes and vocabulary builders.

• Union Test Prep (ACT): Union Test Prep has free ACT practice questions, study guides, and flashcards.

Meet NCAA eligibility requirements

If you’re aiming for an athletic scholarship, ensure you’re meeting the core course requirements set by the NCAA. The NCAA requires that the following requirements are met for high school athletes to be eligible for participation in college athletics or an athletic scholarship at the Division I or Division II level:

• English: 4 years

• Math (Algebra I or higher): 3 years

• Natural/Physical Science: 2 years (including 1 year of lab science)

• Social Science: 2 years

• Additional English, Math, or Science: 1 year

• Additional Courses: 4 years (from any of the above subjects or foreign language, philosophy, or comparative religion)

In total, Division I requires 16 core courses. Division II also requires 16, though some specifics may differ slightly. You must maintain a minimum GPA in these courses and achieve a qualifying SAT/ACT score to meet NCAA eligibility standards. You can register with the NCAA Eligibility Center to track your progress toward meeting these academic requirements.

Recruiting Prep

Continue emailing coaches. As mentioned in the previous section, send personalized emails to coaches at colleges you’re interested in. Include your highlight reel, key stats, and academic information. Make it clear why you’re a good fit for their program.

Attend unofficial visits. Many colleges will invite student-athletes to visit the campus on an unofficial basis. These visits are a great way to get a feel for the school, meet the team, and gauge your interest.

Be active on recruiting platforms. Consider creating profiles on recruiting sites like NCSA or Hudl. These platforms allow you to upload your stats, video highlights, and academic info for coaches to view.

Senior Year (12th Grade): Seal the Deal

Senior year is when you close the deal with colleges. Coaches will be finalizing their rosters, so this is your last chance to make an impression.

Athletic Craft

Peak at the right time. You’ve put in the work, and now it’s time to perform at your highest level. Show leadership on and off the field.

Stay healthy. Prevent injuries by taking recovery and nutrition seriously, especially as your workload increases during recruiting events or games. VKTRY Insoles are one way to protect against injuries. In a study conducted at the Korey Stringer Institute at the University of Connecticut, researchers found that athletes wearing VKTRY Insoles were less likely to suffer from common foot and lower-leg injuries such as ACL, MCL and meniscus tears, plantar fasciitis, shin splints, stress fractures, Achilles tendinitis, and turf toe, among others.

Academics

Complete college applications. Every college has its own application deadline so its important for you to stay on top of these deadlines for both academic admissions and athletic recruiting. Some schools may require you to apply early. Make sure to look for the specific deadline type (e.g., Early Action, Early Decision, Regular Decision) as colleges may have different deadlines for each admissions round. You can find application deadlines for colleges through several reliable sources:

• College Websites: Each college's official website usually lists application deadlines under the admissions section. Look for pages labeled "Undergraduate Admissions," "Apply," or "Important Dates."

• Common App or Coalition App: If the college accepts applications through platforms like the Common App or Coalition App, you can find deadlines listed on those platforms.

• Google Search: You can quickly find a college’s deadlines by searching “[College Name] application deadlines” on Google.

• Maintain your GPA. Senioritis is real, but don't let it affect your academic standing. Coaches look for athletes who are committed both athletically and academically.

Recruiting Prep

 Take official visits. This is the time for official visits, where the college pays for you to visit the campus. Take these opportunities seriously. Use them to assess the team culture, coaching style, and whether the school is a good fit.

Follow up with coaches. Continue communicating with the schools you’re interested in. Ask questions about the recruiting timeline and scholarship availability. Be proactive in expressing your interest.

Additional Tips for Athletic Success

Be Proactive in Communication: Don’t wait for coaches to come to you. Start the conversation early and keep it professional. Coaches appreciate student-athletes who show initiative.

Be Realistic About Your Opportunities: Not everyone will play at the Division I level. Keep an open mind and consider all divisions, including DII, DIII, and NAIA schools.

Leverage Social Media: Many athletes use platforms like Twitter and Instagram to connect with coaches and share highlights. Make sure your social profiles are professional and reflect your dedication to both academics and athletics.

Don’t Neglect Academics: Colleges look for student-athletes who excel in both sports and the classroom. A strong GPA and good test scores can open more doors, including academic scholarships.

Build Relationships with Coaches: Beyond performance, coaches want to know what kind of person you are. Be respectful, responsible, and demonstrate leadership qualities. These can set you apart from other recruits.