The College Search

Finding the right fit for YOU

Where to start?

• What you want as a student and what you want as a student athlete.

• Distance from home?

• Type of school?

• Academics?

• Size of School?

• Overall financials – return on your investment.

Being a Student-Athlete

• Time Commitment

- HS Time v. College Time

• Academics

• Last 4 years…

• Soft Skills Employers are looking for. Give yourself an edge when entering

the work force.

Scholarship BreakdownWomen’s Scholarship limit NCAA I NCAA II NCAA III NAIA ** NJCAA **

Basketball - NCAA I is a head count sport 15 10 - - 15

Basketball - NAIA Div I - - - 11 -

Basketball - NAIA Div II - - - 6 -

Beach Volleyball * 6 5 - - -

Bowling 5 5 - - 12Cross Country - NCAA limits include Track & Field

18 12.6 - 5 10

Equestrian 15 15 - - -

Fencing 5 4.5 - - -

Field Hockey 12 6.3 - - -

Golf 6 5.4 - 5 8

Gymnastics - NCAA I is a head count sport 12 6 - - -

Ice Hockey 18 18 - - -

Lacrosse 12 9.9 - - 20

Rifle - Includes men on co-ed teams 3.6 3.6 - - -

Rowing 20 20 - - -

Rugby 12 12 - - -

Skiing 7 6.3 - - -

Soccer 14 9.9 - 12 24Softball 12 7.2 - 10 24

Swimming & Diving 14 8.1 - 8 15

Tennis - NCAA I is a head count sport 8 6 - 5 9

Track & Field - NCAA limits include X-Country 18 12.6 - 12 20

Triathlon 6.5 5 - - -

Volleyball - NCAA I is a head count sport 12 8 - 8 14

Water Polo 8 8 - - -

Men’s Scholarship limit NCAA I NCAA II NCAA III NAIA ** NJCAA **

Baseball 11.7 9 - 12 24

Basketball - NCAA I is a head count sport 13 10 - - 15

Basketball - NAIA Division I - - - 11 -

Basketball - NAIA Division II - - - 6 -

Bowling - - - - 12Cross Country - NCAA limits include Track & Field

12.6 12.6 - 5 10

Fencing 4.5 4.5 - - -

Football - NCAA I FBS - head count sport 85 - - - -

Football - NCAA I FCS 63 - - - -

Football - Other Divisions - 36 - 24 85

Golf 4.5 3.6 - 5 8

Gymnastics 6.3 5.4 - - -

Ice Hockey 18 13.5 - - 16

Lacrosse 12.6 10.8 - - 20

Rifle - Includes women on co-ed teams 3.6 3.6 - - -

Skiing 6.3 6.3 - - -

Soccer 9.9 9 - 12 24Swimming & Diving 9.9 8.1 - 8 15

Tennis 4.5 4.5 - 5 9

Track & Field - NCAA limits include X-Country 12.6 12.6 - 12 20

Triathlon - - - - -

Volleyball 4.5 4.5 - - -

Water Polo 4.5 4.5 - - -

Wrestling 9.9 9 - 8 20

Recruiting Timeline

• Start researching schools online & schedule visits.

• Make sure you initiate contact.

• There thousands of recruits spanning multiple graduation years.

• Help the coach find you and get a realistic assessment early.

• Keep on track academically to ensure you are eligible to participate

• All Three Divisions have their own set of standards and requirements. ***DIV I & DIV II Clearinghouse

• Different divisions and levels of programs have different timelines.

• BE ON YOUR OWN TIMELINE

DII & DIII Recruiting Calendar

Contacting Coaches

• Initiate the contact (college coaches perspective)

• Make sure the info comes from the student athlete (not your parent)

• What to include & Why: (college coaches perspective)

• Make it personal – put in the coaches name, put in the school, add why you are interested in

their school & program.

• Grad Year, GPA, Test Scores, Desired Major, Club Team, HS Team, Position, Extra

Curricular, Photo

• Follow-up & keep coaches updated on your schedule.

Campus Visits

• Unofficial Visits

• You pay

• Unlimited

• Official Visits

• University covers expenses.

• All 3 Divisions have different timelines on “official visit” dates. You must also be registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center and have proper documentation with the school at DI & DII (not required at DIII).

• No more than five official visits to Division I and/or Division II schools and you can only take one visit, per school. There is no limit on the number of official visits you can take at the Division III and NAIA levels, but you can only take one visit per school.

What to expect on a campus visit

• Unofficial Visit

• Usually set-up through admissions.

• Meet with admissions, campus tour, chat with coach (coach can talk to you on campus)

• Questions to ask? Things to look for? – Have a list based on what is important to you.

• Follow-up (thank you note, thank you email)

• NOTE: at the DI and sometimes DII level they will have you arrange an “unofficial” visit through admissions as a general student where you stay overnight (in order to skirt the rule of official visit timeline)

• Official Visit

• Overnight with the team, school takes care of your meals and money for student hosts for entertainment.

Eligibility – Division I & Division II

• As a college-bound student athlete, you are responsible for your eligibility —

that means planning ahead, taking high school classes seriously and

protecting your amateur status.

• If you want to play NCAA sports at a Division I or II school, you need to

register with the NCAA Eligibility Center.

• You should plan to register during your sophomore year of high school.

Making a decision….

• Is it the right school for you and your future?

• Academics and Financial Aid (return on your investment)

• Soccer is just the icing on the cake

• All schools are on different timelines

• Verbal commitments

• NLI and CSL

• What’s important to you?

• playing time, being on a team – how will you look back on your experience?

Final Notes & Take Away

• There is a place for EVERYONE in college athletics – you have to find your fit.

• Contacting Coaches & Schools – put in the work & follow-up.

• Sell your self and be your own advocate.

• Visit schools

• Be aware of each level and the different rules/guidelines.

• Grades = $$$

• It is your future.

Resources

• NCAA Future Page: http://www.ncaa.org/student-athletes/future

• NCAA Guide for the College Bound Student Athletehttp://www.ncaapublications.com/productdownloads/CBSA19.pdf

• NCAA Initial Eligibility Brochure (Road Map To Initial Eligibility)http://www.ncaapublications.com/productdownloads/EB18-19_single.pdfFree

• NCSA Recruiting Rules & Calendar: https://www.ncsasports.org/womens-soccer/recruiting-rules-calendar