College Recruiting 101: Navigating the Collegiate Sports Recruiting Journey

The college recruiting process can be a complex journey through two distinct collegiate organizations, the NCAA (Divisions I – III), NJCAA (JUCO) and the NAIA, each reflecting multiple levels of collegiate competition (see below for expanded details). Understanding these organizations, their competitive levels, and their unique rules of engagement is essential in helping Student-Athletes achieve their best athletic and academic future.

GETHIGHLIGHTED (GH) is powered by our proprietary matchmaking platform, connecting Student Athletes to every College Coach, across NCAA, NJCAA, and NAIA organizations, at every level of competitive play.

The GH Player Portfolio links Student Athletes’ scientifically-validated sports performance and sports psychology data to multiple player profiles, creating ONE definitive athletic and academic resume for college coaches to search for the athletes they need to build and sustain winning teams.

Our Player Portfolio combined with our unmatched level of collegiate athletic and academic data, empowers Student Athletes and College Coaches to simplify and accelerate their connections on the attributes that matter that most.

Finally, one platform connects Student Athletes and College Coaches on one network, simplifying and accelerating the collegiate sports recruiting process and allowing each to GETHIGHLIGHTED!

Athletic Opportunities for Collegiate Competition

To help Student Athletes, their Guardians, and their High School/Club Coaches navigate the ever-changing sports recruiting landscape, let’s begin with an overview of the NCAA and NAIA organizations and their respective levels of competitive play.

NCAA: The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, and one in Canada. It also organizes the athletic programs of colleges and helps over 500,000 college student athletes who compete annually in college sports.  The NCAA awards nearly $3.5 billion in athletics scholarships every year and provide vast support to help student-athletes graduate at a rate higher than their general student peers. The organization is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. The NCAA is made up of three competitive levels of competition. Division I is the highest level of competition, followed by Divisions II and III. The recruiting rules which govern these competitive divisions have significant differences which are described below.

Levels of Competition

  • Offers the most athletic scholarships and most often represents the highest level of competition for a given sport. This often means D1 playing opportunities are the most difficult to achieve and requires high school Student Athletes and their current coaches to play a very proactive role in the recruiting process. D1 colleges typically have high academic standards and require Student-Athletes to balance a rigorous academic schedule along with their highly competitive athletic schedule.

  • D2 may provide a better balance between athletics and academics and often supports Student Athletes with partial athletic scholarships. The recruiting process is still highly competitive, but often less intense athletically than a D1 program.

  • D3 focuses on the overall college experience, with no athletic scholarships offered. However, students can receive academic and other types of financial aid.

  • The NJCAA is the second-largest national intercollegiate sports organization in the US with over 500 colleges. Approximately 45,300 students compete in one of 24 regions and every year the NJCAA hosts over 50 national championships. The NJCAA offers a pathway for Student Athletes to transfer to four-year schools (should they choose) while providing opportunities for immediate athletic and academic scholarships.

  • The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., is a governing body of small athletics programs that are dedicated to character-driven intercollegiate athletics. The NAIA is the only athletic association that serves the interests of small colleges by driving student-athlete enrollment and financial sustainability. Since 1937, the NAIA has administered programs dedicated to championships in balance with the overall college educational experience. Each year more than 83,000 NAIA student-athletes have the opportunity to play college sports, earn over $1.3 billion in scholarships, and compete for a chance to participate in 29 national championships. The NAIA operates as one level of competitive play for all affiliated schools and their conferences.

Pro Tip:

Every sport may not be available at every level of NCAA, NJCAA, or NAIA collegiate competition. In fact, some colleges may offer a specific sport for one gender only. These competitive opportunities can change in any given year; therefore, it is important to have access to tools that offer the most current athletic and academic information for all colleges across all organizations and levels of competitive play. GETHIGHLIGHTED invests considerable time and resources to source the most accurate college sports recruiting data in the industry.

The “Rules of Engagement” between Student Athletes and College Coaches

During the recruiting process, the interaction between athletes and coaches varies by organization and even the level of competition within the NCAA. These rules are strictly enforced by each organization’s governing body. Mostly, these rules govern how and when college coaches are allowed to engage Student Athletes and their guardians. What follows are the most recent rules and guidelines for both the NCAA and the NAIA. Most Student Athletes and their guardians pursue  and may be actively recruited across both organizations (NCAA and NAIA) simultaneously; therefore, it is important to familiarize yourself with the rules of engagement for each.

Pro Tip:

Student Athletes can always initiate communication (emails, text messages, and phone calls) with NCAA and NAIA College Coaches at any time. GETHIGHLIGHTED’s platform enables real-time connections through our platform by highlighting colleges and linking the Student Athlete’s favorite colleges to their GH Recruiting Team. While the Student Athlete won’t (can’t) get a direct response from a College Coach until their specific sport’s contact period begins the College Coach can reach out to specific members of the Student Athlete’s GH Recruiting Team. Communicate early and often with College Coaches to express your desire to compete for them and your discipline to stay engaged!

NCAA Recruiting Rules of Engagement

NCAA member schools have adopted rules to create an equitable recruiting environment that promotes student-athlete well-being. The rules define who may be involved in the recruiting process, when recruiting may occur and the conditions under which recruiting may be conducted. Recruiting rules seek, as much as possible, to control intrusions into the lives of student-athletes.

The NCAA defines recruiting as “any solicitation of prospective student-athletes or their parents by an institutional staff member or by a representative of the institution’s athletics interests for the purpose of securing a prospective student-athlete’s enrollment and ultimate participation in the institution’s intercollegiate athletics program.”

Key NCAA Recruiting Terms:

Please reference the NCAA Student Athlete Recruiting website to reference the most up to date information.

  • A contact occurs any time a college coach says more than hello during a face-to-face contact with a college-bound student-athlete or his or her parents off the college’s campus. Sport specific NCAA Recruiting Calendars govern NCAA Student Athlete “Contacts”. Please reference the link provided for most up to date information.

  • During a contact period a college coach may have face-to-face contact with college-bound student-athletes or their parents, watch student-athletes compete and visit their high schools, and write or telephone student-athletes or their parents.

  • During an evaluation period, a college coach may watch college-bound student-athletes compete, visit their high schools, and write or telephone student-athletes or their parents. However, a college coach may not have face-to-face contact with college-bound student-athletes or their parents off the college’s campus during an evaluation period.

  • During a quiet period, a college coach may only have face-to-face contact with college-bound student-athletes or their parents on the college’s campus. A coach may not watch student-athletes compete or visit their high schools. Coaches may write or telephone college-bound student-athletes or their parents during this time.

  • During a dead period, a college coach may not have face-to-face contact with college-bound student-athletes or their guardians and may not watch student-athletes compete or visit their high schools. Coaches may write and telephone student-athletes or their parents during a dead period.

  • Any visit to a college campus by a college-bound student-athlete or his or her parents paid for by the college is an official visit. Visits paid for by college-bound student-athletes or their parents are unofficial visits. Recruits can take official visits starting August 1 before their junior year of high school. Official visits are limited to 1 per school for all NCAA enrolled colleges. Division 1 recruits are limited to 5 official visits to Division 1 Schools.

  • College athletic departments, including College Coaches, are not allowed to be involved in a recruit’s unofficial visits before August 1 of a Student Athlete’s junior year. Unofficial visits cannot be scheduled with the coach or coaching staff. If a recruit should speak to a coach or staff on campus, the conversation cannot have any recruiting implications. Student Athletes may have unlimited unofficial visits.

Pro Tip for Visitations and Camps and Clinics::

Visiting colleges is a critical step in the recruiting process. Student Athletes should be considering the overall feel of the campus (academically and athletically), the quality of the training facilities, the distance from their family and friends, and even the climate of the region.  GETHIGHLIGHTED’s powerful College Search Engine enables Student Athletes to search and discover colleges on hundreds of academic and athletic attributes. Student Athletes should begin taking unofficial visits as soon as possible. Official visits cannot occur until your senior year. There are other strict rules for both types of visits, so be sure to refer to the NCAA recruiting website to ensure compliance for these important campus visitations.

Camps and Clinics: NCAA Recruits and college coaches are not allowed to have any recruiting conversations during camps or clinics prior to June 15 after completion of the Student Athlete’s sophomore year of high school.

What is a National Letter of Intent?

An NCAA National Letter of Intent (NLI) is signed by a college-bound student-athlete when the student-athlete agrees to attend a Division I or II (Division III enrolled colleges do not participate) college for one academic year. Participating colleges agree to provide athletic financial aid for one academic year to the student-athlete if the student-athlete is admitted to the school and is eligible for financial aid under NCAA rules.

Signing an NLI ends the recruiting process since participating schools are prohibited from recruiting student-athletes who have already signed letters. Signing the NLI is an “Official Commitment” from the Student Athlete. This contrasts with a “Verbal Commitment”.

For more detailed information about the signing dates for specific sports and for the nuances between the NCAA and the NJCAA, reference the National Letter of Intent website for the most current information.

Important: NAIA enrolled colleges do not formally take part in the NLI program.

NCAA Division I Sport Specific Recruiting Rules of Engagement

Generally speaking, NCAA D1 coaches can send athletes non-recruiting material like non-recruiting questionnaires, camp brochures, and non-athletic institutional publications at any time. Formal recruiting contacts are sport and division specific. These formal recruiting engagements typically begin June 15 after sophomore year or September 1 of junior year, depending on the seasonality of the specific sport and the competitive division level.

In 2019, the NCAA approved a set of rules that changed the way Division I college coaches can recruit (engage) athletes during camps and visits. In an effort to streamline communications and cut back on early recruiting, coaches have to wait on giving scholarship offers to athletes until after their sophomore year of high school. Here’s a breakdown of these changes:

These rules apply to all D1 sports except football, basketball, softball, baseball and lacrosse. Men’s ice hockey has a unique set of engagement rules, detailed below. 

  • Any time: Athletes can receive non-recruiting materials from college coaches, such as questionnaires, camp brochures, nonathletic institutional publications and NCAA educational materials published by the NCAA.

    April 1 through Sunday before the last Wednesday in June of junior year: Athletes can take official visits as long as it is not taken in conjunction with their participation in the college’s camps or clinics. 

    June 15 after sophomore year: Coaches can extend verbal offers to recruits.

    September 1 of junior year: Athletes can receive any form of private communication. This includes emails, recruiting materials, texts and direct messages on social media.

    January 1 of junior year: Coaches can contact athletes off campus (limited to the NCAA Recruiting Calendar’s contact periods).

    September 1 of senior year: Coaches can call athletes once a week. They can call recruits unlimited times during the contact period. 

    The athlete’s senior year, coaches can initiate off-campus contact with the athletes and/or their parents up to six times.

    During athletes’ senior year, coaches can evaluate each recruit once during September, October and November. They can conduct two evaluations per athlete (one to determine an athlete’s athletic ability and the other to determine academic qualifications) between April 15 and May 31.

  • Any time: Athletes can receive non-recruiting materials from college coaches, such as questionnaires, camp brochures, nonathletic institutional publications and NCAA educational materials published by the NCAA.

    June 15 after sophomore year: Coaches can extend verbal offers to recruits.

    June 15 after sophomore year: Coaches can call, email, text, direct message and correspond with athletes in any form of private communication. Calls from coaches to athletes are unlimited at this time except during dead and quiet periods.

    August 1 before junior year: Recruits can begin official visits, with only one official visit per school.

    Start of classes junior year: Coaches can initiate off-campus contact. Except during the April recruiting period, coaches can only conduct off-campus contact at the recruit’s school or residence. Contact cannot occur the day of a competition or at a time during the day when the athlete’s classes are in session.

  • Any time: Athletes can receive non-recruiting materials from college coaches, such as questionnaires, camp brochures, nonathletic institutional publications and NCAA educational materials published by the NCAA. Unofficial visits are also permitted.

    June 1 after sophomore year: Coaches can send electronic communications to athletes, including texts, instant messages, emails and recruiting materials. According to NCAA rules, coaches can call athletes an unlimited number of times at this time.

    June 15 after sophomore year: Coaches can extend verbal offers to recruits.

    January 1 of junior year: Recruits can begin taking up to one official visits, except during the dead periods.

    September 1 of senior year: NCAA recruiting rules allow coaches to conduct off-campus contact at the athlete’s school or residence. No off-campus contact is allowed on the day of a recruit’s game. Coaches are not permitted to contact athletes during school hours on school days.

    After an athlete has signed a National Letter of Intent, they are no longer subject to NCAA restrictions.

  • D1 men’s ice hockey only: Men’s ice hockey adopted slightly different rules, recognizing the unique challenge facing elite recruits who are considering turning professional. College coaches can begin to contact recruits starting January 1 of their sophomore year. In addition, recruits can also begin to take unofficial visits at that time. Recruits will need to wait until August 1 of their junior year to take official visits and receive verbal scholarship offers.

    Any time: Athletes can receive non-recruiting materials from college coaches, such as questionnaires, camp brochures, nonathletic institutional publications and NCAA educational materials published by the NCAA.

    January 1 of sophomore year:  Coaches can begin calling recruits. Coaches can also send all forms of private electronic correspondence, including text messages, direct messages, instant messages and emails. Recruits can also begin to make unofficial visits.

    August 1 before junior year: Coaches can make off-campus contact with recruits.

    August 1 before junior year: Athletes can begin receiving verbal scholarship offers and going on official visits, taking up to five. Athletes can also start arranging unofficial visits with the school’s athletic department and speak to the coach about recruiting while on campus.

    Coaches can take seven recruiting opportunities (contacts and evaluations combined) per recruit between September 1 and May 31. Beginning June 15 before the athlete’s junior year of high school, no more than three of the seven opportunities may be contacts each year.

  • Any time: Athletes can receive non-recruiting materials from college coaches, such as questionnaires, camp brochures, nonathletic institutional publications and NCAA educational materials published by the NCAA.

    June 15 after sophomore year: Coaches can extend verbal offers, make calls and send all forms of private electronic correspondence, including texts, emails, direct messages, instant messages, etc.

    August 1 before junior year: Recruits can begin taking official visits to schools. Athletes are also allowed to start arranging unofficial visits with a school’s athletic department and meet with the coach while on campus. 

    August 1 before junior year: Coaches can begin to have off-campus contact with recruits.

    Coaches can take seven recruiting opportunities (contacts and evaluations combined) per recruit starting August 1 before junior year. Beginning June 15 before the athlete’s junior year of high school, no more than three of the seven opportunities may be contacts each year. 

  • Any time: Athletes can receive recruiting materials from college coaches, such as questionnaires, camp brochures, nonathletic institutional publications and NCAA educational materials published by the NCAA.

    June 15 after sophomore year The NCAA recruiting rules show athletes can receive all forms of electronic correspondence at this time, including emails, instant messages, faxes, etc., as well as other recruiting materials.

    August 1 before junior year: Recruits can begin taking official visits to schools. Athletes can also begin arranging unofficial visits with a school’s athletic department and meet with the coach while on campus.

    August 1 before junior year: Coaches are allowed to start off-campus contact with recruits.

    Coaches can take seven recruiting opportunities (contacts and evaluations combined) per recruit starting August 1 before junior year. Beginning June 15 before the athlete’s junior year of high school, no more than three of the seven opportunities may be contacts each year.

  • Any time: Athletes can receive non-recruiting materials from college coaches, such as questionnaires, camp brochures, nonathletic institutional publications and NCAA educational materials published by the NCAA.

    September 1 of junior year: Coaches can extend verbal scholarship offers and send all forms of private, electronic correspondence, including text messages, direct messages and emails, as well as recruiting materials. Coaches are also able to start calling athletes after this date.

    September 1 of junior year: Athletes can begin going on unofficial visits and official visits.

    September 1 of junior year: Coaches are allowed to conduct off-campus evaluations. But during the athlete’s junior year, those contacts are only allowed at the recruit’s school or home.

    Coaches can take seven recruiting opportunities (contacts and evaluations combined) per recruit per year. Beginning September 1 of junior year, no more than three of the seven opportunities may be off-campus contacts.

  • Any time: Athletes can receive recruiting materials from college coaches, such as questionnaires, camp brochures, nonathletic institutional publications and NCAA educational materials published by the NCAA.

    June 15 after sophomore year: Coaches can send athletes all forms of private electronic correspondence, including text messages, instant messages, direct messages and emails, as well as all recruiting materials. Coaches can also call athletes at this point.

    August 1 before junior year: Athletes can begin taking unofficial and official visits to colleges.

    August 1 before junior year: Coaches can conduct off-campus contact with athletes.

    Coaches can take seven recruiting opportunities (contacts and evaluations combined) per recruit starting August 1 before junior year. Beginning June 15 before the athlete’s junior year of high school, no more than three of the seven opportunities may be contacts each year.

  • Any time: Athletes can receive recruiting materials from college coaches, such as questionnaires, camp brochures, nonathletic institutional publications and NCAA educational materials published by the NCAA.

    June 15 after sophomore year: Coaches can make calls and send athletes all forms of private electronic correspondence, including text messages, instant messages, direct messages and emails, as well as all recruiting materials. Coaches can also call athletes at this point.

    August 1 before junior year: Athletes can begin taking unofficial visits and official visits to schools.

    August 1 before junior year: The NCAA recruiting rules allow coaches to conduct off-campus contact with athletes at their residence or school.

    Coaches can take seven recruiting opportunities (contacts and evaluations combined) per recruit starting August 1 before junior year. Beginning June 15 before the athlete’s junior year of high school, no more than three of the seven opportunities may be contacts each year.

  • Any time: Athletes can receive non-recruiting materials from college coaches, such as questionnaires, camp brochures, nonathletic institutional publications and NCAA educational materials published by the NCAA.

    September 1 of junior year: Coaches can make verbal scholarship offers and send athletes all forms of private electronic correspondence, including text messages, instant messages, direct messages and emails, as well as all recruiting materials. Coaches can also call athletes at this point.

    September 1 of junior year: Athletes can begin taking official visits. Recruits can also start arranging unofficial visits with a school’s athletic department and talk about recruiting with the coach while on campus.

    September 1 of junior year: Coaches can begin conducting off-campus contact with athletes at their residence or school.

    Coaches can take seven recruiting opportunities (contacts and evaluations combined) per recruit per year. Beginning September 1 of junior year, no more than three of the seven opportunities may be off-campus contacts.

  • Any time: Athletes can receive recruiting materials from college coaches, such as questionnaires, camp brochures, nonathletic institutional publications and NCAA educational materials published by the NCAA.

    August 1 before junior year: The NCAA recruiting rules show athletes can receive all forms of electronic correspondence at this time, including emails, instant messages, faxes, etc., as well as other recruiting materials.

    September 1 of junior year: Coaches can extend verbal offers to recruits.

    September 1 of junior year: Recruits can begin taking official visits to schools. Athletes can also begin arranging unofficial visits with a school’s athletic department and meet with the coach while on campus.

    September 1 of junior year: Coaches are allowed to start off-campus contact with recruits.

    Coaches can take seven recruiting opportunities (contacts and evaluations combined) per recruit starting September 1 before the athlete’s junior year of high school, no more than three of the seven opportunities may be contacts each year.

    Any time: Athletes can receive non-recruiting materials from college coaches, such as questionnaires, camp brochures, nonathletic institutional publications and NCAA educational materials published by the NCAA.

    June 15 after sophomore year: Coaches can extend verbal scholarship offers, call athletes and send athletes all forms of private electronic correspondence, including text messages, instant messages, direct messages and emails, as well as all recruiting materials.

    August 1 before junior year: Athletes can begin taking official visits, and they can also arrange unofficial visits with a school’s athletic department and meet with the coach while on campus. Coaches can begin conducting off-campus contact with athletes at their residence or school.

NCAA DIVISION 2 ENGAGEMENT RULES

The NCAA Recruiting Rules for Division 2 schools are slightly more relaxed than those for Division 1, and the rules are the same across all sports:Signing a NLI ends the recruiting process since participating schools are prohibited from recruiting student-athletes who have already signed letters. Signing the NLI is an “Official Commitment” from the Student Athlete. This contrasts with a “Verbal Commitment”.

  • Non-recruiting materials: Athletes can receive brochures for camps, questionnaires, NCAA materials and non-athletic recruiting publications at any time.

    Printed recruiting materials: Starting July 15 after an athlete’s sophomore year, coaches can begin sending recruits printed recruiting materials.

    Telephone calls: Starting June 15 after an athlete’s sophomore year, coaches can start calling athletes.

    Off-campus contact: Coaches can conduct off-campus communications with athletes and/or their parents starting June 15 after an athlete’s sophomore year.

    Unofficial visits: Athletes can take unofficial visits at any time.

    Official visits: Athletes may start taking official visits starting June 15 after an athlete’s sophomore year.

NCAA DIVISION 3 ENGAGEMENT RULES

D3 schools have the most relaxed NCAA recruiting rules of the 3 division levels. These rules are the same across all sports.

  • Recruiting materials: Athletes can receive recruiting materials at any time.

    Telephone calls: There is no limit on when college coaches can call athletes.

    Digital communications: There is no limit on when college coaches can contact athletes digitally.

    Off-campus contact: After the athlete’s sophomore year, college coaches may begin to conduct off-campus communications.

    Official visits: Athletes can begin taking official visits after January 1 of their junior year.

    Unofficial visits: Athletes can make an unlimited number of unofficial visits at any time.

NCAA Specific Recruiting Resources:

NJCAA Specific Recruiting Resources:

For additional information regarding NJCAA rules of eligibility and recruiting guidance, please reference the following link for the most up to date information.

NAIA ENGAGEMENT RULES

NAIA Recruiting Rules differ significantly from those which are governed by the NCAA (Division I-II). The most significant difference is philosophic in that the NAIA encourages coach-student interaction to build recruiting relationships. As such, the ability for Student Athletes and College Coaches to communicate throughout the collegiate recruiting process is much less restricted and is the same across all sports.

  • The NAIA have no recruiting calendar restrictions of any kind. Therefore, there is no need to define specific periods and types of permissible contact between Student Athlete and College Coaches.

  • The NAIA encourages high school students to communicate with NAIA coaches and their staff directly and openly at any time specific to recruiting

  • The NAIA allows for unlimited unofficial and official visits. Official visits are limited to 1 per enrolled school.

  • The NAIA does not have a Letter of Intent program in which Student Athletes sign a binding agreement to take part in athletics at a particular college. Some NAIA colleges may offer a letter to sign; however, in these cases, it is because competing NAIA schools must acknowledge the letter and cease all recruiting activities for the “signed” athlete.

NAIA Specific Recruiting Resources:

For additional information regarding NAIA rules of eligibility and recruiting guidance, please reference the following link for the most up to date information.

College Financial Aid Resources:

Understanding collegiate financial aid opportunities is an essential part in achieving a Student Athlete’s best academic and athletic future. In addition to the athletic scholarships available at the NCAA Division I-II, NJCAA Division I-II, and NAIA levels, most collegiate athletes receive academic and/or Needs-Based aid as well. Rarely do athletic scholarships cover more than 50% of college tuition, room, board, and other associated expenses. Below are just a few links for reference.

Academic Scholarships: Awarded based on academic performance. These scholarships are available across all levels of collegiate athletics and can supplement athletic funds.

Need-Based Financial Aid:

Disbursed based on the student's financial situation. The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) registration form is a required step in deciding your Federal eligibility.

Pro Tip:

Often, your best source for navigating more aid (academic and needs-based) are the dedicated financial aid resources within the colleges themselves. It is important to be proactive with college coaches and administrators, expressing interest in added financial resources.

What’s Next?

The following is a checklist of action items that should be completed as early possible in the collegiate sports recruiting journey. It is important to start the process early and it is critical for Student Athletes to be proactive in identifying the college programs they feel can help them achieve their best athletic and academic future. The collegiate recruiting process may be the most competitive endeavor a Student Athlete will pursue. The competitive advantage needed will almost always be more than athletic talent alone. Getting recruited requires persistent and disciplined determination to connect with college coaches to showcase athleticism, academics, and personality. GETHIGHLIGHTED’s Player Portfolio and powerful College Search Engine accelerates Student Athlete and College Coach connections and empowers Student Athletes to search, discover and establish the relationships needed to GETHIGHLIGHTED.

  • Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center: Athletes must register to ensure eligibility.

  • Register with the NAIA Eligibility Center: Athletes must register to ensure eligibility.

  • Complete your FASFA (Financial Aid Assistance) form and explore any additional Academic and Needs Based Scholarship opportunities

  • Register on GETHIGHLIGHTED.net and complete your GH Player Portfolio

  • Enlist members to your GH Recruiting Team

  • Shoot your College Coach Introductory Video

  • Complete your Sports Psychology Assessment

  • Complete your Athletic Performance Assessment

  • Upload your highlight film

  • Link any additional player profiles to your GH Player Portfolio

  • Search for and HIGHLIGHT colleges. Start big according to your ideal athletic, academic, and geographic preferences (25-50+ Colleges). Work to narrow your choices based on your connections and relationships throughout your high school career

  • Email and/or call/text all your highlighted college coaches

  • GETHIGHLIGHTED!

  • Get ready for signing day! Signing Day is the first day that student-athletes can officially commit to their chosen college.

In summary

Familiarizing yourself with the varying levels of play and rules of engagement across the 3 primary collegiate sporting organizations (NCAA, NJCAA, and NAIA) is your first step in learning which organizations may be the best fit. It may well be that there are excellent opportunities across more than 1 level of play or 1 specific organization.

Getting recruited is requires more than building a profile profile and hoping to be discovered. Finding the best opportunity requires using the very best resources available to connect with and build relationships with prospective college coaches, even though the engagement rules can seem a little tricky. It will be important to pursue a level of collegiate competition that aligns with your skill level and ability to balance the academic challenges of being a collegiate student athlete. Perhaps most important is being a proactive advocate for yourself. College coaches want and expect Student Athletes to be educated about their programs and the colleges they represent. GETHIGHLIGHTED is an invaluable resource to both Student Athletes and College Coaches in accelerating recruiting connections that will help build and sustain winning teams.

Your best athletic and academic future is waiting. Get in the game and GETHIGHLIGHTED today!

Good Luck,

The GETHIGHLIGHTED Team