RECRUITING GUIDE
At What Level Can I Play?
There is no accounting for intangibles: heart, desire, great attitude, coachability. These qualities
have been known to springboard many athletes beyond innumerable obstacles.
However, most of us have physical limitations that we must first recognize if we are to either
work around them or overcome them.
In terms of height, coaches do look at this, but often they ask, “What does she touch”? A
general breakdown for girls attempting to play any front row position follows (Level of Play,
minimum “touch” needed: N/A for DS’s & Liberos.
Top 25 D-I Program in the nation: minimum touch of 9’10” - 10’.
Major D-I Conference but consistently outside the Top 25 (Big Ten, ACC, Big East, Big 12,
Atlantic 10, etc.): 9’6” - 10”
Midlevel D-I/Nationally Ranked D-II: 9’4” – 9’8”
Midlevel D-II/Nationally Ranked D-III: 9’1” – 9’6”
D-III: Ranging from 8’10” – 9’6”
Remember these numbers are only guidelines but they are fair heights to shoot for, depending
on what level you’d like to pursue.
For those athletes attempting to play at the Midlevel D-I placement or higher, rigorous physical
training, in addition to your volleyball training, is a must. The competition is just too great for
you NOT to be in top physical form. You will fail to impress at the highest levels again and
again. I can not impress upon parents and players enough the importance of an athlete’s core
strength. It has to be superior.
For liberos and defensive specialists (and remember all high school and club hitters can
certainly switch to this position in college), height is not AS much of a concern, but generally
coaches are looking for RANGE of ground you can cover; strong, quick, explosive capabilities;
and REAL upper body strength. College coaches are also looking for liberos and DS’s who
have dynamic serves. Other than skill, the intangible they look most for is desire to dominate
the court, an aggressive hunger to play every ball. Noticeable VOCAL leadership for liberos is
essential. Coaches look for this quality.
Academics: The Real Key to Success
Just as with volleyball rankings, schools rank in terms of academic standards and acceptance
rates. Coaches of some schools are limited to considering only the most capable and hardworking students, but many also view a student’s work in the classroom as evidence of her
character, her projected success on his or her team, and the likelihood of her “making it” at his/
her school. Lack of hard work in the classroom will limit a student-athlete’s options, no matter
how good a volleyball player she is.
One more note on academics: the chance for an athletic scholarship is very slim, but millions of
dollars in academic scholarships and grants are given out every year. A coach may want you,
but have no money to give: through academics, you can help your financial cause
tremendously. Combined, even just solid but not spectacular academics and dedication to a
sport like volleyball can open doors to schools that a student might never have a chance to
attend based on either of the two alone: if a coach WANTS you, he/she will bend over
backwards to get you an advantage with admissions.
THIS FACT IS YOUR BEST BEST TOWARD SUCCESS AT FINDING YOUR IDEAL SCHOOL.
What Parents Can Do To Help:
Below we have compiled a list of parental Do's and Don'ts to help guide you through some of
the areas as you are getting started in the recruiting process.
DO:
Become active and encourage your son or daughter at an early age to start thinking about their
education and athletic future.
Support your child’s development in pursuing as many opportunities to play volleyball as
possible, such as camps, school teams, club teams, clinics, etc.
Help your child realize their potential and help them to pursue their dream to play volleyball,
whether it is for a small college team or a top 25 D-I program.
Help your child with their career choices and encourage them to research potential schools for
academics. After all they are a “student” athlete first.
Communicate with your child as to the importance of grades and an athletic scholarship. We
can help re-iterate the importance of this message to your son or daughter.
Encourage your child to keep as many options open as possible as to what school they will
eventually attend. The perfect fit is not always the program across the street and come decision
time your son or daughter should have as many options open to them as possible.
Don’t:
Let money or the total scholarship offer be the sole focus of your search.
Let money be the ultimate deciding factor of which school your son or daughter will attend.
Tell recruiters or coaches how great your child is. They will see the DVD or perhaps have an
opportunity to see them play. Be modest and gracious at all times.
Let a coach tell your child that his or her school is the only option for a scholarship. If they can
not give you a balanced or unbiased opinion then perhaps their opinion is not warranted.
Assume your child has everything under control. The pressure of school work and grades may
require your continued guidance.
Limit his or her choices to schools close to home. Step outside the box.
If your son or daughter plays for a club program that has direct ties to a college or university,
don't assume that they will be recruited to that program.
Worry about trying to make the perfect decision.
And the Number one mistake you can make as a
parent:
Don’t let your son or daughter wait to be scouted or recruited for a volleyball scholarship. The
longer you wait the fewer options you will have and you will relinquish more control to the
college coach. If your son or daughter waits until grade 12 and are expecting to be recruited by
a program, it may seriously limit your child’s options for a scholarship. The fewer options the
athlete has, the greater the chance your son or daughter will not enjoy their first year’s
experience if any is given at all. Be proactive, be informed, and be recruited!
SO….
The best thing you can do as a parent is to try to educate yourself as much as possible so you
can provide guidance when needed. Even though your daughter may not appear to be
interested in your opinion right now, if you do your homework, at some point she will want your
help. Good luck!
Talking to Coaches
Communicating with prospective coaches is an important self-promotional tool for all athletes
and parents. After all, if a coach is unaware of who you are they certainly can't recruit you to
their program! Therefore, the information provided below will help your through the
communication process.
Primarily, the NCAA rules below protect the athlete and create a fair and level playing field for all
the schools. These rules pertain to NCAA Div. 1 and Div. II programs. *Different communication
rules apply for NCAA Div. III programs.
Grade 12
NCAA Universities can call seniors in High School after July 1st once a week, or email, instant
message, send letters & receive as many calls from the athlete as possible. After a competition,
a coach may speak directly to an athlete and their parent once the athlete is released or given
permission by her coach. Even athletes who have signed the NLI can not receive text messages
from the coach.
Grade 11
NCAA after Sept.1st of their junior year (gr.11), Universities can email the athlete or send letters,
text messages are NOT permissable, OR instant messages and they CAN NOT call the
athletes. Athletes & Parents can call coaches however if they leave a message, the coach CAN
NOT return the call. If you miss a coach, keep calling him/her until you reach them! You can
email coaches and they can email you back as much as you want.
Grade 10
NCAA Universities are only allowed to send one (1) letter and questionnaire to an athlete in
grade 10. They are NOT allowed to email the athletes or call them. Athletes & parents can call
the athletes/coaches but there again, coaches are NOT permitted to call an athlete or parent
back.
Grade 9
NCAA Universities are only allowed to send one (1) letter and questionnaire to an athlete in
grade 9. They are NOT allowed to email the athletes or call them. Athletes & parents can call
the athletes/coaches but there again, coaches are NOT permitted to call an athlete or parent
back.
Instant Messaging:
Many coaches are now online everyday, especially following their regular season. Athletes are
allowed to communicate with coaches through such services as MSN. **Only Juniors and
Seniors (grade 11 & 12)
Questions to Ask Coaches
When you enter your senior year in high school (grade 12), you may have a chance to speak
with a college coach who calls, stops by, or sees you during a visit to the coach's college or
university. When the coach takes time to talk to you and to introduce the school, program, and
playing opportunity, you have the chance to ask questions that will help you make your decision,
and, at the same time, help you and the coach decide if the school and playing opportunity is a
good match for your interests and for the team needs. If it turns out that there is a good match,
your having asked these questions will help the coach feel confident that you are serious about
the opportunity.
Telephone: It is important that when a coach does call you that you are prepared to ask
questions. Use the list of suggested questions below and highlight the ones you feel
comfortable asking or the ones that will get you as much information possible with the time you
have.
ABOUT THE SCHOOL
Is this a four year or two year school?
Is the school public or private? Church affiliated?
Where is the school located?
Is this in the country, a small town, or in an urban area?
What is the campus like?
How large is the school, what is the undergraduate enrollment?
What are the strongest degree programs offered, and which are the best academic
departments?
What degree programs are popular with current volleyball players?
Do most students live on campus or in off-campus apartments?
What is the student housing like?
Do the members of the volleyball team room together?
What transportation is possible from my home to the campus?
What is the academic calendar - quarters, semesters, trimesters?
ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND THE TEAM
In what division does the school play?
In what conference is the team? (you should already know this if you are doing your
research)
What important non-conference matches or tournaments are there scheduled?
What is your teams APR Score? (Important Question for NCAA Schools)
Can you provide a schedule for next fall?
What was the team's conference and overall record this year? (This is a great question
to ask)
How many players will there be on the roster next year?
Are you recruiting for my position from next years graduating class? (especially
important for setters)
What training happens between seasons?
What is the pre-season schedule?
What is the practice schedule after school starts?
Including meetings, training, travel, and matches, how much time is required?
What facilities and staff are available to take care of injuries and rehab?
What is the style of play you want to see?
What are your goals for the team?
ABOUT THE COACH
What type of a coach are you? (yeller-screamer, calm-quiet)
How do you coach in games? (very interactive, thinker)
What type of practices do you run? (high intensity, low intensity, repetitive drills)
What are your expectations of your players?
ABOUT THE COACH'S NEEDS
How many seniors are graduating?
Do you have players that are red shirting?
Where do you see me playing on the team in terms of position?
How many other players are playing that position?
Are you recruiting other players for that position? Have you committed to any?
How much playing time should I expect as a freshman?
HOW TO GO FORWARD:
Where do I fit on your list of prospective athletes?
(This is probably one of the most important questions you can ask a coach and
you will want to do it near the end of your conversation. Most coaches will be
honest and tell you where you are in terms of a "ranking". This will tell you if you
are first on their list (they want you badly) or are 6th (meaning there are 5 other
athletes they are talking too and are serious about).
Which tournaments will you be attending? (appropriate before January)
Do you have my club team's schedule for this fall? (appropriate in the Fall)
Have you talked with my coaches?
Do you have a copy of my playing resume and references?
What's the next step - What should I do ?
Do you see me as a serious possibility?
**After this last question, let silence work for you. Listen carefully and let the coach
explain fully.
Making a Video
A video can be a front line marketing tool to help get your skills and abilities seen by a coach.
But there are some hard and fast rules that you need to follow if you want to score an "A".
Keep your production short and to the point. Your video should be no longer that 8 minutes
maximum. Glossy or cute introductions are nice but coaches want to get down to the nitty gritty
and see your skills. Make your points clear and simple;
“Hi my name is Suzy Spike and I am a grade 10 student in Calgary, Alberta. I play for the My
Volleyball Club and am a leftside hitter. My main strengths as a player are my work ethic and my
coaches tell me that I am a very dynamic player. Thank you for viewing my video. I hope you
enjoy it!”
HOW TO CAPTURE THE COMPETITION:
Have fully charged battery and spare ready to go. Extension cords are dangerous in competition
areas so charge your camera off the court.
Turn off the Date/Time stamp
When possible use a tripod or monopole when you film. You may think you’re Steven Spielberg
but a shaky camera will make the coach see green.
Locate an unobstructed view of the competition, preferably behind the court on an angle away
from the service area.
Filming from the ground level is okay however being slightly elevated such as from the stands is
preferred.
Filming cross court or through the net is acceptable but not optimal.
Do not zoom in and out on the athlete during the play. Try to capture most of the court action.
Continually record the entire match with the exception of time outs and side changes (end of
set)
Keep the microphone on to catch the excitement but beware of what you say!
WHAT TO CAPTURE IN THE PRACTICE GYM:
Emphasis should be placed on the athlete’s skills such as serving, hitting, setting, passing,
blocking and defense.
Skills are best filmed with the coach working with the athlete and perhaps one or two fellow
teammates who are there to help execute the skills. (Setter for hitting drills)
It is best to have the athlete’s coach tossing balls and organizing the drills.
Skill footage should be shot at the same level as the athlete so that the coach can get an
accurate idea of the athletes jumping ability in relation to the height of the net.
Emphasis should be placed on executing each skill with precision and speed.
DELIVERY:
Upload the video to YouTube, Vimeo, or another online video host. Share the link to your video
in your emails to coaches.
Gauging a School’s Level of Interest
There are several different levels of interest that a college coach can show in a player. Based
on the level of contact they have with you, you should be able to get a rough idea of how
serious they are about offering you a scholarship. These levels are by no means fixed (different
schools do things in different ways) but the general idea is that the more often and the more
personal contact they create the more serious they are about you. Below is one example:
Noticed:
• Mailed you a questionnaire to fill out and return.
• Mailed you a summer camp application.
• Put you on the school’s general mailing list.
Interested:
• All the above, plus
• Called and spoke with your club coach/club director.
• Emailing you on a consistent basis.
• If possible they will come to see you play.
• Mailed you a package with media guide, school info, an other general goodies.
• Sending you regular mail directly from the Athletic Department.
Very Interested:
• All the above plus
• Sending text messages.
• Make a effort to see you play on several occasions.
• Setting up a phone call for you to call them.
Committed:
• All the above plus
• Sets up regular phone calls for you to contact them.
• Concretely offers you a scholarship.
• Invites you to make an "official" or "unofficial" visit to the school.
Official Visits
What is an Official Visit?
NCAA College/University Official Visits Official visits (or recruiting trips) are perhaps the best
way for you to find out where you will best fit in, and where you want to study. The rules
regarding official visits differ upon the school's division. For Division I, II, and III official visits, the
university can pay for your transportation and 48-hour stay.
The NCAA permits five (5) official visits to Division I and II universities or schools after Sept. 1 of
your senior grade 12 year. There is no limit to the number of official visits you may take to a
Division III school. These on Campus visits (all expenses paid) are an opportunity to meet with
the coach, the team and admissions/academic staff. The institution can pay for the athlete’s
airfare and accommodation. (All expenses paid) They can also pay for one parent’s
accommodation but NOT their airfare. The visit usually takes place over a weekend and last up
to but not exceeding 48 hours.
If you are going to apply early, make sure you plan your trips as early as possible, to leave
yourself enough time to make an informed decision.
How much Time Do I Have?
You only have 48 hours to visit the campus, so make the best of every minute. Try to plan your
trip so that your official visit starts on a Friday morning. This allows you to go to some classes
and see what a typical weekend is like. If you plan your visit far enough in advance you should
make sure you can sit in on some of the classes that interest you. Make sure to inform the
coach of your preferences.
While attending classes, notice their size and atmosphere. Notice the ability of the professor.
Would you feel comfortable learning in this environment? Don't be afraid to ask lots of
questions. Ask about which classes are interesting or fun. Ask about how difficult it is to balance
academics, athletics, and social life.
Ask the team members about the practices and training program. Ask them if they have
improved while at this school and whether or not they have enjoyed themselves. Ask what other
schools they applied to and why they ended up at that particular school. Keep your ears openyou may learn something important.
Ask the coach what the average GPA and SAT is on the team and the university as a whole, and
see if you could handle the academics of the school. Try to see if the coach's style is compatible
with your personality and with your goals. Make sure you see the athletic facilities and try to
meet as many people on the team as you can. See where your athletic ability would put you on
the roster and in conference play. Be sure to talk to your fellow recruits.
Most importantly make sure you are happy and you can see yourself living at the college for the
next four years. Ask the coach what percentage of his/her players stay on the team all four
years. Look around you and see if people are enjoying themselves.
Don't feel pressured into to being someone you're not. Just be yourself and have fun!
A Word About "Unofficial Visits
Some NCAA schools will invite you on an “unofficial visit” (usually your grade 11 year). Here
again you are allowed to meet with the coaches and team but you do so entirely at your own
expense. *Please note that the recruiting trend in the USA right now is for juniors, (grade 11 in
Canadian terms) to make a few unofficial visits to their top schools.
Recruiting Timeline
There are a lot of factors that go into a coach’s decision to offer a recruit a scholarship. They
can include, but are by no means limited to:
• What position(s) does the coach need filled?
• What athletic qualities (height, jump, foot speed, competitiveness, etc.) does a player need
in order to fit into the system of play being used at the university?
• Does a coach need someone who can play right now (but may not show huge improvement
over four years), or a project who may be a few seasons away from playing, but has huge
potential to dominate?
• What are the academic admissions requirements of the school?
• How many other recruits (besides you) does the coach need to see before making a final
decision?
Sometimes, a coach can answer all of these questions very quickly and can make a scholarship
decision very quickly (schools have been known to offer scholarships in the 9th and 10th grade
year). Other times, these decisions cannot be made until the Grade 12 year.
Before A School Offers:
If you haven’t received concrete offers from universities then there are several things you should
be doing:
• Maintain correspondence with any current schools who are interested.
• Reply to emails quickly (you should be checking your email account every day—make it a
habit).
• Have a video skills tape ready to send out.
• Research schools that you may be interested in (even if they haven’t contacted you) and
contact the coach.
During this time period you are essentially in a holding pattern and simply trying to make
yourself as attractive to schools and programs as possible. Remember that a lot of the
“recruiting process” is actually about you recruiting the school, not the school recruiting you!
Once a School Offers:
Now the clock is on! Once a school offers you a scholarship they are telling you loud and clear
that you are their number one choice. They want you! However, this offer is a two-sided coin.
On one side you now know that you have a firm scholarship offer. This is an awesome feeling
and one to enjoy—it is recognition of all the time and effort you’ve put into your game, and of the
potential a coach sees for your future. The other side of the coin is that once a coach has made
you an offer (s)he can now no longer offer that scholarship to another person. You therefore
have a responsibility to make a decision (more on how to do that later). Every day that the
coach keeps the offer open to you is another day that they are not offering the number two
player on their list….and therefore another day in which that number two player might decide to
commit to another school.
If the offer happens during your Grade 12 year (or the summer before that) then it will usually be
coupled with an invitation to make an Official Visit. This will give you an opportunity to see the
school, meet the coach and players in person, visit with academic faculty, and generally get a
feel for the school and program.
However, if the offer happens during your Grade 11 year (or earlier) schools are not allowed to
invite you for an official visit, so if you want to see the school prior to making a decision you
must do this on your own expense. Timelines can vary widely, but a basic guideline is that once
a coach makes you and offer you will generally have between 4-8 weeks to make a decision.
This is the price you pay for being a great player!
Here is a quick checklist for what to do when a coach offers you a scholarship:
• Thank them! They’ve just said that they are willing to commit between $10,000 and
$200,000 towards your education!
• Research the school a bit to see if you are seriously interested. If not, then let the coach
know. Every single college coach will be grateful for your honesty.
• If you are interested then make plans to visit the school as soon as you possibly can. If this
falls during your Grade 12 year then you can make an official visit. (You will need a SAT
score if it is a US school) If it is earlier, then you need to look at making an unofficial visit. If
you’ve been offered early in your Grade 11 year then do not count on being able to wait until
your grade 12 year to make a visit! In most situations a coach simply can’t keep the offer
open that long.
• On your visit, ask the coach how long the offer can stay open.
• Check out if the school, community, and team combine to create an environment you think
you will enjoy spending your university experience.
• Ask the coach for the team’s APR score. It is the NCAA’s new way of determining how
successful teams are being at 1) graduating their players, and 2) keeping their players
happy within the program.
APR Score ranges:
• Below 90: Bad
• 90-95: Borderline. Worth checking details of why kids are either failing out or transferring
out of the program.
• 95-100: Excellent
Academic Progress Rate APR
The NCAA calculates the Academic Progress Rate (or “APR” for short) for every athletic
department to determine how effective they are at ensuring that their student-athletes are
successfully moving forward towards graduation. If an individual sport within an athletic
department scores too low, then they may be subject to penalties by the NCAA that can include
removing a scholarship from future years. Volleyball might only be able to award 11 not 12 for
two seasons—note that this is done in such a way that it does not effect players currently on
scholarship, rather it limits the number that the team can offer to high school seniors.
The APR is a point system calculated at the end of each semester. It assigns up to two points
for each scholarship athlete on the team: one point for remaining academically eligible, and a
second point for not transferring to another school. The total points for each scholarship athlete
are added together and then divided by the total possible points the team could have earned.
The resulting ratio is the team’s APR score.
To see a school’s APR score, go to this site:
http://www2.ncaa.org/portal/academics_and_athletes/education_and_research/
academic_reform/school_apr_data.html
Letter of Intent
The National Letter of Intent (NLI) is the actual scholarship contract that both the athlete and the
university sign. It stipulates the exact value of the scholarship and the obligations that both
parties agree to. The wording of the contract is decided upon the NCAA and is the same for all
schools. The only thing that varies is the monetary value of the contract.
The NLI can only be signed during two periods of an athlete’s senior year of high school;
November 7-11, 2007 and after April 7, 2008. It is a binding agreement and once signed has
very harsh penalties should either party break it.
Generally athletes do not wait until the signing dates to make up their minds which school they
will attend and ever year this timeline moves up. Once an athlete has determined where they
want to go they "Verbally Commit" to the school and or coach. This means that they are giving
their word that they will sign with that school at the next signing date. It also means that the
school is giving their word that they will honor their offer of a scholarship. Very rarely are these
offers reneged as the NCAA would severely frown on this type of behavior from the coaches/
schools.
By NCAA rules, all scholarship offers are a one year contract renew-able every year for four (4)
years.