Basic Recruiting Timeline
Here is a basic timeline for aspiring student athletes that would like to play intercollegiate sports.
High School Timeline
Freshman Year:
Academic:
* Find out what courses to take and fill out a 4 year planner
* Work hard because this year can have a large impact on your GPA
Athletic:
* Play and work hard
* Have fun
* If your skill level is high enough, start looking into colleges and writing initial contact letters
Sophomore Year:
Academic:
* Meet guidance counselor
* Take practice SAT and practice ACT
* Evaluate GPA and class ranking
* Make sure academics are good
* Begin researching colleges and college fair
* Save academic awards and honors
Athletic:
* Play hard and work hard
* Talk with coaches/parents about playing football in college
* Talk with players who have played college football
* Begin researching athletic programs
* Learn recruiting rules
* Send initial letter and game schedule
* Save awards or honors
* Begin compiling a video highlight tape and saving copies of game films
* Attend summer sports camps like the Husky camp
* Keep all your stats
Junior Year:
Academic:
* Take the PSAT and the PLAN
* Take SAT and ACT depending on which the college accepts
* Evaluate your GPA and your class ranking
* Maintain or improve GPA
* Attend College Fair
* Try to choose about 30 colleges that interest you and request info from them
* Continue to save honors or awards
* Visit some college campuses
Athletic:
* Continue to compete an play hard
* Send contact letters to coaches
* When received, send player profile sheets
* Save Honors received
* Request letters of recommendation from football coaches
* Send Sports Resume
* Follow up with phone calls to colleges and recruiters
* Save game films and add to your highlight tape
* Compile and compare your statistics to other athletes
* Send your videotape and statistics if available
* If visiting college campuses meet with the coaches if they are available
* Attend summer football camps
Senior Year:
Academic:
* Take or retake SAT and ACT
* Send SAT/ACT scores to the school which you will probably apply to
* Narrow down college choices
* Visit campuses
* If there is a school that you know you want to go to for sure, I would suggest applying for early admission
* Apply to colleges and turn the in at least a month or two before the actual deadline
* Apply for financial aid and take care with specific deadlines
* Make sure to ask college question
* Do not let up on academics because they are just as important senior year as they are any other
Athletic:
* If prospective school has shown interest in you and they have a football camp, you should attend
* Visit Athletic program and meet coaches
* Compete, play and work hard � it�s the best year for football
* Send videotapes of highlights and game-film
* Also compile statistics and send them to college coaches
* Send resume to coaches
* Make phone call to coaches and recruiters
* Negotiate scholarship offers
* Ask college coaches questions
* Improve football skills and continue to lift weights
* Stay in shape during the off season and prepare to play football at the next level