College Search and Recruiting

9th / 10th Grade


1. Know the rules: College coaches are only allowed to send you general information and camp information. They are not allowed to contact you by email or phone (although they may pick up if you call them). Check the NCAA or NAIA Guide for College-Bound Student Athletes for sport-specific recruiting rules and dates.

​2. Get organized: Create a filing system and recruitment plan. Make a list of coaches, mentors and teachers who can support you and how they can be of assistance.

3. Establish social media and professional email accounts:
  • Create an Instagram and Twitter account by same name if possible (for ease of tracking). Don't use a name you wouldn't tell your grandma.
  • Never post anything you wouldn't want a coach to see (i.e. party pictures)!
  • Follow schools and athletes that align with your sport and use hashtags # in your post about your sport.
 
4. Research: Begin to research schools which will help you reach your academic and athletic goals.
  • Visit the CCC: Come by the College and Career Center in Room 213 at Cleveland to learn how to begin researching.
  • Use Maia Learning, Niche and/or College Board's Big Future college search tools to get started.
  • Download the list of schools that offer your sport at the level appropriate for you on NCAA.com. A complete list of schools is provided under "Rankings" and the list can be sorted by Region.
  • Compile a list of colleges that are a good fit for you both academically and athletically. Research these schools and their athletic programs. 

11th Grade


1. Know the rules: College coaches are allowed to start sending you recruiting materials. Men's Basketball and Men's Ice Hockey may receive materials on June 15th after your sophomore year and all other sports may receive recruiting materials on September 1st of your junior year. Check the NCAA College-Bound Student Athlete Guide for sport-specific recruiting rules and dates.

2. Stay Organized: Maintain a filing system to keep yourself organized. Keep track of the schools/coaches that show interest, along with their contact information. Track which coach is showing the most interest.

3. Research:
  • Continue to use Maia Learning, Niche and/or College Board's Big Future college search tool and NCAA to research and narrow your choices based on your priorities.
  • Begin to rank your list of colleges to identify which ones are the best fit for you personally, academically, athletically and financially based on what you know about the schools so far.
  • Identify 2-3 "reach/dream" schools, 5-10 "good fit" schools and 2-3 "safety" schools.
 
4. Visit the CCC: Stop into the CCC at Cleveland to stay on track.

12th Grade


1. Know the rules: 
  • College coaches are allowed to call you.
  • You are allowed to have off-campus contact with college coaches.
  • You may start taking official visits.
  • Pay close attention to the sport-specific rules and dates for each type of contact.

2. Stay Organized:  Maintain your filing system. Identify coaches with most contact.

3.  Narrow college choices:
  • Continue to narrow your top college choices to 5-7 schools and maintain regular communication with those coaches who are at the top of your list.
  • These schools should be a good fit for you personally, academically, athletically, and financially.