Advice for Student Athletes

If you believe or hope that sports will be a factor in your college process, you should start by having a conversation with your Belmont Hill coach. Ideally, this conversation should take place sometime during your sophomore year. Your Belmont Hill coach knows you as a player and a student, will be honest with you about your recruitment prospects, and can help you interpret the different types of letters, emails and calls you may receive from college coaches. If your sport is one where club play is also important, we advise you to speak with your club coaches as well, as they also may be able to offer valuable advice about the recruitment process.

 
Start By:

• Talking to your Belmont Hill and club coaches

• Exploring the websites of schools that interest you

• Creating a highlight video and athletic resume

• Reaching out to coaches at schools you are interested in

• Completing recruiting questionnaires on team web sites

• Responding to any letters, emails or calls you receive from college coaches 

• Registering with the NCAA Eligibility Center if necessary (Division I or II only) during your Form V year

• Attending showcases or tournaments where college coaches will see you play

• Speaking to Belmont Hill alumni who are college athletes about their experiences

When does the recruiting process begin? 

Recruiting timelines and rules vary depending upon the sport and NCAA Division you are interested in. With some limited exceptions, most formal recruiting for Division I and II sports begins after September 1 of a student-athlete’s junior year of high school. Recruiting rules for Division III sports are a bit more flexible, but the process typically also begins during the student-athlete’s junior year of high school. Take the time to read and understand the specific NCAA recruiting rules applicable to your sport and level. If you are a potential Division I or II college athlete, you will also need to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center by the end of your Form V year. Aspiring Division III athletes do not need to register.

It is important to…

• Keep your grades up...ultimately, whether or not a coach can continue recruiting will likely depend upon positive feedback from the admissions office!

• Stay organized ...consider keeping a spreadsheet of your contacts at various colleges and any responses you receive.

• Be proactive...reach out to coaches at schools you are interested in, keep coaches who have expressed interest updated with any information they might need, and express appropriate interest/excitement througout the recruiting process.

• Be realistic about your options, paying special attention to when/if interest is real and legitimate from a coach and when it might not be.

• Remember that not everyone can be a recruited athlete--and you can continue to compete athletically (intramural, club, walk-on) wherever you go to college even if you are not a formally recruited athlete.