PREPARING FOR SIGNING DAY

1. IS IT TOO LATE TO GET RECRUITED? It’s not too late to get recruited but you do need to have a sense of urgency. February 3rd marks the start of the signing period for NCAA DI and DII programs. The good news is that most programs outside DI and top tier DII don’t start finalizing their rosters until after the Division I programs.

2. WHAT OPPORTUNITIES ARE LEFT? DI and top DII programs have very limited opportunities remaining. Typically, the only recruits to be added to a DI or top DII roster moving forward will be walk-ons and college transfers. There are still plenty of opportunities outside those division levels though. Remember not to play the name game. DIII programs are known for their high academics, and NAIA athletics are comparable to the DII level. If you aren’t sure which programs are still looking, the Roster Openings tab in your RMS shows you exactly what positions coaches are looking for – and you have the ability to apply for that position directly through that page!

3. HOW DO I TELL WHEN A COACH IS SERIOUSLY RECRUITING ME? The best way to tell if a coach is seriously recruiting you is to look for a sense of urgency in anything the coach says. A coach asking when you can come visit campus or asks you about your financial aid information is more actively recruiting you than a coach who says nothing more than they like what they see in your video and that you’d be a good fit for their program. At this point in the recruiting process, don’t be afraid to ask a coach where you stand as a prospect. Ask the coach where you rank among other prospects that play your position or how many roster spots they’re still looking to fill. To help you evaluate what type of contact you’ve been receiving, check out the Interpreting What a Coach is REALLY Saying page in your Resource Library.

4. WHAT IF COACHES AREN’T RESPONDING TO ME? There could be several reasons why coaches aren’t responding to you. In most cases, it’s because your email or voicemail isn’t standing out among the hundreds of others the coaching staff receives on a daily basis. For best results, make sure you’ve filled out the recruiting questionnaire on the school’s website. Then send an email with a specific subject line including grad year, position, high school and any stand out stat you want the coach to see (e.g. 2016 – QB – Pioneer HS, MI – 1st All-State). In the email make sure to tell the coach when you plan to follow up by phone so that the coach can make sure he/she is available. For more information on what to put in your emails and what questions to ask the coach, check out the Resource Library under the Recruiting 101 tab of your RMS.

5. WHAT DO I SAY TO A COACH? What you say to a coach will depend on what type of correspondence you’ve had with the coach thus far. You want to market yourself to college coaches, but you want coaches to market their program to you at the same time. As you’re providing the coach with your video, accolades, academic information, etc., make sure you’re asking the coach about their athletic program, facilities, campus life, etc. Make sure to review the Questions to Ask Coaches page in the Resource Library for a detailed list of questions for coaches.

PHONE: 877-845-6272 EMAIL: recruiting@ncsasports.org OFFICE: 1333 N. Kingsbury St. 4th Floor Chicago, IL 60642

National Signing Day is quickly approaching! But did you know the majority of athletes sign after National Signing Day? So, if you haven’t received an offer yet, don’t panic. To help you understand exactly where you stand, we’ve answered the 5 most common questions we receive from un-committed athletes come Signing Day.

Our Recruiting Coaches are available to help you develop a game plan moving forward! If you have any questions or want to learn more about your next steps, contact us at recruitinghelp@ncsasports.org or by phone at 877-845-6272.