There is no crystal ball answer as every athlete, every sport, and every location has it's exceptions. Some kids mature faster than others and can get more exposure to 'national ranking' organizations and coaches. Some sports, such as women's volleyball, can tend to initiate the recruiting process faster than other sports, such as football, baseball, softball, track and others. Based on direct conversations with NCAA coaches, it is important to be prepared entering your junior year of high school when coaches can contact an athlete. Starting to generate a social media campaign and establishing relationships with college programs should begin in grade 9 and grade 10.

Definitely! Our strategy works for all sports, not just the division 1 'headcount' sports of football, men's/women's basketball, women's volleyball, and gymnastics. The NCAA designates a sport a 'headcount' sport as it allows full scholarships. There are a lot of other sports including soccer, tennis, ice & field hockey, track & field, baseball, rugby, golf, swimming, lacrosse at all levels (D1, D2, D3, NAIA, JC) that offer partial scholarships that can add up to huge sums of money well over 6 figures!

The service is designed to help parents of student-athletes with the recruiting journey. The student athlete is more than welcome to be involved and the best outcomes generally will occur with a collective family approach. The recruiting process takes a significant portion of time nowadays, and leaving it up to your child as was the past, is a strategy that no longer works.

Understanding the differences between NCAA Division 1, Division 2, Division 3, NAIA, and NJCAA is crucial for athletes aiming to pursue their athletic and academic goals at the collegiate level. Here’s a breakdown of each: NCAA Division 1: Known for the highest level of competition and larger schools, Division 1 schools offer the most scholarships and invest significantly in their athletic programs. These schools often have extensive athletic facilities and high visibility in sports. NCAA Division 2: These schools offer a balance between competitive athletics, academics, and extracurricular involvement. Scholarships are available but are fewer compared to Division 1. Division 2 schools often have a more regional focus. NCAA Division 3: Prioritizing academics, Division 3 schools do not offer athletic scholarships but may provide other forms of financial aid. The focus here is on the overall college experience, with a lower intensity in athletic competition compared to Divisions 1 and 2. NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics): NAIA schools generally have smaller athletic programs than NCAA schools but still offer competitive sports and scholarships. This association emphasizes character-driven athletics. NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association): NJCAA serves 2-year colleges, providing an opportunity for athletes to develop their skills, improve academically, and possibly transfer to 4-year institutions. Scholarships are available, and the level of competition can be quite high.

We help our clients understand the nuances of each division and association, ensuring they make informed decisions that align with their long-term goals. With our expertise, we aim to empower parents and elevate athletes by providing personalized consulting services tailored to their unique needs and aspirations.

NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) agreements, the transfer portal, and roster limits are significant factors that can alter the landscape of your recruiting process. We understand these complexities and aim to empower parents and elevate athletes through strategic guidance. NIL agreements allow student-athletes to monetize their personal brand, leading to new opportunities and considerations during recruitment. This can be a game-changer in choosing schools, as some institutions may offer better NIL opportunities based on their market, alumni network, and local business community. The transfer portal has introduced more flexibility for athletes to move between schools. While this can present more opportunities, it also increases competition as athletes can switch schools without much restriction, drastically changing team dynamics and available roster spots. Roster limits add another layer to the recruiting process. Colleges have a fixed number of scholarships and roster spots, which means that understanding these limits and how they fluctuate with incoming and outgoing transfers is crucial. For instance, A new NCAA Division I roster limit rules establish set maximum roster sizes for sports, replacing the previous scholarship limits and allowing for more scholarship availability. For example, football's limit increases to 105 players, from the prior 85 scholarship limit, while other sports like baseball and lacrosse see significant roster size changes. These changes, part of the House v. NCAA settlement, aim to increase athlete opportunities, but also allow universities to implement revenue sharing with athletes and potentially lead to fewer walk-on spots. This change will dramatically increase the number of scholarships potentially available to Division I student-athletes, including more than doubling the possible number of scholarships that can be offered to women.

NCAA recruiting periods define when college coaches can contact student-athletes, and they alternate between four types: Contact Period, Evaluation Period, Quiet Period, and Dead Period. During a Contact Period, coaches can interact freely with recruits both on and off campus. An Evaluation Period allows coaches to watch athletes compete but limits direct contact. A Quiet Period restricts in-person contact to the college campus only. Finally, a Dead Period prohibits all in-person contact and observation, though electronic communication may still be open.