Helping our players to reach their goal of playing at the collegiate level is one of the most rewarding parts of our job. We take recruiting very seriously and will work hard with our athletes to find the perfect fit. There is nothing more enjoyable than to watch former MVP athletes make their own mark, both academically and athletically in the program of the college of their choice.
Recruiting - What you need to know.
Getting started: Determine your talent level and expectations.
The first few steps of the volleyball recruiting process are all about setting realistic expectations about the athlete’s commitment to playing in college and the upcoming recruiting process. To get started, athletes should ask themselves the following questions—and be as honest as possible about the answers:
-
Am I ready for the demands of being a college volleyball player? Being a college volleyball player—no matter the division level—takes up a lot of time and effort. Many athletes say it’s like having a full-time job and then some. There will be early practices, training sessions, games and traveling on top of classes and homework. Athletes need to be ready for this level of commitment before diving into the recruiting process.
-
Am I good enough to play college volleyball? Answering this question requires athletes to critically analyze their current skill set and athleticism, as well as project how much they’ll be able to improve by the time they are a freshman in college. This is a great time for athletes to loop in their current coach to discuss their goals of playing college volleyball, so they can have an honest conversation about the recruit’s skill level. Athletes can also get evaluated by a third-party service at parents' expense. Club Coaches can give you true honest evaluations of your skills.
-
What division level(s) am I qualified to play at? There are hundreds of opportunities for volleyball players at the Division 1, Division 2, Division 3, NAIA and junior college levels. Athletes should talk to their current coach, a qualified club coach and college coaches themselves to understand what division levels they might be qualified to compete at. Families should also go out and watch collegiate volleyball matches at every division level, projecting if its realistic that their athlete will be at that level in the next few years.
-
Am I on a club team that will get me exposure to the coaches I’m interested in? We’re not going to sugar coat it: College coaches primarily recruit club volleyball players. There are a couple reasons for this: Club players have more volleyball experience, as they compete in the sport almost year-round. They’ve also been exposed to top competition and generally have a higher level of training than high school-only players. Furthermore, they play at large tournaments that attract college coaches from across the country. Especially for recruits looking to compete at D1 or high-level D2 programs, a few years of club experience is essential. However, before families sign up with the closest volleyball club, they should take the time to do some research to ensure that the club goes to tournaments and showcases that are attended by coaches the recruit is actually interested in.
CONTACT COLLEGE EVALUATORS
Ernie Gilbert - (734) 250-0923
Pete Wung - (314) 605-7344
ELIGIBILITY CENTERS
* Athletes need to be certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center to compete at an NCAA Division I or II school.
* Every student-athlete must register with the NAIA Eligibility Center to play sports at an NAIA college or university.
NCAA Recruiting Information
Create a Certification Account - $90 fee
NAIA Eligibility Center
Create a Certification Account - $80
Recruiting Calendar Information
Current NCAA recruiting calendars and guides.
College and University Listings
NCAA (D1, DII, DIII) Member Schools
National Collegiate Athletic Association
NAIA Member Schools
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
NJCAA Member Schools
National Junior College Athletic Association
NCCCA Member Schools
National Christian College Athletic Association
College Athletes Recruitment Platforms
CaptainU is the leading online, collegiate sports recruiting platform that helps high school athletes fulfill their dreams of playing sports in college.
One of the most common misconceptions when it comes to college sports recruiting is that a large number of high school athletes are heavily recruited by colleges. In fact, 98% of athletes are actually lightly recruited. That means if you are serious about competing in college, it’s up to you to be proactive.
CaptainU is so much more than just a free recruiting profile. They help athletes & parents not only be proactive but also to manage and take control of their entire recruiting journey. Athletes create a FREE or premium recruiting profile, allowing them instant access and the ability to send direct messages to 100% of college coaches. In addition to athletes gaining exposure, the CaptainU team of experts provides helpful templates and easy, step-by-step guidance and support throughout the entire process.
Create your profile in less than one minute. Once your profile is created you will have instant access to and the ability to send messages to 100% of college coaches. Fill out your profile as thoroughly as possible with images, athletic and academic stats, highlight videos so you can start gaining exposure.
University Athlete is the premier communication tool connecting college coaches and student athletes. We don't sell athletes to colleges nor promote them in any way so the coaches trust us and use our services. UA combines the convenience of an online database with powerful mobile software to assist coaches' recruiting efforts at tournaments. At a tournament, colleges can instantly find any player, identify new players, evaluate and take notes without losing valuable time needed to watch the action. More than 300 Div I and more than 500 Div II, III, Juco and NAIA programs use University Athlete.
