A four-year game plan for high school athletes and parents.
Recruiting rewards the families who start early, stay organized, and keep grades first. Work through one year at a time and check items off as you go.
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1 Freshman Year (9th Grade)Nobody gets recruited off freshman film. This year is about building the habits and the transcript that make everything later possible.
Map four years of core courses with your counselor. Ask for your school’s NCAA-approved course list so every required class fits before graduation.Aim well above the minimum GPA. The NCAA floor is a 2.3 core GPA, but a 3.0+ opens far more rosters, admissions offices, and academic aid.Create a free Profile Page at the NCAA Eligibility Center. eligibilitycenter.org . You can upgrade to a full Certification Account later.Set up a recruiting-only email and a Hudl account. Use a simple, professional address. Save film from every game, not just the good ones.Record your baseline measurables. Height, weight, 40, shuttle, vertical, and lifts, with the date. You’ll want proof of progress.Commit to the offseason. Strength, speed, mobility, and position technique. This is where future offers are earned.Earn your coaches’ trust. Show up, be coachable, and compete at the highest level your program allows. College coaches will call them.Learn every path to college sports. NCAA Division I, II, and III, NAIA, and junior college all offer real opportunities.Attend local camps to get better. At this stage, go for coaching and reps, not exposure.
2 Sophomore Year (10th Grade)Now you start creating the materials coaches evaluate: film, verified numbers, and a list of schools that fit.
Compete for varsity snaps. Game film against real competition beats camp clips every time.Cut a 2–3 minute highlight reel. Best plays in the first 30 seconds. Open with a title card: name, grad year, position, jersey number, height and weight.Get your measurables verified. Coaches trust numbers from a combine or a college-run camp over self-reported ones.Build a working list of about 30 schools. Mix reach, target, and safe schools across divisions. Include academics and location, not just football.Fill out each program’s recruiting questionnaire. It’s how you get into a school’s database. Find it on the team’s athletics website.Introduce yourself to coaches. You can email coaches anytime. Division I and II coaches can start calling, texting, and offering on June 15 after this school year.Choose college camps by fit. Go where the staff actually recruits your position and your level, not just the biggest name.Start a contact log. Record every coach, date, what was said, and your next step.
3 Junior Year (11th Grade)For most athletes this is the most important recruiting year. Coaches can talk to you, and your junior film is what most of them will evaluate.
Update highlights every 3–4 games. Keep full-game film ready. Coaches who like your reel will ask for it.Send personalized emails to your target list. Use the coach’s name and the school’s name. Include your film link, verified numbers, GPA, schedule, and your coach’s contact info.Answer every coach within 48 hours. Keep your contact log current so nothing slips.Attend junior days and targeted camps. Prioritize programs that have already shown interest in you.Take unofficial visits to schools that fit. Check each division’s visit calendar first, and come with questions. See our official vs. unofficial visits guide .Decide on the SAT or ACT. The NCAA no longer requires a test score for eligibility, but many colleges use one for admission or merit aid, and it can help with NAIA eligibility.Send your transcript to the Eligibility Center. Have your counselor upload it after junior year, and confirm you’re on track for the 10/7 rule.Ask your high school coach to make calls. A coach-to-coach recommendation carries real weight.Know interest from an offer. A questionnaire, a camp invite, and a junior day invite are interest. An offer is specific about a roster spot and aid. Ask directly.Compare schools on three kinds of fit. Academic, athletic, and financial. Would you go there if football ended tomorrow?
4 Senior Year (12th Grade)Finish strong on the field and in the classroom, keep every option open, and make a decision you can stand behind.
Narrow to a final list. Focus your energy on the schools that are actively recruiting you.Post senior film early. Update your reel after your first 3–4 games and send it to every coach on your list.Finish your core courses with strong grades. Senior grades still count, and an admissions office can rescind an offer.Complete eligibility steps. NCAA: request final amateurism certification in the spring, then send your final transcript and proof of graduation. NAIA: register at playnaia.org .Take official and unofficial visits. Meet players, sit in on a class, and ask about the depth chart at your position.Apply for admission, aid, and FAFSA. File the FAFSA as soon as it opens and meet each school’s deadlines.Compare offers side by side. Scholarship amount, true cost of attendance, roster spot, degree options, and the staff’s stability.Keep a backup plan alive. Stay in touch with Division II, Division III, NAIA, and JUCO programs until you sign.Understand NIL before you sign anything. Read every agreement with a parent, and check your state high school association and college rules first. Start with our NIL Parent Guide .Commit and plan the transition. Thank every coach who recruited you, keep your profiles current, and follow the summer training plan your new program sends.
Know the Rules
The basics every family should know, current as of fall 2026. Rules change, so always confirm with the official source.
New to these terms? Read Know the Difference: NCAA, NAIA, and JUCO Explained .
Level Academic requirements Register with
NCAA Division I 16 core courses, 2.3 core GPA, 10 of them (7 in English, math, or science) done before senior year NCAA Eligibility Center NCAA Division II 16 core courses, 2.2 core GPA NCAA Eligibility Center NCAA Division III Set by each school’s admissions office The school directly NAIA Graduate with a 2.3+ GPA, or meet 2 of 3: 2.0 GPA, top half of class, 18 ACT / 970 SAT NAIA Eligibility Center Junior college High school graduation; check each school The school directly
Fewer walk-on spots. Under the 2025 House v. NCAA settlement, Division I schools that opted in can fund scholarships for their whole roster but are capped at 105 football players. That means fewer preferred walk-on spots at big programs, so build a list that spans every level.
Free Tools from NBF
National Boosters Foundation helps families and programs nationwide navigate recruiting the right way. Ask us about:
Email us to request it: contact@boostersfoundation.org
Official sources: eligibilitycenter.org (NCAA) and playnaia.org (NAIA). National Boosters Foundation is the nationwide program of Arizona Boosters Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 39-3080525), and is not affiliated with the NCAA, NAIA, or NJCAA.
Questions About Your Athlete’s Path?
NBF helps families and programs nationwide navigate recruiting, from building a school list to understanding official and unofficial visits.
