The college recruitment process can be confusing, and with many myths and misconceptions floating around, it can be hard to know how to get started. To help you figure out the fact from the fiction, here are a few college recruiting myths about the process and the actual reality behind them!

Myth #1 – Only top athletes get recruited

It’s true that the recruitment process is more competitive for certain sports, but it’s not true that only top athletes get recruited. There are so many different levels of college athletics in the US which means that there is a college out there to suit a wide range of athletes. 

Whether you’re at the top of your game or currently making improvements to be the best you can be, there is a division and college out there that can help and support you on your way to reaching your goals. It’s not all about Division 1! There are some incredible D2, D3, NAIA and NJCAA schools out there that can be perfect for you.

Myth #2 – Recruitment starts late in high school

The recruitment process can start at any time in terms of coaches following your progress and can talk to you June the 15th of your sophomore year (27 months before you start college). Some coaches will make offers on the day recruitment opens, and some will wait until 4 or 5 months before the semester starts. There may be a time limit on which colleges are available to recruit athletes due to college budget limitations. 

We advise you to start the process as early as you can to ensure that we have enough time to learn about you as an athlete and what you’re looking for. It also allows coaches to follow your progress for longer and establish an amazing relationship with you! 

Myth #3 – You need to go to a showcase or camp to get recruited

While showcase events and camps can be a great opportunity for athletes to be seen by college coaches, they are generally a fundraiser for the college sports programme. Many athletes are recruited from game film, their performance during the season and coaches coming over to watch you compete in person.

There are many other aspects in the recruiting process; how you handle yourself on the initial phone calls, taking an interest in the college programme, your social media presence and your academics.

At College Sports America, we make sure to attend as many amateur sporting events that we can in order to watch our athletes compete. This gives us a great insight into your game that we can feed back to college coaches in order to make sure that we match you with your perfect college. 

Myth #4 – You have to commit to a school as soon as you’re offered a scholarship

It’s true that scholarships are typically offered on a first-come, first-served basis, but it’s not true that you have to commit to a school as soon as you’re offered a scholarship. Although we advise you to move quickly in order to lock up your dream college, athletes are typically given a certain amount of time to make their decision to make sure that they’re 100% happy with their choice. 

Myth #5 – You can’t play at the college level if you’re not a full scholarship athlete

While full scholarships are certainly coveted, they are not the only way to play at the college level. Many athletes receive partial scholarships or no scholarship at all and still have the opportunity to compete at the college level.

Most college teams will hold qualifying events to pick their teams. If you work and train hard, there’s no reason that you can’t be picked and excel on the team. 

 

In conclusion, there are many college recruiting myths, but the reality is that there are many opportunities for athletes of all skill levels to play at the college level. It’s important to do your research and understand the process and levels of college available to ensure that you are making the best decision you can about your college athletic career.