<p>I think it might be helpful for prospective athletes to be aware of when recruiting happens for the various sports, including differences based on gender and NCAA Division. This might save some heartache, as I know there are kids out there who think they still have a shot and don't realize their recruiting class was selected months ago.</p>
<p>For example, my friends who are parents of soccer players, tell me D1 was done by the spring but D2 and D3 recruiting is underway for rising seniors. Is this correct? And who can add other timetables based on their experience/that of their child or their kid's teammates?</p>
<p>For me as a D1 mens soccer recruit, I was talking to coaches as early as late sophmore year but didn’t do any official visits till late summer right before my senior year and into september of my senior year. Didn’t actually commit until early november and had 4 D1 scholarship offers and about 5 more “guaranteed” walk on positions. My first scholarship offer actually happened in august right before my senior year during an official visit and got another two offers in early september. But I waited out the other three offers because I knew I had wanted to go to a different school. I held out and eventually in november they offered me. (I probably wasn’t their first choice recruit but I knew I wanted to go there). I did run the risk of losing my other scholarship offers by doing this but it was worth it to me.</p>
<p>For women’s soccer, the timeframe begins sophomore year for the more prestigious D1 schools, but I get the impression that coaches look mostly at sophomores who either are on really well-known club teams, or have excelled individually in ODP. Those top players will have offers very early in junior year, typically. For the average team going to showcases at U14 to U15, there won’t be a lot of coaches from big-name colleges watching the games. What I observed was that it tended to be local U’s trying to find players from within their own state or region.</p>
<p>For the average recruitable player - just a notch below those top players - the crucial time to “be seen” by coaches would be the summer before and during junior year. Going to college camps and major showcases during that time period is pretty essential. The coaches at the best D1 schools will still be looking at prospies to fill gaps. Lesser D1, D2 and D3 schools will be in the hunt at that point. The D1’s and D2’s will be making offers later in junior year and into the following summer. My D got cold-calls from several D2 coaches based on a minor showcase in May of junior year, so they clearly were still looking hard.</p>
<p>For D3 schools, my sense is that very few make offers before the summer prior to senior year, although they may express keen interest. My D began speaking to coaches at selective LAC’s the summer before junior year, but it seemed very preliminary. By spring of junior year, after she had some test scores to show them, they were encouraging her to send film and try to get to showcases and camps during the summer to follow. Because there’s no money involved, and no NLI, the D3 recruiting process seems considerably slower. The summer before senior year is not too late to start. Wait much longer, though, and you’ll not be recruited in any way that meaningfully helps in the application process.</p>
<p>Women’s soccer does start early! D2 had several DI and DII offers in hand winter of Junior year. She verballed in March. She started showcase tournaments at u14. I’ve included a site that lists early committments and you can see how many 2010 recruits have made their decisions. Once the big DI schools have their players there is a trickledown effect. </p>