Hi everyone. I am currently a junior in track and field. I want to contact some college coaches and try to get recruited for college and pursue my passion for running for at least another 4 years. There are some top schools that fit the major I want to go into, but they are a Division 1 track school. I know that I am not close to their expectations from a Division 1 athlete, so would it still be worth it to try contacting these coaches when I know there will be many great athletes that can hit those times?
If you want to be a recruited TNF athlete you have to start contacting coaches now, you are late.
Focus on programs where your times would be competitive, if you don’t have the necessary stats it won’t make sense to contact them…even as a potential walk-on. There is overlap in terms of talent across the various NCAA divisions (or NAIA, JUCOs too) so no need to limit yourself there…again your times/stats will dictate where you fit.
Fill out the online recruiting questionnnaires at programs where both the school and the TNF program look to possibly be fits. Then send an introductory email to all of the listed coaches…it’s often unclear which one spearheads recruiting. It is a good time to be contacting coaches now, because they aren’t busy.
Your search will be more difficult if your major is uncommon, or if you need financial aid.
Ok thanks for the response!
It’s worth contacting them, but make sure you are prepared for their responses. Coaches in D1 generally are, um, very very direct about who they want.
Not much harm in filling out the recruiting forms and emailing the coaches. But if you’re quite a ways from the marks they’re looking for you might be wasting your time. For example, if you’re a 4:40 1600 meter runner, boy, and expecting Michigan or Wisconsin to get back to you, well…you’d be much better off starting conversations with schools that are a better athletic fit. Go to tfrrs.org to research team and conference performance lists.
Also, If you want a big D1 school but don’t have the marks for the team, consider the running club. Most big schools have one and most of them are fun. More of an option for distance runners than sprints/jumps/throws but it varies.
Fortunately track is a late recruiting sport so you’re in good shape in terms of timeline. Most of the recruiting in track heats up in the summer after junior year.