<p>College recruiting with D1 and most D2 prospects is pretty cut and dry, NCAA rules apply and coaches heavily persue their top recruits which result in the majority of athletes making either verbal or formal committments way in advance of the application process.</p>
<p>The D3 recruiting process is typically alot more difficult and stressful for most athletes at that level. The meat and potatoes of D3 recruiting takes place duirng August into December. D3 coaches typically are all looking for kids who were either low D1 and D2 recruits who either did not want to make the full time committment of a D1 program or the D2 schools might not have the academic reputation relative to the athletes capabilities. Please keep in mind that some sports at the D3 level can be just as competitive or almost as competitive as D1 and D2 schools (lacrosse, soccer, swimming).
Coaches typically try to recruit at least 3-4 kids at each position needed. Most D3 athletes have either start the recruiting process by completing online questionaires at the schools sports team websites or have received initial recruiting letters after being seen at tournament or club team events played outside of there high school sports season. D3 Coaches talk to each other, they see each other at most of these tournaments especially during summer and fall club team events, they have special coaches tents for sign in and breaks, they stay at the same local hotels, and eat at the same local restraunts. The worst thing any recruit can do is lie to a coach during the recruiting process, it is the number one mistake parents and kids make during the recruiting process.</p>
<p>Coaches are aware that each recruit is an individual and their academic and athletic abilities vary. They also know that athletes apply to and are being recruited by multiple schools. Recruiting at all levels really starts after the athlete and their parents go through a series of initial visits to the colleges and determine an athletic fit and feeling that the school is right for them and can see themselves attending that school if athletics were not part of the picture. You should alsways maximize your visit and set up a tour and interview to get additional insight on the culture of the school, academic requirements, ect…ect… During that same initial visit usually if not always athletic recruits, parents, and coaches have an initial introduction meeting and general discussions. In the D3 recruiting process this is the chance for athletes to ask questions with parents present, good coahes encourage parents to take part during this initial meeting. Ask the right questions. Do new recruits need to try out for the team ? Do I have a spot on the roster if I commit to you and your program ? What specific positions are you recruiting for ? How many recruits are you looking at for my specific position ? Where am I on your recruiting list (1-5) ? relative to How many upper classmen play my position on the team ? Where did you see me play ? How many times did you see me play ? Can you comment on my perfromances ? My strengths and weaknesses ? What role will I play as a freshman on the team ? Will I get playing time ?? What are the requirements for the program, # practices/week, weekly time commitment, offseason conditioning requirements, off season play ect…??? You should have a good idea about academic requirements and chances of getting into the school based on your admission interview. Have another discussion with the coach about your academics, grades, test scores, potential majors, admission chances, if he will support you application academically if needed, can you study abroad during off season, is there academic support, how do students access during sports season (if travel is involved), how many athletes graduate in 4 years, 5 years ??? </p>
<p>After that visit, coaches start to eliminate prospects. If you receive a personal letter or email from the coach you are still on his recruiting radar, if you recieve a follow-up phone call the week after your initial visit you can be assured you are a desired recruit or made his final list. The coach will ask during that phone call if you enjoyed your visit and what you thought of the school and sports program. Parents sometimes receive calls also, I have received a couple (my son is in this process, I was also an athlete). Be honest during this initial follow-up call if you are not interested after your visit tell him that although you enjoyed your visit and meeting that you cannot see yourself attending the school (maybe distance from home, school majors, to small, to big, culture ect). If the school and athletic program meet your criteria than tell him, but tell him you are moving through the process and have other initial visits to complete, and he is welcome to call you during this process. After you complete this initial process, you should have eleiminated some programs and schools, the goal would be get the number of schools that you feel are a good fit down to 4-5 schools.</p>
<p>The next step. The reqruiting process heats up, the top 3 recruits by position will be contacted weekly by the coaches from these 4-5 schools. It is their job, they need to confirm which recruits are serious about their specific school and program. They will ask which other schools and programs you are considering, where he falls on your list (be honest) they all talk and see each other during the fall sports season. They will then ask when you want to come out for a official/un-official weekend (D3 cannot pay for the transportation, but pay for on campus meals and events). These trips usually are for an overnight or complete weekend they start in late September, October and usually end in November. Request to audit classes and stay with potential teamate that is an upper classmen, try to go on a weekend where their is a sports event or a on campus event (my son scheduled his trips during homecoming or a rivals sports event). Bring a varied wardrobe (kahkies, casual dress shoes, jeans, golf tyoe shirt, sweatshirt, sneakers) you never know what they have planeed and you want to fit in with everyone, also bring a sleeping bag and pillow, sometimes you will need to sleep on the floor in the dorms. During this trip you will meet with the coach a couple of times over the weekend (be prepared for pointed questions), after your arrival he will hand you off to the designated teamate that you will be staying with (they act as intermediates for the coaches, be careful what you say and do, everyone is sizing you up, one wrong move and you could be done), you will shadow the teamate for the weekend. you will attend parties with a alot of booze present, if you do not drink decline, my son never had a problem if he did not want to partake in something, again be careful what you do, everyone is watching.
You will attend a team practice and or work out session, take note of the teams abilities and personalities…do they maych yours…the coaches personality will surely come out…can you deal with him…will you play and respond to his style…</p>
<p>The next step: If they call you the week after that visit, you have made the cut you are a final recruit, they will tell you this at that point. They will ask you if there school and program are on top of your list. They will ask you to apply early action (do not commit to early decisionunless you are sure about the program). Early action (typically November applications) lets you apply to those 2-3 or 4 schools just in case something changes. You will have the chance to receive acceptances ( December-early January) from a number of schools. After acceptences are mailed, the telephone lines heat up again, the coaches will request an answer and committment to thier program, after your verbal commitment they will request that you send your required enrollment paperwork and deposit to the school via overnight mail, so noone can stall them.</p>
<p>This has been a very quick overview of the typical D3 recruiting process, it actually can entail alot of committment relative travel time and cost to make sure your homework is complete and can rationally make the right decision.</p>
<p>I hope this hepls someone…good luck…</p>