What Happens If You DON’T Get a Call on July 1st?
June 29th, 2008 - byTomorrow is Tuesday, July 1st. That’s a pretty big day in the life of a lot of college recruits.
Why? Because for many athletes, it’s the first day a college coach can call a new prospect that is entering his or her Senior year in high school. If you’re going to be a Junior in high school, you’ll be noticing a big increase in the mail that you receive from a college coach come September 1st if you are one of their serious prospects.
Both are big events when it comes to getting recruiting. Both events are great indications that you are on a coach’s list as a serious recruit. Both events mean you are one step closer to getting a chance to play college sports at the next level.
So what happens if you don’t get a call? And, if you are heading into your Junior year, what happens if you are not seeing more recruiting mail getting stuffed inside your mailbox come September?
What happens if all of your dedication to your sport is being overlooked by college coaches?
Before I answer that, let me tell you two things that every high school athlete needs to know when it comes to these recruiting timelines we’re talking about today:
- If you are heading in to your Senior year in high school and you don’t get a call on July 1st or earlier (depending upon your sport), you
probably aren’t being seriously recruited. Period. You need phone calls from coaches. Phone calls are what counts. And if you are a Senior who isn’t getting a phone call from a college coach soon, don’t fool yourself: You are not being seriously recruited by that coach. - If you are heading in to your Junior year in high school and you don’t start getting letters as Fall begins, college coaches don’t know about you. Or, they know about you and aren’t interested. There are only two possibilities here. And. in today’s ultra-competitive world of college scholarships and early recruiting, not getting letters as a Junior should be a red flag that isn’t ignored.
One of the number one misconceptions that athletes have as we start working with them at NCSA is that they will get “discovered” sometime during their Senior year and everything will magically end happily ever after. That very rarely happens…it’s not impossible, but it is improbable.
If either of those two scenarios play out for you as we begin the heavy recruiting season this July, here are a few tips that I have for you:
- Don’t panic. You still have time to get noticed, but you can’t assume that it’s just going to happen on it’s own. If that were the case, it would have happened by now. That being said, don’t panic. Instead, formulate a plan and take action.
- Call or write a coach. O.K., so it hasn’t happened on it’s own yet. If that’s the case, take matters into your own hands and be proactive. If you are a NCSA client, you probably don’t have the problem of not getting coaching contacts. You’re doing a lot to manage the recruiting process. However, if you do – or if you haven’t heard from your “dream” school yet – then talk to your personal recruiting coach. They are here to help you, and love guiding you through the process. If you aren’t a NCSA client, and want to do this on your own, then begin the process of contacting at least five to ten coaches immediately. This week. Do it by phone, or by e-mail or regular mail. But time is of the essense, so make it a priority.
- Re-evaluate your target schools. If you’re not getting phone calls or letters as you begin school, you need to ask yourself this: “Am I pursuing the right colleges at the right level?” That’s a serious question, and you need to re-read it right now and answer it. Why? Because you may be the perfect D3 athlete that’s shooting for a D1 opportunity. If that’s the case, you’ll be disappointed. Correctly targeting the proper division level for scholarship consideration is crucial if you hope to play at the next level. Perhaps the reason you didn’t get a call from a coach this Summer is because the information that you did send out went to the wrong audience?
- E-mail a coach your information, and tell them that you are interested in their program. If calling a
college coach sounds too intimidating, at least e-mail them. Give them your information, a video if possible, and – most importantly – tell them that you want to see what kind of opportunities there are for you at their school. You might just find a coach who is striking out with the prospects that he or she had on their early recruiting list, and is looking for a fresh start with new athletes. If you’re the one who is being pro-active, you might be the one that captures the coach’s attention.
I’ll say it again: July, and the rest of this Summer, is a great indicator of what coaches think of you and your abilities so far, and how high on their list you are.
Want some encouraging words? O.K., here it goes…
This is just the beginning of your recruiting story, not the end. You have time to make it better, keep it going strong or watch it fall apart. It all comes down to you, and who you have in your corner helping you through the process. Make sure that you evaluate your situation, be realistic and stay focused.
Have you downloaded the free Official Guide for the College Bound Student Athlete? It has all of the official contact periods for your sport, which can help erase the confusion when it comes to when and how a college coach can contact you. You can download this free guide from the NCAA by clicking here.
June 30th, 2008 at 11:05 am
I thought that a football player couldnt get mail until sept. 1st of his junior year?
June 30th, 2008 at 11:07 am
I have left mesages to your survice and never got a call .
June 30th, 2008 at 11:17 am
I have filled out many questionaires, should i start getting letters from those colleges this week?
June 30th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Hi Kevin we will get you a call today!
June 30th, 2008 at 11:37 am
Football players can receive one call from April 15th to May 31st of their junior year. Men’s Basketball players can receive one call per month beginning June 15th before their Junior year. Women’s basketball players can receive one call per month in April. Make sure to check out NCAA.org and download the official guide for the College Bound Student Athlete. It contains all the must-know dates for every sport on pages 29-30.
June 30th, 2008 at 11:55 am
The coaches who have expressed an interest in my son have said we can call them but that they cannot call us until September.
June 30th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
You can always call college coaches! Recruits should take advantage of this “loophole.”
June 30th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
You still haven’t answered the question about football coaches able to call before Sept. 1. Yes or no. I’ve heard no.
June 30th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Yes, football players can receive a call before Sept 1st. You can receive one call from April 15th to May 31st of your Junior Year.
June 30th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
MOST sports, actually, cannot begin sending mail to recruits until September 1st of their Junior Year. I hope a lot of ‘recruits’ are not reading that article, as it is inaccurate.
June 30th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
i would like 2 talk to a coach to run in colloge when i graduate from high school . please call me or email
June 30th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
i registered twice and i never got a call….
June 30th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
Hi everyone, we wanted to let you know that we have clarified some of the general points that we were trying in the blog post about the receiving phone calls from college coaches. If you get the chance, re-read it above. We have also included a link to the NCAA Guide for College Bound Student Athletes which has contact dates for each sport and division level, which will give everyone more detail as to when they can receive a call and mail from a college coach. We appreciate your questions and comments on the topic, and apologize if we caused any confusion.
July 1st, 2008 at 8:57 am
Thanks to everyone who left your number. You should be getting a call today!
July 1st, 2008 at 10:15 am
i have regestered and never got a call
July 1st, 2008 at 10:38 am
i’m a sophomore in highschool and i’m going to be a junior when school start again, i have filled out questionares online, is it posssible for them to send me mail or call me
July 1st, 2008 at 11:13 am
Hello I am a rising junior and i have sent out info and filled out questionares and i got positive feedback.Is it possible for me to get letters in July?
July 1st, 2008 at 11:20 am
The article about calls on July 1st do not apply to football players entering there senior year ?
July 1st, 2008 at 11:55 am
i got a call from the ncsa guy but you called the last number on my list and no one was there to answer it. Is there any way i can get another?
July 1st, 2008 at 2:12 pm
I am very interested in college baseball &/or football. I have received messages from you but I am not sure what material/documents I need to submit to you.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:34 pm
i am very interested in running mens crosscountry and track in college. what exactly should i do?
July 1st, 2008 at 10:00 pm
I am really wanting to go to Baylor University in Waco, Texas with a scholarship for Womens Track and Field. This past year i got 3rd in State for 4A Discus, i thought that it would make colleges notice me, but i never got the call, what should i do? Am i not being serioulsy recruited, and is there no chance for a full scholarship?
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:56 am
Thanks, for all the requests for information about scholarships. Our scouts will be in touch shortly!
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:20 am
I have filled out some questionaires should i wait until the end of the month to see if i get something in the mail or just call anyway.I turned the them in like two weeks ago. What should I do?
July 2nd, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Im a Sophomore to be Junior who has recieved a few letters and emails from a couple of colleges, and my question is what do i have to do to get calls? Ive filled out the information and questionarie packets but what else do i have to do? Wait?
July 4th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
im alex hymes a soph going to be a junior when school starts back. i have a question. is there any chance of a division1 college program having interest in a conerback whose in rotation with another cornerback. i received letters from Hiram a division 3 school. i know i have the ability to go divison. i have films but they are on vhs and ncsa requires dvd form highlights. i was wondering is there any advice i could be told?
July 5th, 2008 at 11:49 am
I am in 8th grade going into 9th and I am very serious about being recruited. I was wondering how i could be seen by college coaches even though i won’t start varsity until my sophmore year.
July 8th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Hello, I am a 2010 softball player. I’ve been emailing profiles and update letters to colleges knowing that per NCAA rules, all I can get back is a questionnaire and camp information.
However, a few colleges including D1 have answered back wishing me luck, telling me they are going to watch me at a particular showcase. One in particular ask me to call her at a tournament when I am free, so that she can meet me. I do not want to mess anything up by inappropriate contact.
Why do they do this knowing that I am a 2010 and it is not Sept 1st.? And how do you suggest I reply, especially to the last coach ?
July 8th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Schools contact you earlier because you are ALWAYS allowed to call them. They are limited by the NCAA, but student athletes maintain the ability of pro-actively calling schools.
June 23rd, 2009 at 11:35 am
Hello i am soon going to finish my secondary education and I shall want that you put me in touch with coach of university to see if he(it) can help me. Thank you for your understanding.
July 1st, 2009 at 7:54 pm
the link does not work for the “Official Guide for the College Bound Student Athlete”
January 21st, 2010 at 12:30 pm
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