The roadmap · 9th grade → signing day

Exactly what to do, and when — for any sport

This is the generic, works-for-any-sport plan. Follow it in order from wherever your athlete is today. Every step tells you who owns it and how to do it well. Where your sport does things differently, you'll see a marked spot to drop your own specifics in.

How to use this
Start at your athlete's current grade and work down. Do the earlier steps first even if you're "late" — the order matters more than the calendar. Each step links to the tool that helps you do it well.
Who does what
Every step is tagged so nobody steps on toes. As a rule: the athlete is the face to college coaches; the parent runs logistics behind the scenes.
Athlete leadsParent supports
Earlier is better — but rarely too late. If your athlete is already a junior or senior, don't panic and don't skip. Just start at the top and move quickly through the foundation steps. Starting on time widens your options; starting now beats not starting.
Parent red flags to avoid. College coaches quietly downgrade recruits when the parent runs the show. Don't email or answer coaches on your athlete's behalf, don't do the talking on visits or calls, and don't send "why haven't you offered yet" messages. Your job is the engine room — logistics, tracking, support. Your athlete is the face. This is the single easiest way to help without hurting.
Freshman9th grade · build the base

Goal this year: get eligible, learn the landscape, and start collecting the raw material (grades, film, a simple resume). No outreach pressure yet.

Protect the grades from day one
Athlete leadsParent supports

Academic eligibility is half of recruiting. Take NCAA/NAIA "core" course requirements seriously starting freshman year — a weak transcript closes doors no highlight reel can reopen.

Do it well
Read the eligibility basics in How Recruiting Works, then confirm your school's course list matches core requirements. Eligibility rules can change — figures on that page carry a "last verified" date.
Add your sport: note your sport's main competitive season and any early club/travel commitments that affect scheduling.
Learn how the whole thing actually works
Parent supports

Before you do anything, understand the machine: the divisions, the recruiting calendar, and how coaches decide. Thirty minutes here saves months of guessing later.

Do it well
Read How Recruiting Works together, once. You'll refer back to it all four years.
Start a simple athletic resume
Athlete leads

One page: name, grad year, position, height/weight, key stats, GPA, club/team, and contact info. It grows with you — start it now so it's ready when coaches ask.

Do it well
Use the athletic resume outline in Templates.
Add your sport: list the 4–6 stats or measurables coaches in your sport actually care about (e.g., times, velocity, verticals, positions).
Start capturing film and stats
Athlete leads

You can't make a highlight reel from footage you never captured. Record games now, even roughly. Keep a running stat log.

Do it well
Follow the highlight-film checklist so what you capture is actually usable.
Add your sport: note which moments/plays matter most on film for your position (the checklist tells you how to find them).
Sophomore10th grade · get organized

Goal this year: register for eligibility, build a first target-school list, sharpen film, and draft (not yet blast) your coach outreach.

Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center / NAIA
Parent supports

If your athlete may compete in D1 or D2, register with the NCAA Eligibility Center. NAIA has its own center. Sophomore/early junior year is a common time to do this.

Do it well
See timing and links in How Recruiting Works → Eligibility.
Build target-school list v1
Athlete leadsParent supports

Aim for a spread: reach, match, and safety — judged on athletic fit AND academic fit AND real cost. Start with 15–25 schools; you'll narrow later.

Do it well
Use the target-list tracker. Read the division differences so you target realistically.
Add your sport: add conferences/programs known for your sport, and any that fit your athlete's specific position or event.
Turn footage into a real highlight reel
Athlete leads

A tight, well-made reel is the single asset that opens the most doors. Lead with your best 20–30 seconds; coaches decide fast.

Do it well
Follow the highlight-film checklist — length, order, labeling, and what coaches skip past.
Add your sport: note the position-specific clips that matter most (the checklist explains how to prioritize them).
Draft your intro email to coaches
Athlete leads

Write it now so it's ready. You can email to introduce yourself at any time; what's regulated is when coaches can respond directly. Understand the difference before you hit send.

Do it well
Use the coach-outreach email template. Check the rules in How Recruiting Works → The recruiting calendar first.
Junior11th grade · activate recruiting

Goal this year: real outreach, real visits, real conversations. This is the year the process comes alive for most sports and divisions.

Start outreach to your target coaches
Athlete leads

Send your intro email, reel, and resume to your list. Personalize each one. Then follow up on a steady cadence — most responses come after follow-up, not the first email.

Do it well
Use the outreach template + follow-up cadence. Learn why coaches go quiet in How Recruiting Works → Reading the silence so you don't misread it.
Attend the right camps and showcases
Athlete leadsParent supports

Go where your target coaches will actually be — not just the biggest event. A camp at a school on your list is worth ten random showcases.

Do it well
Before paying for any event, email the coach to confirm they'll be there and that you're on their radar (template in Templates).
Add your sport: list the camps/showcases/ID events that carry weight in your sport and division.
Take unofficial visits
Athlete leadsParent supports

Unofficial visits (you pay your way) can happen anytime and are a low-pressure way to see campuses and meet staff. Use them to narrow the list.

Do it well
Bring the questions from the campus-visit question list.
Track everything
Athlete leads

Who you contacted, when, what they said, next step. The parent who tracks doesn't drop leads or double-message.

Do it well
Use the recruiting tracker.
Senior12th grade · decide & commit

Goal this year: official visits, comparing real offers, and committing as a family — with clarity, not pressure.

Take official visits
Athlete leadsParent supports

Official visits (the school can help with costs) are your closest look. Availability windows differ by division — check before you schedule.

Do it well
Use the visit question list. Confirm timing windows in the recruiting calendar.
Compare offers on more than the scholarship
Athlete leadsParent supports

Weigh fit, playing time, coaching stability, academics, the degree, real out-of-pocket cost, and the life your athlete wants at 25 — not just the biggest number.

Do it well
Use the offer-comparison checklist. Understand aid math in How Recruiting Works → The money picture.
Understand signing timelines before you sign
Parent supports

Signing windows (like the National Letter of Intent) and their dates vary by sport and division. Know your exact window so you're never rushed or caught late.

Do it well
See How Recruiting Works → Signing & commitment (dates carry a "last verified" stamp).
Add your sport: write in your sport's exact signing window dates for this cycle.
Commit as a family
Athlete leadsParent supports

The final call is the athlete's, made with the full picture in front of everyone. Finalize financial aid and paperwork, then enjoy it — you earned this.

Do it well
Run the final decision through the offer-comparison checklist one last time so it's a clear-eyed yes.

Don't guess the rules — read them once

The roadmap tells you what to do. The next page tells you how the system underneath it actually works, so nothing catches you off guard.

How recruiting really works