Aspiring women’s volleyball players looking to get recruited by a college team need to know what steps to take to stand out. With the right preparation, strategy, and commitment, you can significantly increase your chances of catching the attention of college volleyball coaches.
This guide will help you understand the recruitment process, build a strong profile, effectively communicate with coaches, and play college volleyball.
Step 1: Build a Strong Online Profile
One of the first and most important steps in getting recruited for college volleyball is creating an outstanding online presence. College coaches often begin their search by evaluating athletes’ digital profiles.
Your online profile should showcase your skills, achievements, and potential as a player.
Key Elements to Include in Your Profile
Several platforms like NCSA and Hudl offer tools to build and manage your online profile. Keep it updated throughout your high school and club volleyball career. Include the following elements.
- Highlight Reel: Create a high-quality highlight video that features your best plays, showing your versatility, skills, and athleticism. Focus on positioning, teamwork, and critical moments.
- Game Footage: A college coach looks at how you perform under pressure. Include full-game footage or longer clips to demonstrate your consistency and court awareness.
- Stats & Achievements: List your stats from high school and club seasons, as well as any individual awards or team successes.
- Personal Information: Provide basic details such as your name, height, position, and graduation year. Include your contact information, so coaches can easily get in touch.
Step 2: Attend Showcases and Camps
While a strong online presence is essential, in-person showcases and camps give coaches the opportunity to evaluate you up close. Attending these events can greatly improve your visibility throughout the college recruiting process.
College volleyball showcases are attended by multiple coaches from different programs, giving you a chance to impress many recruiters in one place. These events allow coaches to see your raw skills and how you perform in a live setting. They’ll be able to evaluate your athleticism, teamwork, and coachability.
Beyond demonstrating your talent, showcases and volleyball tournaments give you a chance to build relationships with college coaches. Having face-to-face interactions helps them remember your name and skills.
Look for events that align with your goals and are attended by schools on your target list. Be sure to prepare mentally and physically, as these camps can be intense and competitive, more than a high school or club team.
Step 3: Effectively Communicate with College Coaches
Communication is key to getting recruited to play college sports. Once you’ve built your profile and attended showcases, start reaching out to coaches. Effective communication shows your interest in their program and can keep you on their radar.
Here are some tips for reaching out to coaches:
- Send Personalized Emails: Introduce yourself, provide a link to your highlight reel, and explain why you’re interested in their school and volleyball program. Mention any connections you have, such as attending one of their camps or watching a game.
- Follow Up Regularly: Coaches receive hundreds of emails from recruits. If you don’t hear back right away, don’t be discouraged. Follow up every few weeks to show your continued interest.
- Be Professional: Volleyball recruiting in the NCAA division requires using professional language and tone in your emails and messages. Treat these interactions like job applications—be respectful and courteous.
Remember, building relationships with coaches is a gradual process. Consistent, respectful communication can make you stand out from other players vying for a spot on their roster.
Step 4: Balance Academics with Athletics
While volleyball talent is crucial, your academics will play a significant role in the recruiting process. College coaches are looking for well-rounded athletes who can succeed both on the court and in the classroom.
- Maintain a Strong GPA: Most college programs have academic standards for athletes. Ensure your GPA meets or exceeds the minimum requirements of the schools you’re targeting.
- Prepare for Standardized Tests: Many colleges require SAT or ACT scores for admission. Dedicate time to preparing for these exams, and consider retaking them if necessary to improve your scores.
- Stay Organized: Balancing practices, games, and schoolwork can be challenging. Keep a detailed schedule, stay on top of deadlines, and prioritize time management to avoid falling behind.
Remember, a strong academic profile can give you an edge over competitors with similar athletic abilities, and it widens the range of schools that will be interested in you as a college volleyball player.
Step 5: Partner with the Top Recruiting Team
To maximize your chances of getting recruited, it’s often helpful to partner with a recruiting service like College Athlete Advantage. Their experienced team helps athletes navigate the complexities of the recruitment process and ensures that you’re taking the right steps to get noticed by top college programs.
Personalized Recruiting Guidance
Their volleyball recruit experts help tailor your recruiting strategy based on your skills, academic background, and target schools.
Exposure to College Coaches
They have established relationships with college volleyball coaches across the country and can help get your profile in front of the right people.
Recruiting Education
College Athlete Advantage educates athletes and their families about the recruiting timeline, eligibility requirements, and what to expect during the recruitment process.
Get Started With College Athlete Advantage
Getting recruited for college volleyball requires preparation, strategy, and persistence. For those looking for extra support, partnering with a recruiting service like College athlete opportunities can provide the expert guidance needed to navigate the recruiting process successfully.
Start early, stay focused, and take every opportunity to showcase your talent and commitment, and you’ll be well on your way to play volleyball in college