Sports can be a gigantic part of a high school student’s life. And, in college, sports can continue to play a large role. However, for those who want to play on collegiate teams, knowing how to engage with the recruitment process may not be well known. The ways to connect with coaches, and where to proceed from there, is information that is essential to a college recruitment process.

STEP 1: Getting on the list

The first step of the recruitment process on the coaching end involves creating a list of prospective athletes. These first lists consist of potentially hundreds to thousands of candidates.

What a student athlete can do: try reaching out to coaches of teams that are interesting to you. Attend camps and programs as a way to stand out. Getting in touch will help coaches with recognition, which can boost the chances of being added to lists.

STEP 2: Recruitment begins

The next step on the coaching end is sending recruitment materials, ranging from camp invitations to college interest letters.

What a student athlete can do: The NCSA (Next College Student Athlete) recommends responding to these recruitment materials, in a personal manner, as it shows interest, commitment, and once again allows coaches to build a rapport.

STEP 3: Testing your skills

At this stage, coaches begin conducting player evaluations. Coaches may come to observe the student in a game, meet, or tournament.

What a student athlete can do: send highlight reels to coaches, update them with stats from the season, and have high school coaches reach out to recruiters.

STEP 4: The offer

If you’ve made it to this elite group, colleges will reach out with scholarships and offers.

What a student athlete can do: Consider whether the offer meets financial and academic needs. In this phase, it is a non-binding agreement that students are allowed to back out of. The contract only becomes binding once the student has their ‘Signing Day’, in which the athlete verbally and in writing, acknowledges their commitment to the school, and to the team they have been recruited for.

While students may begin training with college sports in mind very early in their athletic experience, serious recruiting doesn’t start until the summer after sophomore year or fall of junior year, according to NCSA. What are the odds of being recruited?

According to Scholarship Stats, about 7% of high school athletes go on to play a varsity sport in college. The NCAA reports that approximately 2% of them are recruited to play and receive a scholarship.