College Swimming Recruitment and Active Alumni Information

TIMELINES AND TIPS WHILE IN HIGH SCHOOL

Rules/Tips to Remember:

• Coaches will be watching for your development throughout high school at camps, in school and in the pool
• Standouts are proactive, it’s never too early for YOU to write a letter or make a call to coaches
• Division I and Division II coaches can’t personally contact you until Junior year, but YOU can contact them whenever!
• Division III and NAIA coaches can contact you at anytime
• Be familiar with desireable schools both athletically and academically

Freshmen Year in High School

• Research 2-3 schools per week
• Create a list of 100 prospective schools considering both athletics and academics
• Film highlights tape
• Evaluate your footage and areas you can improve
• Send introduction letters to coaches
• Go on at least 3 unofficial visits to colleges
• Build relationships by making phone calls, sending letters, and emails
• Attend camps with the goalsof honing your skills and to gain exposure 

Sophomore Year in High School

• Film your swim meets
• Continue to research prospective schools
• Narrow your list of top schools
• Continue to build relationships by making calls, sending letters, and emails with college coaches
• Fill out questionnaires
• Make unofficial visits

Junior Year in High School

• Film your highlights tape
• Send coaches a season schedule and invite them to your swim meet
• Follow-up with coaches you’ve contacted in a timely manner
• Ask coaches where you stand on their recruits list
• Fill out questionnaires
• Respond to every coach in contact with you, even if no longer interested
• Make unofficial visits to schools
• Narrow down your prospective schools list

Junion Year Reminders

• Don’t rule out the DIII programs
• If you’re considering NAIA programs, register with the NAIA Eligibility Center
• Contact coaches once a week
• DI and high-level DII coaches finish offering scholarships and recruiting beginning of Senior Year
• If you haven’t heard from DI coaches, consider DII, DIII, NAIA programs
• DII, DIII and NAIA programs do a lot of their recruiting Senior year and make offers in the Spring
• DII, DIII and NAIA programs still make offers spring of Senior year

Senior Year in High School

• Make official visits – only 5 are allowed
• Continue to stay in touch with college coaches
• Follow-up with coaches and respond in a timely manner
• Begin applying to desired colleges
• Apply for financial aid (FAFSA.ed.gov) starting Jan. 1st
• Sign and Commit to a school and program
• Find out your summer workout schedule
• Get ready for an experience of a lifetime! Swim hard and fast!

GREAT INFORMATIONAL LINKS!

NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association)

NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics)

NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) 

NCSA College Recruiting (College Swimming Recruitment Company)

American College Connection (College Swimming Recruitment Company)

Athnet (College Swimming Recruitment Company)

Women's College Swimming & Diving Recruiting

Men's College Swimming & Diving Recruiting

Parents College Recruiting Guide

Swimcloud (High School and College Swimming Rankings) 

SwimSwam (College Recruitment News and Information)