Welcome to our College Guide!

This page is for our BASS swimmers who are curious about or committed to continuing in the sport of swimming after their highschool and club swimming experience. Our goal is to provide an overview of the college recruiting process as well as recent developments in the NCAA (i.e. Name, Image and Likeness rules) which will have a direct effect on athletes regardless of the division they pursue. This page will also be helpful for parents who are looking to gain a better understanding of the process.

Links to helpful rescources are included below. As always, please connect with your primary coach if you have any questions!

We are here to help you on your journey through the sport.

START HERE - Video for parents (and swimmers)!

Below is an excellent video by Sigma Swimming out of Fort Worth, TX. It includes down to earth, helpful information, providing realistic expectations and reminding us all of the multitude of opportunities within college swimming.

Highschool Timeline

2024-25 Guide for College-Bound Student Athlete by NCAA

The timeline below, developed by the NCAA, will help you gain a better understanding of what needs to be accomplished and/or begun at each stage of the journey, as you work through highschool and aim towards college swimming. It will also be important to take time to read the Guide for College-Bound Student Athletes linked above (the timeline below can be found on page 7 of the guide with links to help you navigate each step).

9th Grade:

» If you haven’t yet, register for a free Profile Page account at eligibilitycenter.org for information on NCAA initial-eligibility requirements.
» Use NCAA Research’s interactive map to help locate NCAA schools you’re interested in attending.
» Find your high school’s list of NCAA-approved core courses at eligibilitycenter.org/courselist to ensure you’re taking the right courses, and earn the best grades possible!

10th Grade:

» If you’re being actively recruited by an NCAA Division I or II school, transition your Profile Page account to the right certification account.
» Monitor the task list and sign up for text alerts in your Eligibility Center account for next steps.
» Research the admission requirements for NCAA schools you’re interested in attending.
» At the end of the school year, ask your high school counselor from each school you attended to upload your official transcript via the High School Portal.
» If you fall behind academically, ask your high school counselor for help finding approved courses you can take.

11th Grade:

» Ensure your sports participation information is correct in your Eligibility Center account.
» Check with your high school counselor to make sure you’re on track to complete the required number of NCAA-approved core courses and graduate on time with your class.
» Share your NCAA ID with NCAA schools recruiting you so each school can place you on its institutional request list.
» Take unofficial and official visits to NCAA schools you’re interested in attending and start applying early.
» At the end of the school year, ask your high school counselor from each school you attended to upload your official transcript via the High  School Portal.

12th Grade:

» Be accepted to the NCAA school you plan to attend.
» Ensure your sports participation information is correct and request your final amateurism certification beginning April 1 (fall enrollees) or Oct. 1 (winter/spring enrollees) in your Eligibility Center account.
» Complete your final NCAA-approved core courses as you prepare for graduation.
» After you graduate, ask your high school counselor to upload your final official transcript with proof of graduation via the High School Portal.

 

Homeschooled? No problem!

If you are a homeschool student interested in college swimming, please check out the NCAA 2024-25 Homeschool Toolkit. This guide provides nuanced information related to navigating the eligibility and transcript process for homeschooled student-athletes.

 

NCAA Divisions

From 2024-25 Guide for College-Bound Student Athletes by NCAA.

Quick Guide to NCAA Recruiting Rules:

The NCAA has three different divisions within college athletics (see image above). We have included here a brief overview of the NCAA rules governing recruiting in all three divisions. It is important to understand that these rules vary slightly by division, with Division 1 being the most strict and Division 3 being the most relaxed.

Division 1 swimming and diving NCAA recruiting rules

  • Any time: Athletes can receive recruiting materials from college coaches, such as questionnaires, camp brochures, nonathletic institutional publications and NCAA educational materials published by the NCAA.
  • June 15 after sophomore year The NCAA recruiting rules show athletes can receive all forms of electronic correspondence at this time, including emails, instant messages, faxes, etc., as well as other recruiting materials.
  • August 1 before junior year: Recruits can begin taking official visits to schools. Athletes can also begin arranging unofficial visits with a school’s athletic department and meet with the coach while on campus.
  • August 1 before junior year: Coaches are allowed to start off-campus contact with recruits.
  • Coaches can take seven recruiting opportunities (contacts and evaluations combined) per recruit starting August 1 before junior year. Beginning June 15 before the athlete’s junior year of high school, no more than three of the seven opportunities may be contacts each year.

When can Division 2 coaches contact athletes?

The NCAA Recruiting Rules for Division 2 schools are slightly more relaxed than those for Division 1, and the rules are the same across all sports:

  • Non-recruiting materials: Athletes can receive brochures for camps, questionnaires, NCAA materials and non-athletic recruiting publications at any time.
  • Printed recruiting materials: Starting July 15 after an athlete’s sophomore year, coaches can begin sending recruits printed recruiting materials.
  • Telephone calls: Starting June 15 after an athlete’s sophomore year, coaches can start calling athletes.
  • Off-campus contact: Coaches can conduct off-campus communications with athletes and/or their parents starting June 15 after an athlete’s sophomore year.
  • Unofficial visits: Athletes can take unofficial visits at any time.
  • Official visits: Athletes may start taking official visits starting June 15 after an athlete’s sophomore year.

When can Division 3 coaches contact athletes?

D3 schools have the most relaxed NCAA recruiting rules of all the division levels. Similar to NCAA D2, they are the same for all sports:

  • Recruiting materials: Athletes can receive recruiting materials at any time.
  • Telephone calls: There is no limit on when college coaches can call athletes.
  • Digital communications: There is no limit on when college coaches can contact athletes digitally.
  • Off-campus contact: After the athlete’s sophomore year, college coaches may begin to conduct off-campus communications.
  • Official visits: Athletes can begin taking official visits after January 1 of their junior year.
  • Unofficial visits: Athletes can make an unlimited number of unofficial visits at any time.

 

For more information about NCAA recruiting rules, please visit - https://www.ncsasports.org/ncaa-eligibility-center/recruiting-rules

 

Important Links

Register with NCAA Clearing House

NCAA Website

What is a National Letter of Intent (NLI)?

What do Coaches Look For?

What are Name, Image & Likeness (NIL) rules?

Anatomy of a Recruiting Call

CollegeSwimming.com - Track Recruit Rank, See Team Top Times, and More!

5 Reasons Why College Swimming is the Best (and why you should pursue it)