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Junior Olympic and AAU Volleyball Teams

The information on this page is available in it’s entirety as a downloadable Word document by clicking here.
 

Annual Team Sting Volleyball Recruiting Seminar
 Julie Dailey – Sting Club Director

Why would I want to be recruited to play college volleyball?

• College scholarships
• Opportunity to keep playing volleyball
• Built-in “support network” as a freshman in college
• Academic support
• Physical fitness
• Businesses like to hire college athletes

If you are a high school freshman girl who is 6’0” tall – start early! Club directors are now getting asked about their 14-15 year olds vs. their 18’s. The recruiting process is speeding up!  Make sure that you work with your club director and or club recruiting coordinator.

Start the process as a high school freshman. Make a file, start a folder.
Keep a list of awards, honors, newspaper articles, etc.
Start walking around potential college campuses informally, while on vacation travel in an area.

View a list of collegiate volleyball programs at www.volleyball.org/college or www.ncaa.org then go to member institutions and you can view schools by division.  You can also go to www.naia.org and www.njcaa.org to locate member institutions.

Letters sent from college volleyball programs are generic until you are a high school junior (at least for Division 1 colleges).  Be sure to fill out volleyball questionnaires that are mailed to you and turn them in – Show interest!! Start a folder.

Full ride scholarships actually run for one year, renewable yearly.  Most colleges renew them since they don’t want a bad reputation.

Note:  A big part is how much effort that you put into the recruiting effort to tell coaches about where you are and show interest in THEIR school.   Review the college websites.  Look at their volleyball rosters. See what positions are coming open.  If you are a high school junior, look at their juniors. Are the statistics low on the backup players in those positions?  Do you want to play right away or wait behind a current player? Note recent accomplishments of the team. Learn as much as you can about their program for future conversation or an e-mail to the coach.

IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT VOLLEYBALL! AS A COLLEGE ATHLETE, WHEN YOU ARE DONE PLAYING VOLLEYBALL, YOU NEED TO COME OUT WITH A GOOD EDUCATION!

College coaches look at athletes, not teams. It doesn’t matter if your high school or club team is not one of the top names.  Your job is harder, but not impossible.

College coaches look for:

• Athleticism (to play the level they play)
• Attitude (will you emotionally fit in their program?)
• Academic ability (can you make grades in college?)
• Work ethic
• Passion for the game

Key Tips and Advice from college coaches:

• As a starting point, consider using your club coaches and high school coaches to ask what level they might see as a best fit for your volleyball ability (Division I, II, III, NAIA, etc.)
• Go see a practice and matches at a local university. See what system they run. Let the coaches know in advance that you are coming.
• College coaches don’t want to hear from the parents. An e-mail should come from the player when inquiring about their program or introducing themselves.  It is OK for a player to show some personality, too. 
• Start e-mailing college coaches (i.e.  In your sophomore year), letting them know where you will be playing, your number, etc.  It is recommended to include your club coach’s e-mail address, whom they can reply through if NCAA rules prevent correspondence until your “Junior year (such as for Division 1).
• When you play in a major tournament (a Qualifier, Regionals, etc.) know that college coaches may be watching you at all times.  That includes your warm-up before a match:
• Don’t goof around in warm-ups or look like you are going through the motions. Coaches are looking if you are a “fit” in their quality of program.
• Remove a warm-up shirt so your number is visible at warm-up time.
• Don’t turn to your mom that you need water as a Junior… have your own bag and water, etc. when preparing to play.
• College coaches won’t talk to you at a tournament – some aren’t allowed to.  Don’t misunderstand their interest level by this.
• Wins and losses at the tournament are not the concern to a college coach. They are looking if you lift everyone up when losing and looking at your skill level.
• Your e-mails or cover letter for a DVD can show creativity and awareness of THEIR program – never hurts to stroke a college coach’s ego congratulating them about a recent big victory or a player honor announced.
• As a player, you need to be assertive and talk with the coach if they call, e-mail, etc.  It is not a problem for parents to make a list of questions for the player to get answers for.
• Have your volleyball resume ready by your Junior year. It should be only one-side of a page.  Good to include a player picture. Include your player number! 
• DVD and video tapes are not as big a deal as they used to be.  Some never get looked at. Older generation coaches tend to like them.  Some prefer a skills tape of no longer than 8 minutes. Some like game film. Some prefer unedited, while others don’t want to waste much time watching your teammates finish a play on your DVD. Some players now use www.YouTube.com to post video clips or e-mail them directly to a coach.
• Take the ACT test several times, since your subject scores can be raised.  Don’t wait until your senior year. Some colleges may require the SAT test instead, so do your research.
• Narrow to 5 college choices to visit.  Break your initial list into:
• 60% average schools (where I know I can play)
• 20% dream schools (would be a stretch for my level of play)
• 20% “locks” which may not be strong in volleyball, but I can go there for a match on my academic interests and also play

More information is available on the internet. We have compiled some of the best information and have it listed also.

If you have questions, don’t hesitate to ask!
Julie Dailey
Team Sting Volleyball Club
teamsting1137@yahoo.com
www.teamstingvolleyball.com

College Recruiting Information

Finding a College

How to Find the Right College by CollegeBoard.com
A List of Schools offering Women's Volleyball
College Volleyball Update

Collegiate Athletic Associations

NCAA - National Collegiate Athletic Association
Schools by State
Division I
Division II
Division III

NAIA - National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
Member Schools
Conferences

NJCAA - National Junior College Athletic Association
Schools by Region
Division I
Division II
Division III
NCCAA - National Christian College Athletic Association
NWAACC - Northwest Athletic Association of Comm Coll

The Recruiting Process

Recruiting Guides

The following website is a simple recruiting guide for families to use.

CBound - A Recruiting Guide for Athletes & Parents

• $20 for 5 years
• Q&A Information
• Resources like timelines, how-to's, and useful links
• Free Online Moderated Forum

These websites provide a database in which players can post their volleyball biography and coach can search these biographies.

Rich Kern's Volleyball Recruiting Registry

• Free
• Recruiting registry
• Recruiting Information/Education
• Club Volleyball Information

• Free
• A communication tool to help colleges and athletes find each other
• Recruiting registry

• Athletic Scholarships for Dummies - A book available off of Amazon.com about athletic scholarships.
• Recruiting Time Line Example
• FAQ's Regarding Recruiting
• Helpful Links for the College Bound
• Establish relationships with the coaches of schools you are interested in
• Keeping sending emails to let prospective schools know where you are playing
• Sort and prioritize your school choices
• Know the rules under which coaches must operate
• If a school wants you they will pursue - get them to see you
• Wait to choose school until you are ready to choose

• NCAA Guide to the College Bound Athlete (.pdf) - Designed to help families understand the NCAA rules for progressing from being a high-school athlete to a student-athlete in college (all Divisions). To obtain a free copy: 1-800-638-3731
• The Recruiting rules, eligibility information, and recruiting calendar below can be found at this link http://www.ncaa.org/wps/ncaa?key=/ncaa/ncaa/legislation+and+governance/eligibility+and+recruiting . The Clearinghouse can be found here https://web1.ncaa.org/eligibilitycenter/common/ .
• Recruiting Rules - Information to familiarize yourself with the NCAA recruiting process, rules, etc.
• Clearinghouse - Explains the responsibilities prospective D1 and D11 athletes must attend to before they are eligible to participate
• Eligibility Information - FAQ's about eilibility
• Recruiting Calendar - You should be aware of the calendar constraints that coaches in the NCAA must adhere to
• Student Athlete & Parent Webpage

• NAIA Guide to the College-bound Athlete - Contains recruiting information and policies specific to NAIA schools, eligibility requirements, and advantages of NAIA

Important Questions to Ask Yourself and Recruiters

Below is a document that contains questions that you should ask yourself and your recruiter regarding academics, the team, the school, etc.

Download a list of questions to ask yourself and your recruiter.

The Recruiter's Perspective

Recruiters are bound by a recruiting calendar which dictates when and how they can contact players or parents. They will be getting many contacts of interests so you MUST BE PERSISTENT in sending emails telling them when you play. They have their wish list of players prioritized on need and you will also have your wish list of desires for a school and program. They will persist on who they want.

Recruiting Time Line

Reproduced by permission of Bob Howdeshell (High School Baseball Web) and modified for volleyball by Jennie Gilbert (Former Tennessee Tech Head Coach)

Freshman (9th grade)

Settle into the high school environment. Get to work developing good classroom and home study habits. Learn to manage your time.

Work hard on the junior high/high school team. Try to stay after with the coach to learn new skills or perfect basics.

Play the best and most competitive spring/summer club volleyball that is available to you. Play with the best teams, at the best tournaments, against the best competition possible.

Attend a comprehensive college summer camp.

Sophomore (10th grade)

Continue to "hit the books" hard. You’ve probably heard it before, but it is very true. Your athletic ability means nothing if you can’t do the class work! If you can’t qualify for college academically, your talent and efforts will be wasted.

Meet with your high school guidance counselor -- tell him/her of your desire to play college volleyball. You want to be "on track" with the NCAA required core courses.

Play as much club volleyball as possible ... the more you play, the more experience that you will get…and the more you should improve.

Attend as many college summer camps as you can afford. This gives you a chance to learn new techniques, see different coaching styles and see many campuses. You will begin to find what things are important to you in a future school.

Send out your first contact letters – include your club schedule and your junior year high school schedule. College coaches are not permitted to write back yet except to notify you they received your letter and to invite you to their summer camp. But you will get your name out in front of the coaches you want to play for.

Plan Visits! Before your senior year, all of these visits are "unofficial." This means that the college can not pay for any part of the visit. These are done on your own. Call the coach asking to meet with them, an academic advisor, and a professor in the major you care to pursue. Ask if you can attend a practice or match and meet the team afterwards. You will be starting to narrow down you college choices, so be thorough on this visit. You may be asked to make a decision before you will be allowed by the NCAA to take an official visit! (search this document for "official visit")

Junior (11th grade)

Ask your high school coach to write letters to a few preferred colleges. Include a copy of your fall schedule.

SEPTEMBER 1st - Coaches are permitted to send letters in writing!

Register with the NCAA Initial - Eligibility Clearinghouse (your high school guidance counselor should have these forms).

Register for the fall ACT / SAT standardized tests. Most students take these tests at least twice. Try to schedule a winter date that won’t conflict with high school or club season. Request that your ACT/SAT test scores be sent to the NCAA Clearinghouse (there is a box on the application form that you check for this).

Prepare a videotape to be sent out when requested. Ask for help from club coaches, parents, and club teammates.

Continue club ball – but be selfish! If college ball is your ultimate goal, you need to play on a team with a lot of exposure. You could be the star on a local team, but if your club only attends a few regional tournaments, the college coaches won’t see you! “Play” is the other concern. If you are on the club’s number one team, but never play, you won’t be noticed. Ask to move to the #2 team where you can compete more often. As difficult as it may be, moving to another club can help you get the exposure you want.

Focus this summer should be on attending "Select” or “Advanced" or “Elite” camps. In this environment you will be able to gauge yourself against some of the best players, at each camp. The college coaches will be able to do the same.

JULY 1st - Phone contact from college coaches is permissible.

Senior (12th grade)

DO NOT LET UP ACADEMICALLY! It’s easy to catch senioritis – but it may cost you your eligibility.

Review core academic requirements with your guidance counselor. Make sure you are "on track."

Send out your fall schedule.

The first day of class for your senior year is the first day you may attend an official visit. If you haven’t already verbally committed, take those visits ASAP! If you are offered an official visit -- prepare for your visit with a list of questions written down. (You’ll be amazed how nervous you will get – and you’ll forget what you wanted to ask!) Be prepared for any questions the college may have for you.

Early signing period -- dates vary slightly from year to year -- Check on the NCAA website for the current years dates.

You can contact college coaches (by phone) at any time (prior to July after your Junior year they can not call you).

HOME VISIT QUESTIONS

This is a long list of questions, all of which you’ll want answered at some point. You may already know the answers to some of these, and you may find the answers to others before the home visit. Some will seem inappropriate for a particular visit. Make several copies and go through this list with your parents before the home visit, highlighting those questions you want to ask of a particular coach. Most of all, relax and enjoy the experience

ACADEMICS

How is the school ranked nationally?

What are the top sports programs in the school?

What is the coach’s philosophy concerning academics

What is the sport’s graduation rate? All athletes?

• If the rate is low, why?

What GPA is required to participate?

Does the school’s GPA requirement vary according to the student’s year in school, and if so, how?

Does the athletic department have an academic counseling unit?

What services does the academic counseling unit offer?

How many counselors does the program have?

How many sports do the counselors cover?

How are student-athletes monitored and kept on track for graduation?

What learning enhancement programs are offered?

Is a computer center available for student-athletes?

Is early registration offered to athletes every term or only during the season?

What accommodations are made to see that student-athletes get the classes they need?

Is the school years based on quarters or semesters?

What are the start and finish dates for the school?

What is the placement rate of students graduating in their academic area?

How many class days will be missed during the season due to the sports program?

Do professors allow tutoring and make-up test when the team schedule conflicts with classes?

• What, if any, is the limit to this allowance?

What is the enrollment?

How many students live on campus?

Where is the campus located?

What cities are nearby?

How is the transportation system?

What is the weather like during the Summer? Fall? Winter? Spring?

SCHOLARSHIPS

How many scholarships does the program have? Have to offer this year?

Are scholarships full or partial?

• Full – Does the scholarship cover full tuition, fees, room and board and books?
• Partial
• Does the scholarship cover the entire academic year?
• How much will I have to pay to attend this school?
• Will the scholarship increase if I prove myself to be an asset to the team?
• Can I choose the semester in which financial aid will be used?
• If my family’s financial status improves, will my scholarship be cut?
• If my scholarship covers two semesters, can I lose financial aid if I don’t perform as expected?

What summer school opportunities are available?

How much of my off-campus room and board is covered?

What must I do to ensure that the scholarship is renewed each year?

Can I lose my scholarship due to poor GPA?

What are the conditions under which I could lose my sholarship?

SPORTS PROGRAM

In what conference does the program compete?

Does the conference champion get an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament?

How many others from the conference have traditionally gone into the championship tournament?

How strong is the program nationally?

What tournaments has the team been invited to recently?

Does the sport have a good reputation on campus?

What traditions surround the sport at the college?

What’s the team’s record and ranking over the past 10 year’s? During your tenure as coach?

Where did they place last season?

If there were losing seasons, why? (injuries, young, tough schedule, etc.)

How well will the program compete this year?

Are they ranked this year?

Does the program play a competitive schedule regionally/nationally?

What travel opportunities will there be over the next four years?

Where has the team compete in the past few years?

How many players will be graduating?

How does the coach see you fitting in next season?

Is the coach promising too much?

How many matches might I expect to play in?

How do you decide playing time?

What are the chances of redshirting?

Do freshmen have realistic opportunities to play?

How much time per week can I expect to spend in volleyball training activities?

What qualities does the coach look for in athlete’s?

What is the financial commitment to the program?

Is there a marketing plan to promote the program to nearby areas?

What type of media coverage does the program get?

Are there general or specific team dress code, behavior , or diet demands?

Am I allowed to participate in intercollegiate sports other than the one for which I was awarded a scholarship if the competition seasons overlap?

Can I play intramurals?

Can I participate in my hobby sports/activities? (such as skiing, sky diving or whatever you like to do in your spare time)

“The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination
that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.”
-- Vince Lombardi