For NCAA Division I and II volleyball, college coaches can begin contacting a recruit directly on June 15 after her sophomore year. The work that decides who gets those calls happens earlier: good film, an honest read on level, and a realistic list of schools.
Not sure which level to plan for? Take the free Matchmaker.
The dates that matter
| Level | When coaches can contact a recruit | Visits |
|---|---|---|
| NCAA Division I | June 15 after sophomore year: calls, texts, emails, direct messages and verbal offers | Official and unofficial visits from August 1 before junior year |
| NCAA Division II | June 15 after sophomore year | Official visits from June 15 before junior year |
| NCAA Division III | No limit on calls or messages; in-person contact off campus after sophomore year | Official visits from January 1 of junior year |
| NAIA and junior college | No contact restrictions | Set by each school |
Before June 15, Division I and II coaches can still send camp invitations, questionnaires and general program information. Your athlete can email them at any age. They read those emails; they just can't answer personally yet.
Freshman year: build the base
- Play and get filmed. Start saving match and practice video now. You will want a year of it later.
- Protect the grades. Academics widen the list of schools more than any single skill does.
- Learn the levels. Watch a Division I, a Division III and an NAIA match. The difference is easier to see than to describe. Our division guide explains each one.
Sophomore year: the year that counts most
- Get an honest evaluation. Before you build a list, find out what level the film supports. This is the step most families skip.
- Make a first skills video. Short, best touches first, filmed from an angle that shows footwork. See what college coaches look for in a recruiting video and our filming guide.
- Build a list of 20 to 30 schools across more than one level, chosen for fit, not fame.
- Start emailing. The athlete writes; the coach reads. Here is how to email college coaches.
- Fill in questionnaires on the athletics websites of the schools on the list.
Then June 15 arrives. Some athletes hear from several coaches that day. Many hear from none, and that is normal. It usually means the list needs adjusting, not that recruiting is over.
Junior year: narrow and visit
- Update the video with this season's film.
- Take visits to the schools that are answering.
- Keep writing with new film, schedule and results. Coaches recruit the athletes who stay in touch.
- Take Division III and NAIA seriously. They can talk to you freely and many are still building their classes.
Senior year: later than ideal, not too late
The top Division I programs have usually finished a class by now. Division II, Division III, NAIA and junior colleges often have not, and rosters change every spring when players transfer or leave. A senior with solid film and a targeted list still has real options. A senior waiting to be found does not.
What families most often get wrong
- Waiting to be discovered. Outreach is the athlete's job at every level below the very top.
- Looking only at Division I. About 1.3% of high school players land there. Far more play, and get aid, elsewhere. See the scholarship numbers.
- Starting with the video instead of the evaluation. A polished video sent to the wrong level of school gets no replies.
- Five things to know about the June 15 recruiting date — USA Volleyball
- NCAA volleyball recruiting calendar and rules — NCSA
- Probability of competing beyond high school — NCAA
Recruiting rules and scholarship limits change. Check the NCAA and each school's compliance office before relying on a date or number.