📬 When To Start Thinking About College Recruiting

📰 COLLEGIATE ELITES WEEKLY

Issue 023 — November 19, 2025

Some athletes grow up imagining themselves in a college jersey. Others wake up junior year and think, “wait… do I need to do this recruiting thing?”

Wherever you are, here is the truth: College recruiting is not a moment, it’s a timeline.

The sooner you understand where you are in the recruiting process and what your next steps should be, the better your chances of making it to the next level.

🔭 THE BIG PICTURE: START EARLY WITH CLARITY

Most families think recruiting starts with emails, highlight reels, or conversations with college coaches. And while these are part of the process, it doesn’t actually start here.

Recruiting starts with understanding where you are on the timeline and what comes next.

The sooner you have that clarity, the easier it is to prepare, avoid missed opportunities, and build toward the next level.

So when should athletes start?

The short answer: much earlier than most people realize.

⏳ THE RECRUITING TIMELINE: PHASES TO FOCUS ON

Recruiting is a journey. Understanding the phases helps athletes and families know when to focus, when to learn, and when to take action.

Foundation Phase: Build the Base (elementary to early middle school)

• Focus on fun, skill development, and athletic habits

• Play multiple positions to build coordination

• Learn confidence, discipline, and love for the game

• Play multiple sports and explore, the goal is broad development.

This is not the time for recruiting yet. Right now it’s about laying the groundwork for everything that comes next.

Prep Phase: Get Ready (middle school to early high school)

This is when athletes begin learning about the recruiting landscape and preparing to be seen. Key actions:

• Track stats and start collecting some game film

• Attend camps, showcases, or tournaments to understand competition

• Research college programs, divisions, and eligibility rules

• Maintain strong academic habits and stay organized

This is also when most athletes naturally start narrowing their focus. You don’t need to choose one sport yet, but you should begin identifying which sports you enjoy most and where you show the most potential.

Athletes who focus here avoid scrambling later. This phase sets them up to stand out during the Core Recruiting phase.

Core Recruiting Phase: Take Action (sophomore to junior year)

This is when the process becomes real. Coaches are watching and opportunities are out there, but it’s the athlete’s responsibility to be organized, proactive, and ready so they don’t miss out.

By this point, most athletes have narrowed it down to one primary sport or are choosing between two. It’s time to start focusing on:

• Building a polished highlight reel

• Communicating directly with college coaches

• Attending targeted showcases and official or unofficial visits

• Continuing to focus academically and maintaining training consistency

• Showing leadership, work ethic, and coachability

Tip: This is the phase where preparation truly pays off. Athletes who are engaged, coachable, and communicating are the ones who get noticed.

Decision Phase: Commit and Execute (junior to senior year)

By this stage, athletes should be fully locked into their main sport and competing at the highest level in it. This doesn’t mean you have to quit everything else but you’re focused on your focus.

At this stage, early preparation makes the process smoother and less stressful.

• Visit campuses and evaluate fit

• Compare offers and roster spots

• Finalize eligibility and make commitments

• Continue improving performance and habits

Early preparation up to this point allows athletes to approach their decisions intentionally with confidence and options.

🎯 FINAL THOUGHT

Recruiting is a timeline, not a single moment but the Prep and Core phases are critical. This is when athletes need to take intentional steps and actions.

Start learning and building habits early so that when opportunities open athletes are ready to show up and can capitalize.

Start learning around 8 to 13.
Start preparing around 14 to 15.
Start engaging around 15 to 16.

Start early, stay intentional, and take control of your process.

✅ TAKE ACTION

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