The Importance of June 15th in College Recruiting

With the start of June we begin the countdown to a major date in the recruiting calendar, June 15th, which marks an important milestone in recruiting for both potential recruits as well as college coaches at the Division I and II levels. This is the date where coaches can begin communication with 10th graders through phone conversations, electronic means, and off-campus at camps and clinics.

Up until this date coaches have been able to send out materials such as camp brochures and questionnaires as they begin to build their recruiting databases, but starting June 15th everything changes and you can begin having recruiting conversations with coaches. This is your time to shine so be sure to properly prepare yourself in the following areas.

Your Recruiting Video

If you have already made a recruiting video, be sure that it is up to date. If you pieced together highlights and film during 9th grade you should be looking to make an updated video of your skills and competition as they will have grown and give a more accurate picture of your level to a coach. 

If you have not made a recruiting video then be sure to start one asap. Not all coaches are going to be able to see you play in person and this is a very good tool for a coach to get a feel for your skills as well as how you compete.

Your Story 

Now that you will be able to speak with coaches in person, over the phone, and through video chat, they are going to want to know more about you beyond just your skills and statistics. This is the area that lets you stand out in the recruiting process over other prospects as coaches begin to determine which athletes are the right overall fit for their culture and program. 

The three areas you need to be able to talk to coaches about in depth are your athletics, academics and family. Take a look at this previous post that goes into more detail about how to craft your story and help you stand out from others in your sport. 

Your Unofficial Visits

When you are looking at Division I and II schools, begin to plan a visit schedule of the schools that you are interested in as well as schools that have shown interest in you that you would like to learn more about. 

One aspect to keep in mind is that coaches at the Division I and II level can not meet and speak with you on campus until August 1st heading into your junior year (Division III coaches can meet with you at any time). So if you are hoping to sit down and talk to coaches on campus, plan your visits for after August 1st leading into your junior year.

Your Communication 

When coaches send you emails, questionnaires, and other forms of contact, be sure to respond in a timely manner. This shows coaches that you are serious and interested in their programs and can help put you ahead of other recruits on a coaches list.

Waiting for weeks to respond will allow for coaches to begin their communication with other potential recruits sooner and at times can make a difference as coaches build their recruiting pool.

Set time aside every one to two days to check your email in order to be more responsive to coaches. Have your voicemail box set up and not full as some coaches will call and look to leave voicemails. Essentially, leave as many options as possible open for a coach to contact you and be sure to be checking them on a regular basis so that you can respond quickly and keep yourself in the forefront of a coach’s mind.

As June 15th approaches, it is crucial for you to take the proactive steps to help further your recruiting journey. This date opens up new opportunities at the Division I and II levels for direct communication with coaches that were previously unavailable. Ensure that your recruiting video is up to date to showcase your skills and competitiveness. Craft your story to highlight not just your athletic achievements but also let a coach know more about who you are as a person and how your experiences have shaped your life. Plan your unofficial visits, keeping in mind that Division I and II coaches cannot speak with you on campus until August 1st. And most importantly, make sure you are responding in a timely manner to coaches' communications in order to keep you in the forefront of their minds as they build their recruiting pool.