Hopefully, you have taken the time to read our previous blog post detailing the importance of June 15th in the world of athletic recruiting, especially if you are in the class of 2026. Also, if you haven’t already, make sure to watch the webinar we hosted about the importance of this recruiting contact date!
As a reminder, The sports that are affected at the Division I level by June 15th are all NCAA sports EXCEPT:
- Men’s Ice Hockey (January 1st of sophomore year)
- Women’s Basketball (June 1 of sophomore year)
- Baseball (August 1st)
- Softball (September 1st)
- Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse (September 1st)
No matter your sport, all NCAA Division II coaches can now engage in recruiting discussions with student-athletes from the class of 2026.
This is (and should be) an exciting time on the recruiting calendar, but waiting to hear from coaches who want to take that next step with you can be stressful.
If you have heard from college coaches, ensure you email back promptly and remain responsive, even if that school is not at the top of your list.
If you haven’t heard back from any coaches yet, don’t panic! This is just the start of coaches being able to speak with you directly.
Here are five tips to consider now that this date is behind us.
- If you have not introduced yourself to any coaches yet, start by putting together a list of programs you would like to contact to let them know you are interested. We typically recommend that you have anywhere from 20 to 30 schools on this list. Ensure you have a wide variety of programs. This includes some schools you consider a reach, a fit, and a safe option for you athletically and academically.
- If you have been proactive in your outreach to college coaches, now is a good time to check back in with those schools to see where they are in their recruiting process for the class of 2026. Find out if they are still looking for your position to determine whether that school will stay on your list. If you feel they are interested, try to schedule a phone call to learn more about their program.
- Make sure your most up-to-date video is available for coaches to view. SportsRecruits makes it easy to have your full video library available for coaches looking to evaluate you. Remember, athletes with videos on their profile are 11x more likely to receive views from college coaches.
- Find opportunities to compete in front of the programs you are interested in. This could be showcases, prospect days, camps, or clinics, or tournaments you attend with your club.
- If you don’t receive much positive feedback from college coaches over the next few months, consider expanding your list of schools. Opportunities at the DIII, NAIA, or Juco level may not be on your list now, but this is a good time to re-evaluate the level that best fits you athletically. Check in with your current athletic advocates (club coach, high school coach, trainer, etc.) for feedback.
Good luck with your communication for the rest of the summer. As always, continue to be proactive, put the work in on and off the field, and ensure your SportsRecruits profile is current.
Want to stay up to date on all things recruiting? Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Youtube!
Mike Babich is a Senior Recruiting Analyst at SportsRecruits. Mike has experience in collegiate athletics as a former football student-athlete at Mount Ida College, as well as a Graduate Assistant and Assistant Football Coach at Long Island University. He also served in the role of an Admissions Counselor for two years at Molloy College in Rockville Centre, New York. He has a passion for helping student-athletes better navigate and understand the recruiting process.
