Volleyball recruiting timeline by year

Recruiting is barely on the radar yet, and that's the right energy. The freshman job is to put fundamentals, academics, and clean film in place so the next three years have something to build on.

• Focus on academics — every recruiting conversation eventually opens with GPA and transcript.
• Pick a club path that gives you real competition and visible tournaments.
• Start filming match footage. You don't need a highlight reel yet — just usable raw video.
• If you have a profile, list your grad year, position, height, club, and contact info clearly.

Some informational interest from college coaches can start now, especially at top programs. Your outreach should stay light and informational — not commitment-driven.

• Build a real target list (30–60 schools across two realistic divisions).
• Start drafting Genuines for top targets so junior-year outreach isn't from scratch.
• Make your first 60–90 second highlight reel from sophomore-season clips.
• Visit colleges informally when you're in a city for a tournament — even a quick campus walk-through helps.

Outreach picks up dramatically. Two-way contact with college coaches typically opens up at meaningful volume, and visits and verbal interest peak. Pipeline hygiene matters more than ever.

• Email every coach on your target list — first email + scheduled follow-ups.
• Plan unofficial and (where allowed) official visits to your top programs.
• Update highlight reel every 8–12 weeks with new clips.
• Take ACT/SAT early enough to retake if needed.
• Move every coach card through the Pipeline weekly — don't let stages go stale.

For athletes already in advanced conversations, senior year is about closing — official visits, offers, financial aid review, signing. For athletes still recruiting, D2, D3, NAIA, and JUCO programs continue recruiting deep into the senior year.

• Re-focus the list on programs with verified active needs at your position.
• Tighten outreach: short, very specific notes — 'roster need + my fit + a clear next step.'
• Lock down academic eligibility (NCAA Eligibility Center / PlayNAIA).
• Treat every official visit like a multi-day interview — both ways.
• Don't sign before reading the full financial aid offer in writing.

• Calendar — tournaments, visits, deadlines, calls.
• Transcripts and test scores — keep digital copies ready.
• NCAA Eligibility Center / PlayNAIA registration and amateurism review.
• Net Price Calculator + financial-aid runs for every finalist school.
• Logistics for visits (travel, lodging, time off).

• All direct communication with coaches.
• Profile + highlight reel + Top Schools list.
• Per-school Genuines and Snippet Bank.
• Pipeline stages and follow-up reminders.
• Showing up prepared at visits and on calls.

This page is general guidance, not an official recruiting calendar or a guarantee of any recruiting outcome.