Sophomore Year Volleyball Recruiting: Month-by-Month Guide

Here's the truth about sophomore year: It's not too early to start recruiting.

While most serious recruiting happens junior year (when coaches actively offer scholarships), sophomore year is when you:

• Build your target school list (research schools, narrow down to 30-50)
• Get on coaches' radars (intro emails, attending camps, social media)
• Strengthen your academics (calculate core GPA, plan NCAA-approved courses)
• Improve your skills (work on weaknesses, track stats, build highlight reel)
• Learn the recruiting process (NCAA rules, email templates, what coaches want)

Bottom line: Sophomore year is about laying the groundwork. You're not trying to get scholarship offers yet—you're building relationships, gathering information, and preparing yourself so that when junior year arrives (the critical recruiting year), you're ready to hit the ground running.

Your sophomore year is officially here. Here's what to focus on as school and club season start:

1. Make Varsity (If Possible)

Your first priority: Make your high school varsity team.

Why it matters: Coaches want to see that you're competing at the highest level available to you. If you're on JV sophomore year, that's okay—but if you can make varsity, do it.

• Show up prepared: Be in shape, know the system, bring energy
• Be coachable: Take feedback, ask questions, implement changes
• Earn playing time: Work hard in practice, be reliable, show versatility

2. Start Tracking Your Stats

From Day 1 of your sophomore season, track your stats:

• Hitters: Kills, attempts, hitting percentage, blocks, aces
• Setters: Assists, aces, digs, hitting percentage (if you hit)
• Liberos/DSs: Digs, passing average, aces, serve receive percentage

If your high school or club doesn't track stats, do it yourself. Ask a parent or teammate to help count kills, digs, etc. You'll need these numbers when emailing coaches.

3. Start Filming Your Matches

You'll need a recruiting video by spring of junior year—so start filming now.

• Film every match: High school and club (even if you're not starting yet)
• Good angle matters: Film from elevated position (bleachers), full court view, steady camera
• Save everything: Build a library of footage (you'll pull highlights from best matches later)

4. Focus on Academics

Your grades from freshman and sophomore year count toward your NCAA core GPA. Now is the time to:

• Maintain a 3.0+ GPA: Easier to maintain than to raise later
• Take NCAA-approved core courses: Check your high school's NCAA list (English, math, science, social studies)
• Build good study habits: Time management, organization, asking for help

October is when you shift from "playing volleyball" to "starting the recruiting process." Your first big task: Build your target school list.

How to Build Your List (30-50 Schools)

Step 1: Start with division fit

Be realistic about what division matches your skill level:

• D1: Elite athletes (All-State, top club teams, 3.0+ kills/set, .270+ hitting %, 6'0"+ for middles/opposites)
• D2: Strong athletes (All-League, competitive club, 2.5+ kills/set, .240+ hitting %, 5'10"+ for middles)
• D3: Solid athletes (varsity starter, club experience, 2.0+ kills/set, .220+ hitting %, academics important)
• NAIA: Similar to D2/D3, flexible eligibility rules, smaller schools

Step 2: Add geographic preferences

Where do you want to go to school?

• In-state: Lower tuition, closer to home, familiar environment
• Region: West Coast, Midwest, South, East Coast?
• Climate: Warm weather year-round? Four seasons?
• Distance from home: 2-hour drive? 5-hour flight? Doesn't matter?

Step 3: Add academic fit

• Majors offered: Does the school have your intended major?
• Academic rigor: Do you want a top academic school or focus on volleyball?
• Size: Big university (20,000+ students) or small college (2,000-5,000)?
• Setting: Urban campus, college town, or rural?

Step 4: Research volleyball programs

For each school on your list:

• Check the roster: How many players at your position? Who's graduating?
• Watch their matches: What style do they play? Fast-tempo? Defense-first?
• Look at recent recruits: What stats/height do incoming freshmen have?
• Read about the coach: Coaching philosophy, years at school, player development

How to Organize Your List

Create a simple spreadsheet with:

• School name
• Division
• Location
• Head coach name
• Coach email
• Interest level: High / Medium / Low
• Status: Not contacted / Emailed / Responded / Visited / etc.

This spreadsheet becomes your recruiting hub—you'll update it throughout your sophomore and junior years as you email coaches, attend camps, and narrow down your list.

November is when you send your first recruiting emails. You're not asking for scholarship offers—you're introducing yourself and planting the seed.

Who to Email (Start with 10-15 Schools)

Don't try to email all 30-50 schools at once. Start with your top 10-15 most interested schools:

• In-state schools you're seriously interested in
• Regional schools that fit your division level
• Schools you might visit for unofficial visits in the next 6-12 months

What to Include in Your Intro Email

Your intro email should be concise (150-200 words) and include:

What to Expect from Coaches

As a sophomore, don't expect scholarship offers from your first email. What is realistic:

• 50-70% won't respond (this is normal—coaches are busy and you're a sophomore)
• 30-50% will send a standard response ("Thanks for reaching out, keep us updated")
• 10-20% will engage (ask questions, invite you to camp, request video)

Follow-Up Plan

Plan to email these same coaches again in 4-6 months (spring of sophomore year) with:

• Updated stats from high school and club season
• Recruiting video link (if you've created one by then)
• Upcoming tournament schedule (where coaches can watch you play)

Your club season is starting, and this is your chance to improve your skills and research camps you'll attend in spring/summer.

Focus on Skill Development

Recruiting heats up junior year—so sophomore year is when you build the skills that will get you recruited:

• Work on weaknesses: If you struggle passing, focus on passing. Poor blocker? Get blocking reps.
• Increase vertical jump: Strength training, plyometrics, jump technique
• Become more versatile: Can you play multiple positions? Pass in serve receive? Play all 6 rotations?
• Improve volleyball IQ: Watch college matches, study positioning, learn systems

Research Individual School Camps

Start researching individual school camps you'll attend in April-July:

• Individual school camps are where coaches evaluate you in person
• Plan to attend 1-2 camps as a sophomore (schools you're seriously interested in)
• Camp costs: $200-600 per camp (overnight camps include housing/meals)
• Best timing: April-July (spring and summer when coaches host camps)

How to find camps:

• Visit each school's athletic website → "Camps & Clinics" section
• Google "[School Name] volleyball camp"
• Check camp dates, costs, registration deadlines
• Add camps to your calendar and budget

Calculate Your Core GPA

If you're targeting D1 or D2, you need to meet NCAA academic requirements. Now is the time to:

• Calculate your core GPA: NCAA uses only NCAA-approved core courses (English, math, science, social studies)
• Check your high school's NCAA list: Which courses count toward your core GPA?
• Plan your courses: Make sure you're on track to complete 16 core courses by graduation

If your state has spring high school volleyball, this is your chance to earn more playing time and track your stats.

Maximize Your High School Season

• Play every match like coaches are watching (they're not yet—but it builds good habits)
• Track your stats every match: Kills, hitting %, digs, blocks, aces
• Film every match: You'll pull highlights for your recruiting video
• Be a good teammate: Coaches care about character—show leadership, positivity, work ethic

Send Update Emails (Round 2)

If you emailed coaches in November, send an update email in February-March:

Start Creating Your Recruiting Video

By spring of sophomore year, you should start building your recruiting video:

• Pull highlights from your best matches (60-100 clips showing skills)
• DIY or hire a videographer? DIY is free (use iMovie or DaVinci Resolve); hiring costs $300-800
• Upload to YouTube: Public or unlisted (easier to share than sending large video files)
• Include full game footage: 1-2 sets showing every rotation

Video structure:

1. Intro screen: Name, position, grad year, height, GPA, contact info
2. Skills highlight reel: 3-5 minutes of your best plays
3. Full game footage: 1-2 complete sets
4. Closing stats screen: Key stats, awards, contact info

Spring is camp season. This is your chance to get evaluated in person by college coaches.

Attend 1-2 Individual School Camps

As a sophomore, you don't need to attend 5-6 camps—but attending 1-2 camps at schools you're seriously interested in is a great move:

• Why camps work: Coaches can evaluate you in person (much better than video alone)
• Which camps to attend: Individual school camps at schools on your target list
• Cost: $200-600 per camp
• What to expect: 2-3 days of drills, scrimmages, evaluations, Q&A with coaches

What to Do at Camp

• Show up prepared: Know the drills, be in shape, bring energy
• Be coachable: Take feedback, ask questions, implement changes immediately
• Play hard: Every rep matters—coaches are watching work ethic, attitude, competitiveness
• Talk to coaches: Introduce yourself, ask questions about the program, show genuine interest
• Follow up after camp: Send a thank-you email within 48 hours

Follow-Up Email After Camp

Summer is when club volleyball reaches its peak—and when you prepare for junior year (the most critical recruiting year).

Compete at Club Championships

Your club team will likely compete at regional or national championships in June-July:

• Play your best volleyball: Coaches do attend these tournaments (though they're mostly watching rising juniors/seniors)
• Track your stats: Tournament stats are valuable for emails
• Film your matches: Pull highlights for your recruiting video
• Update your target list: Are there schools at the tournament you want to watch? Introduce yourself to coaches if appropriate

Prepare for Junior Year (The Critical Year)

Junior year is when recruiting gets serious—so use the summer to prepare:

1. Finalize your recruiting video

• By end of summer, you should have a complete recruiting video
• 3-5 min highlight reel + 1-2 sets of full game footage
• Upload to YouTube, include in all emails starting fall of junior year

2. Expand your target list to 30-50 schools

• You started with 10-15 schools as a sophomore—now expand to 30-50
• Include reach, target, and safety schools across all divisions
• Research each school: academics, location, volleyball program, coach

3. Plan your SAT/ACT testing

• Register for fall/spring SAT or ACT: Most students take tests 2-3 times
• Start test prep over summer: Free Khan Academy SAT prep, practice tests
• Know the requirements: D1/D2 have minimum test score requirements (sliding scale based on GPA)

4. Update your spreadsheet

• Review your target school list—remove schools you're no longer interested in
• Add new schools based on your skill development and academic fit
• Mark which coaches you've emailed, which camps you've attended, etc.

Use this checklist to make sure you're on track throughout your sophomore year: