College Volleyball Recruiting Checklist

12 min read

Recruiting feels overwhelming. There are a million things to do, and if you miss one, you might lose opportunities. This checklist breaks it all down into clear, actionable steps organized by timeline.

Bookmark this page. Check off items as you complete them. Follow this roadmap, and you'll stay ahead of 90% of athletes.

Jump to Your Grade:

Freshman Year Checklist
Sophomore Year Checklist
Junior Year Checklist (CRITICAL)
Senior Year Checklist
Year-Round Checklist
Pre-Email Checklist
Pre-Tournament Checklist
Campus Visit Checklist

Freshman Year Checklist

Foundation Year — Focus on Development

🏐 Volleyball Development

📚 Academics

🎯 Early Recruiting Prep

Goal for Freshman Year: Focus on becoming the best athlete you can be. Build a strong academic foundation. Start learning about the recruiting process. You're NOT behind — you're ahead of most athletes.

Sophomore Year Checklist

Preparation Year — Build Your Profile

🏐 Volleyball Development

📚 Academics

🎯 Recruiting Prep

Goal for Sophomore Year: Build your profile. Register with NCAA. Create a basic highlight video. Start researching schools. Attend a few college camps. You're setting the foundation to start serious recruiting in junior year.

Junior Year Checklist

⚡ CRITICAL YEAR — Peak Recruiting Season

🚨 THIS IS YOUR RECRUITING YEAR

Most college rosters fill during junior year. This is when you need to go ALL IN on recruiting. Your volleyball performance matters, but your VISIBILITY matters more.

Fall Semester (CRITICAL)

Winter/Spring Semester

Summer Before Senior Year

🎯 Junior Year Goal:

Email 100+ coaches. Attend 3-5 showcases. Schedule 5-10 campus visits. Get offers. Commit by summer.

This is the year that determines where you play in college. Everything else is preparation or follow-through. GO ALL IN.

Senior Year Checklist

Finalize & Sign — Make It Official

Fall Semester

Spring Semester

Summer Before College

Goal for Senior Year: Sign your NLI. Maintain grades. Stay healthy. Prepare physically and mentally for college volleyball. Enjoy your last year of high school — you earned this.

Year-Round Checklist (All Grades)

Before You Email a Coach (Checklist)

Before a Tournament/Showcase (Checklist)

Campus Visit Checklist

Questions to Ask Coaches:

Things to Observe:

The Bottom Line

Recruiting is a process, not an event. You can't do everything at once, and that's okay.

Use this checklist as your roadmap. Focus on what matters for your grade level. Check off items as you go. Stay organized. Follow up consistently.

The athletes who get recruited aren't always the most talented — they're the most organized, persistent, and visible.

You've got this.

Ready to Start Checking Boxes?

Get organized, stay consistent, and make recruiting happen.

Start Your Recruiting Journey →