RECRUITMENT

The Waves offers comprehensive resources on the recruitment process for players who are interested in continuing their softball career beyond high school. We do this through recruiting seminars and education, communicating with coaches, leveraging social media, and our partnership with the SportsRecruits platform to build your player profile. Below are some great resources to help assist in your college recruiting journey.

Basic Information

According to NCAA research, over 350,000 female athletes compete in high school softball and of those, just over 20,000 (5.6%) will go on to play at the NCAA DI, DII or DIII level in college. It is important to understand the various levels, eligibility requirements for getting recruited, and how to determine your best fit.

Probability of Competing in College Athletics

NCAA Recruiting Rules

NCSA Softball Recruiting Guide

Find the Right College Softball Team for You

Athletic Scholarships: Everything You Need to Know

NCAA Eligibility

NCAA Division I schools, on average, enroll the most students, manage the largest athletics budgets, offer a wide array of academic programs and provide the most athletics scholarships.

NCAA Division II schools provide growth opportunities through academic achievement, high-level competition and a focus on community engagement.

NCAA Division III schools provide an integrated environment focusing on academic success while offering a competitive athletics environment. If you are planning to attend a Division III school, you do not need to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center.

NCAA Eligibility Center

Recruiting Timeline

Generally speaking, coaches at any division level can communicate with recruits starting Sept. 1 of the athletes’ junior year of high school. For some divisions, coaches can reach out earlier than that.

To slow down early recruiting, the NCAA released a stricter set of rules for Division 1 softball coaches in 2018. These rules prevent D1 coaches from communicating with recruits, their parents, their current coaches or any other third-party about their recruiting before September 1 of the athlete’s junior year of high school.

NCAA Softball Recruiting Rules and Calendar

Division I and II Recruiting Calendars and Guides

Recruiting Resources

The recruiting game has changed with the revolution of the internet enhancing the way student-athletes connect with college coaches. Recruiting has become a proactive process of getting yourself to your dream school. Athletes should take initiative to pursue the options you want as opposed to settling for the options you get.

SportsRecruits Recruiting Guide

SportsRecruits 101: Making the Most of Your Membership

SportsRecruits Webinars

ScoutU Softball Recruiting

NFCA Recruiting Resources

College Research