4-YEAR RECRUITING TIMELINE™
Year-by-year action plan from freshman foundation to signing day.
Football recruiting moves early — many D1 offers come in 9th and 10th grade. Start outreach by sophomore year.
Freshman Year
FOUNDATIONBuild the foundation. Academics first. Get on varsity as fast as possible. Start your film library.
Earn strong grades — GPA is the most important recruiting asset you have
Get on the varsity roster if possible — JV film doesn't recruit
Start recording every game and practice — build your film library early
Create a Hudl account and organize your film
Research what division levels look like athletically and academically
Play your club/AAU season and get exposure at tournaments
Identify 2-3 coaches at your school who will advocate for you
Start following college programs you're interested in on social media
Research NCAA, NAIA, and JUCO eligibility requirements
Take the PSAT if available — start preparing for standardized tests
Attend college camps — this is the best way to get in front of coaches early
Train specifically for your position — speed, strength, skill development
Begin building your initial school list (broad — 50+ schools)
Set up a professional email address for recruiting communication
Create your X/Twitter profile with a professional bio
NCAA D1 coaches can begin contact (most sports)
Official visits can begin (football)
Early signing period (football)
Late signing period (most sports)
This platform is an independent educational resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to the NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA, or any college or university. All program counts, scholarship limits, and eligibility data are sourced from publicly available NCAA publications and are provided for general informational purposes only. NCAA rules, scholarship limits, and eligibility requirements change regularly. Always verify current rules directly with the NCAA Eligibility Center and the compliance office at any school you are considering. Proactive Athletes makes no warranties, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information presented. Use of this resource does not constitute legal, academic, or professional recruiting advice. Proactive Athletes shall not be held liable for decisions made based on information contained herein.
4-YEAR RECRUITING TIMELINE™
Year-by-year action plan from freshman foundation to signing day.
Football recruiting moves early — many D1 offers come in 9th and 10th grade. Start outreach by sophomore year.
Freshman Year
FOUNDATIONBuild the foundation. Academics first. Get on varsity as fast as possible. Start your film library.
Earn strong grades — GPA is the most important recruiting asset you have
Get on the varsity roster if possible — JV film doesn't recruit
Start recording every game and practice — build your film library early
Create a Hudl account and organize your film
Research what division levels look like athletically and academically
Play your club/AAU season and get exposure at tournaments
Identify 2-3 coaches at your school who will advocate for you
Start following college programs you're interested in on social media
Research NCAA, NAIA, and JUCO eligibility requirements
Take the PSAT if available — start preparing for standardized tests
Attend college camps — this is the best way to get in front of coaches early
Train specifically for your position — speed, strength, skill development
Begin building your initial school list (broad — 50+ schools)
Set up a professional email address for recruiting communication
Create your X/Twitter profile with a professional bio
NCAA D1 coaches can begin contact (most sports)
Official visits can begin (football)
Early signing period (football)
Late signing period (most sports)
This platform is an independent educational resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to the NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA, or any college or university. All program counts, scholarship limits, and eligibility data are sourced from publicly available NCAA publications and are provided for general informational purposes only. NCAA rules, scholarship limits, and eligibility requirements change regularly. Always verify current rules directly with the NCAA Eligibility Center and the compliance office at any school you are considering. Proactive Athletes makes no warranties, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information presented. Use of this resource does not constitute legal, academic, or professional recruiting advice. Proactive Athletes shall not be held liable for decisions made based on information contained herein.