The Hill School | Aspiring College Athlete Resources

Athletics recruitment can be both exciting and difficult for prospective athletes. Athletes are best supported by the trifecta of parents/guardians, coaches, and college counselors, as working together ensures the best outcome for every athlete. This page contains important information about the college recruitment process. It is important for you to familiarize yourself with it as well as with the recruiting calendar for your particular sport.

Policies and Procedures :

If you wish to have an unofficial transcript and/or standardized test scores sent to a coach, please complete the Unofficial Transcript Request form in the College Counseling Office. Please be sure to provide the coach’s email address and contact information.
Official information cannot be sent to any college until you have completed the Transcript Release Form found in the College Counseling Office. You must complete one form for each individual school.
If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Dave Page, student-athlete college recruitment coordinator, at dpage@thehill.orgor 484-947-3201

Recruitment Timeline (Third Through Sixth Form Years)

The most important component to the college process is the student. Student-athletes need to be proactive in their search for the right school to continue their academic, athletic, and personal growth. We encourage students to use all available resources. Working together with a support system will allow students to take ownership of their college process. The Athletics and College Counseling Offices have worked together to provide this timeline for recruited student-athletes.

Third Form Year

Do your academic best. Grades count. College coaches want to recruit successful student-athletes, not just athletes.
Work on your athletics skills and training. Research and locate summer camps, programs, etc. that will help you continue to develop athletically in your sport. If possible, attend camp at a college you are interested in applying to/attending. Coaches are your best resource for appropriate club teams, tournaments, showcases, etc.
Ask your coaches for an assessment of your abilities. What can you work on both physically and mentally to be a better player? What kind of team player are you? What is my potential for growth within my sport? Accept feedback as a means for growth.
Seek advice from College Counseling about courses to take fourth form year relative to NCAA requirements.
Keep track of your athletic stats, awards received, leadership positions, etc.
Play multiple sports. Be active and engaged.

Fourth Form Year

Schedule an appointment with your college counselor as soon as you are assigned one in January (if needed, counselors are available to meet prior to an assignment being made). Develop an academic plan (including standardized testing) for your Hill experience.
Continue to do your best in the classroom. If you have a goal to possibly compete in Division I or Division II, stay on on course with the NCAA core course requirements for those schools.
Explore summer programs designed to help you address the areas of growth your coach has identified for you as an athlete. Go to camps/showcases. Again, coaches are your best resource when making summer plans.
Begin to craft an athletic resume (please see a sample here) which can be updated as needed and shared with coaches. Work with your coach on a highlight film (what is appropriate, how to send, etc.).
With your college counselor and coach, begin to explore colleges in which you might be interested for both academic and athletic reasons. Familiarize yourself with the admissions requirements of each school. Try to attend summer camps on those campuses.
Seek advice from your college counselor about courses to take fifth form year relative to NCAA requirements and the emerging list of schools expressing interest in you as an athlete.
Sign a Transcript Release Form in the College Counseling Office so that an unofficial transcript may be released to interested coaches.
Keep playing multiple sports.
Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center at the end of the year. Get a clearinghouse number.

Fifth Form Year

Make an appointment with your college counselor to calculate your NCAA Core GPA (different from a Hill GPA) and to finalize an individual standardized testing plan.
Make sure you take the SAT/ACT (and TOEFL if appropriate). Make sure you send those scores to colleges and NCAA using code “9999.”
Ask two teachers for letters of recommendation after consulting with your college counselor.
Meet with your coach to discuss colleges you are interested in and others the coach would suggest. Work with Hill’s coach to create a plan for contacting those college coaches, to discuss getting a film or other supporting examples of your athletic abilities. Update your resume with new academic and athletic accomplishments. Make plans for unofficial visits as appropriate. Work on this list with your parents as well. Students own the process, but parents, counselors, and coaches are important members as well.
Make sure you consult NCAA calendars for recruited athletes. Pay attention to rules and regulations!
Finalize course selection for senior year with your college counselor.
Coaches will most often ask recruited athletes to visit early, research, and apply Early Decision; please make sure you discuss this with both your coach and counselor. Understand that this is a binding agreement; if you are accepted, you are committed to attend. Understanding what financial aid will be available to you is important prior to applying ED - colleges can do an “early read” on what your financial aid package might look like. Net calculators can be found on every institution’s website. These allow families to enter financial information from the previous two years and get an estimate of the financial aid package they can expect to receive based on need. Please work with your college counselor on all financial issues.

Sixth Form Year

Meet with your college counselor and coach together to agree upon best plan moving forward.
Update resume; send to any new schools you are considering. Update your highlight film.
Schedule official visits as appropriate (visits to Division III schools are not considered official).
Work on the Common Application or the school’s individual application if they are not CA members; review the application with your college counselor, including the essay. Beware of deadlines – they are not flexible!
Make sure you complete and file any financial aid paperwork required by each college (FAFSA, CSS Profile, etc.).
Sixth form students have five excused days you may take to visit colleges – unofficially or officially. You must have a parent/guardian contact Mrs. Vassallo in the College Counseling Office (mvassallo@thehill.org) with details of the visit, including date, time, location, and method of transportation. Then you must pick up a college visit form, have it signed by your teachers, coaches, dorm parent, etc., as well as the Dean of Students’ Office. Once done, return the form to College Counseling.

Recruitment Calendars

NCAA member schools have adopted rules to create an equitable recruiting environment that promotes student-athlete well-being. The rules define who may be involved in the recruiting process, when recruiting may occur and the conditions under which recruiting may be conducted. Recruiting rules seek, as much as possible, to control intrusions into the lives of student-athletes.

More information is available at http://www.ncaa.org/student-athletes/resources/recruiting-calendars.

Division I: Sophomore Year

Recruiting Method	Men’s Basketball	Women’s Basketball	Football	Other Sports
Recruiting Materials:	You may receive brochures for camps, questionnaires, NCAA materials and non-athletics recruiting publications. You may begin receiving recruiting materials June 15 after your sophomore year.	You may receive brochures for camps, questionnaires, NCAA materials and non-athletics recruiting publications.	You may receive brochures for camps, questionnaires, NCAA materials and non-athletics recruiting publications.	You may receive brochures for camps, questionnaires, NCAA materials and non-athletics recruiting publications. *Men’s Ice Hockey You may begin receiving recruiting materials January 1 of your sophomore year.
Telephone Call:	Sports other than lacrosse or softball may make calls to the coach at your expense only. College coach can make unlimited calls beginning June 15 after your sophomore year.	You may make calls to the coach at your expense only. College coach cannot call you.	You may make calls to the coach at your expense only. College coach cannot call you.	Sports other than lacrosse and softball may make calls to the coach at your expense only. College coach cannot call you. *Women’s Ice Hockey A college coach may call international college-bound student-athletes once on or after July 7 through July 31 after your sophomore year. *Men’s Ice Hockey May not be made before January 1 of your sophomore year.
Off-Campus Contact:	None allowed.	None allowed.	None allowed.	None allowed. *Men’s Ice Hockey May not be made before August 1 prior to your junior year.
Official Visit:	None allowed.	None allowed.	None allowed.	None allowed.
Unofficial Visit:	You may make an unlimited number of unofficial visits, except during a dead period.	You may make an unlimited number of unofficial visits, except during a dead period or recruiting shutdown period.	You may make an unlimited number of unofficial visits, except during a dead period.	None allowed. Attendance at a member school’s camp or clinic is permissible provided no recruiting conversations take place. *Men’s Ice Hockey Starting January 1 during sophomore year.

Division I: Junior Year

Recruiting Method	Men’s Basketball	Women’s Basketball	Football	Other Sports
Electronic Correspondence (e.g., text messaging, instant messenger, email):	You may begin receiving electronic correspondence June 15 after your sophomore year. Correspondence must be private between you and the coach until you provide a written commitment to the NCAA school.	You may begin receiving electronic correspondence September 1 of your junior year. Correspondence must be private between you and the coach until you provide a written commitment to the NCAA school.	You may begin receiving electronic correspondence September 1 of your junior year. Correspondence must be private between you and the coach until you provide a written commitment to the NCAA school.	All forms of electronic correspondence permissible September 1 of your junior year. Correspondence must be private between you and the coach until you provide a written commitment to the NCAA school.
Recruiting Materials:	Allowed. You may begin receiving recruiting materials June 15 after your sophomore year.	You may begin receiving recruiting materials September 1 of your junior year.	You may begin receiving recruiting materials September 1 of your junior year.	You may begin receiving recruiting materials September 1 of your junior year. *Men’s Ice Hockey You may begin receiving recruiting materials January 1 after your sophomore year.
Telephone Call:	You may make calls to the coach at your expense.	You may make calls to the coach at your expense.	You may make calls to the coach at your expense.	You may make calls to the coach at your expense. *Lacrosse You may not call a coach before September 1 of your junior year. *Softball You may not call a coach before September 1 of your junior year.
College Coaches May Call You:	Unlimited.	Unlimited beginning September 1 of your junior year.	One call from April 15 to May 31 of your junior year. Additional calls may not be made before September 1 of your senior year.	Unlimited beginning September 1 of your junior year. *Swimming & Diving May not be made before July 1 following completion of your junior year or the opening day of classes of your senior year, whichever is earlier.
Off-Campus Contact:	Allowed beginning opening day of classes. Contacts other than April period may only occur at your school. Contacts in April may occur at your school or residence. No contact on the day of a competition. Contacts may not occur during the time of day when classes are in session.	Allowed beginning March 1 of your junior year only at the student’s school or residence. No contact on the day of a competition. Contacts may not occur during the time of day when classes are in session.	None allowed.	Women’s Gymnastics Allowed after your junior year beginning July 15. Men's Ice Hockey Allowed August 1 prior to junior year. *Women’s Ice Hockey Allowed after your junior year beginning July 7. Fencing Allowed after completion of participation in the USA Fencing National Championship and July Challenge and after completion of your junior year. Wrestling and Lacrosse Allowed beginning your junior year after September 1 and only at the student’s school or residence. Softball Allowed beginning your junior year after September 1. All Other Sports Allowed beginning July 1 after your junior year.
Official Visit:	Allowed January 1 of your junior year. You may make only one official visit per college and up to a maximum of five official visits to Division I colleges during this period. There is no limit to official visits to Division II colleges.	Allowed April of your junior year beginning Thursday following the Women’s Final Four®	Allowed April 1 of your junior year through the Sunday before the last Wednesday in June, provided the official visit is not in conjunction with participation in an institutional camp or clinic.	Not allowed before September 1 of your junior year or during any dead period.
Unofficial Visit:	You may make an unlimited number of unofficial visits, except during a dead period. College coaches are not allowed to be involved in a recruit's unofficial visit until after September 1.	You may make an unlimited number of unofficial visits, except during a dead period or recruiting shutdown period.	You may make an unlimited number of unofficial visits, except during a dead period.	Not allowed before September 1 of your junior year or during any dead period. *Men's Ice Hockey Allowed January 1 prior to sophomore year.

Division I: Senior Year

Recruiting Method	Men’s Basketball	Women’s Basketball	Football	Other Sports
Electronic Correspondence (e.g., text messaging, instant messenger, email):	You may begin receiving electronic correspondence June 15 after your sophomore year. Correspondence must be private between you and the coach until you provide a written commitment to the NCAA school.	You may begin receiving electronic correspondence September 1 of your junior year. Correspondence must be private between you and the coach until you provide a written commitment to the NCAA school.	You may begin receiving electronic correspondence September 1 of your junior year. Correspondence must be private between you and the coach until you provide a written commitment to the NCAA school.	All forms of electronic correspondence permissible September 1 of your junior year. Correspondence must be private between you and the coach until you provide a written commitment to the NCAA school.
Recruiting Materials:	Allowed.	Allowed.	Allowed.	Allowed.
Telephone Call:	You may make calls to the coach at your expense.	You may make calls to the coach at your expense.	You may make calls to the coach at your expense.	You may make calls to the coach at your expense.
College Coaches May Call You:	Unlimited.	Unlimited.	Once per week beginning September 1 outside contact period. Unlimited calls after you sign an NLI, written offer of admission and/or financial aid; OR after the college receives a financial deposit from you. Unlimited during contact period.	Unlimited.
Off-Campus Contact:	Allowed.	Allowed.	Allowed beginning July 1 prior to your senior year.	Allowed.
Official Visit:	You may make five official visits starting January 1 of junior year and through October 15 after your high school graduation. You may make only one official visit per college and up to a maximum of five official visits to Division I colleges during this period. There is no limit to official visits to Division II colleges.	You may make only one official visit per college and up to a maximum of five official visits to Division I colleges during this period. There is no limit to official visits to Division II colleges. Official visits start the Thursday after NCAA Division Championship game of a prospects junior year.	Allowed starting April 1 of a prospects junior year through the Sunday before the last Wednesday in June. You may make only one official visit per college and up to a maximum of five official visits to Division I colleges. There is no limit to official visits to Division II colleges.	Not allowed during any dead period. You may make only one official visit per college and up to a maximum of five official visits to Division I colleges. There is no limit to official visits to Division II colleges.
Unofficial Visit:	You may make an unlimited number of unofficial visits, except during a dead period.	You may make an unlimited number of unofficial visits, except during a dead period or recruiting shutdown period.	You may make an unlimited number of unofficial visits, except during a dead period.	You may make an unlimited number of unofficial visits, except during a dead period.
How Often Can a Coach See Me or Talk to Me Off the College’s Campus?	A college coach may contact you or your family members (including evaluating you off the college’s campus) seven times. Unlimited number of contacts and evaluation after you sign an NLI, written offer of admission and/or financial aid; OR after the college receives a financial deposit from you.	A college coach may contact you or your family members (including evaluating you off the college’s campus) seven times. Unlimited number of contacts and evaluation after you sign an NLI, written offer of admission and/or financial aid; OR after the college receives a financial deposit from you.	A college coach may contact you or your family members (including evaluating you off the college’s campus) six times. One evaluation during September, October and November. Two evaluations — April 15 through May 31 (once to evaluate athletics ability and once to evaluate academic qualifications). Unlimited number of contacts and evaluation after you sign an NLI, written offer of admission and/or financial aid; OR after the college receives a financial deposit from you.	A college coach may contact you or your family members not more than three times. Unlimited number of contacts and evaluation after you sign an NLI, written offer of admission and/or financial aid; OR after the college receives a financial deposit from you.

Division II

Division II

Recruiting Method	Division II
Recruiting Materials:	You may receive brochures for camps, questionnaires, NCAA materials and non-athletics recruiting publications at any time. A coach may begin sending you printed recruiting materials June 15 before your junior year in high school.
Telephone Calls:	No limit on number of calls by college coach beginning June 15 before your junior year. You may make calls to the coach at your expense.
Off-Campus Contact:	A college coach can have contact with you or your parents/ legal guardians off the college’s campus beginning June 15 before your junior year. No limit on number of contacts off campus.
Official Visit:	You may make official visits starting June 15 before your junior year. There is no limit to official visits to Division II colleges.
Unofficial Visit:	You may make an unlimited number of unofficial visits any time, except during a dead period.

Division III

Division III

Recruiting Method	Division III
Recruiting Materials:	You may receive printed materials any time.
Telephone Calls:	No limit on number of calls or when they can be made by the college coach. You may make calls to the coach at your expense.
Off-Campus Contact:	A college coach may begin to have contact with you or your relatives or guardians off the college’s campus after your sophomore year. No limit on number of off-campus contacts
Official Visit:	You may make official visits starting January 1 of your junior year. There is no limit to official visits to Division III colleges.
Unofficial Visit:	You may make an unlimited number of unofficial visits any time.

College Recruiting Resources

Policies and Procedures :

Recruitment Timeline (Third Through Sixth Form Years)

Third Form Year

Fourth Form Year

Fifth Form Year

Sixth Form Year

Recruitment Calendars

Division I: Sophomore Year

Division I: Junior Year

Division I: Senior Year

Division II

Division III

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