College Recruitment Timeline - Part 2

What Rising 11th and 12th Graders Should Know...

This article outlines the major milestones and to-do’s for players in the 11th and 12th grades.

A similar review of this information can be found in the Ping American College Golf Guide and thee NCAA's Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete.

11th Grade

Key Terms: SAT, ACT, TOEFL, NCAA Eligibility Center and Contact

Student-Athlete Responsibilities:

Prospects are encouraged to take the SAT and ACT exams early and as often as necessary to earn the necessary scores for the university they are interested in attending. There is no limit on the number of times a prospect may sit for the exams and to determine a student’s overall SAT score, the aggregate of their best math, critical reading and writing sections is compiled ("super score"). Note the SAT is undergoing major revisions for the class of 2017 and beyond.

International students should prepare for and take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) as most universities will require international students to provide a TOEFL score. Visit the following websites for additional information on these three key exams:

• For the SAT, visit The College Board website

• For the ACT, visit the ACT website

• For the TOEFL, visit the TOEFL website

Students should register with the The NCAA Eligibility Center. after the beginning of their junior year in high school. After completing their junior year a current high school transcript should be sent to the Eligibility Center including their academic progress through three years in high school and should include their SAT/ACT test scores. Students are encouraged to elect on the test applications to have their scores forwarded directly to the Eligibility Center by marking "9999" on each test application. For additional information regarding this visit the The NCAA Eligibility Center.

Applicable NCAA Rules:

NCAA Division I college coaches may now call, text, write or email prospective student-athletes at their discretion beginning September 1st of the prospect’s junior year in high school. A total of three in-person, off-campus contacts may be made with a prospect or the prospect’s parents no sooner than July 1st following the prospect’s junior year in high school. These contacts typically occur at tournaments or during in-home visits. For recruiting purposes, a contact is any face-to-face encounter between a prospect and a coach that exceeds a casual greeting. Additional information regarding the specific rules and regulations that apply to college coaches and prospective student-athletes can be found in the NCAA's Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete.

12th Grade

Key Terms: National Letter of Intent and Official Visit

Student-Athlete Responsibilities:

Prospective student-athletes are permitted to participate in no more than five official visits during their senior year of high school. As college coaches are now making offers to sophomores and juniors in high school, official visits are far less common. In many cases, prospects who have recently made verbal commitments to attend a school will decide to take an official visit to their school of choice during their senior year. An official visit is one that is arranged and financed by the host school. Official visits can last up to 48 hours. Additional schools may be visited on an “unofficial” basis as mentioned above.

Seniors may only sign a National Letter of Intent during one of the two designated signing periods. The early period occurs for one week in mid-November whereas the regular period begins in mid-April and continues until August 1st. To be eligible to sign the NLI, prospects must be offered an Athletic Grant in Aid during the signing period. For additional information read about the National Letter of Intent.

Applicable NCAA Rules:

Students are allowed five official visits (financed by the school) during their senior year. Coaches can call, text, email or write prospects at their discretion beginning September 1st of the prospect’s junior year in high school and a total of three face-to-face contacts can be made between the coach and the prospect no sooner than July 1st following the prospect’s junior year in high school. On-campus visits do not count towards this limit.