How to Get Recruited for College Track and Field
“If you are good enough, you will get recruited” it is a belief held by many track and field recruits, but unfortunately it is not the reality. College track and field coaches know what types of athletes they want, but their real problem, is where they can go to find them. And with thousands of high school track athletes, it is just not possible for coaches to find every athlete who might be a good fit for them.
The most competitive college track and field programs throughout Division 1 have the resources to recruit any athlete they want. But they are often looking for a very specific type of athlete. Coaches of smaller programs “and there are a lot more smaller programs than bigger ones”, do not have the resources to find every athlete that might fit on their team. The recruiting game for most track & field recruits will be about contacting the right schools to get offers you are happy with.
To get recruited for college track & field you will likely need to promote yourself to the right coaches. This is why only 5.6 percent of high school men and 6.8 percent of high school women compete on college track and field teams. But you can beat those odds, because the secret to winning the recruiting game is to know how the game is played.
Know how College Track and Field coaches recruit their team
Scholarship Limits for Men’s Track & Field (includes Cross Country)
NCAA D1: 12.6 (equivalency)
NCAA D2: 12.6 (equivalency)
NCAA D3: Non-Scholarship
NAIA: 12 (equivalency)
Scholarship Limits for Women’s Track & Field (includes Cross Country)
NCAA D1: 18 (equivalency)
NCAA D2: 12.6 (equivalency)
NCAA D3: Non-Scholarship
NAIA: 12 (equivalency)
When does college track & field recruiting start?
College Track & Field recruiting does not start as early as many other sports, because it is a sport that is heavily rooted in an athlete’s physical development aside from their skill. Coaches will look to identify top talent by sophomore year of high school, and continue adding recruits to their target list through junior year.
How do college track & field coaches identify top talent?
Your performances, starting with your personal bests in each event will likely be the first things that a coach notices. The programs at the top of Division 1 will look for recruits who have already recorded great performances and have great success either at the high school level, or AAU and USATF level. These athletes will effectively set the standard for recruiting since they will normally be ranked as the top recruits.
How do college track & field coaches build a target list?
Coaches rank their recruits based on a comparative analysis of who is the best athlete to recruit in each event. Coaches will essentially look to see, who did you go up against, and who did you beat to determine how good a recruit is. The more dominant an athlete has proven against their peers, the more coaches will be looking to recruit them. The more events that you are able to do at a high level, the more desirable you will become as a recruit.
How important is high school track & field for recruiting?
State Championship qualification or travel Track & Field competitions are where a coach is most likely to see you in person. But many coaches know that they will not see many of their recruits compete initially. If you are not being approached by college coaches, you will likely need to reach out directly, gathering as much information as you can about your career to show coaches you have what it takes to help their team’s win.
KNOW THE GAME. WIN THE GAME.
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