NCAA

What is the Difference Between a Division I (D1), Division II (D2) and a Division III (D3) School?

D1 consists of the largest schools that also have big budgets to support their athletic programs. Within D1, there are high major, mid major and lower D1 conferences. D1 schools can offer full scholarships that cover everything including tuition, room & board, books, dining plans etc. The majority of schools at this level have very high budgets. Athletes are provided with lots of gear and new uniforms yearly. Training facilities are considered to be top notch with the best trainers available. Stadiums/fields will seat thousands of fans. There is usually lots of traveling around the country with intense schedules that push student athletes to their limits. Athletes have very few breaks during the season and off season. Some athletes attend summer school to keep training, depending on the sport. There are tutors provided and advisors to help you stay on top of school work. North Carolina D1 schools include: App State, Davidson College , Duke University, East Carolina, UNC Chapel Hill, UNC Charlotte, UNC Greensboro, NC State, North Carolina A&T, North Carolina Central University, Wake Forest University and Western Carolina

D2 consists of pretty solid teams but the schools tend to be smaller and have lower budgets. D2 schools offer some full scholarships and a lot of partial scholarships. Some schools have larger budgets than others, but the highest budgets at this level are significantly lower than the highest D1 budgets. This level has many good coaches but not nearly as many assistants. Depending on what conference you are in, traveling distances are shorter, breaks are a little longer and athletes are not usually required to come in over the summer. The off season is less intense compared to D1, but not by much. Some schools will have solid tutoring help, while at others you will be on your own. North Carolina D2 schools include: Barton College, Belmont Abbey, Catawba College, Chowan University, Elizabeth City State University, UNC Pembroke and Wingate University

D3 is the lowest division and is comprised of many small private universities with fairly low budgets. D3 schools do not offer any athletic scholarships but can provide financial aid packages. Budgets tend to be minimal for athletics. These programs have fewer assistant coaches and their head coaches tend to be younger coaches who are looking to move their way up. On the flip side, some are older and have been there for awhile. This division provides good competition from an athletic standpoint. Traveling will be close, off seasons will be more laid back and summers will be free for jobs or internships. There may or may not be tutors provided but with less of a time constraint and travel schedule this isn't as much of an issue. North Carolina D3 schools include: Brevard College, Greensboro College, Guilford College, Meredith College, Methodist University, NC Wesleyan College, Pfeiffer University, and Warren Wilson College

How do I Start This Process?

It can be very overwhelming to start the recruiting process. Questions range from when should you start to how do you even go about getting "noticed" by college coaches? For most athletes, it is recommended that they have some film from playing a full season of a varsity sport to start the process. However, it varies by sport and the level of competition. During your freshman and sophomore year, a student athlete should create and contact via email a list of 20-40 colleges from various levels. You may be asking, why should the student athlete contact a coach who can't respond per NCAA rules? Well, when the NCAA recruiting rules allow coaches to contact you, you will already be on their radar. Once your sport's contact period begins, be sure to follow up communications with a phone call. There are three major criteria about a college to consider when creating this list:

1. Academic and Social Atmosphere - Finding a fit academically and socially really boils down to what type of environment the student athlete can best succeed in. Do they want a large campus? Small campus? Urban setting? You will potentially be spending four years at this school, it is imperative that you like where you live and possibly play!

2. Career Opportunities - Explore what the school has to offer via internships, study abroad and experiences. Figure out prior to focusing on a roster spot if the school is right for you in the long run.

3. Location - The physical location of a school can be very important, especially if you play an outdoor sport like soccer, softball or lacrosse. Playing in the Alabama heat is different than playing in Boston or Chicago. Also think about whether you'll need a car on campus and just how far away from home you'll be. If you're used to your parents cheering you on at every game and are now at a school that's a 3 hour plane ride away, you need to make sure you're OK with that.

Expand your search outside of D1 schools. Not all talented high school student athletes can play or receive offers at the D1 level - don't limit yourself!! Also, make sure you get to know the college beyond the athletic program. Does it pass what is called the broken leg test? In other words, if the unthinkable happens and the student athlete is injured and cannot play anymore, is this school still the right school for you?

What do I Send When Contacting a Coach?

First, make sure your email address reflects who you are now and is professional. An address of hellokittyfan23@xyz.com or im_da_man@xyz.com will not set the right tone out of the gate. College coaches are going to build their recruiting classes through online research, attending events and communicating with athletes' coaches. Having an online profile is critical for athletes to get evaluated early. MAKE SURE YOUR EMAILS ARE GRAMMATICALLY CORRECT, HAVE PROPER SPELLING AND NO "TWEET SPEAK" ABBREVIATIONS!!! Put your best foot forward. Parents can help proofread but do not have a parent make initial (or any for that matter) contact. Do not copy and paste your emails; make them as personal as possible to that particular coach you are writing to; discuss a recent win they've had or potential academic program that interests you. You can find this information usually by just going to the college's website. DO NOT USE A RECRUITING SERVICE. Coaches want to hear from YOU, not a form letter from a business. Include the following in your email:

• Full name of student athlete and parents

• Contact info: mailing address, email address and cell phone number

• High school graduation year

• High school/club coach contact information

• Position, team colours and jersey number

• Current academic information

• Academic major interests

• Any sport specific stats

• Upcoming game schedule

• Link to player's resume and video footage

• What is most appealing about the university?

Create a one page player resume to attach to the email so a coach can print and carry it with them. It should include the list above, an updated headshot, social media links, community involvement, academic and athletic achievements, personal and athletic references and basic stats. Do not send any files that are over 1MB.

Contact a coach with updates once every couple months your freshman/sophomore years, about once a month your junior year and every couple weeks senior year. Your initial video should be about 5-8 minutes long. The video is often the first step in getting a coach to come see you play live. They rarely will watch more than the first five minutes, so make sure those first plays represent your best competition footage. Show about 30 seconds before and after the play so the coach has a good feel for how the play was set up and what happened after.