This document outlines a checklist for freshman student-athletes to follow to maximize their academic, athletic, and recruiting success. In the fall semester, students are advised to order the NCAA guide, set academic goals using the Division I worksheet, meet with their guidance counselor, and create a target list of 25 colleges. They should maintain a 3.0 GPA, only take honors classes if an A/B is possible, and get help if struggling in classes. Athletically, they should research benchmarks and set goals. In marketing themselves, students should build an athlete portfolio, introduce themselves to coaches, and begin corresponding with coaches. The checklist provides ongoing goals and tasks for academics, athletics, and recruiting throughout the freshman year

1. Freshman Checklist
ACADEMICS
FALL
1. Order or download and print a copy of the NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-
Athlete and read thoroughly.
2. Use Division I core course worksheet inside NCAA Guide to set specific academic goals
and plan core course schedule. Even if you do not expect to play Division I athletics it is
still smart to use the Division I worksheet so you are prepared in case things change.
3. Meet with high school guidance counselor to inform him/her of your goal to play
college athletics and to review your core course curriculum to make sure it matches
with the NCAA approved core courses.
4. Fill out Initial Target List with 25 colleges you want to pursue (5 D-I, 5 D-II, 5 D-III, 5
NAIA, 5 Junior Colleges.
ALL YEAR GOALS
1. Maintain a minimum of a 3.0 GPA.
2. Take honors classes only if an A or B average is possible.
3. Seek help from your teacher or a tutor if you are struggling in any subject area.

2. Freshman Checklist
ACADEMICS
Order or download and print a copy of the NCAA Guide for the College -Bound Student-
Athlete and read thoroughly.
Use Division I core course worksheet inside NCAA Guide to set specific academic goals and
plan core course schedule. Even if you do not expect to play Division I athletics it is still smart
to use the Division I worksheet so you are prepared in case things change.
Meet with high school guidance counselor to inform him/her of your goal to play college
athletics and to review your core course curriculum to make sure it matches with the NCAA
approved core courses.
Fill out Initial Target List with 25 colleges you want to pursue (5 D-I, 5 D-II, 5 D-III, 5 NAIA, 5
Junior College.
Maintain a minimum of a 3.0 GPA
Take honors classes only if an A or B average is possible.
Seek help from your teacher or a tutor if you are struggling in any subject area.

3. Freshman Checklist
ATHLETICS
FALL
1. Research athletic benchmarks and use Recruiting Guidelines to set specific athletic
goals.
IN SEASON GOALS
1. Ask an objective qualified third-party (such as a high school or club coach) for
honest feedback about your strengths and weaknesses.
2. Join a club or team outside of the high school that will provide more
competition and better coaching (if applicable for your sport).
3. Alert high school and/or club coach(es) of goal to play college athletics.
“VISION WITHOUT ACTION IS A DREAM. ACTION WITHOUT VISION IS AIMLESS.
VISION WITH ACTION WILL ACHIEVE. “
AUTHOR UNKNOWN

4. Freshman Checklist
ATHLETICS
Research athletic benchmarks and use Recruiting Guidelines to set specific athletic goals.
Ask an objective qualified third-party (such as a high school or club coach) for honest
feedback about your strengths and weaknesses.
Join a club or team outside of the high school that will provide more competition and
better coaching (if applicable for your sport).
Alert high school and/or club coach(es) of goal to play college athletics.
“VISION WITHOUT ACTION IS A DREAM. ACTION WITHOUT VISION IS AIMLESS.
VISION WITH ACTION WILL ACHIEVE. “
AUTHOR UNKNOWN

5. Freshman Checklist
MARKETING
SUMMER ALL YEAR GOALS
1. Prepare for phone conversations by role-playing with your 1. Begin and update Correspondence Log.
parents. Review the questions the coach is likely to ask.
FALL 2. Respond to all communication from college coaches at all levels.
Add all contacts to your Correspondence Log and email folders.
1. Begin building athlete portfolio to present to college 3. If interested in a specific college who did not send recruitment
coaches. information, contact the coach, introduce yourself and fill out a
questionnaire if you meet the minimum academic and athletic
2. Introduce yourself to 3-5 college coaches at levels you qualifications (remember, academic requirements might be
realistically qualify for based on recruiting guidelines. Start different because you are an athlete).
low and you can always move up through the divisions.
4. Email at least ten college coaches from your initial target list. Start
3. Check personal voicemails and any social networking sites with two coaches from local colleges, followed by four coaches
(e.g. MySpace, Facebook, etc.). Make sure you always from Division III, NAIA or junior colleges.
appear mature and there is no inappropriate information
4.
on public display.
Add folders in email to organize correspondence from
IN SEASON
1. Start to accumulate game or skills footage according to sport
college coaches. Organize folders by division, recruiting
specific video guidelines.
category and college.
SPRING 2. Demonstrate good sportsmanship after ever contest/game/match
and win or lose shake hands with all opposing coaches and
officials. Look them in the eye and say "nice game".
1. Call two college coaches from your initial target list. Once
you are comfortable on the phone, call at least two coaches
from top-choice programs where you qualify academically
and athletically.

6. Freshman Checklist
MARKETING
Prepare for phone conversations by role-playing with your parents.
Review the questions the coach is likely to ask.
Begin building athlete portfolio to present to college coaches.
Introduce yourself to 3-5 college coaches at levels you realistically qualify for based on recruiting guidelines.
Start low and you can always move up through the divisions.
Check personal voicemails and any social networking sites (e.g. MySpace, Facebook, etc.).
Make sure you always appear mature and there is no inappropriate information on public display.
Add folders in email to organize correspondence from college coaches.
Organize folders by division, recruiting category and college.
Call two college coaches from your initial target list. Once you are comfortable on the phone,
call at least two coaches from top-choice programs where you qualify academically and athletically.
Begin and update Correspondence Log.
Respond to all communication from college coaches at all levels.
Add all contacts to your Correspondence Log and email folders.
If interested in a specific college who did not send recruitment information, contact the coach,
introduce yourself and fill out a questionnaire if you meet the minimum academic and athletic qualifications
(remember, academic requirements might be different because you are an athlete).
Email at least ten college coaches from your initial target list. Start with two coaches from local colleges,
followed by four coaches from Division III, NAIA or junior colleges.
Start to accumulate game or skills footage according to sport specific video guidelines.
Demonstrate good sportsmanship after ever contest/game/match and win or lose shake hands
with all opposing coaches and officials. Look them in the eye and say "nice game".

7. Freshman Checklist
SUMMER ACTIVITIES
1. Plan at least one unofficial visit to a local college campus. Contact coaches in advance to
schedule a meeting.
2. Plan at least two unofficial visits to a Division I or II campus, if interested in attending a
Division I or II program, and visit at least two Division III, NAIA or junior college
campuses. Regardless of division, always contact coaches in advance to schedule a
meeting.
3. Attend local camps/combines to see how you compare with other high school athletes.
STEER CLEAR OF SITUATIONS THAT COULD JEAPORDIZE YOUR GOALS.
ALWAYS MAKE RESPOSIBLE CHOICES.

8. Freshman Checklist
SUMMER ACTIVITIES
Plan at least one unofficial visit to a local college campus.
Contact coaches in advance to schedule a meeting.
Plan at least two unofficial visits to a Division I or II campus, if interested in attending a
Division I or II program, and visit at least two Division III, NAIA or junior college campuses.
Regardless of division, always contact coaches in advance to schedule a meeting.
Attend local camps/combines to see how you compare with other high school athletes.
STEER CLEAR OF SITUATIONS THAT COULD JEAPORDIZE YOUR GOALS.
ALWAYS MAKE RESPOSIBLE CHOICES.