This episode of Down the Line takes a look at the recruiting process through the lense of a collegiate coach with experience at the Division 1, 2, and Junior College levels. My long-time friend and former college teammate, Tim Balice, shares his insights on different aspects of the recruiting process. Tim is currently an assistant volleyball coach at the University of Dayton, a Division 1 program in Dayton, Ohio. We examine the core of what makes up a good email, how long you actually have to impress a coach, and what you must-have in your highlight videos. He even provides us a little behind the scenes feedback about what college coaches look for while they are at a live recruiting event. I hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as I did in creating it. Thank you for being a part of my Tribe.

One of the goals in our Down the Line experience, is to help connect  you with some of our Alumni who had the opportunity to manage their recruiting process with a result of playing volleyball in College. We use their stories to help guide our current athletes down their recruiting journey. I was honored to have the opportunity to catch up with one of our Tribe Alumni, and part of our 2018 graduating class, Shari Stenglein. Shari graduated from a small school in Fort Lauderdale, and then had the chance to play college volleyball in the Ivy League, in one of the biggest cities in the United States. 

One of the most important questions that can be asked in the recruiting process, is What college athletic level is right for you?  Whether you are just starting your recruiting process or making your final decision on where to commit, there are important differences within the various collegiate levels you should consider. In this episode,  long time volleyball coach and your host, Brett Sikora shares differences between the NCAA Division 1, 2, 3, NAIA, and Junior College volleyball experiences. The 3 comparison areas explored are amount of athletic scholarships, recruiting rules, and time commitment during the college experience. The recruiting process can seem overwhelming, but understanding the different levels offer allows you target the right level of schools to find your best fit. 

Volleyball is the #1 most popular team sport for female high school athletes with almost 453,000 athletes. 6% of these athletes have the opportunity to go on and play at the college level, and only 1.2% of high school athletes will get the chance to play at the Division 1 Level. Thankfully, between all the levels, there are over 27,000 collegiate volleyball positions available. These tips will help you avoid the mistakes that can limit your chances, and allow you to take control of your recruiting process.