Do Division III Schools Recruit?
Division I, II, and III sports programs as a whole represent a wide variety of competition levels, sizes, and overall environments. While Division I and II programs are more popular in the media, the majority of college athletes compete at the Division III level. But, do Division III schools even recruit?
The answer is yes, Division III schools do recruit, but Division III programs are governed by largely separate rules and guidelines than other divisions, so the recruiting process and general opportunities available in Division III can be very different. Division III programs face far less restriction from the NCAA in terms of recruitment guidelines and competitive standards, which offers more freedom throughout the process but can also limit the capabilities of these schools.
If you’re interested in pursuing or considering Division III athletics, it’s important to understand the general recruiting process, the NCAA rules and regulations, and the nuances of Division III.
Division III Recruiting Rules
At a glance, the Division III recruiting process is much like any other. However, the rules that apply to Division III programs are far more lenient than Division I and Division II. Below we’ve covered the basics for contact and evaluation in Division III.
Recruiting Materials: Programs can send recruiting materials to athletes at any time, including brochures, interest letters, camp invitations, school informational, and more.
Phone Calls and Email: Division III programs can contact athletes via phone call or email at any time without restriction.
Off-Campus Contact: Coaches may begin engaging off-campus communication after an athlete’s sophomore year of high school.
Official Visits: Starting January 1 of junior year of high school, athletes may begin making official visits to Division III campuses. Athletes are allotted one visit per school but may visit as many schools as they would like.
Unofficial Visits: There are no restrictions on unofficial visits; they can be made at any time and as frequently as desired.
It’s important that you understand the boundaries in place for Division III recruiting. The NCAA places the most relaxed rules in the Division III process, so there are plenty of opportunities to take advantage of. Make sure you use these freedoms to communicate with coaches as early as possible and get yourself on the radar in a proactive manner.
The Division III Recruiting Process: What To Expect And Tips For Success
After understanding some specific rules of Division III recruiting, you might be wondering what the entire recruiting process will look like. Division III requires you to gain interest from programs, engage with these opportunities, and ultimately sign an offer.
Evaluation: The first step to getting recruited in any division is getting noticed and providing coaches with the chance to evaluate your playing. This could come in the form of sharing highlight videos, attending college camps and showcases, or having coaches watch you play in person at high school games. Division I and Division II coaches must abide by specific “evaluation periods,” but Division III programs are permitted to conduct evaluation at any time, so you should use this to your advantage by trying to get in the recruiting spotlight as early and frequently as possible.
Communication: Again, the NCAA rules for telephone and email communication in Division III are very relaxed, so it’s important to be proactive and engage with coaches as early as possible. Reach out via email and phone call to as many schools as possible expressing interest. There are no restrictions on athletes or coaches initiating contact with one another in Division III, so be prepared for coaches to reach out to you too, and make sure to be enthusiastic and timely in responding. Communication is a key to recruiting as it paves the way for strong relationship building – proactive communication can lead to more formal engagement, off-campus contact (when permissible), and hopefully material opportunities further into recruitment.
Visits and Research: You should plan to take both unofficial and official visits as a Division III recruit. You can take as many unofficial visits to schools as you would like, so if possible use this opportunity to do your research, learn more about the school and athletic program, and try to gauge if it might be the right fit for you. Similarly, official visits will allow you to get a well-informed perspective of the athletic and academic environment, meet players and coaching staff, and understand the experience that the program will offer. Visiting schools and learning as much as possible is extremely important because you’re going to be committing four years of your life, so you’ll want a complete sense of the environment, the people (coaches, teammates, professors and other students), and the opportunities available off the playing field.
Academic Eligibility: Academic eligibility in Division III is far different from Division I and II. In Division I and II, the NCAA determines which athletes are academically eligible to enroll in college based on transcripts, GPA, and test scores. However, Division III schools have the freedom to determine academically eligibility based on their own admissions standards and requirements, which can present varying restrictions and privileges, depending on the school and its individual decisions.
Signing An Offer: Division III athletes do sign offer letters, but these written commitments are different than those in Division I and II and have their own implications. Division III programs are permitted to use NCAA-provided, non-binding, celebratory signing forms as a way to officialize a prospective athlete’s intent to play at the school. These forms may be signed at any point after the athlete has been accepted to the institution.
Scholarships?: There are no athletic scholarships in Division III. However, you shouldn’t let this completely deter you from Division III recruiting because there is in fact a fair amount of financial support available at these programs, just without the titles of “athletic scholarship.” Division III programs are able to offer academic scholarships, need-based aid, and various other grants based on achievements and personal qualities (leadership, service, etc.). For this reason, academics play a huge role in Division III recruiting. While Division III schools vary greatly in terms of academic prestige, strong grades and test scores will alleviate difficulty with admissions and open up potential scholarship opportunities.
Division III recruiting is much like any other recruiting. It requires you to take responsibility, be proactive, gather interest, communicate, and build relationships with programs in the pursuit of a roster spot.
Things To Keep In Mind
NCAA Regulations In Division III: Remember that the NCAA is far less involved with the Division III recruiting process. The rules surrounding communication between coaches and prospective players are very moderate, and the NCAA allows for Division III schools to impose academic eligibility standards at their own discretion, among other freedoms. Be knowledgeable of these factors so that you’re prepared and in control of different circumstances throughout your process.
Create Opportunities And Be Proactive: In recruiting, the one constant in all divisions is the need to take responsibility and be proactive in your communication and engagement with programs. More so, lenient NCAA standards in Division III offer even more ability to take action and seek opportunities. Reach out to as many coaches and recruiting supporters as possible, share your highlights across various audiences, and try to build relationships in pursuit of landing an offer.
Academics: Academics are always important in recruiting, but they can play an even larger role in Division III. In the absence of athletic scholarships, strong academics can provide opportunities for various types of financial aid. Additionally, Division III is the largest collegiate sector with over 400 schools. As a result, academics range across a wide spectrum in terms of acceptance rates and overall difficulty. Having a well-qualified academic background will position you for success in the recruiting process as well as in your actual collegiate experience.