Resources

Recruiting guides for parents and athletes.

Straight answers to the recruiting questions families actually ask, from when coaches can call to what a service should cost. Every number is sourced, and nothing here is a sales pitch.

Start with your situation Browse every guide

Start where you are.

Most families arrive with one of three situations. Pick the one closest to yours and read the guides in order.

My athlete is a sophomore and no coach has reached out

Normal, and early. Learn when coaches may first contact you, what to do each year, and how eligibility works.

A coach replied and we do not know what to do next

Good news. Learn how to write back, keep the conversation organized, and understand what an offer might mean.

We got a sales call from a big recruiting service

Slow down before you sign. Learn what a service really does, what it should cost, and the questions to ask.

Browse every guide

Each one answers a single recruiting question with facts you can check. Pick the question closest to where your family is right now.

01When do college coaches start recruiting?The contact date for each sport, and what your athlete can do before a coach is allowed to call.Sophomore, no contact yetSeptember 8, 2026 02How do you email a college coach?What to write, a full sample email from a sample athlete, and a follow-up cadence that respects a coach's time.A coach repliedSeptember 8, 2026 03Do you need a recruiting service?What families can do alone, where a service earns its fee, and the questions to ask before you pay anyone.Sales callSeptember 8, 2026 04D1 vs D2 vs D3 scholarships, explainedHow athletic aid works at each NCAA level, and what the House settlement changed at Division I.A coach repliedSeptember 8, 2026 05NCAA Eligibility Center: what parents need to knowWhat the Eligibility Center checks, when to register, and the parent's role in core courses and amateurism.Sophomore, no contact yetSeptember 8, 2026 06The recruiting timeline from freshman to senior yearWhat to do each year of high school so nothing important slips through the cracks.Sophomore, no contact yetSeptember 8, 2026 07What is a dedicated recruiting email address?Why a separate address for coaches helps deliverability, organization, and parent visibility.A coach repliedSeptember 8, 2026 08How much do recruiting services cost?The four ways recruiting help is priced, what each buys, and how to compare cost honestly.Sales callSeptember 8, 2026

Questions about these guides

Who are these guides for?

Mostly parents, with athletes in mind too. Each guide answers a real recruiting question in plain language, using only facts we can source, so you can act on it the same day you read it.

Where do the numbers in these guides come from?

Every figure comes from a named source, such as the NCAA, and is shown with a link under the paragraph or table. We do not publish invented statistics, reply rates, or testimonials.

Do I need to hire ScoutBridge to use these?

No. The guides are free and written to help whether or not you ever pay us. If you would rather have the outreach handled by a real person, that is what ScoutBridge does for one flat monthly price.

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When do college coaches start recruiting?How do you email a college coach?Do you need a recruiting service?D1 vs D2 vs D3 scholarships, explainedWhen do college coaches start recruiting?How do you email a college coach?Do you need a recruiting service?D1 vs D2 vs D3 scholarships, explained

NCAA Eligibility Center: what parents need to knowThe recruiting timeline from freshman to senior yearWhat is a dedicated recruiting email address?How much do recruiting services cost?NCAA Eligibility Center: what parents need to knowThe recruiting timeline from freshman to senior yearWhat is a dedicated recruiting email address?How much do recruiting services cost?