ADULT IQ: COLLEGE ATHLETE RECRUITING CHECKLIST

Your Complete Recruiting Control Center

Research It. Track It. Review It. Follow Through.

The college recruiting process involves countless details, important decisions, deadlines, conversations and responsibilities. From researching colleges and preparing athletic profiles to contacting coaches, monitoring academic requirements and evaluating opportunities, it is easy for student-athletes and families to lose track of what needs to be done.

The Adult IQ College Athlete Recruiting Checklist is designed to help bring structure, organization and accountability to that process.

Think of this resource as your personal recruiting control center: a practical system for identifying the tasks that matter, keeping track of your progress and making sure important responsibilities receive the attention they deserve.

Rather than relying on memory, scattered notes, old emails or last-minute decisions, this checklist encourages you to approach college recruiting methodically. You can work through the major areas of preparation, identify outstanding tasks, monitor progress and establish a clearer picture of where you stand.

Designed for student-athletes across multiple sports and college pathways, this resource can help athletes and their families become more organized, informed and proactive as they pursue college athletic opportunities.

WHAT YOU GET INSIDE

1. College Recruiting Preparation Checklist

Establish a foundation for your recruiting journey by identifying the essential areas that require attention before and during the process.

Understand the importance of defining your goals, assessing your current position, gathering the information you need and determining which actions should take priority.

Use the checklist approach to break the process into manageable tasks instead of attempting to handle everything at once.

What this helps you do: Establish a starting point, identify what still needs to be completed and create a more organized approach to pursuing college athletics.

2. College Research and School Selection

Choosing which colleges to pursue requires more than recognizing a school's name or reputation.

This section focuses on the importance of researching college programs and evaluating whether they may align with your athletic ability, academic interests, personal preferences and long-term objectives.

Consider areas such as:

• College and athletic program research.

• Coaching staff and program information.

• Available academic courses and intended majors.

• Location, campus environment and student experience.

• Competition level and potential athletic fit.

• Financial considerations and affordability.

• Admission expectations and relevant eligibility requirements.

What this helps you do: Build a more informed list of potential colleges and avoid overlooking options that may offer a suitable combination of education and athletics.

3. Recruiting Profile and Athlete Information

Your recruiting information should be accurate, professional and easy to understand.

Use this section to review the information you may need to prepare when introducing yourself to college programs, including your athletic background, position or event, relevant statistics, achievements, academic information and contact details.

It also encourages you to consider whether your materials accurately represent your current abilities and whether anything needs to be updated.

What this helps you do: Prepare a more complete recruiting presentation and identify missing information before approaching college coaches.

4. Recruiting Video and Supporting Materials

Video and supporting materials can help college coaches assess your athletic abilities, particularly when they cannot watch you compete in person.

This part of the recruiting process involves reviewing the materials you have available, considering whether they demonstrate relevant skills and ensuring the information accompanying them is clear and appropriate.

Use the checklist to identify what is ready, what needs improvement and what additional material may be useful for your sport.

What this helps you do: Stay organized with your recruiting materials and prepare a more effective presentation of your athletic abilities.

5. College Coach Contact and Communication

Communication is an important part of recruiting, but it requires preparation, professionalism and an understanding of the rules applicable to your sport and division.

This section helps you consider the information you should have ready before contacting a program, whether you have introduced yourself appropriately and whether you are keeping track of your interactions.

Review areas such as:

• Identifying the appropriate coaching contacts.

• Preparing relevant athlete and academic information.

• Making sure communication is professional and personalized.

• Recording emails, calls and responses.

• Identifying appropriate follow-up actions.

• Reviewing unanswered questions and outstanding communication.

What this helps you do: Approach coach communication with greater organization and reduce the risk of overlooking important follow-up tasks.

6. Recruiting Activity and Follow-Up Tracking

Recruiting involves multiple schools, different conversations and ongoing responsibilities. Keeping everything organized can become difficult when information is spread across emails, messages, calendars and personal notes.

The recruiting control-center approach encourages you to maintain an organized record of your activity and review it regularly.

You can use this approach to monitor which schools you have researched, whom you have contacted, what responses you have received and what you need to do next.

What this helps you do: Develop a clearer understanding of your recruiting activity and maintain a consistent approach to managing the process.

7. Academic Preparation and Eligibility

Athletic ability alone does not determine whether you can attend and compete at a particular college. Academic preparation, admissions requirements and athletic eligibility are important parts of the process.

Use this section to identify academic responsibilities that need attention and determine what information you should verify with your high school counselor, college admissions office or relevant eligibility organization.

Areas to review include:

• Academic performance and graduation requirements.

• Required coursework and transcripts.

• College admission expectations.

• Applicable NCAA, NAIA or other eligibility requirements.

• Registration and documentation requirements, where applicable.

• Outstanding questions that require official confirmation.

What this helps you do: Recognize academic and eligibility responsibilities early and identify issues that may require further attention.

Eligibility requirements vary by association, division and individual circumstances, so this checklist should be used alongside current official guidance.

8. Showcases, Camps and Exposure Opportunities

Athletes may encounter numerous opportunities to attend showcases, camps, tournaments and other events intended to provide competition or exposure to college programs.

However, the value of an event depends on your individual circumstances, your development, the programs involved and your goals.

Use the checklist approach to consider whether an opportunity is worth pursuing, what preparation is required and how participation fits into your wider recruiting strategy.

What this helps you do: Make more deliberate decisions about where to invest your time, effort and money rather than assuming every event will produce recruiting interest.

9. Campus Visits and College Evaluation

Visiting a college or learning more about a program can help you evaluate whether it may be a good fit.

This area encourages you to prepare questions, research the institution and consider the wider student experience alongside the athletic opportunity.

Think about the academic environment, coaching expectations, facilities, campus culture, potential playing opportunities and financial implications.

Keep track of the information you gather and identify questions that still need answers.

What this helps you do: Compare potential college opportunities more thoughtfully and prepare for conversations that may influence your decisions.

10. Scholarship and Financial Considerations

Understanding the financial side of college athletics is essential for making informed decisions.

Use this section to identify the financial information you need to obtain and the questions you should ask before accepting an opportunity or making a commitment.

Consider tuition, fees, housing, meals, financial aid, scholarship terms and other expenses that may affect your overall cost of attendance.

Where financial assistance is offered, make sure you understand what is covered, what conditions apply and what costs remain your responsibility.

What this helps you do: Approach financial conversations with greater preparation and avoid making assumptions about the true cost of attending a college.

11. Recruiting Progress Reviews

A recruiting plan should be reviewed regularly rather than left untouched until an important deadline approaches.

Use this approach to assess your current position, identify completed tasks and determine which areas require additional work.

Consider questions such as:

• Which recruiting tasks have I completed?

• Which responsibilities remain outstanding?

• Have I followed up appropriately with the colleges I have contacted?

• Are my recruiting materials current?

• Am I researching enough suitable programs?

• Are my academic responsibilities on track?

• What should my next priorities be?

What this helps you do: Recognize gaps in your preparation, make adjustments and maintain a clearer sense of direction throughout your recruiting journey.

12. Decision-Making and Next-Step Planning

Recruiting opportunities can develop at different speeds, and not every conversation will lead to an offer or a suitable college placement.

This section emphasizes the importance of reviewing information carefully, asking questions and considering your options before making decisions.

Use your recruiting records to help identify the next actions that deserve your attention and determine whether your current approach needs to change.

What this helps you do: Make decisions based on preparation and relevant information rather than relying entirely on emotion, assumptions or outside pressure.

HOW TO USE YOUR RECRUITING CONTROL CENTER

The real value of a checklist comes from using it consistently.

Start by reviewing the major areas of your recruiting process and identifying the tasks that apply to your circumstances. Work through those tasks systematically, record your progress using the checklist or your preferred tracking method, and revisit outstanding responsibilities regularly.

As your circumstances change, update your priorities and seek clarification where necessary.

Parents can use the resource to understand the process and support their athlete, while student-athletes can gradually take greater responsibility for their own preparation, communication and decision-making.

The objective is to create a process that is easier to manage, review and improve.

WHO SHOULD HAVE THIS RESOURCE?

High school student-athletes: Keep your recruiting responsibilities organized while working toward college athletic opportunities.

Parents and families: Gain a clearer overview of the process and identify where your athlete may need practical support.

Athletes beginning recruitment: Understand the major areas that deserve attention and establish a more organized starting point.

Athletes already contacting colleges: Review your current approach, identify outstanding tasks and bring greater consistency to your recruiting activity.

Student-athletes pursuing different college pathways: Use the checklist as a broad organizational framework while confirming the specific requirements that apply to your sport, division and individual circumstances.

WHY THIS RESOURCE MATTERS

The recruiting process can become unnecessarily stressful when important information is difficult to find, tasks are forgotten or families are unsure what needs to happen next.

An organized checklist helps make the process more manageable by encouraging you to identify responsibilities, monitor progress and review your preparation consistently.

It cannot guarantee a scholarship, offer or roster position. What it can do is help you become more organized, recognize areas requiring attention and approach the process with greater awareness and accountability.

The checklist is intended to complement your broader recruiting strategy, not replace direct communication with college programs or official eligibility guidance.

TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR RECRUITING PROCESS

Your college recruiting journey deserves a system that helps you stay organized and focused.

With the Adult IQ College Athlete Recruiting Checklist, you can approach your responsibilities with a clearer plan, keep track of important tasks and become more deliberate about the steps required to pursue college athletics.

Research it. Track it. Review it. Follow through.

Because when you understand what needs to be done and consistently work toward completing it, you put yourself in a stronger position to make informed decisions about your future.