NCAA Clearinghouse or Eligibility Center 
The NCAA office that certifies a student-athletes academic credentials to be eligible for Division I and II athletics. You cannot make an official visit to a DI or DII school without being at least registered with the clearinghouse.

NCAA Division I
325 Volleyball teams at some of the most well known schools (Florida, Texas, Duke, Rutgers, Seton Hall, Rider etc). Division I schools are permitted to offer scholarships to up to 12 student athletes for volleyball. Schools that are “fully funded” will only offer full scholarships. Partially funded programs will split scholarships and stack with academic and need based aid money to make you an offer. The season is August and into December, with off-season training through the spring and even summer months at many schools. This is the highest level of college athletics, and is the most demanding.

NCAA Division II
250ish Volleyball teams at lesser known schools (Felician, Georgian Court, Tampa, Lemoyne, Millersville, CW Post). Division II schools are permitted to divide the value of 8 full scholarships among a larger number of student athletes. Many DII schools only have between 1-3 scholarships, which they divide and stack with academic and need based aid, but seldom is it a full package. The season lasts from August through November, with either a limited spring training season, or they have recently approved the addition of beach volleyball as a spring sport which some schools may be adding soon.

NCAA Division III
425 Volleyball teams at a variety of schools (including NYU, Chicago, Johns Hopkins, Williams, Scranton, Kean, St. Elizabeth’s, etc). Division III schools CANNOT offer athletic scholarships, but they do often have academic scholarships available for qualified students. The season lasts from late August and into November. The spring season is limited to 16 days over 4 weeks, however some schools do not have an offseason, either for academic or financial reasons.

NAIA National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
At the NAIA level only 22 colleges offer volleyball for men and 223 do for women. The NAIA has classified volleyball an emerging sport for men which should go a long way to increasing the participation of men in the sport. Eight scholarships are on offer for both men and women. These are classed as equivalency sports.

NJCAA National Junior College Athletic Association
An association of 2 year colleges, that like the NCAA is divided into Divisions I, II and III. Most Division I schools have 8-12 full scholarships, and are typically located in Florida, Alabama or the plains states. Division II can offer tuition only scholarships. Division III offers no scholarships – most schools in the Northeast are Division III. These schools are typically more affordable, and easier to get into. “JuCo’s” are also an avenue for an NCAA non-qualifier to become eligible for NCAA Division I or II – once you earn an associate’s degree you are eligible at all levels.

Athletic Scholarship
A school can offer you a 1 year renewable scholarship for a value up to the cost of tuition, room, board, books and fees. A school cannot guarantee you 4 years. If you sign a LOI it is only
good for 1 year. If you get hurt before you complete 4 years, some schools will continue your scholarship even though you cannot play. Also, some better funded schools will pay for a 5th or 6th year if you do not graduate in 4 years. These are questions you want to ask when a scholarship is offered.

Letter of Intent or LOI
The Letter of Intent is a legal contract binding you to a college’s athletic program for 1 year in return for an agreed value of compensation up to the cost of one year at the school. Volleyball players can sign these papers in a given 2 week “signing period” in November or April of their senior year. Once you sign an LOI you are legally committed to attend and play for that school.

Official Visit
A visit during your senior year of high school where the school pays all or part of your expenses. This can only happen during your senior year, and cannot exceed 48 hours in length.

Unofficial Visit
A visit at any time that is made at your own expense. The school can accommodate your visit with tickets to sporting events, a tour, etc. but you pay for the travel and the accommodations.

Recruiting Tips
Starting Out
Put together a list of potential schools based upon the player’s abilities and preferences. Be open to a variety of programs, but also be realistic. Remember that there is a great world outside of NCAA Division I Volleyball. For example, NCAA Division II, Division III, NAIA and Junior Colleges can be excellent choices for your future. I know a number of non-Division I programs which enjoy great fan attendance, elite level play and the opportunity for their players to have a campus life outside of volleyball.
Communication
Reach out to potential schools before you start playing club volleyball tournaments. Motivate them to come see you play by sending the college coach your volleyball resume and, most importantly, your video. College coaches will watch every video, but we won’t follow-up on every resume. The video does not need to be fancy or perfect; it can be practice, it can be warm-ups, it can be edited game tape – Just make it current and easy for the college coach to watch. There are too many tournaments and too many good players to just expect the college coaches to find you. Make them find you by reaching out to them, and telling them they need to come see you play because you would be a great addition to their program (and because you also sent them video!).Evaluation
Understand that you will be evaluated at every tournament. In today’s recruiting environment, athletes don’t have the luxury of ‘playing their way into shape’ or mentally taking matches off. The early club tournaments are not warm-ups; if a college coach is in the gym, then it is a recruiting event. College coaches evaluate more than your physicality, they are evaluating your mentality.
Goals
The goal is to manage the recruiting process, and not let the process manage you. College volleyball recruiting is a competitive situation. As much as colleges are competing for recruits, the players are competing for collegiate playing opportunities. This is a once in a lifetime window of opportunity, and even though it is early in the club season, the recruiting season has begun! The recruiting process starts early and continues late. NCAA Division I power conference programs are offering freshman and seniors. This is a result of the number of coaching changes and athletes being cut or transferring; it is a fluid situation. Club Volleyball Families must be consistent and patient in their outreach and communication efforts. Constantly reach out to schools, review your daughter’s collegiate goals, evaluate each college and be open to new opportunities.