High School Counselor Guide to Athletic Recruiting

As a high school counselor, you are often the first person student-athletes and their families turn to for guidance on the recruiting process. You do not need to be a recruiting expert, but you do need to know enough to point them in the right direction.

Your primary responsibilities include: ensuring academic eligibility, providing transcripts and recommendation letters, connecting families with resources, and helping students make informed decisions about their future.

For student-athletes pursuing NCAA or NAIA opportunities:

• NCAA D1/D2: Students must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center and meet specific core course, GPA, and test score requirements
• NCAA D3: Academic eligibility is determined by the individual institution, not the NCAA
• NAIA: Has its own eligibility center with different requirements

Your action items: - Help students identify which core courses at your school qualify - Ensure transcripts are sent to eligibility centers on time - Monitor academic progress and flag any risks early - Provide honest guidance about realistic academic/athletic combinations

You do not need to be the expert on everything. Connect families with the right resources:

• ScoutSync: Free profiles for student-athletes to showcase their stats, film, and academics to coaches and scouts worldwide
• Coach Leo: AI-powered assistant that answers specific questions about programs, pathways, eligibility, and recruiting strategy
• NCAA Eligibility Center: For D1/D2 certification
• NAIA Eligibility Center: For NAIA certification
• College athletic department websites: For specific program information and contact details

Pro tip: Host a recruiting information session at your school each year. Invite a coach, a current college athlete, and a recruiting platform representative to speak. ScoutSync can support these events.

Remember: not every student-athlete will receive a scholarship, and that is okay. Your job is to help them make the best decision for their overall future, not just their athletic career.

• Help students identify schools where they fit academically AND athletically
• Discuss backup plans and alternative pathways (junior college, gap year, international options)
• Be honest about the realities of college athletics: time commitment, pressure, and the importance of choosing the right fit
• Support students emotionally through the highs and lows of the recruiting process

The best outcome is not always the biggest scholarship. It is the right fit where the student will thrive for four years and beyond.