How to Get Recruited for College Volleyball

With over 470,000 high school volleyball players vying for college spots, it's clear that the competition is fierce. Only a small percentage of these talented athletes will have the opportunity to play at the collegiate level. To increase your chances of getting noticed by college coaches, it's essential to understand the ins and outs of the volleyball recruiting process.

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Unlocking Your Recruiting Journey with NSR

National Scouting Report delves deep into the intricacies of Volleyball recruiting, going beyond generic "college recruiting" information. Here's what you can expect:

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The road to college volleyball is exciting, but it requires preparation. With NSR and your dedication, you'll be well-equipped to showcase your talent, connect with the right coaches, and turn your dream into a reality. Are you ready to get evaluated?

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Volleyball Recruiting Quick Links

Learn How to Get Recruited for Volleyball and Find Volleyball Scholarships

Earning a spot on a college volleyball team and securing a scholarship to help finance your dream is an incredible achievement. But with so many talented players out there, how do you stand out and get noticed by coaches? While every journey is unique, some key milestones are crucial for all volleyball players aiming for college: Understanding the 4 phases of volleyball recruiting will help you navigate the process more effectively and position yourself for success.

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Key Strategies for Volleyball Recruits

Volleyball scholarships come in various forms, ranging from full rides to partial financial aid packages. Here's how to boost your scholarship chances:

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Beyond the Benchmarks: Finding the Right Fit

Remember, these are just benchmarks. By understanding your strengths, researching division benchmarks, and considering additional factors, you'll be well-equipped to target the right colleges and maximize your chances of success in volleyball recruiting. Consider these additional factors when making your decision:

Navigating NCAA Women's Volleyball Recruiting Rules and Calendar

Understanding the NCAA's complex recruiting rules is crucial for aspiring women's volleyball players. These regulations govern when and how coaches can initiate contact with potential recruits. The NCAA dictates specific timeframes for when and how college coaches from different divisions (Division 1, 2, 3, and NAIA) can contact and interact with potential recruits. Knowing these regulations helps you anticipate coach communication and manage your recruiting timeline strategically.

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Key Dates & Communication Periods

Finding the Right Volleyball Recruiting Calendar

The specific dates for these periods vary depending on the NCAA division you're targeting. Here are some resources to find the most up-to-date calendar for your specific circumstance:

Find Division 1, Division 2, Division 3, NAIA and JUCO Volleyball Colleges

With thousands of colleges offering volleyball programs in the US, navigating the options and finding the perfect fit for you can be overwhelming. This guide will break down the key differences between NCAA Divisions 1, 2, 3, NAIA, and JUCO, along with some top colleges in each category to help you narrow your search.

Understanding the NCAA Divisions:

The NCAA categorizes collegiate athletics into three main divisions, each with varying athletic competitiveness, scholarship opportunities, and academic requirements.

Division 1 Volleyball
  • Focus: Most competitive level of college volleyball.
  • Scholarships: Offers the most athletic scholarships, with some schools providing full rides.
  • Academics: Highly selective academic institutions often with rigorous course loads.
  • Top D1 Colleges: Pittsburgh, Penn State, Nebraska, Louisville, and Stanford
Division 2 Volleyball
  • Focus: Strong balance between athletics and academics.
  • Scholarships: Offers athletic scholarships, but typically less than D1. Financial aid packages may combine athletic and academic merit aid.
  • Academics: Diverse range of academic institutions.
  • Top D2 Colleges: Lynn University, San Francisco State University, Ferris State University, Angelo State University, and St. Cloud State University
Division 3 Volleyball
  • Focus: Strong emphasis on academics with a competitive athletic environment.
  • Scholarships: No athletic scholarships offered. Financial aid typically comes in the form of academic merit aid and need-based grants.
  • Academics: Primarily consists of private liberal arts colleges and universities.
  • Top D3 Colleges: Juniata College, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Hope College, Johns Hopkins University, and University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh

NAIA & JUCO: Additional Options

NAIA Volleyball
  • Focus: Offers a balance between athletics and academics, similar to D2.
  • Scholarships: Provides athletic scholarships, though typically less than D1 or D2.
  • Academics: Consists of smaller private and public colleges.
  • Top NAIA Colleges: Marian University (Indiana), Viterbo University, Park University, Grand View University, Missouri Baptist University
JUCO Volleyball
  • Focus: Two-year colleges offering athletic programs.
  • Purpose: Can be a stepping stone to transfer to a four-year institution.
  • Scholarships: Offer athletic scholarships in some cases.
  • Top JUCO Colleges: Tyler Junior College, Iowa Western Community College, Arizona Western College, Blinn College, Florida Southwestern State College

College Volleyball Camps

Explore our complete list of college Volleyball camps, organized by NCAA division, and find the perfect fit for your recruiting journey!

What Volleyball Coaches Look For

While physical skills are important, college volleyball coaches evaluate recruits based on a wider range of factors. Here's a breakdown of what coaches typically consider:

Physical Skills
  • Measurables: Approach touch, block touch, standing reach, height, and wing span are all important. The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) provides valuable data on average scores for college-level players (and even the top 80th percentile) in their avcaVPI™ database. These numbers offer a starting point, but remember, exceptional athletes can excel even if they don't perfectly match the averages.
  • Athleticism: Coaches look for agility, speed, and quickness on the court. An explosive athlete will always catch the attention of a college coach.
  • Strength and Power: Strong hitters and effective blockers need good strength and power. Being able to unload your hips and be flexible is vital.
Technical Skills
  • Hitting: Coaches evaluate hitting technique, arm swing mechanics, and ability to hit different shot types. A heavy arm with accurate placement is important.
  • Setting: Accuracy, consistency, and setting tempo are crucial for a setter.
  • Serving: Serving power, accuracy, and variety are all important.
  • Passing: Solid passing technique and the ability to handle different serve types are essential for strong defense.
  • Blocking: Jumping ability, timing, handwork, and reading the opponent's hitter are key for effective blocking.
Intangibles
  • Volleyball IQ: Understanding the game, anticipating plays, and making smart decisions are valuable assets.
  • Coachability: Being willing to learn, adapt, and take feedback constructively is crucial for development.
  • Work Ethic: Dedication to training, practice, and continuous improvement goes a long way.
  • Leadership: Positive leadership qualities, communication skills, and the ability to motivate teammates are highly sought after.
  • Teamwork: Playing cohesively with others and contributing to team success is essential.
  • Passion for Volleyball: A genuine love for the game and a strong competitive spirit are attractive qualities.

Decoding Volleyball Recruiting Guidelines: Obtaining a Volleyball Scholarship

Understanding college volleyball recruiting guidelines can be a powerful tool for athletes navigating the process. Here's a breakdown of how to utilize these guidelines effectively:

Gauge Your Competitive Fit
  • Club Experience: Club volleyball plays a crucial role in getting noticed by college coaches. It offers a platform to compete against high-level athletes and showcase your skills. To play volleyball in college, consider playing for clubs competing at elite levels to demonstrate your readiness for the challenge.
  • Measurables: Height, approach touch, block touch, standing reach, and wingspan are key physical attributes coaches consider. The AVCA data provides average and top 80th percentile scores as a reference point. Remember, these are averages, and exceptional athletes can still excel outside this range.
Tailor Your Approach
  • Divisional Differences: Recognize that each division (D1, D2, D3) has varying competitiveness levels. Use these guidelines to understand which division aligns best with your skillset and measurables.
  • Opportunities: There are 150,000 athletes vying for 6,000 positions each year. Playing volleyball in college, at all levels, is a privilege. An athlete being “Identified and Recognized” early is key.
Emphasize Verified Performance
  • Third-Party Verification: Showcase your volleyball skills with verified stats. Unfortunately, approach touch, block touch, reach, and other metrics are often incorrectly measured by high school and club coaches. College coaches value impartial measurements to gauge your true ability.
  • NSR Combine and Metrics Testing: Participating in an NSR Combine or NSR Metrics testing is a reliable way to obtain verified metrics.

Scout Tip: Balance academics and athletics by maintaining a strong GPA and test scores, gather video clips for evaluation by an NSR Scout, and focus on developing intangibles like volleyball IQ, coachability, work ethic, and leadership.

What is the Average Approach Touch?: Understanding the Numbers

Approach Touch is a key factor for success in college volleyball, but it's important to consider it within the context of position and overall athleticism. Here's a breakdown:

Approach Touch
  • The net height for women’s volleyball is 7’4”.
  • D-1 hitters: Approach Touch of 10’ to 10’6”; setters: minimum of 9’6”; back row: 8’8”+ with quick feet.
  • D-2 and lower hitters: Approach Touch of 9’6” to 10’2”; setters: minimum of 9’; back row: 8’4”+ with explosiveness.
Approach Differential
Positional Differences
  • Outside hitters, right-side hitters, and middle blockers: Higher Approach Touch for attacking and blocking.
  • Setters with strong Approach Touch: More versatile for collegiate play.
  • Defensive specialists/liberos: Lower Approach Touch but showcase explosion, passing accuracy, and agility.

Scout Tip: Approach Touch is influenced by both genetics and training, and targeted programs can help significantly improve jump height. While an impressive Approach Touch is important, it’s only part of the equation. Explosiveness, strength, coordination, and technique are equally critical for volleyball success. Focus on well-rounded development by refining your jumping technique, building explosive leg and core strength, and incorporating plyometric exercises into your training. Remember, exceptional players stand out not just for their physical attributes but for their technical expertise and strong game IQ.

How to jump higher for Volleyball: Your Guide to Vertical Jump Improvement

A powerful approach touch is a valuable asset for any volleyball player. Here's a strategic approach to incorporating exercises that can significantly improve your jump height:

Strength Training
  • Squats: Target quads, hamstrings, and glutes for jumping power.
  • Deadlifts: Build the posterior chain, core, and grip for explosive strength.
  • Leg Press Variations: Engage quads and glutes from different angles.
  • Calf Raises: Strengthen calves for a powerful ground push-off.
Plyometrics
  • Box Jumps: Improve explosiveness with progressive box heights.
  • Depth Jumps: Controlled jumps off a platform with powerful push-offs.
  • Tuck Jumps: Jump from a squat and bring knees to chest mid-air.
  • Lateral Ski Jumps: Mimic side-to-side volleyball movements with jumps.
Core Strength
  • Planks: Stabilize your body for power transfer during jumps.
  • Side Planks: Strengthen obliques for rotational stability.
  • Russian Twists: Enhance core rotation and strength for jumping power.

Scout Tip: Approach Touch is influenced by both genetics and training, and targeted programs can help significantly improve jump height. While an impressive Approach Touch is important, it’s only part of the equation. Explosiveness, strength, coordination, and technique are equally critical for volleyball success. Focus on well-rounded development by refining your jumping technique, building explosive leg and core strength, and incorporating plyometric exercises into your training. Remember, exceptional players stand out not just for their physical attributes but for their technical expertise and strong game IQ.

Find the Right Camp, Combine, Tournament or Showcase for You

Attending Volleyball events like camps, combines, tournaments, and showcases is a strategic way to achieve multiple goals during your recruiting journey:

  • Get Noticed by College Coaches: These events provide a platform to showcase your skills in front of college coaches actively seeking recruits. The key is that coaches know who you are before the camp or showcase. Otherwise, you are just a camper, not a prospect.
  • Boost Your Skills & Confidence: Camps and clinics offer specialized training to refine your techniques and gain valuable insights from experienced coaches.
  • Compete Against Top Talent: Tournaments and showcases allow you to test your abilities against high-level competition, improving your game sense and competitive edge.

Finding the Perfect Fit:

Not all events are created equal. Consider These Factors:

  • Cost & Location: Be realistic about your budget and choose events that are geographically accessible.
  • Level of Competition: Match your skill level with the competition at the event.
  • College Coach Attendance: Research which colleges will be represented at showcases and combines.

Scout Tip: Participating in the right events with coaches who know who you are can significantly enhance your recruiting. If you are showing up to these events without communicating with the coach or knowing what they are looking for in upcoming classes then you are going in blind. If you are unsure about what camps and showcases are right for you, get in touch with an NSR scout today.

College Volleyball Recruiting Rankings

College Volleyball recruiting rankings can be a valuable tool in your search for the perfect program. However, it's important to understand their limitations and utilize them effectively alongside other resources.

* Remember: Recruiting rankings are just one piece of the puzzle. Utilize them alongside your own research and prioritize finding a program that fosters your academic and athletic success while aligning with your personal preferences.

What Rankings Offer:

Recruiting rankings offer insights into various aspects of college Volleyball programs:

  • Athletic Competitiveness: Rankings may consider a program's recent win-loss record, conference affiliation, and historical performance. This indicates the overall competitive level of the program.
  • Academic Reputation: Some rankings incorporate a school's academic standing, providing a sense of the institution's focus on academics alongside athletics.
  • Facilities & Resources: Top-ranked programs may have access to state-of-the-art facilities, training equipment, and support staff, impacting your overall athletic development.

Beyond the Rankings:

While rankings offer a starting point, consider these factors for a more holistic view:

  • Your Individual Needs: Prioritize programs that align with your academic interests, desired playing time, coaching style, and overall campus environment.
  • Fit Over Prestige: Don't be solely swayed by a program's ranking. A lower-ranked school might be a better fit for your academic and athletic goals.
  • Research & Due Diligence: Utilize resources beyond rankings, such as college websites, coaching profiles, and current player testimonials, to gain a deeper understanding of each program.

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Get in-depth stats and numbers on your favorite schools to find the perfect fit!