JR. TENNIS TIMES

College Tennis Recruiting Timeline: When to Start and What to Do

Getting recruited for college tennis doesn't happen overnight. It's a process that ideally starts in middle school and ramps up through high school. Here's a year-by-year breakdown of what you should be doing.

8th Grade (Age 13-14): Lay the Groundwork

This is the year to start thinking about college tennis, even though it feels early. You won't be contacting coaches yet, but you should be setting yourself up for success.

  • Focus on developing your game — work with your coach on technical improvements
  • Start playing sanctioned USTA tournaments regularly to build your record
  • Create a UTR profile at myutr.com if you don't have one
  • Begin researching colleges and programs that interest you — think about size, location, academic programs, and tennis division
  • Keep your grades up — academics matter as much as tennis in recruiting

9th Grade (Freshman Year): Build Your Profile

Freshman year is when recruiting starts to get real. NCAA rules allow college coaches to send you recruiting materials starting June 15 after your sophomore year, but you can start reaching out earlier.

  • Create a recruiting profile on sites like myutr.com, TennisRecruiting.net, and NCSA
  • Start a highlight video — compile match footage showing your best points and variety of shots
  • Maintain a tournament schedule that builds your UTR and USTA ranking
  • Attend college tennis matches if possible to see programs in action
  • Keep a list of 20-30 programs you're interested in across divisions

10th Grade (Sophomore Year): Start Making Contact

This is when you start actively communicating with college coaches. After June 15, coaches can send you recruiting materials, and you should already be in their inbox.

  • Email coaches at your target schools — introduce yourself, share your UTR, tournament results, and GPA
  • Attend college showcase events and recruiting camps hosted by programs you're interested in
  • Visit college campuses, even informally, to get a feel for the environment
  • Take the PSAT and start SAT/ACT prep — test scores are part of the recruiting equation
  • Narrow your list to 10-15 realistic target programs based on your UTR and academic profile

11th Grade (Junior Year): This Is the Big Year

Junior year is the most important year for recruiting. Coaches are making decisions, and you need to be on their radar.

  • Follow up with coaches you've contacted — update them on tournament results and UTR changes
  • Take official and unofficial campus visits — you get up to 5 official visits (Division I)
  • Attend major junior events where college coaches are watching (national and sectional championships)
  • Take the SAT/ACT — many programs have minimum academic requirements
  • Narrow your list to your top 5-8 programs and focus your energy there
  • Understand the NCAA eligibility requirements through the NCAA Eligibility Center

Division III and NAIA programs can offer admission and financial aid packages at any time. Division I and II coaches may begin offering scholarships during this period, with the National Letter of Intent signing period starting in November of senior year.

12th Grade (Senior Year): Close the Deal

  • Continue communicating with your top choices and make your decision
  • Sign your National Letter of Intent during the signing period if going Division I or II
  • Complete the NCAA Eligibility Center registration and submit final transcripts
  • Maintain your grades and keep playing at a high level — coaches are still watching
  • Enjoy your senior season and celebrate the commitment!

What College Coaches Look For

  • UTR and match results — objective measures of playing ability
  • Competitive attitude and work ethic — coaches want players who compete hard on every point
  • Academics — GPA and test scores determine admissions eligibility
  • Character and coachability — coaches talk to current coaches and observe behavior at events
  • Upside — younger players with developing games and athletic ability are attractive recruits

The recruiting process can feel overwhelming, but staying organized and starting early makes all the difference. Keep a spreadsheet tracking coaches you've contacted, their responses, and next steps. And remember — there's a great college tennis program out there for every competitive junior player.