How to Start the College Track and Field Recruiting Process

Search for how to start the college recruiting process and almost every result hands you the same thing: a to-do list long enough to make any athlete or parent close the tab. Register here, email 50 coaches, film this, take that test, build a spreadsheet.

Here's the good news. If you're reading this, you've already taken the first step. You're thinking about it, just thinking about college track and field being a realistic option for you or for your athlete in the not-so-distant future.

Is it too early or too late?

Is it too late to start recruiting conversations with college coaches? Are we too early? These are the questions we hear most from families who are just starting. I answered the too early or too late question in more detail here: Is it too early or too late to start track and field recruiting? Wherever you are, the next step is the same.

Your next step: create your free profile

This article is about one step: creating your free Streamline Athletes profile. It's your homebase for recruiting, the one place you keep updated, where coaches find you and where your conversations start.

We verify your performances with official meet results, and when your complete profile meets a program's standards, coaches recruiting for your entry year can contact you automatically, usually within minutes.

You don't have to be ready to reply. Coaches can reach out as often as they like, but you decide who to answer and when to share your name and contact details. A profile that's ready early means interested coaches can act right away. NCAA Division I coaches can start recruiting communications on June 15 after your sophomore year, so it helps to be set up before then.

See where you fit

Next, get a feel for where your performances fit. The college track and field recruiting standards show the performance ranges coaches look for in each event, from NCAA D1 to the NAIA and U SPORTS. The recruiting calculator lets you enter a performance and see which divisions it fits.

Check the timeline for your year of high school

What to do next depends on what year of high school you're in. A freshman and a senior have very different to-do lists. The track and field recruiting timeline goes year by year, so you only need to read the part that applies to you.

When you're ready to reach out to programs yourself, see what a first email to a college track and field coach looks like when you send it from your Streamline Athletes account.

The full map: read the free guide

This article is a compass. It points you at the first step. The complete free recruiting guide is the full map: academics and eligibility, performance standards by division, scholarships and cost, contacting coaches, campus visits, and the mistakes to avoid. Use it as you go, not all at once.

How Streamline Athletes helps

See what we do for athletes and for parents, from the free profile to one-on-one advising.

Frequently asked questions

How do I start the college track and field recruiting process?

Create a free recruiting profile so college coaches recruiting for your entry year can find and contact you. Then see where your performances fit with recruiting standards, and follow a recruiting timeline for your year of high school.

When should I start the track and field recruiting process?

As soon as you're thinking about it. The recruiting timeline lays out what to do in each year of high school.

Do I need to email college coaches right away?

No. With a profile, coaches who are interested can contact you first, and you choose when to reply. When you're ready to reach out yourself, you can email programs straight from your Streamline Athletes account with Plus.

Is a Streamline Athletes profile free?

Yes. Essentials is free. You build your profile, we verify your performances, and coaches at the right level can contact you.