Division 3 Sports

gointhruaphase
Tue, 13 Jun 2017 12:09:50 +0000

@nezir99,

I would estimate that around 80-90% of Division 3 athletes are recruited, and perhaps more. As @Gardenstatelegal suggests, walking on depends on available spots, schools, teams etc. One always hears about so and so, who walked onto a team. It does happen. But assuming the coach already has recruited a full team, then the walk on needs to be better than the recruits. Think of it this way, the coach has invested time and effort to recruit a kid. Perhaps he or she has gone to multiple showcases to see the recruit, had several meetings with the recruit, planned overnights, picked the recruit up at the airport, overall schmoozed the recruit, and pushed the admissions office for support to get the recruit admitted. The coach will be coming at this from a “I have already decided this athlete is the one” perspective. So, a walk on has to be better, and perhaps much better, than the recruit. Then there is the suggested angle that before committing the recruit ask the coach if recruits are cut. Many (not all) coaches will not cut recruits the first year. If you want to play, and you don’t get any traction from speaking to the coach, then do not assume that you will be able to walk on.