<p>A friend’s daughter (junior) is getting lots of emails and calls from coaches, including her first choice leagues: Ivy and NESCAC. She is the right height and skill level to play Ivy/lower DI or top DIII. Academically makes the grade.</p>
<p>She’d really rather not make visits this spring due to competition and school schedule, and the high cost of travel for unofficials (we live in the west-travel is expensive and complicated). If she waits to visit during the official visit window in the fall, will all these slots be taken? If these rosters will definitely fill this spring, she’s willing to do some spring travel.</p>
<p>On the other hand, if Ivy rosters wait until Sept/Oct for visits and then issue LLs for ED/EA applications, she’d much rather wait for that. </p>
<p>Assuming Ivy rosters fill by the end of October or earlier, when do NESCAC rosters finalize? Do those coaches use slots during EA/ED, or more likely support their recruits in RD?</p>
<p>Thanks, brilliant and helpful ccers.</p>
<p>I have a 2013 vb player who is already verbally committed (as well as most of her teammates) so I have seen the process first hand. She was getting Ivy, NESCAC and Patriot letters starting just about a year ago (Feb of 2011, her sophomore year). They watched her play last Spring and those with interest/spots were anxious for her to attend their camps last summer, and a Patriot and NESCAC school were talking about a verbal offer at the end of camp if things went well. She did not go to any of those camps (she went to her first choice and got the offer she wanted) so I don’t know how the timeline would have continued, but I do know from some of her friends that many of these schools are starting finalize their rosters. You definitely have more time at the types of schools she is considering, but I would not recommend starting the process with a visit next Fall.</p>
<p>I can completely understand why she doesn’t want to schedule a visit this Spring, if she is playing at the top level, we are all already traveling at least every other weekend, but she should have plenty of opportunities for the coaches to see HER. She needs to make sure they know exactly which qualifiers she is playing, where and when. We see all of the Ivy coaches at all of the major tournaments, as well as most of the NESCAC schools, so they ARE there. If they like what they see, they will often give her coach a very good idea of where she falls in their recruiting process right on the spot (and then she can follow-up with them directly when she gets home) and then she can make plans to either visit in early summer or attend a few of the summer camps (they tend to all fall at the same time, so she will have to prioritize.) </p>
<p>If she hasn’t already, she needs to be sure she is having all her matches filmed in case she is not playing where they can see her.</p>
<p>Bottom line is while she does have additional time due to her targeted schools (top d1’s are done for 2013, and mid-majors aren’t far behind) she needs to be very actively moving the process along right now so she knows where she wants to go visit this summer (or Fall if she is feeling very confident about her spot).</p>
<p>Feel free to message me if you have any other questions. Exciting stuff! I wish her the best!</p>
<p>Just went back and looked through D’s recruiting email folder, and on Sept 1, 11 (first day of legal contact) she got a letter from the Ivy that had showed the most interest telling her where she fell on their prospect list. There was no insinuation of a verbal offer at that time, just that she was one of their top prospects at her position and that they believed she was a good fit “academically and athletically” and they wanted her to stay in close touch with them regarding school and volleyball.</p>
<p>I would get her rear in gear and at least start answering coaches back. Is Volleyball a spring sport where you are? Around here it is a fall sport and most juniors have already done unofficial visits and have a pretty good idea where they are going to sign already, assuming they will get in. Ivy’s are different because you can’t just be an athletic recruit (and they don’t give athletic money anyway). She will be able to make her official visits after the first day of her senior year in high school so fall could be really busy. She gets 5 official visits so she will need to have her choices narrowed down by then. I would plan a trip this summer and hit several of her prospects so she can at least get an idea what the coaches are like, etc.</p>
<p>Thanks all,
She’s been emailing back and forth with coaches in both leagues since Sept 1st of this year (junior), so there is indication of mutual interest. </p>
<p>The crux of the problem is when do the doors close because rosters are full? She can easily prioritize among the schools she’s been talking with, but this list is truly “sight-unseen” and based on things she’s heard about each school, impression of coaches over the phone, pictures of the campuses from websites and so on. She doesn’t really feel good about committing to a school without making a visit, no matter how prestigious they are, or what the neighbors say. I think that’s good thinking.</p>
<p>squidge, because of our remote location, I don’t know that ANY Ivy or NESCAC coach has seen her play, except on video. She has competed in some good western matches against quality girls/teams, though, so I think there is a clear context for her ability. </p>
<p>So do you all think if she goes to one or more Ivy/NESCAC camps this summer (post-junior year) it’s not too late to pick up a spot on one of those teams, assuming she can assess some campuses and coaches during those visits? I’m not a huge fan of the summer visits because you don’t get to see students or teammates, but that’s the next good opportunity to get east, unfortunately.</p>
<p>HS vb is Fall everywhere (I think…) and Club VB is Spring everywhere (for sure). Spring is the most active recruiting season, and most kids want to have a decision made or at least be in the final stages with a few top choices by the end of club season their junior year (which ends around July 7th if you make it to Nationals). So as Steve says, vists can perhaps wait until Summer, but conversations need to be getting serious now.</p>
<p>In my experience, if a coach wants you, they are not going to “close” a roster without giving you the opportunity. I don’t think camps this summer are too late IF the coaches know she is coming and the strong mutual interest is there. I don’t think most Ivy/NESCACs will be closing rosters before next Fall, esp with the need to see test scores, etc.</p>
<p>As for being seen, even though you live remote, is she not traveling to USAV (or at least JVA) qualifiers…? We were seen by Ivies in Reno at 15’s, last year in Colorado as well as a Texas only tournament and this year in Las Vegas. </p>
<p>As long as she is being really proactive, I don’t think any real opportunities will pass her by without her knowledge.</p>
<p>Lastly, how tall is she and what is her position. Because vb is a game of size, and that could realllllly keep the roster open for her ;)</p>
<p>6’0" (and possibly still growing) left-handed OH. She was in Denver, so was likely seen there. I’m not the mom, so not sure who all connected with here there, but she’s getting steady interest from a number of target schools, so that must be why!</p>
<p>squidge and Steve, thanks so much. Steve, I’m the mom of a current Ivy athlete in a different sport so have a good handle on the general recruiting stuff, but am most interested in volleyball-specific details and possible timeline differences. My D’s sport sees most commitments in the fall or winter of senior year- later than many sports.</p>
<p>A still-growing 6 ft lefty with great academics is a hot commodity 
Esp if she is open to switching to Opp/RS with that left hand. As long as she is doing a diligent job of staying in touch and is open to going to some camps this summer, I suspect she will be just fine! </p>
<p>Some good volleyball-specific resources are RichKern.com and Prepvolleyball.com - they both announce commitments as they are made aware of them, so you can see what’s going on with the schools you’re interested in. The also both have listings of “college needs”. So, for instance, I can search 2013 for Ivy and find:</p>
<p>College: Cornell University ([Cornell</a> University Athletics](<a href=“http://cornellbigred.com/index.aspx?tab=volleyball&path=wvball]Cornell”>Volleyball - Cornell University Athletics))
Division: NCAA Division 1
Date Added: 08/02/2011
Location: Ithaca, NEW YORK
Contact: Christopher Duenow, 607-254-4971
2013 Needs: <strong>OH</strong> - Agile, quick approach with fast and solid armswing. Comfortable, accurate passer with back court mobility. Athletic player with solid skills with growth potential. Average jump approx 9-6 or higher. <strong>MB</strong> - Good net play with mobile blocking footwork along with strong hands and quick jump. Fast, aggressive approach with the ability to play high balls. Able to hit a variety of shots, including the slide. Min height of 6-0 with solid jump (average jump approx 9-8 or higher). <strong>S</strong> - Looking for good mobility and fast hands with solid ball placement. Ability to set all positions as well as reverse the flow and better the second ball. Leadership ability and on court decision making are key factors along with athletic potential. Average jump approx 9-5 or higher. *** ABOUT US: We are looking for highly motivated student-athletes both in the classroom and on the court. Team is close and dedicated to being successful. Athletic scholarships are not provided in the Ivy League, but we can provide a well balanced and competitive college experience. Financial Aid is offered based on family situation and needs.</p>
<p>These both require very reasonable memberships, and are well worth it!</p>
<p>Perfect! Thanks so much squidge. The local coaches are not very familiar with recruiting practices outside our region.</p>
<p>A 6’+ left handed outside hitter is going to have her pick of schools-especially an Ivy Candidate student. I still think if she is planning on attending an Ivy she should make a trip out there this summer. It can be a whirlwind trip hitting several colleges in one week. She won’t be “too” late if she goes earlyish this summer. I am assuming she is playing J.O. Volleyball so it would depend on her schedule there but I would figure out a way to make it work. She should also look into schools like Duke, UConn and some other top volleyball schools if she wants to play at that level. Our high school is a volleyball powerhouse, sending at least 2, if not more, athletes to DI schools. They have done most of their scouting trips in the summer because of their volleyball schedules too. Several of these girls were all-american college volleyball players and none of them formally committed until fall of their senior year.</p>
<p>Thanks Steve. Everything you are saying is helping this kid calm down a little, stay in contact with coaches, but focus on finishing her competitive season knowing she can do a little more looking this summer before making a final decision.<br>
Her big worry was that if she waited until June, it would be “too late”. I think she’s got enough going for her to keep the conversation going and shop this a little longer, based on what you all are saying.</p>
<p>Ivy and NESCAC recruiting generally finishes by October of senior year. But in the summer you should definitely be on their radar. D2 was a NESCAC vb recruit in 2009. PM me if you want more in depth information.</p>