Today, volleyball recruiting can start as early as 13 years old for some high level players. Picking the perfect school is one of the biggest decision a teenager will make in his or her life.  

With so many different schools out there to choose from, the entire process can seem a bit overwhelming. It’s critical to know what to look for in a program and the right questions to ask, so we’ve compiled a list to help.

Academic Reputation

Remember that life after athletics exists and one day, when the time comes to hang up your jersey, you'll have to decide what to do next? You need to be thinking about your career goals and find a school that offers the degree that best fits your desired career path. Picking a school with an exceptional academic reputation will help make the transition from athlete to professional much easier. 

Coaches

Reflect on what coaching style is best for you. What qualities do you want in a coach? Be sure to watch a practice or game and see if the coach’s style fits what you are looking for. Ask players how they view their coach. Do they respect him/her? Remember, there will always be days where you don’t like your coach, but is the coach getting the best from their players everyday? It is important to talk to each coach about how they see you fitting in the program. Be weary of a coach who is making promises like “you’ll start right away”. You want someone who is honest with you and not telling you what you just what you want to hear.  It’s important to ask the coach how long they plan on staying at that school. Although the coach is an important factor, you don’t want to base all of your decision on them in case they were to leave before or during your time there. 

Teammates

The players are going to be your best resource in getting a feel for what life will be like on and off the court. Ask them any and every question that pops into your head. They have walked in your shoes and will be able to give you the most insight. They will become your family away from home so you’ll want a place where you feel comfortable. How well do you get along with the players? How well do the players get along with each other? Also take a look at the roster and see the amount of players in each position. For example, if you’re an outside hitter, how many outside hitters will be on the team when you arrive? You will most likely want to avoid a team that is stacked in your position. This will make it very hard for you to ever see the court. 

Location

You’ll want to select a place where if volleyball was out of the picture, you would be happy to live. There are several factors to consider in terms of location. How near or far from home do you want to live? Do you prefer an urban or rural area? Is it easy to travel to? Ranking these factors in terms of importance to you will help you evaluate each school and narrow down to the best fit. 

Level of Competition

There are many levels of athletic programs across the country. You need to evaluate what level you can realistically compete in. Take a look at the strength of the conference each school competes in and select one that matches what you desire. Many student athletes overlook the amount of time required to play a college sport, including the off season. It’s important to understand the higher the level of competition, the more of a time commitment. As a new college student athlete, you’ll have a lot to juggle with class, workouts, practice, traveling, film sessions and more so you’ll want to have a firm grasp on what responsibilities you’re taking on and this will differ with each level of program.