Anon College Recruiting experience, insights and opinions

[FlippinLilysMom]

My kid is not even close to competing gymnastics on a a NCAA level.

And recruiting is a 2 way street. Before I let her “waste” a visit I’d want to know what the schools have to offer? Do you have scholarship, walk on only……. And where they see her as a fit……

They answer all of that well before the official visit even takes place.

 

[Anonymous Post]

I don’t think her announcement referenced a scholarship, so assuming it’s a walk on spot is it still surprising? Seems like the bar is somewhat lower for those spots, so doesn’t seem that odd to me, actually.

 

[Anonymous Post]

Have seen Sophia compete often in person and she was a nice, but nothing extra, level 10. My dd was surprised also, even with the Liv connection. Is this a walk-on? I mean good for her, maybe she is really killing one event now, or is coming into her own.

 

[GYM0M]

It was my impression that while college only allows for 4 years of competition eligibility, scholarships are actually 5 years, if needed by the athlete.
Something else that might help, DD took a few unofficial visits when we were at a meet that was close to a school she might have wanted to attend.
She was offered (and accepted) the full 4 (5 if needed) years by an SEC school, not a top 10 school, at least not yet, !!
I’m available for any questions just send me a message!!

 

[Anonymous (b2b9)]

What has been an eye opener for me is....mind you not all colleges are like this. There are colleges out there that ONLY look at the gymnast scores, Level of competition start value. Is she Elite, has she gone to Nationals, or Developmental camps?.
In other words what can that gymnast bring to the team to move us up the rankings.
Our gym has had several gymnasts recieved offers right after Nationals. A few of the girls do measure up to those requirements. The one thing that blows my mind is there grades ! These are C's and D's gymnast. With very low SAT and ACT scores. If they need to apply without a sports driven scholarship no way admission would accept them. My GD is an average gymnast. Her schooling has always come first. Her strong academic and level of studies, she would get into any college of her choice. We have always kept it in the back of her mind after gymnastics what's your plan? Goals? Career ? Think bigger! Gymnastics does not last forever! No one can take away your education, keep learning and growing.

 

[Anonymous (ab65)]

I haven't looked into her scores or routines but just have to say that there may be more going on beyond the scores. She may be a specialist working particular skills that the coaches believe will pay off for their team? She may have agreed to be an student assistant. Who knows... Just saying not to assume it is based solely on her sister. And there are many other spots on other teams based on "who you know" so why not?

Graba is a total who you know guy...that's how he got Suni , from his brother's gym. We dealt with him many moons ago and he was kinda creepy back then ...so not surprised by this at all...and the sister may not even get any $$ if he finds something shinier and prettier before she signs, so there's that.

 

[Anonymous Post]

I have read on and around message boards that certain conferences have gone to only offering 4 year scholarships. Technically all scholarships are 1 year affairs that can be renewed/cancelled by program but if a program commits to 4 years then it is assumed they will always be renewed. I can say the the B10 and the SEC do not offer 4 year scholarships as a rule (I am sure there are top names that do get them). These programs are offering 1 or 2 year scholarships with a "lets see how it goes"

I know this post is from a while back but curious, which conferences are offering only four year scholarships?

 

[JBS]

Just linking this thread in here...

For Parents - D1 path

For those with college gymnasts, how many years at L10 did she do? How many repeated L8/9 years? Just curious because our gym has a fairly small, new batch of L6/7s who all want to do college gym but are all on the older side... 11/12... they are super well coached and score high with up trained...

chalkbucket.com

 

[Anonymous Post]

Just learned that official visit rules changed starting July 1. There are now no limit to the number of official visits that can be taken! It used to be only 5. Rule Change

 

[Anonymous Post]

Also, just from a timing frame of reference and not sure how/if other clubs are doing this but the coaches at our gym started asking 2025 girls what colleges they are interested in to schedule gym visits with them.

 

[Anonymous Post]

Another timing in the process note. Now that NCAA season is complete. Our gym is seeing a lot of college coaches coming into the gym before L10 Nationals. The week after the NCAA national championship up to the week before L10 Nationals we have 10 college programs scheduled to come in. It appears they are pre-scouting girls going into L10 Nationals?

 

[FlippinLilysMom]

Another timing in the process note. Now that NCAA season is complete. Our gym is seeing a lot of college coaches coming into the gym before L10 Nationals. The week after the NCAA national championship up to the week before L10 Nationals we have 10 college programs scheduled to come in. It appears they are pre-scouting girls going into L10 Nationals?

They are more than likely looking at the 2025s in your gym. Now until June 15th will be busy recruiting time for them.

 

[Anonymous (8983)]

Another timing in the process note. Now that NCAA season is complete. Our gym is seeing a lot of college coaches coming into the gym before L10 Nationals. The week after the NCAA national championship up to the week before L10 Nationals we have 10 college programs scheduled to come in. It appears they are pre-scouting girls going into L10 Nationals?

Same here. Very busy- the teams that got knocked out after regionals showed up right away and other coaches were here right after NCAA nationals.

 

[JBS]

Here is another great thread for everyone...

For Parents - Who's Getting onto College Teams

By far one of the greatest posts on ChalkBucket ever! Thank you for this post @mezzamare!

chalkbucket.com

 

[Anonymous Post]

Dont forget to register with the NCAA!! It may be one of those things that are just assumed everyone knows, but we have had a few girls get surprised as they head into the June 15th recruiting date that they need to be registered with the NCAA before schools can bring them on campus. Not sure if you need to have to be registered for them to talk with you, but its $100 through the NCAA. I have no other insights as to how long it takes to get approved/cleared with the NCAA.

 

[JBS]

Just linking this in here as another interesting topic to read...

Anon - Gymnastics=Football? Gymnasts posting recruiting interactions

Not sure how many have been following the C/O 2025 recruits. But this year a few (2 that I have seen on insta) are pro-actively announcing when they receive scholarship offers or official visit offers. The most prominent is Sydney Seabrooks who is also an intern at college gym news. She...

chalkbucket.com

 

[Anonymous Post]

Well into Official visits season now that college football has started. Things that we have learned,

• Travel day on Thursday
• Friday details of university, academics, pictures, watch practice, meet team and host. Depending upon schedule, a day or evening outing (bowling, lake day, fun at coaches house, etc.)
• Saturday meetings with coaches and offer may be extended, although it seems that some programs are very upfront about slots available and where you may sit in the offer order others are less.
• Game attendance with host, and some programs really seem to offer the college experience so dont be surprised if alcohol is involved and other college student life experiences like pregame/postgame parties. Some programs have late night curfews listed on their agenda.
• Sunday return home

NIL definitely seems to be making its way into the larger programs as meetings with NIL Coordinator or Manager are usually included in official visits. Specific $ is not discussed, but it is implied that the opportunity is there. The visits are physically draining and emotionally having to always be "on" talking and smiling. I am amazed that some would do more than 5 since they also tend to be back-back-back. If offers are made, some ask for a deadline for a response, so be prepared to respond accordingly. Idk where this myth came into being that I have seen online elsewhere regarding colleges offering only 4 year scholarships, but it only a myth. Plenty of programs offer only 1 year scholarships. Or at least its not unusual to only be offered a 1 year scholarship.

 

[gymgal]

Well into Official visits season now that college football has started. Things that we have learned,

• Travel day on Thursday
• Friday details of university, academics, pictures, watch practice, meet team and host. Depending upon schedule, a day or evening outing (bowling, lake day, fun at coaches house, etc.)
• Saturday meetings with coaches and offer may be extended, although it seems that some programs are very upfront about slots available and where you may sit in the offer order others are less.
• Game attendance with host, and some programs really seem to offer the college experience so dont be surprised if alcohol is involved and other college student life experiences like pregame/postgame parties. Some programs have late night curfews listed on their agenda.
• Sunday return home

NIL definitely seems to be making its way into the larger programs as meetings with NIL Coordinator or Manager are usually included in official visits. Specific $ is not discussed, but it is implied that the opportunity is there. The visits are physically draining and emotionally having to always be "on" talking and smiling. I am amazed that some would do more than 5 since they also tend to be back-back-back. If offers are made, some ask for a deadline for a response, so be prepared to respond accordingly. Idk where this myth came into being that I have seen online elsewhere regarding colleges offering only 4 year scholarships, but it only a myth. Plenty of programs offer only 1 year scholarships. Or at least its not unusual to only be offered a 1 year scholarship.

great info for those just starting. As for the 4 year scholarship "myth", several years ago several of the big conferences began to mandate 4 year scholarships. There was the belief at that time that more conferences would follow suit.

 

[Anonymous Post]

Another timeline marker in regards to recruiting. Our gym is seeing colleges start recruiting 2026s now in November (so that would be their early sophomore year of high school) even though there are still 2025s yet to commit. A lot of gym visits to evaluate 2026s.

 

[Anonymous Post]

Recruiting? Or visiting?
By rule they are not allowed to be talking to sophomores. THey can be evaluating them, watching film, etc, but that is it.

I hope they are not pushing things to go back to the super early recruiting. Junior year in hs is early enough to be committing to a college!