Support Your Child's Recruitment
Without the Guesswork
Your child wants to play college sports. You want to help — but navigating NCAA recruitment is overwhelming. Play2College gives you the tools to stay organized, informed, and involved without having to become an expert overnight.
How Play2College Helps You as a Parent
These are the tools that make managing recruitment practical — not just another website with information.
Follow Your Child's Journey
When your child invites you, you get your own view of their recruitment progress. See which colleges they're tracking, what stage each is at, and what's coming up — without needing to ask for updates.
Suggest Colleges
Found a program you think would be a great fit? Suggest it directly through the platform. Your child reviews and approves suggestions — keeping them in the driver's seat while you contribute meaningfully.
Log Coach Contacts
Had a conversation with a coach at a showcase? Met an assistant coach at a camp? Log the interaction on your child's behalf. They'll see it and can approve it to keep their contact history complete.
Shared Calendar & Appointments
See upcoming campus visits, coach calls, application deadlines, and showcase events. When your child adds an appointment, you see it too — so you can plan travel, time off, and logistics together.
Map Overview
See all the colleges your child is tracking on an interactive map, color-coded by recruitment stage. Instantly understand the geographic spread and plan campus visit trips efficiently.
Compare Programs Together
Use the comparison tool to evaluate colleges on 35+ topics — academics, facilities, coaching, location, financial fit, and more. Make decisions together based on data, not guesswork.
Key Information for Parents
You don't need to read everything at once. Here are the most relevant guides for parents.
NCAA Eligibility Requirements
Understand the 16 core courses and core-course GPA your child needs (2.3 for D1, 2.2 for D2). SAT/ACT scores are no longer required for NCAA eligibility.
The 5-for-5 Eligibility Clock
New for 2026: Division I now gives five seasons over five years, and the clock can start at age 19. Why enrolling early matters.
NCAA Divisions Explained
D1, D2, D3, and NAIA — what's the difference and which fits your child's goals?
Financial Aid & Scholarships
How athletic scholarships work, what to expect financially, and other funding options.
Recruitment Timeline
Age-by-age milestones so you know what to focus on and when.
International Families Guide
Visa requirements, credential evaluation, TOEFL, and navigating recruitment from abroad.
Coach Communication
Email templates, talking points, and guidance on how your child should reach out to coaches.
The New Rules Every Parent Should Know
College recruitment looks different than it did even two years ago. A few recent changes directly affect how you plan — and where your money goes.
Protect the 5-Year Eligibility Clock
In June 2026, Division I adopted an age-based “5-for-5” model: five seasons of competition within five years. The clock starts at your child's first full-time college enrollment anywhere (including junior college or a school abroad) or the academic year after their 19th birthday — whichever comes first. Traditional and medical redshirts are largely gone.
What to do: Because the clock can start at age 19 even before enrollment, encourage your child to start college as soon as possible after high school to keep all five years. This matters most for gap years, reclassifying, and international athletes. Read the full 5-for-5 rule.
Roster Spots & Revenue Sharing
The House v. NCAA settlement (effective 2025–26) replaced scholarship caps with roster limits, and schools that opt in may now pay athletes directly through revenue sharing (capped around $20.5M per school in 2025–26). Within a roster limit, every spot can be fully funded — so the old “partial scholarship” math has shifted.
What to do: Ask each program directly whether they have opted in, how many roster spots are open at your child's position, and exactly what is funded. Get any offer in writing.
No More National Letter of Intent
The National Letter of Intent (NLI) program was retired in 2024. Commitments are now handled through the school's own written offer and financial-aid agreement. The signing moment your child sees online may look the same, but the paperwork is different.
What to do: Read every written offer carefully — including what the aid covers, for how many years, and any conditions — before your child signs.
Tests Are Optional for NCAA — Not Always for Admission
Since 2023, the SAT/ACT is not required for NCAA D1/D2 initial eligibility — the qualifier is 16 core courses and a 2.3 core GPA (D1) or 2.2 (D2). But many universities still require test scores for general admission or merit aid.
What to do: Don't drop testing by default. Check each target school's admissions and scholarship policy — a strong score can unlock academic money that lowers your family's net cost.
Ready to Support Your Child's Journey?
Create a free account, then ask your child to invite you as a follower. You'll get your own view of their recruitment progress and the tools to help — all in one place.
Last updated: June 2026 · Reflects the NCAA 5-for-5 eligibility model and House v. NCAA settlement.