Know exactly
what to do
this year.
A complete, free library of guides, checklists, and tools — built alongside the largest national network of college coaches in the country. Start wherever you are.
Start here. No jargon, no pressure.
You don't need to know anything yet. Get the fundamentals first — then build your plan when you're ready.
What recruiting actually is
How college recruiting really works, in plain English.
02Are you eligible?
NCAA, NAIA & NJCAA basics — and what to do about them.
03The recruiting timeline
When things happen, grade by grade, so nothing sneaks up.
04The 4 college levels
D1, D2, D3 & NAIA — what actually differs between them.
Free guides, checklists & tools for every step.
This is a real resource center — dig into the content that fits where you are. Every guide is built alongside the coaches who make the decisions.
Recruiting 101
How college recruiting actually works, start to finish.
Read the guide → ChecklistYear-by-year checklist
Exactly what to do each grade, 6th through 12th.
Get the checklist → GuideEmailing coaches
Write emails college coaches actually reply to.
Read the guide → GuideYour highlight film
What coaches want to see — and what to cut.
Read the guide → GuideEligibility & academics
NCAA & NAIA rules, core courses, and the clock.
Read the guide → GuideSchools & scholarships
Build a target list and understand the money.
Read the guide →Free video, from skills to coach insights.
Full playlists from the EXACT Sports channel — training, the recruiting process, and college coaches telling you what they really think.
Step Up Your Skills
Drills, technique, and training to level up your game.
Watch on YouTube →Athlete's Guide to Recruitment
The recruiting process explained, step by step.
Watch on YouTube →Coaches Tell All
College coaches, unfiltered — what they actually look for.
Watch on YouTube →Turn it into your plan.
Tell us where you are and get an ordered, step-by-step roadmap for this year — free, and no email required to see it.
Build your plan
Step 1 of 2 · free15 seconds. See your personalized roadmap instantly — no email required to look.
Pick your grade above and hit "Build my plan" to see exactly what to do this year — or tap a year on the timeline below.
One plan, from 6th grade to signing day
Every stage has a job. Tap your year to load your plan — or just read what's ahead so nothing sneaks up on you.
Insight from 1,000+ college coaches.
Our national coach network doesn't just prove we're legit — it's the source. Here's the advanced read most families never get.
Beyond stats — the traits and signals coaches told us actually move the needle.
Go deeper → Stand out in a crowded classWhat separates the athletes who get a reply from the ones who get ignored.
Go deeper → Read offers & fit like an insiderCompare programs on true cost and fit the way experienced families do.
Go deeper →Real coaches. Real rules. No hype.
This isn't generic internet advice. Here's the standard behind every plan and guide we give you — so you can move with confidence, not guesswork.
Vetted by college coaches
Every guide reflects what coaches told us actually gets athletes recruited — not recycled internet tips.
Tied to the official rules
We link straight to the official NCAA, NAIA & NJCAA eligibility sources, so you can verify everything yourself.
Reviewed & kept current
Rules change constantly. Everything's reviewed and dated — last reviewed July 2026 — so you never act on stale info.
No sales pitch
We'll tell you honestly when something isn't the right fit for your athlete. Guidance first, always.
The four college levels, decoded
D1, D2, D3, NAIA — what actually differs, side by side. It's exactly what we do with every part of the process.
| Feature | D1 | D2 | D3 | NAIA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athletic aid | Full | Partial | None | Yes |
| Academic flexibility | Medium | High | Very high | High |
| Competition level | Elite | High | Competitive | Competitive |
| Recruiting intensity | Very high | High | Moderate | Moderate |
Browse every resource.
Build your plan above, or dive into any topic — it's all organized by where you are in the journey.
Start here — the basics
Go deeper — advanced
All Articles
Browse the full libraryThe next step — when it's the right fit
X1 is EXACT's college showcase camp: one day, in front of multiple NCAA and NAIA coaches, ending with a written evaluation that's yours to keep. It's built to give you real feedback and recruiting context — not promises, and not a guaranteed outcome.
If getting evaluated by college coaches fits where you are in the journey, it can be one of the most useful days of your recruiting year. If it isn't yet, we'll say so — the year-by-year plan above is the better place to start.
Capped at registration — never "on average." When a camp fills, it closes. That hard cap is what guarantees every coach actually watches, coaches, and evaluates you.
In front of real college coaches
A national network of NCAA & NAIA head coaches and assistants, instructing and evaluating in person — and you can see who's confirmed before you register.
A guaranteed 5:1 ratio
Five athletes per coach, enforced at sign-up — so direct interaction is the point, not a lottery for attention.
A written evaluation you own
Measurables, scores, and coach notes after camp — yours to send to any program.
Coaching, not just exposure
Small-group, position-specific instruction that mirrors a college practice, plus controlled competition under coach observation.
Recruiting education
Learn how the process actually works and how to talk to coaches — so you leave with clarity instead of guesses.
The mental-performance edge
The sport-psychology training behind EXACT's NCAA- and NIH-funded approach.
Join the Prospect List
Share your athlete's info and we'll connect you to the opportunities that fit — camps, evaluations, and direct coach exposure for your sport.
Athlete Contact Information
Free. We'll only reach out about opportunities that fit your athlete.