Track and Field Recruiting Standards (2024)

FAQs

Is it hard to get recruited for track? ›

Men's track and field recruiting—like any college sport—is very competitive, leaving many student-athletes and their families wondering when and where to start. What makes track and field unique in the world of collegiate sports is that there is no “typical” track recruiting process.

For men's programs a fully funded NCAA D1 or D2 track team will have 12.6 scholarships, NAIA programs have 12 scholarships. Women's track and field teams have 18 scholarships per team at the D1 level, 12.6 for NCAA D2 and 12 scholarships for NAIA programs.

AMERICAN FOOTBALL

With a highly selective recruitment process and a limited number of positions available, breaking into the NFL requires extraordinary talent and determination.

It's all in how you pound the ground. Let's jump in. If you've ever watched a marathon or any Olympic running event, you'll notice that many of the world's top competitors are rather short. This is because the world's fastest runners aren't defined by their height, over which they have no control.

At the NCAA Division I level, there are typically 18 track and field scholarships per team for women, and 12.6 scholarships for men's teams. Partial scholarships are more common than full athletic scholarships, but it's possible to win a full ride depending on the program students apply to.

Further, athletic scholarship money can vary widely depending on the sport. In Division I men's sports, football gives the most scholarships, followed by ice hockey, basketball, track & field, lacrosse and baseball. For women, the most scholarships are offered in rowing, then track & field, ice hockey, and basketball.

How to get recruited for college track? ›

Sure, the rewards at D1 women's basketball colleges are great—but it's extremely difficult to get there. Only about 1.2 percent of the nation's 400,000+ high-school women's basketball athletes go on to play for a D1 women's basketball program.

Every scholarship available is different, meaning that some are more competitive while others are easier to win. Track and field scholarships offered directly by colleges are usually competitive, with only the top-performing athletes being recruited for teams and rewarded with athletic scholarships.

To qualify for a non-competitive D1 school you're gonna have to run less than 4:23 for a boy and around 5:20 for a girl. To qualify for the most competitive D1 schools in the country you'll have to go sub 4:10 for boys and sub 4:50 for girls.

Tournaments – Large tournaments have become the go-to recruiting events for many college coaches. Once you have decided on an event, make sure you contact coaches prior to the start to let them know you will be attending, and always follow-up with coaches afterward.

Is it easy to get a scholarship for track? The difficulty of getting a track scholarship is partly dependent on what college coaches need for their team and the ability of the student-athlete. A student-athlete who is uncommonly good at track and field will have a much easier time finding a track and field scholarship.

There are more than 488,000 track and field high school student athletes competing across the country, but only 2.7% go on to compete at the NCAA Division 1 level, 1.5% at Division 2 and 1.9% at Division 3.

Being a recruited athlete essentially guarantees admission even for the least-qualified applicants.” Furthermore, the Harvard Crimson reported in 2023 that athletic recruits have a staggering 86% chance of admissions overall, compared to 33% for legacy applicants.