If you are a junior athlete, stop what you are doing and read this.

October and November of your junior year are the most important months in your entire recruiting journey. Coaches are watching fall competition. Unofficial visit season is in full swing. Programs are building their Class of 2028 boards right now.

What you do in the next 60 days will shape the offers you receive — or do not receive — next spring.

Here is your complete action plan.

College coaches operate on a recruiting calendar. For most sports, the junior year fall is when programs begin making serious decisions about their next class.

Coaches are:

• Attending fall competitions and showcases
• Reviewing film from athletes on their boards
• Inviting top targets for unofficial visits
• Narrowing their lists before the spring evaluation period

Athletes who are visible, active, and communicating during this window get on boards. Athletes who are quiet get forgotten — even if they are talented.

If your highlight film does not include footage from this fall season, it is already outdated. Coaches want to see your current level of play.

Update your film with:

• Your best 3-5 plays from the most recent games
• Clear, well-lit footage with your jersey number visible
• A timestamp callout in your outreach emails pointing coaches to specific moments

Do not wait until the season is over. Send updated film now.

By October of junior year, you should have a working list of 15-25 schools that are realistic fits — athletically, academically, and financially.

If you do not have this list yet, build it now. Use factors like:

• Division level that matches your ability
• Academic programs that align with your interests
• Geographic preferences
• School size and culture

Be honest about your level. The athletes who struggle most in recruiting are the ones who only target schools that are a reach athletically while ignoring realistic fits.

If you have not contacted a school yet, now is the time. A strong introductory email includes:

• Who you are (name, graduation year, position, school)
• Your key stats and achievements
• A link to your highlight film
• Why you are interested in their specific program
• A clear ask (to be considered for their recruiting class)

Keep it under 200 words. Make it specific to each school. Send it.

Unofficial visits are free for you and can happen anytime. October and November are ideal because coaches are on campus and programs are active.

Reach out to your top 5-8 schools and ask about unofficial visit opportunities. Even a self-guided campus tour followed by a brief meeting with a coach is valuable.

If there are fall showcases or tournaments in your sport where college coaches will be present, attend them. Perform well. Follow up with coaches who were in attendance.

This is not the time to rest on your summer performance. Keep competing at a high level.

When coaches evaluate junior athletes in October, they are asking three questions:

Can this athlete play at our level? Film and live evaluation answer this.

Is this athlete serious about our program? Communication and campus visits answer this.

Will this athlete be a good fit for our culture? Character, coachability, and how they carry themselves answer this.

Make sure your actions in October answer all three questions in your favor.

Many juniors treat fall of junior year as a warm-up for the "real" recruiting process that happens in spring. That is a mistake.

The athletes who receive the best offers in the spring are the ones who did the work in the fall. They built relationships with coaches. They got on boards. They created momentum.

Spring is when offers come. Fall is when you earn them.

Start earning yours now.

As October turns to November, your focus should shift to:

• Following up with coaches who have shown interest
• Scheduling unofficial visits before the holiday break
• Preparing for any early signing period activity in your sport (if you are a senior) or watching how the Class of 2027 process unfolds (if you are a junior)
• Keeping your grades strong — academic eligibility is non-negotiable

Junior year fall is a sprint. Run it like one.