10/08/2026
Headed to Surf College Cup Olders? Swipe through and save our tips to enhance your recruiting journey this Thanksgiving Weekend!
👉 All athletes must register under “Amateur Athletes” on the NCAA Eligibility Center website if interested in an NCAA Program. It’s recommended that athletes register by their Junior year of high school. There is a separate eligibility form for NAIA programs.
👉 Create a highlight reel to share with college coaches that showcase your Best of the Best talent! Clip 10-20 plays together to create a 3-5 minute video - and put the strongest plays first. Don’t have enough footage? BallerTV captures matches at most Surf Sports tournaments and offers highlight reel services.
👉 Be proactive and reach out to college coaches starting your Sophomore year! Email them an introduction of yourself, transcripts, GPA, and a highlight reel to start off.
👉 Include your academics when reaching out! In addition to your athletic talent, college coaches look at an athlete’s academics when recruiting, too.
👉 Stay organized through your recruiting process! Keep a spreadsheet or word document that shows which coaches you’ve contacted, who has responded, and who is coming to your matches.
👉 Seek high level competition during the recruiting process! This provides a direct baseline for coaches to assess how you measure up against top-tier and cross-league talent. Surf College Cup often has 400+ scouts in attendance.
👉 Create a team handout with information on all players competing. Information should be clear and include each player’s photo, name, jersey number, position, GPA, grad year, and player contact info!
👉 The college recruitment process can feel overwhelming, but don’t get discouraged if you don’t hear back from college coaches right away. Be patient, keep trying, and never stop playing at your Best of the Best ability!
