Build a recruiting timeline backward from graduation
A useful plan connects academics, film, communication, visits, and decisions to dates the family can actually control.
5 min readAnchor the plan to verified dates
Start with the athlete's graduation year, school calendar, football season, testing needs, and any published recruiting dates that apply. Do not build the plan around a social-media timeline from another athlete.
Rules and calendars can change, so verify current dates with official sources before using them as deadlines.
Work backward to controllable tasks
Place film updates, transcript checks, coach contact, visits, and camp decisions on the calendar before the busy periods arrive. Give every task an owner and a next review date.
The goal is not constant activity. It is to have the right information ready when a coach asks for it.
Review the plan monthly
Update the plan when film changes, academics change, contact becomes more specific, or a program's staff and roster situation changes.
Remove tasks that no longer serve the athlete's current path. A shorter plan with clear next actions is more useful than a large checklist that nobody maintains.