How to Research College Volleyball Programs Like a Pro

Research is the foundation of smart recruiting. The more you know about a program before reaching out, the better your emails will be and the more likely you'll find a program that's truly a good fit.

Step 1: Define Your Criteria

Before you start browsing programs, get clear on what matters to you:

Division level: Be honest about your skill level. A great D2 or D3 experience beats riding the bench at a D1 program.
Geography: How far from home are you willing to go?
Academics: What do you want to study? Not every school has your major.
Size: Big university or small college? Urban campus or rural?
Playing style: Do you prefer a fast-tempo offense? A defensive-minded team?

Step 2: Build Your Initial List

Start broad. Use our school directory to filter by division, state, and conference. Aim for 30-50 schools in your initial list.

Don't self-select out of programs too early. You might be surprised which programs are interested in you.

Step 3: Deep-Dive Each Program

For each school on your list, research:

The Team

Recent season records (last 3 years)
Conference standing
Playing style and formation preferences
Roster composition (how many players at your position? how many are graduating?)

The Coaching Staff

Head coach's background and tenure
Assistant coaches (you'll likely work most closely with position coaches)
Coaching philosophy (check interviews, articles, social media)

The School

Academic programs and rankings in your intended major
Campus culture and location
Cost of attendance and available financial aid
Graduation rate for athletes

Step 4: Categorize Your List

Organize schools into three tiers:

Dream schools (5-10): Programs where you'd love to play but might be a stretch
Target schools (10-15): Programs that match your skill level well
Safety schools (5-10): Programs where you're confident you'd be recruited

Step 5: Prioritize and Reach Out

Start with your target schools. These are your best bet for a good fit. Then work outward to dream and safety schools.

For each school, identify the right coach to contact (usually the recruiting coordinator or the assistant who covers your position or region).

Tools That Help

Sideout Scout school directory: Filter and browse programs with verified coaching staff info
MaxPreps/Prep Dig: Check your own rankings and stats vs. the competition
University websites: Always verify info directly on the school's athletics page

The recruits who do the best research write the best emails and find the best fits. There are no shortcuts here — but the work pays off.