Class of 2028: June 15th Is Here – What to Expect and How to Prepare
For the Class of 2028, June 15th marks one of the most anticipated milestones in the college field hockey recruiting process. It is the first day NCAA coaches are permitted to initiate direct communication with prospective student-athletes, opening the door to conversations that may ultimately influence where they will study, compete, and grow over the next four years.
For many athletes and families, the arrival of June 15th brings a mix of excitement, anticipation, and uncertainty. Some athletes may receive calls, emails, or text messages from college programs throughout the day, while others may not hear from coaches until weeks or even months later. Neither scenario determines the success of a recruiting journey.
Every program recruits differently. Every coach operates on a unique timeline. Every roster has different needs.
One of the best ways to prepare for June 15th is to have your academic and athletic information readily available. Many coaches will request transcripts, GPA information, recruiting videos, and details about academic interests early in the process. Being organized demonstrates maturity, responsibility, and a genuine commitment to both athletics and academics.
Before June 15th You Have a Dream List. After June 15th You Build Your Real List.
Most athletes enter the recruiting process with a list of universities they would love to attend. These are often schools they have followed for years, watched compete, researched online, or admired because of their athletic success or academic reputation.
However, one of the most important realities of recruiting is that June 15th often marks the moment when an athlete's dream list begins to evolve into a realistic recruiting list.
As coaches begin reaching out, requesting information, scheduling calls, and inviting athletes to campus, a clearer picture starts to emerge regarding which programs have genuine interest in recruiting them. This does not mean abandoning dream schools. It simply means remaining open-minded and recognizing that some of the best opportunities may come from universities that were not originally at the top of an athlete's list.
Many student-athletes ultimately discover outstanding academic and athletic opportunities at schools they had never seriously considered before the recruiting process began.
Coaches Are Recruiting Too
Recruiting is a two-way process.
Athletes are evaluating universities, but universities are also evaluating athletes.
Every coaching staff enters a recruiting cycle with specific needs based on graduation year, position, scholarship availability, roster composition, academic profile, and institutional priorities. Because of this, an athlete may love a particular university, but that program may not be recruiting that position in that graduation year. At the same time, another university may view that athlete as one of the top players on its recruiting board.
Understanding this reality helps athletes and families approach recruiting with perspective and patience. The goal is not to convince every school to recruit you. The goal is to find programs where there is genuine mutual interest and where both the athlete and the university believe the fit is right.
Looking Beyond the Sport
Field hockey can be an incredible vehicle for accessing educational opportunities, personal development, and lifelong connections. While the athletic component is exciting, athletes should focus on finding a university that aligns with their academic goals, values, interests, and future aspirations.
The field hockey program is important, but the academic experience, campus environment, support systems, and opportunities available after graduation will play an equally important role in shaping a student's future.
Culture matters just as much as coaching. Families should take time to learn about the environment surrounding a program and speak with current and former players whenever possible. These conversations often provide valuable insight into team dynamics, communication styles, support systems, and the overall student-athlete experience.
For athletes who compete internationally or aspire to represent national teams, it is also important to understand how a university supports travel commitments and academic flexibility. Asking questions about scheduling accommodations, online learning options, and academic support can help families avoid surprises later in the process.
Preparing for Recruiting Conversations
Preparation creates confidence.
Before every call, Zoom meeting, or campus visit, athletes should invest time researching both the university and the field hockey program. Understanding where the school is located, what academic programs it offers, who the coaching staff is, and what makes the institution unique will help create more meaningful conversations.
At a minimum, athletes should know:
- Where the university is located.
- Whether the school offers their intended major.
- The size of the student population.
- The names of the coaching staff.
- The conference in which the team competes.
- Recent team results and program history.
- Basic information about the current roster.
Athletes should also prepare a brief introduction that summarizes their academic background, athletic experience, future goals, and interest in the program. Having thoughtful questions prepared in advance can be equally important.
One valuable piece of advice is simple: do not automatically decline opportunities to speak with coaches.
Even if a university is not currently one of your top choices, every conversation helps athletes gain recruiting experience, improve communication skills, build confidence, and better understand what they are looking for in a future college experience. Some of the best recruiting opportunities emerge from programs that were not originally on an athlete's radar.
What Coaches Want to Learn About You
While every recruiting conversation is different, coaches generally want to understand who an athlete is beyond the highlight video.
They want to learn about work ethic, leadership, character, resilience, communication skills, academic goals, and long-term aspirations. They may ask about strengths and weaknesses, how an athlete handles adversity, how they balance academics and athletics, and what they hope to gain from their college experience.
Preparing for these conversations ahead of time can help athletes communicate more effectively and feel more confident during the recruiting process.
Common Questions Coaches May Ask
While every recruiting conversation is different, there are several questions that coaches commonly ask prospective student-athletes. Preparing for these topics in advance can help athletes feel more confident and communicate more effectively during calls and virtual meetings.
Some of the most common questions include:
- Why do you want to play field hockey in college?
- What are your biggest strengths as a player?
- What areas of your game are you currently working to improve?
- How do you balance academics and athletics?
- What are your academic and career goals?
- How do you handle adversity, setbacks, or challenges?
- What role do you typically play within a team environment?
- How would your coaches or teammates describe you?
- What are you looking for in your college experience?
- Why are you interested in our university?
There are no perfect answers to these questions. Coaches are not looking for scripted responses. They want to understand who you are as a person, student, teammate, and athlete. The most effective conversations are those in which athletes communicate honestly, confidently, and authentically.
Asking the Right Questions
Recruiting conversations should never be one-sided.
Athletes should evaluate programs just as carefully as programs evaluate athletes.
Questions about player development, academic support, team culture, communication expectations, and the overall student-athlete experience often provide the most valuable insight.
As recruiting progresses, many universities will arrange conversations with academic advisors, admissions representatives, and current student-athletes. These meetings are often just as valuable as conversations with coaches.
Academic advisors can provide information regarding majors, academic support services, internships, scheduling flexibility, and career preparation. Current players can offer valuable insight into team culture, relationships with coaches, daily schedules, academic workload, and campus life.
Questions Athletes Should Ask Coaches
Recruiting conversations should never feel like a one-way interview. Athletes should use these opportunities to learn as much as possible about the university, the field hockey program, and the overall student-athlete experience.
Some valuable questions to consider include:
Program & Playing Opportunity
- What positions are you recruiting for in my graduation year?
- How do players in my position typically develop within the program?
- What does player development look like over four years?
- What are the expectations for incoming freshmen?
- How would you describe your coaching philosophy?
Academics
- What academic support services are available for student-athletes?
- How do athletes manage classes during travel season?
- How does the university support students in demanding majors?
- Are tutoring and academic advising available?
Team Culture
- How would you describe the culture of the team?
- What qualities do your most successful players have in common?
- How do athletes balance field hockey, academics, and campus life?
- What makes your program unique?
Recruiting Process
- Where do I currently stand in your recruiting timeline?
- What are the next steps in the process?
- What information do you still need from me?
- When would be an appropriate time to follow up?
Scholarships & Financial Aid
- What types of athletic or academic aid are available?
- How are scholarships reviewed and renewed?
- What expenses are typically not covered?
- What financial aid resources are available for student-athletes?
Remember that the recruiting process is about gathering information and finding the best fit. The more informed your questions are, the more productive your conversations with coaches will be.
Experience the University Firsthand
Whenever possible, families should make every effort to experience a university beyond its website and social media accounts.
Official Visits, ID Clinics, Summer Camps, Prospect Days, Open Houses, and other recruiting events provide opportunities to see the campus environment, meet players and coaches, and experience the culture firsthand.
Nothing replaces seeing a university in person. These experiences often help athletes determine whether they can truly see themselves living, studying, competing, and growing in that environment for the next four years.
Understanding Offers and Deadlines
Receiving an offer from a college coach is one of the most exciting moments in the recruiting process. However, receiving an offer should not automatically lead to an immediate decision.
Many universities provide deadlines for scholarship offers, roster spots, or commitments. Rather than viewing these deadlines as pressure, families should see them as opportunities to gather additional information and continue evaluating whether the university is truly the right fit.
Use this time to schedule additional conversations with coaches, speak with current student-athletes, meet with academic advisors, review financial aid information, and, if possible, visit campus.
More Than a Scholarship
Families naturally focus on scholarship offers, and financial considerations are certainly important. However, scholarship amount alone should never determine a final decision.
Some universities may offer larger athletic scholarships. Others may provide stronger academic opportunities, more extensive alumni networks, greater internship opportunities, stronger career placement outcomes, or exceptional graduate school preparation.
For many student-athletes, field hockey becomes the pathway that opens the door to educational opportunities that may otherwise have been difficult to access.
When evaluating opportunities, families should consider the complete picture: academics, athletics, finances, personal growth, career outcomes, campus culture, and long-term opportunities.
The best decision is rarely about the scholarship alone.
A Note for Parents
Parents play a critical role throughout the recruiting process.
The most effective approach is often to allow the athlete to lead conversations while providing guidance, support, and perspective behind the scenes. Parents can help evaluate financial considerations, academic opportunities, housing, healthcare resources, campus safety, and long-term career outcomes.
The recruiting process should be a family decision, but it should also empower the student-athlete to take ownership of their future.
Final Reflections
Recruitment is more than a performance evaluation. It is an opportunity to advocate for yourself, ask meaningful questions, build relationships, and discover where you can thrive as both a student and an athlete.
Not every call will lead to an offer. Not every offer will lead to a commitment. Every conversation, however, provides an opportunity to learn.
Stay organized. Stay prepared. Stay open-minded. Trust your preparation and trust the process.
To the entire Class of 2028 and their families, we wish you the very best throughout your recruiting journey.
Prepared by FH College Path