IMPORTANT RESOURCE: The NCAA has released a helpful Eligibility 101 guide breaking down the new age-based eligibility rules for Division I and II athletes. Here are the biggest things counselors and recruiting families need to know about when the five-year clock starts, delayed enrollment, redshirts, and more.

Division II has officially joined Division I in adopting the new age-based eligibility model. Beginning in 2026-27, DII athletes will move away from the traditional seasons-of-competition and 10-semester/15-quarter framework toward a continuous five-year eligibility period tied to age and initial full-time college enrollment. For counselors and recruiting families, the big takeaway is simple: the old eligibility language is changing, and students considering gap years, postgraduate years, junior college, or delayed enrollment need to understand the new rules before making decisions. We break down the change here.

Women's flag football is quickly shifting from “interesting new opportunity” to something families are actually asking about in real recruiting conversations. With the NCAA adding it to the Emerging Sports for Women program and more colleges launching teams, IECs should be ready for questions about what this means and whether it could realistically fit into a student’s college search.

Are recruiting ID camps actually worth it?

That’s the question we’re tackling in this month’s SAA Insider video. We break down the difference between development camps, mass exposure camps, and targeted ID camps, and talk through one of the biggest questions families need to ask before spending the money:

Is this athlete a real prospect, or are they camp filler?

The full video will be available to SAA members as part of this month’s Insider Newsletter.

We're looking forward to attending the HECA Conference in Chicago next week and presenting two sessions alongside some outstanding colleagues. One will explore how counselors can better support LD/ND student-athletes through the college search and recruiting process, while the other takes a fresh look at cliché and controversial college essay topics and how students can use them effectively. Both sessions bring together specialists from different areas of college advising to tackle challenges that don't fit neatly into a single lane. If you'll be at HECA, we'd love to see you there!

Recruiting calendars are one of the most misunderstood parts of college athletics. The biggest thing families should know is that these rules restrict college coaches, not student-athletes. Athletes can email coaches, visit campuses, and attend camps whenever they'd like. The calendar simply determines what coaches can do in return. Understanding key recruiting dates, dead periods, and the differences between Division I, II, and III rules can help families avoid common mistakes and navigate the process with much more confidence.