If you are looking to play your sport at the next level, you shouldn't forget about NAIA recruiting. The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics or NAIA, offers a great alternative to NCAA schools and gives you another great avenue to play the sport you love at the college level.

NAIA recruiting and the NAIA:

The NAIA has 50,000 student-athletes playing sports at nearly 300 colleges and universities throughout the United States and even some in Canada. These schools are divided into 25 conferences and 23 championships are awarded in 13 different sports.

- Nearly 300 colleges and universities participate
- 23 national champions
- 650,000 students
- First to include black colleges and students in championships
- First to include women in national championships
- First to develop system-wide character initiative with substantive programming

Is The NAIA Really Different

What really makes NAIA recruiting different from NCAA recruiting? Not much. From the point of view of an athlete who is trying get recruited to play at the next level, there is not much difference between being recruited for the NAIA or the NCAAl. If anything, the NAIA rules seem to be a little more relaxed than the NCAA.

Two Divisions Only

Unlike the NCAA, there are two divisions in the NAIA. In the NCAA, there are three. How do these divisions compare in strength and competition level? It's hard to say exactly, but from what I have observed, here is how I would make the comparison:

NAIA Division I - Compares to lower NCAA Division I schools and many NCAA Division II schools
NAIA Division II- Compares to lower NCAA Division II schools and stronger Division III programs

The key to NAIA recruiting and all other recruiting is that you need to take charge of your recruiting. No coach at any level will recruit you if he or she does not know anything about you. You need to decide what level of competition is right for you and then start contacting these coaches with your athletic resume and a personal letter.

NAIA recruiting is not complicated, but it does take work. However, the rewards are well worth it.

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