What the Transfer Portal Doesn’t Tell College Coaches, How to get on their radar May 1, Plus Nikki’s Secret Tool!
What the Transfer Portal Doesn’t Tell Coaches:
Coaches can see your name and previous school. But here’s what they don’t know unless you tell them:
Eligibility
Video
Why you’re transferring
What kind of program you’re looking for (playing time, scheme fit, academics, etc.)
Character/work ethic — big one
Your grades/transcripts
Your social media (unless they dig)
What kind of player/teammate you really are
So if you're just sitting in the portal hoping someone scrolls through and finds your name... it’s not gonna hit the same as being proactive.
How to Get Noticed in the Portal (Tips)
1. Reach Out First
DM or email coaches with your info — especially at schools you’re targeting. Coaches love social media to contact directly or to access more information. So Keep your social media updated with video clips and a post as why you are in the portal.
Keep it short, include: name and contact info, position, film, eligibility, GPA, previous school, reason for transfer, whether you need a full scholarship, partial or willing to pay out of pocket.
2. Be Prepared: Put Your Film Front and Center
Before entering the transfer portal, make sure you're prepared.
Use Volleymetrics to access your game footage and create both a highlight reel and full match video ahead of time.Coaches will almost always ask for full match footage after viewing your highlights — it’s a key part of their evaluation. If you don’t have video ready, it becomes nearly impossible for them to assess your game and evaluate in time. The portal is a short window of opportunity.
Be proactive: organize your film, label it clearly, and have everything ready to send as soon as your name hits the portal.
3. Let Your Network Work
Hire a professional consultant who has college contacts, knows what coaches are looking for, who understands the game and is trusted in the industry.
Teammates who've already transferred? They can drop your name.
4. Nikki’s Secret Tool
Verified Athletics is a platform that provides tools for college coaches to find and gather the appropriate information to evaluate transfer student-athletes. This is free to the athlete, college coaches pay for the service. Over 1300 college teams use Verified Athletics to get more information on transfers. Once you are in the NCAA transfer portal, you will be asked to fill out survey that will give the colleges coaches all of the information they need to make an evaluation. Request your survey below!
Thinking About Entering the Transfer Portal on May 1st? Let’s Talk.
With 126 athletes placed at the collegiate level—and a significant number of those at the Division I level—Nikki has become a trusted name in volleyball recruiting consulting. We're also a top resource for transfer athletes navigating the ever-changing portal process.
If you're considering entering the portal on May 1, now’s the time to connect with us. We’re currently offering discounted consulting rates for athletes planning to make that move.
Not sure if it’s the right step right now? That’s okay. We’ll walk you through the pros and cons, so you can make the most informed decision possible for your future based on some very important factors that would be discussed at the time of the call.
📞 Give us a call today—let’s figure out what’s best for YOU. We have an incredibly high success rate! We consult with each prospect to ensure that athletic skill meets athletes goals and expectations. We put together a personalized strategic plan for each athlete. If the athlete is not comfortable with agreeing to the target plan, then we part ways before any payments are made. As a result, our success rate is 99%.
Contact Nikki for a free consulation-815-919-7537 or Playincollege3@gmail.com