How to Sign Up as an Athlete
- Go to thechalkcircle.com and tap Sign Up.
- Under "I am a," select Athlete.
- Enter your first and last name.
- Choose your Discipline — Male or Female.
- Enter your email.
- Create a password and confirm it.
- Enter your USAG number.
- Upload a photo of your USAG membership card.
- Tap Verify USAG. We check that the name and number on your card match what you entered — this is an automated first check, and every card is also reviewed by our team before your account is fully verified.
- Once you see "VERIFIED!", check the box to agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
- Tap Continue to Profile.
Your account is created right away, but shows as "Pending Verification" until an admin confirms your card — you can still explore the app in the meantime.
When should I start the recruiting process?
Set up your NCAA Eligibility Center account as a freshman, and start building your athlete profile and reaching out to coaches sophomore year. Top D1 programs often have their early target lists formed right around when their contact window opens, so being visible before then matters more than most families expect.
Do I need to be Level 10 to compete in college?
For Division I, almost always. Division II typically wants a strong Level 10. Division III will consider a Level 9 with a clear upward trend, character, and academics weighted heavily alongside scores. And if you're Level 7–9 and want to keep competing without the varsity-level recruiting process, club gymnastics is a real option at many schools. There's a path in college gymnastics for more levels than most families realize.
How many scholarships are available?
It varies by division, and the Division I numbers specifically have changed in recent years — always check the current NCAA figures rather than a number you saw last season. What's consistent across every division: most gymnasts receive partial aid, not a full ride. Go in expecting a shared scholarship pool, not a guarantee.
What costs aren't covered by scholarships?
Even a full scholarship typically leaves out travel home during school breaks, personal gear, medical costs beyond team coverage, summer training, a car, and everyday spending money. Compare total real cost across offers, not just the headline scholarship percentage — a 50% award at a $30,000 school can cost less out of pocket than 75% at a $60,000 one.
What's the difference between official and unofficial visits?
Unofficial visits are paid for by your family, unlimited in number, and can happen any time. Official visits are paid for by the school, limited under NCAA rules, and can't happen before a set point in junior year. The usual strategy: use unofficial visits early to explore broadly, and save your limited official visits for your real top choices.
What is the National Letter of Intent?
It's the binding step in committing to a school — a verbal commitment isn't legally binding and can change on either side, but signing the NLI commits you to attend for one academic year while the school commits to your scholarship for that year. Once it's signed, other programs stop recruiting you.
What are dead periods?
Stretches of the year when coaches can't have any in-person contact with recruits — no campus visits, no meeting up at a competition, no home visits. They can still call, text, and email during a dead period; it's only in-person contact that's off the table. Dates are set fresh by the NCAA each season, generally clustering around signing week, the winter holidays, spring championships, and part of early summer.
Can I contact coaches before they can contact me?
Yes. There's no restriction on when an athlete can reach out first. A coach may not be able to respond in every way until their contact window opens, but they can and do read what you send — reaching out early is one of the few advantages that's entirely within your control.
Can parents contact coaches directly?
It's generally better for the athlete to be the one communicating — coaches are evaluating whether she can handle the process herself, and a parent stepping in to talk for her is often read that way, unintentionally. The clear exception is pure logistics, like scheduling an official visit. (On The Chalk Circle specifically, parents are never cut out of the loop entirely — any adult messaging your athlete automatically includes a verified parent in that same conversation.)
