NCSA vs. Her Court, Her Agent: The Warm-Up - What Athletes Need

athlete recruiting college recruiting launchbreak ncsa Jun 03, 2025

If you’re a student-athlete, or a parent, coach, or mentor helping one, you’ve probably heard of NCSA (Next College Student Athlete). They’re one of the largest and most well-known recruiting platforms in the U.S., with a network of over 40,000 college coaches across nearly every sport.

NCSA helps athletes build a profile, upload game footage, and get seen by schools at all levels, DI, DII, DIII, NAIA, and JUCO. Families can also upgrade for extra support, like recruiting coaching, video editing, and direct outreach assistance.

For many athletes, NCSA is their first introduction to the college recruiting process, and for good reason. It gives structure, visibility, and a path forward. But visibility alone isn’t enough anymore.

We support what they do. In fact, we encourage athletes to sign up for a free NCSA profile. It’s a valuable first step in being seen by college coaches.

But here’s the truth:

Getting recruited isn’t just about getting noticed. It’s about knowing who you are, how you show up online, and how to prepare for a world where NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) matters more than ever.

That’s where The Warm-Up comes in.

What NCSA Does Well

NCSA offers:

A free athlete profile that can be seen by over 40,000 college coaches
Basic exposure to recruiting tools and timelines
Optional upgrades that include highlight video help, recruiting coaching, and direct outreach to schools

For many families, this is their first experience with the college recruiting system. It’s a solid place to start. If your athlete plays high-level travel ball or attends showcases, an NCSA profile gives coaches a way to track, view, and contact them.

But What Happens When the Coach Actually Reaches Out?

That’s where we come in. NCSA is about getting seen. The Warm-Up is about knowing what to say when the spotlight hits.

When we say “the spotlight,” we mean the moment a coach finally calls, a brand reaches out, or an opportunity shows up. That’s when an athlete has to answer big questions:

Who are you beyond your stats?
What do you stand for?
What makes you different?
Why should someone invest in you?
etc.

That’s the spotlight.
And if you’re not prepared for it, you’ll fumble the moment you’ve been working toward.

That’s why The Warm-Up isn’t just a self-paced course, it comes with access to a real community, including:

A veteran sports agent available for feedback
A digital strategist who helps athletes improve their visibility and shape their offer
Ongoing coaching and Q&A, with replays available for those who miss live calls

Athletes aren’t left to figure it out alone. They’re guided, supported, and surrounded by people who’ve done the work and know what it takes.

What The Warm-Up Does Differently

The Warm-Up is a free, narrated course designed to help athletes:

Build their personal brand
Clean up their social media
Prepare for NIL opportunities
Develop a real digital presence they own
Create content that reflects who they are
Think long-term, not just about the next offer, but about what comes after sports

We don’t just ask athletes what their goals are. We walk them through worksheets that force them to define it. So when a coach asks, “Tell me about yourself,” they’re ready.

We also guide athletes on how to set up a professional LinkedIn profile, use platforms like LaunchBreak, Opendorse, and digital tools like, Keywords Everywhere, and Apollo, and create content that builds real relationships, not just highlight reels.

What We Know About NCSA Pricing

Free main account: Athletes can create a profile, upload video and stats, and be visible to over 40,000 college coaches, completely free.
Premium packages: NCSA offers tiered premium plans, Champion, Elite, MVP, MVP+ with features like recruiting coaching, highlight videos, SAT/ACT prep, and mental or nutrition coaching.
Pricing is customized: They don’t list fixed prices on the website. Instead, families have to talk to a recruiting coach to get a quote based on sport, grade level, and goals.
Typical costs: Packages generally range from $700 to over $4,000, some reports say the average falls between $1,000–$3,000
Sales approach: Some families report one-time packages (e.g., around $900, with occasional discounts), but many describe a consultative upselling process awevideo.com

What You Don’t Know Until You Call

Precise cost for your student-athlete’s specific needs
Whether add-on services (like mental performance coaching or nutrition planning) are one-time, ongoing, or optional
How long the service lasts, until graduation, one year, or subject to renewal

Talk to an NCSA rep to get a precise quote, then compare it to what you could achieve with a combination of free tools, like The Warm-Up, LaunchBreak, LinkedIn, and DIY video packages.

HCHA: The Warm-Up Pricing

The Warm-Up is 100% free.

There’s no upsell mid-course, no hidden costs, and no pressure. Athletes, parents, mentors, and coaches can all access the full experience at no cost.

For athletes who want to go further, The Warm-Up leads into our premium course: How to Become a Modern Sports Agent—a paid, in-depth program for those ready to monetize, represent, or build long-term opportunities around the athlete brand.

But The Warm-Up itself? Free. Open. Strategic. Built to get athletes clear before NIL, coaches, or brands ever come calling.