# NCSA vs SportsRecruits

Source: https://productiverecruit.com/ncsa-vs-sportsrecruits · Last updated: 2026-10-30

**TL;DR:** Both are owned by IMG Academy. NCSA is family-direct and sells packages with human recruiting coaches after a sales call. SportsRecruits is a self-serve platform that clubs often pay for. NCSA shows you when coaches open your messages; SportsRecruits doesn't. Pick NCSA if you want a person guiding you and the budget allows it. Pick SportsRecruits if your club already provides it.

## They're the same company now

IMG Academy has owned NCSA for years and bought SportsRecruits in May 2025. IMG runs them as two layers: SportsRecruits for clubs and self-serve families, NCSA for families who want hands-on help. NCSA's own club and high school page now points clubs to SportsRecruits.

## Side by side

| | NCSA | SportsRecruits |
|---|---|---|
| Who buys it | Families, directly | Clubs and high schools, plus families |
| Price | Not published, quoted on a call. Reported at about $1,200 to $6,000+ per package | Shown after you log in: $499/year or about $99/month (October 2026) |
| Human recruiting coach | Yes, on MVP and MVP+ (group coaching on Elite) | No |
| Messaging coaches | Through NCSA's Message Center (paid tiers) | Through SportsRecruits; arrives in the coach's inbox from a SportsRecruits address |
| Read receipts | Yes, on paid tiers | No. You see profile link clicks and video views |
| Profile view tracking | Paid tiers | Free tier says a college viewed you; Pro shows which one |
| Refunds | Terms not published; families report mixed experiences | Non-refundable, auto-renews (per Terms) |
| Club product | Points clubs to SportsRecruits | Core business, 2,000+ organizations |
| Official partnerships | US Club Soccer, USA Lacrosse (with SportsRecruits) | IWLCA, IMLCA, NFHCA official platforms |
| Reviews | Trustpilot 4.3 (4,483 reviews), iOS app 2.7 | No Trustpilot reviews; iOS app 2.8 (18 ratings) |

## Pricing

- **NCSA:** Free profile; paid tiers are Champion, Elite, MVP, and MVP+. Prices are quoted on a call. Family and third-party reports put packages from about $1,200 to $6,000+.
- **SportsRecruits:** Free profile; Pro is $499/year or about $99/month, shown once you log in (October 2026). Pro also bundles IMG Academy+ Essentials and a $400 IMG Academy camp voucher. Many athletes get Pro through their club.

## How messaging and tracking work

- **NCSA:** Paid members message any college coach through the Message Center, and coaches get an email notification. You can see when a coach opens your message or views your profile.
- **SportsRecruits:** Pro members write in SportsRecruits, and the coach gets it like a normal email from a SportsRecruits address, with your profile link inside. You're alerted when a coach clicks that link or watches your video, but not when they open the message.

## Which one is right for you?

Choose NCSA if:
- You want a recruiting coach guiding you, and the budget allows it
- You don't have a club or high school coach who'll advocate for you

Choose SportsRecruits if:
- Your club already provides it (check before you pay)
- You play lacrosse or field hockey (it runs the coaches' association platforms)
- You want to do your own outreach without a sales call

## Frequently asked questions

### Are NCSA and SportsRecruits the same company?

Yes. IMG Academy owns NCSA and bought SportsRecruits in May 2025. They're still separate products.

### Is SportsRecruits cheaper than NCSA?

Usually. SportsRecruits Pro is $499/year or about $99/month once you log in (October 2026). NCSA doesn't publish prices; packages are reported at about $1,200 to $6,000+.

### Does SportsRecruits have read receipts?

No. Its help center says it doesn't show when a coach opens your message. It does alert you when a coach clicks your profile link or watches your video.

### Does NCSA have read receipts?

Yes, on paid memberships. You can see when a coach opens your message or views your profile.

### Can I get a refund?

SportsRecruits' terms say subscriptions are non-refundable. NCSA doesn't publish refund terms, so ask for them in writing before you buy.

## A third option

If you want to run your own outreach but have coaches hear from you directly, ProductiveRecruit sends from your own Gmail and tracks opens, clicks, profile views, and replies. $39/month or $349/year, published, with a 7-day free trial.
- Compare ProductiveRecruit to NCSA: https://productiverecruit.com/ncsa-alternative
- Compare ProductiveRecruit to SportsRecruits: https://productiverecruit.com/sports-recruits-alternative

## Sources (checked 2026-10-30)

- IMG Academy acquires SportsRecruits (May 2025): https://www.imgacademy.com/news/img-academy-announces-acquisition-college-recruiting-service-sportsrecruits
- SportsRecruits pricing (shown after you log in): https://sportsrecruits.com/pricing
- SportsRecruits help: how messaging works (no open tracking): https://help.sportsrecruits.com/hc/en-us/articles/213531726-How-to-Use-the-Messaging-System
- SportsRecruits help: what messages look like to coaches: https://help.sportsrecruits.com/hc/en-us/articles/214936763-What-Do-Messages-Look-Like-To-College-Coaches
- SportsRecruits terms of service: https://sportsrecruits.com/terms
- SportsRecruits for clubs: https://sportsrecruits.com/clubs
- SportsRecruits for college coaches (association platforms): https://sportsrecruits.com/colleges
- NCSA membership tiers and tracking: https://www.ncsasports.org/
- NCSA: what does NCSA cost?: https://www.ncsasports.org/who-is-ncsa/what-does-ncsa-do/what-does-ncsa-cost-how-much
- NCSA terms of use (no refund terms published): https://www.ncsasports.org/terms-and-conditions-of-use
- NCSA club and high school coaches page: https://www.ncsasports.org/club-hs-coach
- Third-party report of NCSA package prices: https://getrecruited.cc/how-much-does-ncsa-cost
- US Club Soccer partnership with NCSA and SportsRecruits: https://www.imgacademy.com/news/img-academys-ncsa-college-recruiting-sportsrecruits-announce-multi-year-partnership-us-club
- USA Lacrosse partnership with NCSA and SportsRecruits: https://www.usalacrosse.com/news-media-blog/usa-lacrosse-extends-partnership-img-academys-ncsasportsrecruits
- NCSA on Trustpilot: https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.ncsasports.org
- NCSA iOS app: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ncsa-athletic-recruiting/id673859348
- SportsRecruits Pro iOS app: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sportsrecruits-pro/id6621269439