It’s Opening Day for recruiting for the high school class of 2027! (I don’t want to make you feel old but we’re talking about the college class of 2031.)

June 15, 2025, otherwise known as the first day of allowable athletic recruiting for rising high school juniors by NCAA Division I and Division II coaches, is finally here. Today, student-athletes in the class of 2027 can both initiate and receive communications –including email, text messages, social media messages, phone calls, and video calls– with college coaches. They can also make verbal commitments for the 2027-28 school year. (NCAA Division III coaches are not constrained by this rule; they can make contact and recruit year-round.)

Contact between coaches and prospective student-athletes, whether off-campus or on-campus (on-campus visits include both official and unofficial visits) may not begin until August 1st.

In the past, the NCAA has published separate recruiting calendars of allowable events for Division I baseball, women’s basketball, men’s basketball, football, men’s golf, women’s lacrosse, men’s lacrosse, softball, women’s volleyball, beach volleyball, and cross country/track and field. Recruiting timelines for all other Division I sports, including swimming and diving, are spelled out in a separate recruiting calendar.

As of today, the NCAA has only published the recruiting 2025-26 calendars for women’s and men’s basketball.

Each of the calendars lists the allowable and non-allowable contact periods for their respective sports. Over the last several years, the NCAA has sought to make the lives of prospective student-athletes and college coaches less stressful by curbing early recruiting (gone are the days when coaches were getting verbal commitments from 8th-graders) and giving coaches a break from year-round recruiting.

Contact Periods Defined

• Recruiting Period: Authorized athletics department staff may make in-person, off-campus recruiting contacts and evaluations.
• Quiet Period: A quiet period is that period of time when it is permissible to make in-person recruiting contacts only on the member institution’s campus. No in-person, off-campus recruiting contacts or evaluations may be made during the quiet period.
• Dead Period: A dead period is that period of time when it is not permissible to make in-person recruiting contacts or evaluations on or off the member institution’s campus or to permit official or unofficial visits by prospective student-athletes to the institution’s campus.
• Recruiting Shutdown: A recruiting shutdown is a period of time when no form of recruiting (e.g., contacts, evaluations, official or unofficial visits, correspondence or making or receiving telephone calls) is permissible.

Following the House vs NCAA settlement, the swimming and diving recruiting landscape will change in significant ways. To begin with, those schools that have opted into the agreement will have roster limits for 2025-26 and beyond. In most cases, this will mean fewer recruiting spots for the 2027-28 school year. On the other hand, the NCAA’s scholarship limits (14.1 per women’s team and 9.9 per men’s team) are no longer in effect and these schools will now be allowed –but not required– to offer full scholarships to every member of the team.

Class of 2027

The phones were likely ringing off the hook this morning for some of the biggest names in the high school class of 2027. Those include Luke Mijatovic, who has been named to Team USA for the upcoming World Aquatics Championships, and prospective members of the World Junior Championships squad: Audrey Derivaux, Brayden Capen, Collin Holgerson, Daisy Collins, Luke Vatev, Rylee Erisman, Shareef Elaydi, Thomas McMillan. In addition, the youngest members of the 2024-25 National Junior team will be on many coaches’ lists: Anthony Dornoff, Colin Jacobs, and Mia Su.

Other top recruits from the cohort include Davis Jackson, Ellis Crisci, Griffin Oehler, Hayden Vicknair, Joey Campagnola, Juan Vallmitjana, and Trent Allen; as well as Abby Chan, Adalynn Biegler, Alyssa Ton, Bianca Nwaizu, Blakely Hammel, Carly Afanasewicz, Chloe Teger, Emily Wolf, Nikki Nixon, Sadie Buckley, Sarah Paisley Owen, and Vivienne Zangaro.

Top 2027 boys, alphabetically:

Top 2027 girls, alphabetically:

In past years, there was a recruiting dead period during “signing week,” which began on the second Wednesday in November. But with the dissolution of the National Letter of Intent program following the House settlement, it is unclear if there will still be a dead period in November. We can assume the following shutdown periods will remain in place:

Swimming and Diving Recruiting Shutdown Periods

• One week in August
• The final 14 days of December
• The first week of January
• The third and fourth weeks in February during the most popular period for conference championships

(NOTE: If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to [email protected]. Do not leave it in the comments.

Tickets are now on sale for the Tri Nations Test Match Series, with the Ord Minnett Aussie Stingers set to take on the USA and Italy in Perth.

Ahead of the 2025 World Aquatics Championships, the Ord Minnett Aussie Stingers will host both nations for a training camp, before playing the two test matches at Perth HPC on July 5 (v USA) and July 6 (v Italy).

Ord Minnett Aussie Stingers Head Coach Bec Rippon said she’s looking forward to the series, and said it will be a great opportunity to play against two powerhouse nations ahead of the World Championships.

“It’s going to be a great opportunity to trial some new things that we’ve been working on, and to try things without being under the same pressure of being at a World Championships,” Rippon said.

“We are really happy to have both of those teams in Australia – we always have great battles with the US and such a strong history with them so it will be great to see how we’re matching up.

“And we will play the Italians at the World Championships, so it will be a really good chance to check in and measure up against each other before Singapore,” she said.

Tickets are on sale now, for $15 per person. CLICK HERE to secure your seat.

Can’t be in Perth? Both matches will be livestreamed on the Water Polo Australia Youtube channel from 7:30pm AWST – click here

Florence, 15 June 2025 – Rari Nantes Florentia returns to the top step of the podium and becomes Italian Champion in the fifth Italian Paralympic Water Polo Championship, closing an extraordinary season with a prestigious double victory. In the setting of the Water Sport GLS in Naples, the lilies dominated the semi-final by beating Lazio 11 to 5, and then imposed themselves authoritatively in the final against the home team of Water Sport GLS Napoli with a clear 11 to 4.

A success that is worth the second category championship for the Florentine team, after the one won in 2023, and which allows the florentia to reach the Neapolitans at two titles, fueling a sporting rivalry that continues to write exciting pages in this discipline. The seventh national title in the overall palmarès further consolidates the lily primacy in history of the Italian Paralympic Swimming Federation and testifies to the company’s constant commitment to promoting an inclusive and high-level technical sport.

«This tricolor is the result of teamwork involving athletes, technical staff, managers and families – the company comments – A goal that fills us with pride and confirms Florence as one of the capitals of Italian Paralympic sport». Rari Nantes Florentia thanks all the supporters, partners and institutions that continue to believe and invest in a project that puts sport, inclusion and passion at its centre.

TEAM RARE NANTES FLORENTIA: Pellegrino Giulia, Di Gangi Niccolò (cap), Vannucci Alessio, Cericola Francesco, Fattori Federico, Mazzinghi Federico, Capalbo Andrea, Ciulli Simone (vicecap), Nocera Cesare, Signorini Alessio, Aquino Federica. Coach Laura Perego, vice Allegra Lapi

FINAL FOUR COMPETITION PROGRAM: Rari Nantes Florentia – SS Lazio Nuoto 11 Rari Nantes Florentia vs Water Sport GLs Napoli 11-4

In a bold strategic move, Raketech Group recently announced the sale of its remaining US tipster and subscription assets for €1.25 million. This decision follows a comprehensive review aimed at sharpening the company’s focus on scalable digital solutions. The divestment includes brands such as Winnersandwhiners.com, Picksandparlays.net, and Statsalt.com, which together held a book value of around €1.0 million. The payment is structured over 18 months, reflecting confidence in the assets’ ongoing value while allowing Raketech to reallocate resources to its core strengths.

This sale builds on a previous divestiture in 2024 when Raketech sold its offline advisory sales operations in the US for $2.25 million. CEO Johan Svensson has emphasized that the company’s future lies in “scalable digital models” that can outperform traditional advisory sales through automation, data analytics, and platform-based approaches. The move aligns with Raketech’s platform-first strategy and financial discipline, focusing on areas where it holds commercial and technological advantages.

Understanding the Sports Tipster Market: A Multi-Billion Dollar Ecosystem

The sports tipster market operates within the broader context of a global sports betting industry valued at $175.51 billion in 2024, with projections reaching $354.89 billion by 2032. Professional tipsters have evolved from informal sports forum contributors to sophisticated analytical businesses that blend data science, proprietary algorithms, and deep sports knowledge. These experts provide predictions and insights to bettors, typically operating on subscription models or commission-based structures.

The tipster ecosystem serves multiple market segments, from casual recreational bettors to serious gamblers seeking professional guidance. Research indicates that many sports bettors utilize tipster services during their gambling activities, though selection often relies more on personal recommendations and word-of-mouth rather than objective performance data. This creates interesting market dynamics where reputation and marketing prowess sometimes outweigh actual predictive accuracy.

The rise of digital platforms has democratized access to tipster services while simultaneously increasing competition. Traditional tipsters who once operated through personal networks now compete with AI-powered prediction engines, statistical modeling platforms, and large-scale affiliate marketing operations. This transformation has created both opportunities and challenges, as evidenced by Raketech’s strategic decision to exit direct tipster operations in favor of platform-based approaches.

Market data suggests the average sports bettor places wagers of approximately $171.69 per bet, with a median of $50, indicating significant financial engagement across diverse betting behaviors. This substantial betting volume creates a lucrative market for tipster services, particularly when scaled through digital platforms that can serve thousands of subscribers simultaneously.

From Traditional Advisory Sales to Scalable Digital Models

The traditional advisory sales model in online gaming relied heavily on direct personal relationships, phone sales, and location-based services . These approaches, while effective for building trust and providing personalized guidance, faced significant scalability limitations and high operational costs. The global iGaming market, now projected to surpass $100 billion by 2025 with a compound annual growth rate of approximately 7%, demands more efficient and scalable solutions.

Digital transformation has fundamentally altered how gaming companies approach customer acquisition and retention. Modern operators increasingly rely on data-driven insights, automated personalization, and platform-based distribution models that can serve millions of users simultaneously. This shift has created opportunities for companies like Raketech to develop technological solutions that outperform traditional advisory approaches.

The affiliate marketing segment of the iGaming industry has become particularly sophisticated, with 74% of iGaming operators now utilizing affiliate marketing strategies. Average affiliate commission rates in the industry range from 25-35%, with approximately 30-40% of new iGaming customers acquired through affiliate channels. These metrics demonstrate the economic viability of platform-based approaches over traditional advisory models.

Scalable digital models offer several advantages over conventional advisory sales operations. They can process vast amounts of data in real-time, provide personalized recommendations to thousands of users simultaneously, and adapt quickly to changing market conditions. Machine learning algorithms can analyze betting patterns, odds movements, and historical performance data to generate insights that would be impossible for human advisors to produce at scale.

Raketech’s Evolution: From Startup to Affiliate Powerhouse

Founded in 2010 and based in Malta, Raketech began as a small venture helping friends navigate the iGaming world. Over the years, it has grown into a publicly traded affiliate marketing leader with a focus on sports and gaming comparison services, online guides, and community-driven content. Despite a 23% revenue decline to €61.2 million in 2024, Raketech maintained a healthy adjusted EBITDA margin of 24%, reflecting operational resilience amid transformation.

Central to Raketech’s growth is its entrepreneurial partnership model, where the company provides commercial infrastructure—agreements, sales, finance, data, and technology—while partners handle product development, content creation, and SEO. This approach has boosted efficiency and allowed rapid expansion across markets and verticals, with nearly half of the Affiliation Marketing revenue now stemming from such partnerships.

Competitive Landscape: Key Players and Market Dynamics

Raketech operates in a competitive affiliate marketing landscape alongside major players such as Better Collective and Catena Media. Better Collective reported revenues of $386.7 million in 2024 but faced challenges in the US market, leading to workforce reductions. Catena Media recently appointed Manuel Stan, a veteran from Kindred Group, as CEO, signaling the importance of operator experience in affiliate marketing leadership.

Beyond iGaming specialists, broader affiliate platforms like ShareASale, Outbrain, and GoAffPro hold significant market shares, creating competitive pressure through scale and technological capabilities. Raketech’s competitive edge lies in its proprietary AffiliationCloud platform and deep industry expertise, which have earned it recognition such as the “Best Tech for Affiliates 2023” award.

AffiliationCloud: Raketech’s Technological Backbone

AffiliationCloud is Raketech’s flagship platform designed to simplify affiliate marketing by consolidating multiple operator relationships into a single interface. Publishers can access global brands with one login, reducing administrative complexity and opening new commercial opportunities.

The platform offers advanced analytics, including unique RT index scores that benchmark affiliate performance and identify areas for improvement. It supports real-time tracking, automated payments, and compliance monitoring, addressing common operational challenges in affiliate marketing.

AffiliationCloud also facilitates exclusive commercial agreements where Raketech manages entire affiliate marketing strategies for operators through a white-label service. This model has gained traction, contributing to organic growth and strengthening Raketech’s position as a platform-first company.

Affiliation Marketing: Content, Compliance, and Partnerships

Raketech’s Affiliation Marketing division operates a network of owned websites and entrepreneurial partnerships focused on delivering high-quality comparison tools, guides, and community content. The division prioritizes editorial independence and responsible marketing, differentiating itself in a market often criticized for aggressive conversion tactics.

Entrepreneurial partnerships allow Raketech to leverage specialized content creation and SEO expertise while retaining commercial control and compliance oversight. This model aligns incentives around long-term user satisfaction and regulatory adherence, critical in increasingly regulated markets.

Compliance training and transparent promotional practices are integral, ensuring content meets diverse jurisdictional requirements. Revenue sharing with partners balances growth incentives and operational efficiency, particularly in markets requiring local content relevance.

Publisher Networks: Combining Paid and Organic Growth

Raketech’s Publisher Networks consist of both paid traffic acquisition and organic content partnerships. The paid network, Raketech Network, manages affiliate relationships and commercial agreements to drive targeted traffic to operators, requiring sophisticated campaign optimization.

The organic network partners with independent publishers who create engaging content, often under revenue-sharing models that preserve editorial independence. This approach is effective in markets where local expertise and compliance are paramount.

Technological tools such as real-time reporting and automated optimization empower publishers to maximize campaign performance. Quality control mechanisms reward high-performing publishers with preferential commercial terms and early access to new partnerships.

International expansion of Publisher Networks balances local market adaptation with centralized technological infrastructure, enabling Raketech to scale efficiently while respecting regional regulatory frameworks.

SubAffiliation: Operator-Centric Affiliate Marketing

SubAffiliation is Raketech’s innovative model combining direct operator relationships with affiliate network capabilities. It offers operators access to diverse traffic sources through a single commercial agreement while maintaining control over brand and promotional strategies.

Through exclusive commercial agreements, Raketech manages affiliate recruitment, campaign execution, and optimization on behalf of operators. This white-label approach allows operators to leverage Raketech’s platform and expertise without building internal affiliate management teams.

The model’s success hinges on maintaining high-quality affiliate relationships and meeting operator-specific performance and compliance standards. Technologically, SubAffiliation builds on AffiliationCloud with customized portals, reporting, and integration capabilities, facilitating seamless operator workflows.

This approach accelerates market entry for operators and enhances affiliate marketing efficiency, making it an attractive option in competitive and regulated markets.

Startup Opportunities in the Affiliate Marketing Ecosystem

The affiliate marketing industry’s rapid evolution creates numerous opportunities for innovative startups, particularly in specialized niches and emerging technologies. The industry’s projected growth to $27.78 billion by 2027, combined with 81% of brands utilizing affiliate programs, indicates sustained demand for creative marketing solutions and technological innovations.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning present significant opportunities for startups developing automated optimization tools. These technologies can analyze vast datasets to identify performance patterns, predict campaign effectiveness, and automate bidding strategies. Startups focusing on AI-powered affiliate management tools could capture substantial market share as operators seek more sophisticated optimization capabilities.

Niche-specific affiliate platforms represent another high-potential opportunity area. While established players like Raketech dominate broad iGaming categories, specialized markets such as esports betting, crypto gaming, and mobile-first platforms remain underserved. Startups that develop deep expertise in these emerging niches can build sustainable competitive advantages before larger competitors enter these markets.

Content automation and personalization technologies offer opportunities for startups to serve both affiliates and operators. Tools that can generate localized content, optimize promotional strategies for different audience segments, and automate compliance monitoring address persistent pain points in affiliate marketing operations. These solutions become increasingly valuable as regulatory complexity increases across different jurisdictions.

Mobile-first affiliate marketing platforms represent another emerging opportunity. With mobile gaming representing the fastest-growing segment of the iGaming market, startups that develop sophisticated mobile attribution, engagement, and conversion tools can capture value in this expanding market. The technical challenges of mobile attribution create opportunities for innovative solutions that improve campaign effectiveness.

Performance marketing technology focused on alternative traffic sources presents additional startup opportunities. As traditional digital advertising platforms implement stricter policies around gaming content, affiliates and operators need alternative channels for user acquisition. Startups that develop innovative approaches to influencer marketing, podcast advertising, or emerging social platforms can create valuable market positions.

The increasing importance of compliance and responsible marketing creates opportunities for startups developing automated compliance monitoring and reporting tools. These solutions help affiliates and operators navigate complex regulatory environments while maintaining promotional effectiveness. The global nature of the iGaming industry makes scalable compliance solutions particularly valuable for companies operating across multiple jurisdictions.

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