NCSA College Athletic Scholarships Blog

Visits, both unofficial and official, are a very important part of your recruiting process. There is only so much you can tell from a college website or from talking to the coach. In order to get a real sense of the institution you need to see the campus with your own eyes.

 First, you need to understand the difference between unofficial and official visits. An official visit will be paid for by the college/university. Typically, covered expenses will include lodging, transportation, meals and entertainment. You are not allowed to take official visits until the first day of classes your senior year and the NCAA allows you to take up to five visits to Division I and II schools combined and you can take an unlimited number of official visits to Division III and NAIA schools. At all levels you can only take one official visit per school and can not exceed 48 hours on campus. Make sure you choose these schools wisely and make the most out of each visit.

 When you take unofficial visits you will be responsible for paying for everything that is involved with the visit. If you have to drive to campus you will be paying for gas. If you have to take an airplane there you will be expected to purchase your ticket. The only paid benefit a school may provide are tickets to no more than three sporting events that cost under $100. You are allowed to take an unlimited number of unofficial visits to all divisions, but again, it will be at your expense.

 If you are seriously interested in a college/university a campus visit is a critical step. You need to meet the coach face-to-face, meet some of the players, see the facilities and the campus - all of these must be done before you make any final decisions.  You are going to be the one living on the campus and playing for the coach for four years so you should make sure that the people and environment are what you are looking for in a school and team.

Before you plan an unofficial visit you must let the coach know you are coming ahead of time. Call the coach and ask if they have some time to meet with you the day of your visit so they can plan accordingly. This will give the coach a chance to arrange a schedule of events for that day such as a tour of campus with a member of the team, interview with an admissions representative or lunch with the team. Take as many unofficial visits as possible to get a solid sense of what you like and dislike in a college/university. The more campuses you visit the more you will have to compare against!

When you are invited on an official visit the coach is telling you that you are a top recruit and that you are being seriously considered for a roster spot on their team. The official visit is their opportunity to convince you why their school is the best for you.

You should never make a college commitment unless you have stepped foot on campus. Every athlete has a different situation and every family differs financially. You must find a way to make visits happen and you should start by gauging the interest from the coach and then going to your top schools first.

Calling coaches can be one of the most intimidating aspects of a student-athlete’s recruiting process, but it can also be one of the most important. If you are interested in a college/university it is vital that you be in contact with the coach. A coach is never going to invite a prospect to be part of their team if they don’t know the student-athlete and have a sense of their character.

 The only real way to build a relationship with a coach is to communicate with them. It is difficult to get to know someone through email and for all that coach knows it could be a parent writing to them, not the student-athlete. It is okay to have initial contact with a coach through email, as long as you progress towards phone calls.

 Coaches want to speak with you on the phone so they can get to know you. If you are late in the recruiting process, the more important phone calls become because they will get your questions answered quicker and the rapport will build more rapidly. Remember that you can call a coach at any time, but coaches have strict rules placed upon them by the NCAA depending on what year in high school you are.

 Before you call a coach, you must prepare. In order to be adequately prepared for a call with a coach, there are a couple things you must do. First, you need to research the school you plan to call. You should learn some background information on the school and program so you will be comfortable talking with the coach and answering their questions. Second, you should write down a list of questions that you plan to ask the coach. These are some good questions to ask:

 ·        Does your school offer the major I’m interested in?

·        What is your graduation rate?

·        What is the average class size?

·        Are you looking for my position in (your graduation year)?

·        When do you want your (your graduation year) class completed by?

·        Where do I stand on your list of recruits?

·        If I attend your school will I compete as a freshman?

·        What is a typical day like for a student-athlete on your team?

·        Is there anything else you need from me?

 As a rule ask only two to four questions per conversation. Coaches are extremely busy people and if the interest level is mutual, you will have plenty of future conversations to get all of your questions answered. Lastly, you are going to want to have at least a couple of practice phone calls. A good way to practice is to role play with a teammate, family member or coach. This will give you a chance to ask the questions you intend to ask a coach and will get you used to how the conversation should go.

 Always remember to be enthusiastic when speaking with the coach so they will want to have future conversations with you and believe you when you say you are interested in their school. The most important thing to remember is that they are just like any other adult. Try not to put them too high up on a pedestal because that will make you more nervous. They are a coach, just like the countless coaches you have had in the past. They are aware that it is difficult for a high school student to pick up the phone and call them and they will respect you more for it. Prepare yourself as best you can and just be yourself!

 I’ve been getting a lot of calls recently from families complaining that they haven’t heard from any coaches. My first question to them is, “Well, have you contacted any coaches?” to which they generally reply, “Um, no. But they’re supposed to call me, right?”

The answer to that question is as simple as it is tricky - yes, coaches are supposed to contact you….if they KNOW about you. But that coach isn’t going to find out your name, your contact information, what type of player you are by divining it from the Sports Gods - they are going to get that information from YOU. Even some of the most gifted and talented athletes can be un-recruited or under-recruited, so it’s important to be proactive in contacting coaches. Coaches want and need to hear from you - just think about how many other student-athletes there are in your state, then multiply that by 50. Sometimes the coach is the only one doing the recruiting (that is often the case at smaller schools), and that’s just not enough manpower to go out and actively seek recruits.

On our Welcome Calls we emphasize the importance of being proactive in the recruiting process, but somehow I’m not sure how important our families realize that is. One of my favorite recruiting stories is not my own, but that of one of our NCSA speakers, two-time gold medal Olympian and former WNBA Sacramento Monarchs point guard Ruthie Bolton.

Ruthie spoke most recently to us at our NCSA annual meeting that we call NCSA University. I knew Ruthie had been, and most likely still is, an amazing basketball player. But her career not only got off to a rocky start,  it almost didn’t happen.

To see Ruthie you would know immediately that she is an elite athlete - she has the graceful carriage of an athlete, and the muscles to go with it! She is an engaging and effervescent speaker, both enthusiastic and sincere in her manner of speaking, and it’s great fun to hear her tell her story, and to hear some of her anecdotes, some of which are hilarious. Ruthie is one of 20 children, and the daughter of a Reverend. In the beginning of her talk, Ruthie joked that her father used to call her “daughter”, instead of by her name, because he couldn’t remember which one she was!

But the most important part of Ruthie’s story is her long-running and road-bump filled basketball career. Ruthie was very close to her older sister, and growing up both she and her sister played basketball. Ruthie said that her sister was always the better player and that she had better natural ability, but Ruthie said the fact that she always worked harder and tried harder than everyone else helped bridge the gap between natural ability and learned skill.

When her sister began getting recruited by Auburn, Ruthie began to realize that basketball was more than just the sport she loved - it was a way for her to go to college. Ruthie’s sister said that she would only go to Auburn if Ruthie could play there as well, and of course the coaches agreed. So Ruthie’s sister went to Auburn with a scholarship, and Ruthie was promised the same when her turn came.

All that changed, however, when it was Ruthie’s turn to get recruited. The coaches told her that while she was a good player, she wasn’t good enough, and that she wouldn’t play  until at least her Sophomore year. Ruthie was extremely disappointed, to say the least, but her father told her not to let it get her down. Ruthie said that he stressed the importance of PMA - Positive Mental Attitude - and said that if she really wanted to play, that she should go and try. Her alternative was to play at a smaller local school, where she would most definitely be a star and immediate standout, but Ruthie felt she was up to the challenge of trying to earn a playing spot on her sister’s team. So while she ended up getting a scholarship to Auburn, since they had promised her one when they promised her sister a scholarship, there was no guarantee that she would ever see any court time. Ruthie vowed to practice and work as hard as she could to prepare for the upcoming season, so that she could earn some playing time by her Sophomore year.

Fast forward two years- Ruthie not only got playing time during her Freshman year, but was a starter, three SEC Championships, and two-time runner-up for the National Championship. She didn’t take no for answer, and worked hard to make it impossible for coaches NOT to play her. But the story doesn’t end there.

When it came time to form the 1996 Olympic team, Ruthie felt she had a very good chance of being invited to try outs, however she did not receive an invitation to try out for the team in Denver, Colorado. Discouraged by this set-back, Ruthie talked to her father, and he again asked her what she really wanted to do. Ruthie wanted to be on the Olympic team more than anything, and she felt that she was good enough to make it. So she took all the money she had left at the time, just enough to pay her own way to get to Denver, and began tryouts. Ruthie said that there were plenty of players there that may have been a bit better than her in terms of natural ability, but again, she worked harder and tried harder and when all was said and done, the coaches decided to give her a chance, and she ended up being a starter in 8 games in the 1996 Olympics with a 13 PPG average.

But again, the story gets better! Ruthie had been playing for the WNBA Sacramento Monarchs, and was enjoying a very successful career when she tore her ACL. The doctors did not give her a good prognosis, and she was told that she would most likely need to retire. This was right before the 2000 Olympics, and there was no way that Ruthie was going to miss those games. So she worked on rehabbing her knee, getting back in shape and sharpening her skills…and again helped the US National Team win another gold at the Sydney Olympics. She also continued to play professionally a few more years, despite that knee injury, before retiring in 2002.

Bottom line- Ruthie didn’t sit and wait for things to happen to her, Ruthie made it happen for herself. Despite those setbacks, bumps in the road, and being told she wasn’t good enough, Ruthie persevered and created her own path. Like the vast majority of student athletes, your recruiting story is going to go much like Ruthie’s story - you may not have people calling you and inviting you to visit. You may not find that coaches know your name - yet. But by being PROACTIVE and PERSISTENT, you can and you will make things happen for yourself. We all get discouraged, and we all suffer from setbacks, but the thing that separates us from being a regular Joe athlete and being someone like Ruthie Bolton is perseverance.

Controversy erupted at Hilton Head High School when a new principal set a new tough academic policy for student athletes.  Principal Amanda O’Nan established standards that are actually stricter than the South Carolina School League Eligibility Requirements.  The District is telling Principal O’Nan that she does not have the power to enforce such a policy.  Some argue that instituting a policy stricter than other schools puts Hilton Head at a disadvantage.  Others argue that the entire district needs to have a uniform policy.  What do you think?

  The recent Rivals Top 100 rankings have just been released and Euless,Texas Trinity tops the charts as the #1 high school football team in America. Other notables in the Top 100 are St. Thomas Aquinas out of Ft. Lauderdale, Long Beach Poly, and Cincinnati Elder. These programs have proven track records for displaying great character, and always putting education first. Click here to see the rest of the Rivals.com Top 100 rankings.

When coaches do their college athletic recruiting, they are looking for individuals who will be a good fit for their program.  Most often, the coach has established what the goals are for the upcoming season and want to be certain that the student-athletes they bring in will be on board to reach those same goals.  During the recruiting process, the coach may also ask the student-athlete to have some personal goals they would like to meet.   Perhaps earning a college scholarship is one of the first goals you’ll set in your collegiate career.  So, what happens if you meet and EXCEED the goals you set, but ultimately fall short of the grand prize?  I am sure that the biggest goal for any team in Major League Baseball is to win the World Series.  But, as my college coach taught me, goals have to be realistic! They have to be measurable (so you know if you reached them or not) and they have to be realistic.  We never started a season by saying, “Let’s try to win the Women’s College World Series this year.”  We worked toward something we knew was attainable: a conference championship. When the Tampa Bay Rays came into Spring Training this year, manager Joe Maddon presented them with this goal: 9=8.  Nine Players playing hard for nine innings would be enough to gain one of the eight playoff berths.  This was not going to be easy, but was certainly realistic.  The year before, the Rays finished 66-96 and last in their division.  The goal was to make it to the post season, either by winning their division or earning a wild card spot.  I think it’s fair to say that very few had their eyes on that ultimate prize - winning the world series.   But, there they were.  Fighting for their chance to take home the coveted prize.  1 of only 2 teams left in all of Major League Baseball.  So, when the final out was recorded and the Phillies rushed to the mound in celebration this past week, what do you think the Rays were thinking?  They met their pre-season goal.  They far exceeded their pre-season goal. But they sat in that dugout in Philadelphia and looked totally disappointed.  I think when the dust settles and they have some time to process everything and reflect on their season, they will see that all of those smaller victories add up to one amazing victory.  Even if they are missing that ultimate prize.  And now, they go into the off-season and soon after, a new spring training, with new, bigger and definitely realistic goals.  I am certain it will have something to do with winning a World Series!  So, be realistic. Set attainable goals. You will find that it’s much easier to work toward new goals when you have already been successful in the previous ones.  It’s a process.  And if you meet them and perhaps even shatter them, as the Rays did, then celebrate!   And when its time to start planning for next season, you’ll know that it’s time to aim higher!   

As the season comes to an end you may be thinking about putting away your kneepads to collect dust for another year…STOP!!   That is the last thing you should to do.  Now is the time for you to start improving your skills and work on your recruiting process.  Here are some suggestions about what you should be doing in the off season:

1)  Follow-up with Your College Contacts:  Let them know how your high school season ended and what your plans are in the off season.  See if they want you to set up an unofficial/official visit in the winter or spring.

2)  Attend Pre-Club Tryout Clinics:  These give you an opportunity to brush up and tweak your skills.  If you are looking to find a club team this gives you a chance to find out more information about the club, and if you may want to tryout for the team.  

3)  Find a Competitive Club Team:  I can’t stress enough how important it is to play club volleyball.  This is where the majority of college coaches recruit.  You need to find a team that attends national tournaments such as JO Nationals, Reno Volleyball Festival, National Qualifiers, JVDA sponsored tournaments, and the AAU Championships.  Playing club will not only give you exposure, but it gives you the opportunity to keep improving your game.

4)  Research New Schools:  Not only do you need to follow-up with schools you have been talking to, but you need to create new contacts.  The more schools you are communication with when it comes to making your decision the more options you hopefully have to choose from. 

I know this may seem like a lot to do, but if your dream is to play volleyball in college these are some appropriate measures you need to take. There is just no rest for the weary.

New England boarding schools are at the top of their game today.  And while it is NOT for everyone - there are some definite advantages to making that leap and maybe leaving home a little early.

Advantage #1

Getting that College Experience while Still in High School.

            Although boarding schools tend to have some pretty strict rules about leaving campus and what you can actually do while ON campus, you still get that experience of being away from home earlier than a lot of other students.  You live in a small dorm room, you have a randomly selected roommate and it gives you a chance to get used to that cafeteria food those college kids are always talking about. 

Advantage #2

The Sports.

            With a lot of boarding schools, you are required to play a sport every season - fall, winter, and spring.  This is a supreme advantage because not only does that give you the opportunity to try new things, but it also allows you to stay in shape and prepare for whatever season your sport might actually be in.  And a lot of the time student-athletes choose these schools because their specialty sport is a standout in some way.  The sports at these schools are more often than not some of the best in the country.  Not only are the sports some of the best in the country but the facilities rival those of some of the top colleges in the country, with multiple hockey rinks, state of the art workout areas, not to mention the amount of field space.  Because these schools tend to be located in more remote areas of New England, the possibilities are endless as far as facilities are concerned. 

Advantage #3

Opportunity

            This is definitely the biggest advantage of them all.  There are so many different opportunities that come with attending a boarding school.  First and foremost, the education.  Classes are small, which means more one-on-one attention from teachers and the curriculum is top-notch.  These schools are definitely not the easiest to get in to so it is of course a challenge once you have been accepted.  If you choose to transfer to a boarding school after a couple years at your hometown high school, you also have the opportunity to repeat your most recent year of high school, if you so choose.  I know some kids might groan at the thought, however, for some kids this is exactly what they need.  It could help you improve your grades and give you that one extra year you need to prepare yourself for the college decision-making process.  It also offers you the opportunity as a high school athlete to play one more year of high school sports at a completely different level, which could help your game tremendously.

            Attending one of these schools could also give you that little extra leverage when it comes to applying to college.  This definitely does not mean that you won’t be able to get in if you don’t attend a boarding school, but it sets you apart from other applicants, especially when applying to colleges in the Northeast.  

In closing, it is important to remember that these schools can be very selective and expensive.  It’s something you should absolutely talk to your parents about if you are seriously considering the transfer.  Don’t be afraid to make that leap.  It can only make you stronger.

To find out more about boarding schools, visit:

http://www.boardingschoolreview.com/

 Youth soccer in the United States is making a change. Last August the United States Soccer Federation launched its new program the U.S. Soccer Development Academy. The US Soccer Federation took the initiative to form a nationwide development academy to improve the development for players across the country. Last year this academy consisted of 64 elite club teams from around the country.

The 64 team Development Academy is made up of teams from eight conferences based on geographic location. Each team competes in 30 matches throughout the eight month season with the winner of each conference being invited to the Academy Finals at The Home Depot Center in California. It is important to note that these academies will compete against only other teams in the academy and will not play in any other leagues or tournaments. The main reason US Soccer started the academy was to develop a system which puts the development of the players, not results in games, as the number one priority. All teams in the Academy are required to have at least 3 training sessions and 1 day of rest each week.

The rosters of these academies will contain the nation’s top players learning and developing together with top club and national team coaches. This collection of talented players and coaches will in turn provide an improved scouting environment for college, professional and U.S. National Team scouts. If a future in soccer is something you desire a team in the US Soccer Development Academy is the place to be!    

For more information check out the following sites:

• http://www.ussoccer.com/teams/acad/index.jsp.html
• http://ussda.demosphere.com/

If this trailer to the new documentary Six Man Texas doesn’t get you excited to play sports, I don’t know what will.  The importance of the game is no lower than the Divsion I Championship to the high school athletes and potential recruits in this film.  Its the same type of feeling thousands of athletes feel that compete at Division II, III and NAIA feel.  It is the reason NCSA encourages all of our athletes to explore all the college possibilities in order to fin the right fit.