NCSA College Athletic Scholarships Blog

Two-a-days has become a staple in high school football practice. The common use of two practices a day during the summer in order to prepare for the upcoming fall season has been put to use by almost all programs throughout the Unites States. However, an ESPN article described that some changes may be on the horizon.

High school football teams should eliminate two-a-day practices during the first week of August drills when heat stroke has proven particularly deadly, a leading trainers’ group said Thursday in a report issued less than two months before the sweltering rite of passage begins at thousands of schools.

The National Athletic Trainers’ Association said its recommendations, which include longer breaks between practice and more time for players to ease into contact drills, are not radical changes and closely mirror policies already in place at the Division I college level.

“Thing aren’t going very well at the high school level. We’ve had a couple very bad years,” said Douglas Casa, director of athletic training education at the University of Connecticut and co-author of the report for the Dallas-based association. “This wasn’t done for the convenience of coaches.”

The executive director of the Texas High School Coaches Association, D.W. Rutledge, said he declined an invitation to appear at a news conference announcing the proposals. Rutledge, who won four state championships in Texas, said he first wanted to review the guidelines with his membership.

Scaling back on two-a-days amounts to lost preparation time, he said, and that’s something that could concern coaches in football-crazed Texas.

Since 1995, at least 39 football players across all levels have died from heat-related causes and most of those cases happened in early August, said Dr. Frederick Mueller, director of the National Center for Catastrophic Injury Research at the University of North Carolina.

Many of the proposals are stricter versions of rules already in place. In Florida, contact drills are prohibited during the first three days of practice. Under the recommendations by the athletic trainers association, teams shouldn’t begin full contact until the sixth day of practice.

In Texas, schools must take a minimum one-hour break between practice during two-a-days. The report calls for a minimum three-hour rest, and would limit the second practice of two-a-days during the first week to only a light walkthrough without helmets or pads.

Rutledge said a three-hour break could actually force players into the heat, since some teams start practice early as 6:30 a.m. to avoid the hottest parts of the day. He also stood by the current guidelines that Texas coaches follow.

With two-a-day season looming, athletes need to take their own precautions in order to prepare themselves for its physical toll. First, they need to make sure they stay hydrated; lack of hydration can lead to heat stroke or hear exhaustion. Drink plenty of fluids during practice to replenish what you are losing, it is just as important to have high fluid intakes before and after practice. Secondly, get plenty of sleep, it is necessary to “recharge you batteries” for the next day. Finally, do not be afraid to inform your coaches or trainers if you are feeling dizzy or light headed during practice, your safety and well-being is their primary concern.  Staying on top of your health is just as important as staying on top of your grades and athletic endeavors. Coaches are looking for responsible players who will be able to handle the high demands of college football.

The rise of the club or travel team has been astonishing. Club teams bring together the top high school talent to compete with other similar teams across the country. Parents pay hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars, along with hours of their time in order for their children to play on these teams. Their hope is that the team will lead to bigger and better things for their rising athlete; whether it be high school stardom, collegiate athletics, or even breaking into the professional rankings. The question comes to mind as to what the actual impacts of these travel teams are. One idea is that the higher rate of competitions helps to develop a player’s skill set. Another is that college recruiters are more drawn to these teams because the top high school players are in a higher concentration than the average high school games.

While the latter argument is valid, there are flaws in the former. The higher competition in travel games is beneficial to players. They have to learn to adjust their skill set and limit mistakes in order to succeed against gifted players. This makes them far more prepared for any kind of competition because they have proven they can play at a higher level. However, the presence of more talented players does not vicariously make athletes more appealing to college coaches. The presence of coaches at club games mirrors that of their presence at camps and showcases. Coaches go to watch games with the intent of scouting players they are already interested in, not to find new talent. While there are exceptions to this idea, sometimes a player may perform so well they can spark interest in a coach; these situations are limited to exceptions. Club coach Kyle Vierck puts it best in saying that, “A player is a player no matter where he or she is at. As much as players want to think that every time I go out to play a club match somebody is watching, that is just not the case. What it boils down to is young people and their families pursuing the school and really making an effort to do it. Ultimately, taking the initiative is so important.”

Getting your name out there is the hardest part of the recruiting process. Coaches obviously cannot assess their need for you if they do not know who you are. Players and parents need to take the first step in order to achieve their dreams of college athletics. The keys are to get started early and make yourself known. One ways to do this is to understand that college coaches evaluate talent online through reliable sources such as the NCSA.

Attention all underclassmen: Summer camps are right around the corner! This is the best opportunity to perform in front of college coaches and generate interest at the next level. Due to several NCAA rules that prohibit college coaches from evaluating student-athletes, summer camps have been a hotbed for college recruiting nationwide. Did you know that other schools may attend one summer camp? That’s right! This could be a prime opportunity for you to compete in front of a large crowd of coaches which can increase your odds of getting recruited! I have added some quick tips that can help you perform at your best this camp season:

1. Be well rested!
Don’t drive long hours and then stumble into camp. Try to get there the night before. Walk around the facility if possible and get acquainted with your surroundings. Get a good nights rest, proper meals, and most important be hydrated!

2. Perform at your best!
Understand you are being evaluated from to the time you set on foot on campus until the time you leave. From the time you start stretching until you break the final huddle, college coaches are watching your every move. My advice is giving 100% on every drill! Sprint from station to station and show these coaches you are serious about playing at the next level.

3. Reps, Reps,Reps!                                                                                                      

Getting to camp is a critical event in your recruiting efforts!

One of the biggest problems I see at camp is student-athletes not getting enough reps. Word to the wise: Take every rep as an opportunity to perform! The more reps the more opportunities you have to get evaluated. Have fun out there and understand this is your time to shine!

4. Build Relationships
Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself to coaches after camp. Student-athletes who get out of their comfort zone tend to make a great first impression with a college coach. Shake hands and thank him for the opportunity. Have a copy of game and highlight film if available and be sure to follow up with the coach after the event. It can make a world of difference by just doing to the small things.

5. Be well rested (not a typo)!
That’s right student-athletes, I can’t stress enough how important it is to get proper rest in between camps. I see it time and time again when a student-athlete goes from one to camp to another without proper rest. You never know what school may be the most interested. Poor performance from lack of rest can seriously hinder your opportunities of getting recruited. Proper rest, big meals, and fluids are highly recommended!

Summer camps are where college coaches may find student-athletes who have the potential of being the right fit. Take these quick tips with you to camp and generate some serious buzz about yourself!

If you are fortunate enough to have options to choose which travel baseball team you should play for over the summer here are a few questions to ask yourself:

1. Which team are you going to receive more playing time with?

The only way to get better in baseball is by actually PLAYING the game.

2. Which team is playing better competition?

In addition to making sure you are playing, you have to make sure it is against good competition. The best way to get better is to play against guys who are better than you.

3. Where is the team traveling?

The summer time is an important time that college coaches do their recruiting. One of, if not, the most important factor coaches take in to account is seeing you play in person. Playing for your high school summer team usually doesn’t fit the bill in terms of gaining exposure or playing against good competition.

4. What is your budget?

In these economic times this is a difficult question, but it is a factor you need to consider. Many times the more travel required, the more expensive the team is to play for.

Don’t forget to incorporate attending some college camps and making a few visits over the summer. If you are traveling to a showcase or tournament with your summer team don’t be afraid to stop by some campuses to meet with some coaches. Lastly, be sure to be pro-active in terms of inviting college coaches out to see your games.

Last week, April 15th to be exact , marked a significant recruiting ”first down measurement” for football players in the class of 2010.  It was the first day that they could receive phone calls from DI college football coaches.  While the date that a college coach can call a prospect for the first time varies depending on the sport and level of play…that initial phone conversation is a big step in developing a recruiting relationship.  Unfortunately, many prospects have no idea what to expect from that phone call and we figured this was a good time to shed some light on how prospects in ALL sports can prepare for a phone call from a college coach…Before we get into what a recruit can expect from a phone call from a college coach, here are a few important ideas to keep in mind:

- The first day a college coach can call a prospect is not always the first time they have spoken on the phone.

• As we have pointed out many times in the past, prospects are able to call college coaches at any time. The prospects that are farther along in the process might have already made phone calls to college coaches and spoken with them prior to the initial period which makes it permissible for a college coach to call the prospect. In cases like this, the phone call might go a little differently than for the prospects who are speaking with a coach for the first time.

- By the time the first day a college coach can call a prospect rolls around, many student-athletes already have offers!

• This is very important to realize. DI college coaches in just about every sport have already begun to offer scholarships to 2010 (junior) graduates…and some might even be finished recruiting the class of 2010 completely. This has all taken place and coaches haven’t even been able to call them yet in some sports! This should be a strong indicator of how early college recruiting takes place and why freshmen and sophomore year are so important in the process.

- Know the dates for your sport!

• The first thing every recruit should do is to learn when a college coach is able to call them for the first time. Although April 15^th happens to be the first time a DI college football coach can call prospects, we realize many of you do not play football…so find out that date for your sport. If you are unsure when this date occurs, be sure to download the “Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete” Here.

Now that we have that out of the way, let’s talk about some of the most common questions prospects can prepare for when speaking with a college coach.  Obviously every staff will ask different questions, but many will have an actual script of questions and topics to assist the coaches in their phone call…It might be a good idea to have a script of your own, or at least some answers prepared in advance.  Here a few of those questions as well as some advice for answering them:

Q:  How are you doing in school?  What is your GPA, test scores, etc?

Advice: Make sure you are always aware of your current academic standing.  Always know your GPA (both core and cumulative), class rank, and test scores.  Even if your GPA or test scores are lower than you would like, be honest with the coach and let them exactly what you are doing to improve.  Tell them you are receiving extra tutoring or taking a SAT / ACT prep class to raise your scores.  The worst thing a student-athlete can do is simply not know their academic information.  If you don’t know your GPA, what do you think a college coach will assume? (Hint…they are not going to assume you are earning straight A’s)

Q:  What are your strengths as a player?

Advice: Do not be modest here!  This is your chance to shine and tell the coach what you do best.  Be informative and honest.  You have been working your whole life to develop these strengths…be proud of them and communicate their value with answers that consist of more than one word.

Q:  What areas of your game are you working to improve?

Advice: While this can be a tricky one, it is important to be honest.  Do not spend too much time discussing your weaknesses, but rather let the coach know how your off season workout is going to address those areas and how you are going to turn them into strengths.

Q:  What are your goals for the upcoming season?

Advice: This is something every student-athlete should think about.  We encourage student-athletes to set measurable goals and write them down to hold themselves more accountable.  Make sure to mention both team and individual goals.

Q:  Do you think you are capable of playing at our level?

Advice: Always Yes!  Explain why you think you can compete at their level or what you are doing to ensure you would be an asset to a team at any level of play.

Q:  What improvements have you made over the past couple of years?

Advice: Focus on things you have done to improve your game over the years.  Do not be afraid to tell the coach how much better you are now than a year or two ago!

Q:  What type of scholarships are you looking for?

Advice: This is your chance to bring up financial issues if they will be a determining factor in your decision making.  Be open to options and always ask about other types of aid besides athletic scholarships.  Never directly ask for a scholarship, but rather let the coach know what sort of impact that need will have on your decision.

Q:  What are your interests or hobbies?  Do you have a  girlfriend, boyfriend, etc?

Advice: This is the coach’s attempt to get to you know you on a personal level.  Remember, in many cases, these coaches are many years older and they are doing their best to relate to the prospect.  Let the coach know more about you!  This will help you connect on a more casual level and also give the coach something to ask you about next time you speak.  Have some fun with this question!

Q:  Who is going to help you make your college decision?

Advice: Let the coach know who will be a part of the decision.  Will your high school coach play an integral role?  Will the decision be made by you and your parents?  Are your parents involved?  This information will greatly help the coach understand who needs to be included and involved.

***This is the million dollar question***

Q:  What other schools are recruiting you?

Advice: Let them know who else is interested…and be honest!  If the coach finds out that many other schools are recruiting you then you will immediately look like a better recruit.  Try to let them know about schools that are similar to the one you are talking to.  For example, if you are speaking with the coach at Yale and you have heard from four other Ivy League schools, make sure you go into detail about their interest.  No coach wants to lose a recruit to a rival school.

This is your chance to show off how wanted you are by other coaches with the hope that it motivates the coach you are speaking with at that time to take action.  If you have offers, let the coach know.  In order to create this type of leverage, you must have a number of options.  If you are concerned about the number of options you currently have, be sure to expand your search and let more coaches know about you.

Q:  What questions do you have for me?

Advice: Be sure to check back next week when we explain what sort of questions prospects should be asking when they have the opportunity to speak with college coaches.  This is your chance to find out valuable information…don’t pass it up!

 Notre Dame women’s basketball coach Muffet McGraw knows a lot about recruiting. She has signed America’s top girls high school basketball player, Skyler Diggins of South Bend Washington, to a national letter of intent. Muffet coached Notre Dame to the 2001 national championship with a first class group of recruits.

In the book “Courting Success” Muffet shares insights of what she looks for in recruits. In her case, they would be girl’s basketball players, but you can take a lot of these principles and apply them to all recruit able athletes. Here is part of what Coach McGraw says she looks for:

“So what impresses me on a home visit? I expect a prospect to look nice. She should be in appropriate attire, dressed neatly. I want her to make eye contact with me. I want her to ask questions. That shows interest. I want her to be assertive enough so that her parents don’t do all of the talking. And, of course, she should hide her trophies!

I really get a good picture of the kind of person I’m recruiting when I get to see the recruit interact with her mom and dad. I am interested in how much she respects her parents. I want to know whether or not she’s spoiled. I can learn a lot about how a recruit will be on our team just by looking at that relationship she has with her parents. I don’t think the parents should be waiting on the daughter all the time. I remember being in a home once when the doorbell rang and the daughter said, “Mom, are you going to get that?” And I was thinking, “Geez, you’re 18 years old, get off your butt and answer the door!”

Here’s one thing I always notice when a player and her parents visit us at Notre Dame. When they’re on campus, they always go to the bookstore to buy a souvenir, and I notice which ones ask, even demand, a credit card from their parents. A recruit who says, “Thanks so much, Dad, for the sweatshirt” or “No thanks, Mom, I really don’t need a sweatshirt” impresses me. It shows how much she appreciates what she has and shows what kind of person she is. These are just some little things I pay attention to that are cues into what kind of people they are, and the cues I’m sure they have no idea I’m noticing.

In terms of skills, I look for intensity. I also look at how they play defense. Young players rest on defense. I like players with pride. I look at a recruit’s face after someone scores on them. I hope it bothers her, because I guarantee it will bother me.

We look at ball handling and aggressiveness. Does she dive on the floor for loose balls? Does she crash for rebounds, or just sort of hang around the outside?  Does she sprint the floor every possession? Is she willing to take a charge? This is something that tells me she is a team player, she’s aggressive, and she’ll sacrifice her body for the team. This is the most unselfish act in basketball. At any summer game, if a player takes a charge, you’ll see all thecoaches in attendance take out a pen and make note of it. A lot of great players don’t want to take a charge because ‘it’s not their job.

‘We look closely at attitude. What happens when the coach yells at her? Is she making eye contact? Is she sulking? Is she pouting? When a player gets in foul trouble, is she complaining to the referees? How is she when the team is losing? Is she yelling at her teammates?

Actually, I prefer to see a recruit’s team lose. When a team wins by 20, that’s easy. There’s no adversity. I like to see a player get into foul trouble. How does she handle the frustration? Does she possess self-discipline? I’ve noticed that with girls you have to see them play a lot to get a feel for them. They can be up and down. You can see a player on a great day, and on a bad day. The difference is striking. It can be the difference between offering her a scholarship and wondering why she was on my list in the first place.”

Head Coach Muffet McGraw, Notre Dame Women’s Basketball
from the book ‘Courting Success‘ (Taylor Trade Publishing)

Any college coach with a successful program knows that things can turn south quickly with out a constant attention to detail.  Making sure their programs are stocked with top level talent has become a year round job.  Coaches know if they don’t play the game correctly they will soon find themselves out of the job.  The Detroit Free Press recently detailed the current calendar for college football recruiting.

During February and March, schools host Junior Days. These events allow potential recruits and their families visit campuses and get to know the staff, as well as the school’s academic and athletic programs.

In March and April, schools will not only have spring practice, but host prospects on unofficial visits. Coaches often encourage recruits to come and watch a practice to see their particular position coach in action. These sessions are a great opportunity for recruits to not only develop more rapport with the coaching staff, but see the players in action, too.

In May, the evaluation period begins. Over a six-week period, coaches are allowed to visit a recruit’s high school and make one phone call to him. Coaches can’t have conversations with recruits at high schools, but they can say hello and make it apparent that they are there for a good reason. One of the best ways for a recruit to judge a school’s interest is whether they send the coach to the high school during May.

Once the summer hits, it’s camp time. Michigan State has several camp sessions in June and July. It is at these camps that coaches get to work with recruits one-on-one.

After the camps come the regular season. Coaches aren’t only allowed to call home and stop into school, but they can also set up unofficial visits for recruits to visit campus and watch games. The final stage is securing official visits for the most sought-after players and their families.

Potential recruits should look at the calendar and see two things.  The first is that many of these events can only happen if the recruit is being pro-active in the recruiting process.  Unofficial visits evaluations at camp can only occur if recruits are actively contacting schools to promote interest.

The second is point is to realize the long evaluation process that needs to be set into motion as early as possible.  Unless a recruit is on the ball, the process will be going full steam before they even have a chance to get realistically evaluated.If you are hoping ot get recruited the cycle nees to get going now!

One of the key components of a student-athlete making their college choice is their experience that they have while they are on campus for their visit.  Sometimes, the visits last 48 hours but often they take place on a Saturday morning for 4 hours.  While this is a great opportunity to see the campus and having the ability to meet with a handful of faculty and staff it is just the tip of the iceberg.  Schools are showing off their best in a 4 hour span and this makes everything about the school appealing at the moment.  The best way to get a true understanding of how life would be like at that respective school is to take in the experience as much as possible. This would include staying in the dorms and having that feeling that this is a place where you can see yourself.  The hands on experience is the ideal way to truly gauge if that is the correct fit for you and your future.  Eating the cafeteria food making the walk to the athletic facilities from the dorms, and interacting with people that are on campus all the time can benefit you if you use them as a resource. Camp is a great time to compete and train at a high level but the biggest advantage is to take in the actual college experience first hand and to have the opportunity to work with the coaching staff.  Attending one college camp is something that I would highly recommend to do at least once in your high school years.  If the schools of your choice don’t offer a camp then it is still beneficial to attend a camp at another institution so that you can use your camp experience and compare it to the campus visits that you take down the road. 

Many baseball student-athletes and families ask the question, “What camps or showcases should I attend over the summer?” and “What is going to give me the best exposure?”

In order to attain the most exposure for your recruiting over the summer here is what you should do:

1. Play with a competitive summer team. Send your summer schedule to any college coach you are communicating with or are interested in. Also remember, this is one of the most important times to be improving your game.

3. Attend college camps. A college coach needs to evaluate you in person. This is the easiest way to accomplish this. Attend camps for colleges that you have been communicating the most with. Also, this helps you see the campus and talk with the coaches personally. Make sure you contact coaches prior (introduce/re-familiarize/let them know you will be there) to and after (to ask for personal feedback).

4. Attend one to two showcase events. The most effective showcases are ones in which you know what coaches are attending. If you do not know what coaches are attending, it is likely not worth attending, but it may be good to understand more about who you are competing against. It also gives you an understanding of what a showcase is like. Make sure you contact coaches prior (introduce/re-familiarize/let them know you will be there) to and after (to ask for personal feedback).

5. Continue to communicate with your top colleges at least monthly. Ask each coach, “What is the best way for you to evaluate me?”

BEWARE:

Do not go in to any camp or showcase with the idea that you are going to be “discovered.” Go to a camp with the idea that you can gain knowledge about what that coaches are teaching.

The eyes of pro football scouts are focused on Indianapolis today for the NFL Combine.  The nation’s elite prospects will be under tremendous scrutiny as they try to convince pro teams that they are worth a multimillion dollar contract.  However, potential high school recruits can learn a lot about the evaluation process by paying attention to the stories that will emerge during the week.

-Numbers Matter -No, not actual stats like touchdowns or tackles, but heights, weights, strength and speed numbers.  Scouts spend hours pouring over these numbers attempting to relate them to the ability to succeed at the next level.  College coaches do the same thing. 

Naturally, all of the athletes have spent the last month preparing for these drills and arriving in peak condition.  High school recruits need to recognize the importance of these numbers and do the same.  All speed drills should be practiced prior to attending a combine.  Recruits should constantly be practicing and working to improve their combine performance.  Just arriving and performing is not an option.

-Your Personality Matters- Most fans don’t realize the importance many teams place on face to face interviews as well as a variety of tests that teams use to get a better handle on a players personality and intelligence.  Prospects have fallen several slots after poor intelligence test caused doubts that a player can handle the mental aspect of playing the game at a high level.

Recruits should understand that their grades and test scores are also viewed by college coaches to gauge their ability to contribute to a school.  Recruits should take the time to visit schools to build relationships with college coaches.  The more comfortable a coach feels with a recruit, the better his chances of receiving a schoalrship offer.

If you are still doubtful about the importance of combines take a look at the weekend’s big story; the disastrous appearance and then disappearance by Alabama offensive tackle Andre Smith.  Prior to last weekend he was viewed by scouts as a potentially overall number one pick.  A player that a franchise could invest up to $50 million dollars in to be the cornerstone of an offensive line for the next 10 years.  Andre arrived at the combine out of shape, refused to take part in the individual drills is rumored to have bombed his interviews and  to cap things off he strangely disappeared and left the event early.  Needless to say his stock is bombing.

The large majority of these elite prospects prepared diligently for the event.  They correctly view the combine as part of a job interview process reaching its final stage. Every potential recruit needs to view their efforts to land a scholarship in the same way arrive for their interviews prepared.