NCSA College Athletic Scholarships Blog

When discussing athletic recruiting with families I almost always hear the words Full Scholarship and Division 1 school mentioned in the first 5 sentences.  For the majority of athletes a full ride to a major school represents the ultimate level of success in the college recruiting process. I wrote a few months ago about the story of one of the nations top recruits, Elena Delle Donne, who left a full ride scholarship on the UConn Basketball team to pursue a volleyball career at Delaware.

So far her decision appears to be paying off. 

Whenever, I get the chance to discuss recruiting with young athletes I always suggest they research schools at every level.  Some athletes frown on the possibility that a smaller school could be a better fir, but Elena Delle Donne’s unorthodox decision proves that bigger isn’t always better.

 Now that you have completed all the work of receiving an evaluation, posting an athletic and academic resume online, creating a properly edited and enhanced highlight or skills tape, and distributing all the information to the college coaching community, it is time to turn all that effort into relationships with the college coaches. 

College recruiting is all about building relationships.  Just like receiving a few letters from college coaches does not constitute serious recruitment, those letters do not signal a relationship with that college coach either.  In order to develop a productive relationship with a college coach, every student athlete needs the last Recruiting Requirement:  Guidance.

To understand the importance of receiving guidance throughout the recruiting process, it is necessary to examine how college coaches recruit.  Last week, I mentioned that college coaches begin their process by casting a wide net initially in the recruiting process, sometimes contacting thousands of student athletes.  After that initial marketing campaign, the college coach is then looking for reasons to cross student athletes off their recruiting lists in an effort to make their process more manageable. 

What does this mean for student athletes?

Essentially, this means that any mistake at any point in the recruiting process could result in the student athlete’s name being moved down a college coach’s recruiting list, or worse yet, crossed off entirely!  At the end of the day, that mistake could result in the absence of a scholarship offer or roster spot for the student athlete.

While this might seem harsh and excessive, it happens all the time.  Some families think the idea that a bad highlight skills tape might prevent their son or daughter from receiving a scholarship offer is absurd.  Or believe the fact that an unimpressive unofficial visit might be the difference maker is unfair.  Unfortunately, it’s the reality of college recruiting.

Again, when thinking about recruiting from the college coach’s viewpoint, it does not seem so excessive.  If the coach receives a poor quality highlight tape and is unable to evaluate a student athlete, why would they spend more time and money recruiting that student athlete when they have hundreds or thousands more to choose from?  It’s far easier to cross them off their list and put in the next tape.

What most families who go through this process realize very quickly is that it’s extremely complicated and overwhelming.  Just think about this short list of situations that a student athlete will face at some point in the process:

• How should I choose which camps to attend?
• How do I know if the coach is seriously interested in me as a recruit?
• What do I do if I sent my video to a coach and have not heard back?
• What should I do on an unofficial visit?
• How do I turn this letter into a relationship?

That is small sample of the types of questions that will come up.  Remember, handling any of those situations incorrectly might severely hinder the student athlete from developing a relationship with the college coach.

Aside from the countless situations a student athlete will face, the process is constantly changing.  NCAA rules change, college coaches change their recruiting strategies, and the technology used changes. 

My advice:  Seek guidance from an expert!  Make sure your recruiting information and efforts are current.

Given the impact this process will have on a student athlete’s life and the potential damage that can be done if mishandled, make sure to associate yourself with an individual who is an expert on the process.  Every year, thousands of families attempt to navigate the process despite on their own being inexperienced.  I can think of no other aspect of a student athlete’s life that receives equal neglect.  Parents rely on high school and club coaches to teach student athletes how to play their sport.  They rely on teachers to educate student athletes in the classroom.  The same type of specialized “coach or teacher” should be utilized for the recruiting process as well.

This “Recruiting Coach” can be anyone ranging from the high school or club coach, guidance counselor, or an objective third party organization.  Here are some prerequisite requirements to look for when searching for this type of mentor:

* Extensive knowledge about the recruiting process. 

This Recruiting Coach should have worked with a number of student athletes who have gone on to successfully compete at the collegiate level.  They should be well versed in the steps that need to be taken from a recruit’s standpoint as well as all the NCAA rules and regulations that might affect a student athlete.

* Recent Experience

As mentioned earlier, college recruiting changes every year, if not more frequently.  If your Recruiting Coach has not been involved in the recruiting process for a number of years then you need to keep looking.  Many parents mistakenly feel their past experience in recruiting can effectively guide their student athlete.  Things have simply changed too much

* College Coach Connections

Ideally your Recruiting Coach will have a large number of contacts among the college coaching community.  This will increase the likelihood that the Recruiting Coach is familiar with the process and better equipped to guide a student athlete.  Simply knowing one or two local college coaches does not constitute college coach connections so make sure to inquire about this during your search process. 

The recruiting process is a once in a lifetime experience.  Student athletes cannot go back and “redo” this process which places an enormous amount of emphasis on getting it right the first time.  Through all my years working with families and student athletes, there is one prevailing themes that has remained true regardless of all the changes in recruiting:  “You can never start too early and you can never get too much help.”  Make sure every student athlete has an expert in the recruiting process to depend on to ensure they are not being crossed off a college coach’s recruiting list prematurely and given every opportunity to continue playing their sport in college. 

Many athletes are focused on one thing: the BIG  BUCK$ in the pros.  However, they forget one very important factor, without an education you will have no idea how to spend and invest all that dough.  Forbes magazine recently featured a run down of the more stunning financial meltdowns of high caliber athletes.  The list includes Bjorn Borg, who squandered his fortune trying to run a fashion label, Johnny Unitas who purchased a circuit chip company, and of course Mike Tyson who managed to spend an estimated $400 million on everything from Tigers to legal fees.

While the list is a sad cautionary tale, it pales in comparison to the list of high school and college athletes who don’t take academics seriously until it is too late.  Grades are the key for potential recruits to unlock their full recruiting potential.  Athletes that have great grades open countless more scholarship and grant options.

They are also vital for collegiate student athletes to unlock their life potential.  As the commercial says, “There are over 380,000 student athletes and most of us go pro in something other than sports.”  I urge every student reading this to make sure they don’t squander an opportunity that cold haunt the rest of their lives.

Recruits always dream of running out onto the field under the bright lights with thousands of fans cheering.  They think how much joy they will feel while playing college sports.  I just wanted to take a minute to remind everyone just how much work it takes to play at the next level.  The New York Times examined the work habits of Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow.  I am sure many will be shocked at the extra time Tebow puts into the game outside of practice.

But one aspect of his life has gone virtually unnoticed outside the team: In his evolution from a run-first battering ram to a polished passer and decision-maker, Tebow has found paradise in the flickering light of game film.

“He’s as hard of a worker as I’ve ever had,” said Coach Urban Meyer, whose No. 5 Gators (7-1, 4-1 Southeastern Conference) face No. 8 Georgia on Saturday in a game that will essentially eliminate the loser from the SEC and national title races. “From the weight room to film prep to practice, when he’s your leader and quarterback and he works as hard as he does, it has a positive effect on the team.”

Tebow said he voluntarily spends 20 hours a week digesting film of opponents, far more time than he devotes to studying for school. (He has a 3.81 grade point average.) And he said he spends about twice as much time with Mullen than he does with anyone else. Mullen said he shares more time with Tebow during the season than he does with his wife, Megan.

A recent afternoon spent watching film with them made it apparent that the 6-foot-3, 240-pound Tebow derives as much joy from poring over the nuances of the game as he does from lowering his shoulder into an oncoming safety.

“I love it,” Tebow said as he flipped through film of Georgia’s defense on Sunday. “I love just studying teams. I just love football and everything about it in general. You just have to have a passion for it.”

I bring up this point to make sure athletes understand the type of work it takes to be successful at the highest level of college sports.  During my time at NCSA I have seen numerous athletes turn down Division I scholarship offers simply because they feel more comfortable with academic/athletic balance at Division II, III or NAIA schools.  Their path may not fit conventional wisdom, but it is the right fit for them.

So you’ve been told by the head coach of your dream school that he wants you to play for him next year. Congratulations! There’s only one problem:

You didn’t get past admissions.

So long, quality education! So long, full-ride scholarship!

Playing your sport is a great way to get a tremendous education. I say that because often times, a school is willing to lower the admissions standards for recruited student-athletes a little bit.

A LITTLE BIT. If you’re getting a 2.3 GPA and scored a 950 on your SAT, that’s not going to be good enough for a school like Harvard, or Northwestern, or UCLA.

From an article in The Daily Bruin:

“For football players to come in and compete in that (academic) environment, they have to be good students,” UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel said. “Otherwise it’s not fair to them. That doesn’t mean they all have to have the same scores … but they have to be able to compete.”

The average freshman at UCLA had a 4.3 GPA in high school, Field said, and many athletes do not meet that standard. Instead, the school’s admissions department considers recruits on an individual basis.

Neuheisel said that the most important factor is getting to know the recruit; his family, teachers and coaches, and making sure he is aware of the academic standards.

Even still, the admissions department often flatly rejects recruits.

“It can be frustrating at times when you don’t get to recruit somebody that you have to play against, because you know what they’re capable of doing on the field,” Neuheisel said. “But I trust our admissions people in making those evaluations.”

So a coach can try his darnedest to help you get into school if your grades aren’t as high as what the college generally looks for, but if you’re not even close, don’t expect to get past admissions.

Because if you burn a bridge, it’s going to be really hard to get back if it so happens that you need to.

Today, Clemson’s Tommy Bowden stepped down as head football coach of the Tigers after an average 3-3 start. With that news, two of the nation’s top safeties, Craig Loston and Devonte Holloman, denounced their verbal commitments to play at Clemson.

To see the report on Loston and Holloman, scroll about a third of the way down. Notice that both young men still have schools interested in them now, and rightfully so — they are top recruits.

But I’m applying this more toward the “average” college prospect. Obviously, you should ask questions to the coach to see if he has any hints of leaving the university, but sometimes, you just can’t tell. I’m sure Bowden had no intention of leaving Clemson before the season began, but sometimes, things don’t work out as planned.

So when you verbally commit to a school, make sure you break the news to the other colleges that were recruiting you in a positive and an appreciative manner. That way, if the unthinkable happens and you decide to pursue other options, you still might some schools interested in you and have a shot at getting a scholarship!

 1.  Dedication to the Classroom.

College coaches understand that not all student-athletes perform the same on tests.  They do, however, know the difference between trying hard and being lackadaisical.  The harder a student-athlete works in school along with his attendance record is strongly considered by colleges prior to a scholarship being offered.  Coaches do believe there is a correlation between effort in the classroom and effort on the athletic field of play.  Dedication and reliability go hand-in-hand.

2.  Communicate with the High School Coach.

It is important that the student-athlete let their high school coach know their intentions in relation to going on to the next level.  A student-athlete can not be afraid to let the coach know what type of academic interests they have and what colleges they are interested in possibly attending. The student-athlete should ask the coach to be honest about his talents and potential.

3.  Work to improve your physical skills.

Playing a sport at the college level demands great physical skills and discipline.  Each level of competition is more demanding and the student-athlete needs to continually improve.  In order to complete and to stay injury free, the student-athlete most stay in top physical condition.  It is absolutely vital for the player to work on improving their strength, speed, flexibility, agility and individual position skills.

4.  Make a positive impression on college coaches.

The way a student-athlete talks, dresses and carries themselves is important when talking with a college coach.  The student-athlete that comes across as arrogant, selfish, foul mouthed or rude is someone who will quickly be eliminated by college staff.  Colleges want team players who are a positive reflection of their program on and off the field.

5.  Be honest with recruiters.

College coaches like student-athletes to be honest during the recruiting process.  A student-athlete should not lead a school on if there is no genuine interest.  The student-athlete and the high school they come from are viewed more positively by the colleges if they are up front and honest during the recruiting process. College coaching staffs do not have time to waste on an athlete that doesn’t have a genuine interest in their institution and program.

Bill Conley worked at Ohio State for 17 years as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.

No! Wait! Don’t run away in horror! 

If you’ve watch the news in the past few weeks, you probably know that the economy is pretty close to being in shambles right now. And unfortunately, during these tough economic times, college isn’t exactly getting cheaper right now.

So, more and more, students and parents are trying to obtain athletic scholarships to pay for some, if not all, of little Timmy’s college education. Unfortunately, there’s not enough scholarships to go around for every single person wanting to participate in college athletics. That’s why it’s so important to tackle the recruiting process in the correct way so you can greatly improve the odds of landing one of those coveted spots.

But even if you aren’t able to land a scholarship, there are some other options for paying for college – specifically, grants and loans. I came across this tremendous article on Consumer Reports’ blog detailing the best way to manage student loans in this difficult economic time. A definite must-read if you or your child is intending on getting a college education, regardless of if you think he or she will get a scholarship or not.

College is expensive, but paying for it doesn’t have to be unbearable.

 by Chris Krause, NCSA Founder and President

The final piece to the unofficial visit puzzle is actually contacting the school and the coach to arrange a trip to the campus.

You might be reading this as a student-athlete with hopes and dreams of competing in college by winning a college sports scholarship.  Or, you might be a parent who wants to see their son or daughter use their talents to help pay for school and continue their athletic career at the next level.  Whatever the case, I want you to understand why getting in front of a coach is so important for you:  It is your chance to sell the coach on you.

When a coach brings an athlete in for an “official” visit, it is really their chance to focus on selling that athlete on their program.  The coach knows that the athlete is someone who they want on their roster, and that coach is going to put their best foot forward in trying to convince that athlete to choose their program.

What is different about the “unofficial” visit?  Much of the time, the athlete is the one trying to get the coach’s attention and showing that coach why you should be a serious consideration for a scholarship or opportunity to be a part of the coach’s roster in the years to come.  That’s why it is so vital that you be proactive in setting up your own unofficial visit.  If you don’t do it, no one will.

So what steps should you take to set up the unofficial visit?  Here is what we recommend here at NCSA:

• Call or email the coach.  Let the coach know that you intend to visit their campus, and you would like to set up some time to talk with them.  Arrange a specific time to meet…don’t just ask if you can “drop by” their office while you’re on campus.  You want to make plans to meet at a specific time and place.
• Be direct when talking to the coach.  We recommend that you say something like, “Coach, I am in the process of scheduling my unofficial visits and would like to visit your university.  Would you be available to meet with me next Saturday or Sunday?  And, is there anything you need me to get to you ahead of time?”  Keep it simple, and make it your goal to get the meeting time with the coach.
• Send the coach your video highlights.  The coach you will be visiting with during your unofficial visit is going to want to see you perform in your sport.  The best way to do that is to send them your NCSA Scouting Report that includes your streaming web video that they can view immediately on their computer.  If you aren’t a verified NCSA student-athlete, you will want to mail a DVD or VHS tape to the coach in advance of your visit so that they can review it and have some ideas on how you might fit into their program before you come on campus for your visit.
• Set up an admissions office meeting.  Part of the process of continuing your academic and athletic career at college is making sure you have everything in order when it comes to being admitted to the college.  That is something that the coach will be concerned with, and it’s something that is your responsibility to coordinate while you are on campus.  Make sure you sit with someone in the admissions office to review what you will need to give them in order for them to move forward with your application.

As a part of any visit, you may get to take part in a game day visit at the college.  This takes place quite often in football, but it is becoming more common in other sports as well.  If you are invited to take part in a game day visit, keep in mind that the coaches and athletes are going to be busy preparing for the game.  Sometimes, visiting prospects don’t get the same level of attention that you might during a normal campus visit.  If that happens, don’t be discouraged or disappointed.  And, it’s always a good idea to send a thank you note or email to the coach that you just visited during your unofficial visit.

Remember, this is your chance to get a coach’s attention.  You are taking this visit not only to find out more about the school and the sports program, but also to sell yourself to that coach that is letting you visit.  If you don’t lose sight of that primary purpose, you just might make a great impression in the mind of that coach and become a prime recruit for his or her program.

Recruits always walk a hard line between what is the best for their team and the best for their recruiting potential.  High School coaches often ask players to switch positions or give up individual success for the good of the team.  I’ve spoken to many athletes who worry that a position switch will ruin any chance they have to receive a scholarship.

The reality is college coaches recruit players and athletes.  They usually aren’t too concerned where a player lines up as long as they have convincingly displayed the skills necessary to compete in college.

Recruits should consider the story of University of Washington quarterback Jake Locker. Jake was at one-time considered one of the top defensive back prospects in the country.  Eventually he established himself as a top flight quarterback and signed with Washington.  However, after breaking his thumb last weekend he has again decided to make a switch to benefit his team.  He will line up on defense for at least the next six weeks to try to help turn around his team’s season.

Switching positions can be very difficult, but by putting the team first you help yourself in a few ways. 

1) Your coach will remember your sacrifice and will be more likely to discuss your “team attitude” with college coaches.

2) It could lead to more playing time and more opportunities to shine on the field.  Who knows you might end up in the spot you were meant to be!