The Recruiting Process
The Academic Game
kirk.eaton@cfisd.net
Recruiting Facts
• Did you know? There is no such thing as a "Full Ride." ALL
scholarships are 1-year renewable deals.
• Only 3% of high school student-athletes receive a scholarship.
• Less than 1% of high school student-athletes receive a 4-year
Division I scholarship.
• 83% of scholarship opportunities are NOT on the Division I level.
• 90% of the 2,000+ colleges and universities in America DO NOT
play sports on a Division 1 level. So, you if you focus on "going
D1," you are missing out on 90% of the opportunities to play
sports in college.
• Are you sure you run a 4.40 forty? Only 3 of the 329
players invited to this year's NFL Combine posted a
40 speed of 4.40 or better.
• Men's Division I football and basketball and women's
Division I volleyball, basketball, tennis and
gymnastics are the ONLY scholarships which may
NOT be divided (this, however, does not guarantee
100% funding for each scholarship). ALL other
scholarships for all other sports and divisions may be
sub-divided, and most commonly are.
• 80% of financial assistance is realized AFTER
January 1 of the senior year.
Rank by State Boys and Girls
Participation in Sports
1. Texas 490,816(B) 317,990(G) 808,806(T)
2. California 456,633(B) 325,279(G)
781,912(T)
*NFHS Survey*
Schools
1. Basketball 18,099
2. Track and Field – Outdoor 16,218
3. Baseball 15,838
4. Football – 11-Player 14,241
5. Cross Country 14,155
6. Golf 13,624
7. Soccer 11,600
8. Wrestling 10,407
9. Tennis 9,841
10. Swimming and Diving 7,001
Participants
1. Football – 11-Player 1,095,993
2. Track and Field – Outdoor 575,628
3. Basketball 535,289
4. Baseball 474,219
5. Soccer 411,757
6. Wrestling 272,149
7. Cross Country 248,494
8. Tennis 159,800
9. Golf 152,725
10. Swimming and Diving 133,823
According to the National Federation of High
Schools, the greatest participation by high
school athletes is in high school football, with
1,023,142 boys participating at the high school
level? What does this mean for your recruiting
efforts?
A recent recruiting services pitch we came
across was as follows.... "There are 6.9 million
high school athletes, how will you stand out" “There are 254,000 seniors who play high school
football. There are only 5,042 athletic
scholarships awarded at the D1 level. Your odds
are 1-50 that you get a scholarship.”
Sports Scholarship Limits
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Men's Sports (D-1)
Basketball (12) (All FULL)
FBS Football (25 per year/ 85 total) (All FULL)
FCS Football (30 per year/ 63 total)
Baseball (11.7)
Cross Country/Track and Field (12.6)
Fencing (4.5)
Golf (4.5)
Gymnastics (6.3)
Hockey (18)
Lacrosse (12.6)
Rifle (3.6)
Skiing (6.3)
Soccer (9.9)
Swimming and Diving (9.9)
Tennis (4.5)
Volleyball (4.5)
Water Polo (4.5)
Wrestling (9.9)
Sports Scholarship Limits
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Women's Sports (D-1)
Basketball (15)
Tennis (8)
Volleyball (12)
Gymnastics (12)
Bowling (5)
Cross Country/Track and Field (18)
Equestrian (15)
Fencing (5)
Field Hockey (12)
Golf (6)
Lacrosse (12)
Rowing (20)
Rugby (12)
Skiing (7)
Soccer (14)
Softball (12)
Squash (12)
Swimming and Diving (14)
Water Polo (8)
Scholarship Myths
“High school coaches get their players
scholarships.”
Coaches can help in the process and play
a role but ultimately the player himself
must get the scholarship.
A player will get a scholarship based on
his or her play and academic
achievement.
Scholarship Myths
“I received a letter from Coach Brown from
Texas, so Texas is recruiting me to play
football.”
– Just because you receive a letter from a coach
does not mean you are being recruited by
them. They send out thousands of letters.
When the coach contacts you via telephone or
visits your home then you are being recruited!
Scholarship Myths
“Colleges do not care about size, strength,
or speed. If I just play well, get named
All-District, I have a chance.”
- Colleges are looking to project players.
What can they become and how will
they fit into their program. Be realistic
they are looking for the biggest and
fastest players at the Division 1 Level.
Scholarship Myths
“Character does not count, no matter what
I do off the field will not hurt me as long
as I just make plays.”
Wrong, College Athletics is a big time
business. They are giving you a
scholarship worth over $100, 000 in
most cases. Your personal twitter,
myspace, facebook all matter.
Scholarship Myths
“I have great stats so I should receive a
Scholarship”
– College coaches do not look at stats.
They evaluate by looking at film and see
if you have the ability to play at their
level
Scholarship Myths
“Colleges like hearing from perspective
players and their parents during the
recruiting process.”
-College coaches want to talk to other
coaches, period. Word of mouth is what
will get you noticed. Your high school
coach and other coaches are all that
colleges realistically listen to.
How do I get
Recruited ?
Academics
• GPA
-Core Classes- English, Math, Science,
Social Studies, Foreign Language
-A= 4 points (5 points for AP and K)
-B= 3 points
-C= 2 points
-D= 1 point
-F= 0 points
Academics
• Your GPA will determine the type of
score you will need on the SAT or ACT
to qualify. It is based on a “sliding
scale”.
• The higher the GPA the lower the test
score you will need.
• The lower the GPA the higher the test
score you will need.
SAT and ACT Sliding Scale
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GPA
3.50
3.30
3.00
2.75
2.50
2.30
2.00
SAT
400
500
620
720
820
900
1010
ACT
37
44
52
59
68
75
86
Qualifications
• Division 1 – Sliding Scale (Class of 2015
is a 2.30 minimum)
• Division 2 – Minimum 2.00 GPA, 820
Verbal/Mathematics Combined, 68
between the four sub-groups
• NAIA – Two out of Three: 18 ACT or 680
SAT, Top 50% of class, 2.00 GPA or
higher
• Division 3 – See Institution you are
applying to
The NCAA Clearing House
• The NCAA Clearing House certifies you
to play college football. It makes sure
you meet the minimum academic
standard for each division.
• You must register online at:
www.ncaaclearinghouse.net.
• From there they will monitor your
academic progress
College Divisions
Requirements
• Division 1(119 1A & 116 1AA)- 16
core credits
• Division 2 (151)- 16 core credits
• Division 3 (229)- Accepted into
school
• JUCO- Accepted into school
Division I Requirements
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Graduate from high school;
Complete these 16 core courses:
4 years of English
3 years of math (algebra 1 or higher)
2 years of natural or physical science (including one year of lab science if
offered by your high school)
1 extra year of English, math or natural or physical science
2 years of social science
4 years of extra core courses (from any category above, or foreign
language, nondoctrinal religion or philosophy);
Earn a minimum required grade-point average in your core courses; and
Earn a combined SAT or ACT sum score that matches your core course
grade-point average and test score sliding scale on page 9 (for example, a
2.400 core-course grade-point average needs an 860 SAT).
Division II Requirements
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Graduate from high school;
Complete these 16 core courses:
3 years of English
2 years of math (algebra 1 or higher)
2 years of natural or physical science (including one year of lab science if
offered by your high school)
2 extra years of English, math or natural or physical science
2 years of social science
3 years of extra core courses (from any category above, or foreign
language, nondoctrinal religion or philosophy);
Earn a 2.000 grade-point average or better in your core courses; and
Earn a combined SAT score of 820 or an ACT sum score of 68.
How can I help myself
academically?
• Be successful in your academics, EARLY
• 33% of your core course work is done
FRESHMEN YEAR
• Retake any classes C or below
• Take the SAT / ACT during your junior
year
• Sign up for a SAT / ACT tutorial class
• Every point matters, 89 is 3 points 90 is
4 points
The Recruiting Process
• Colleges will begin to send letters &
questionnaires your junior year. Be sure to
always respond and return any such
questionnaires promptly.
• Colleges will also use spring football as an
evaluation period as well.
• Many early offers are given during spring ball.
• They will also use Camps as an evaluation
tool.
Players Job
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Must have moral character, work ethic, and ability
(Colleges are investing 5 years of tuition so they
make sure they’re getting their money’s worth!)
Complete high school with a core diploma and a
GPA high enough to qualify
Take the ACT or SAT and score high enough to
qualify
Register with the NCAA Clearinghouse
Complete college applications before deadlines
Visit colleges
College Coaches Job
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Contact references on player
View film on the player
They are not looking at statistics! They will
Watch film on the player
Contact player and parents and arrange
college visitations
Remember: The college coach has many
recruiting rules to follow (ex. The number of
times they can contact high school player
and the number of visits)
High School Coaches Job
• Fill out questionnaires for those players he
thinks have ability to play at next level
(including Division 3)
• Arrange school visits from college coaches
• Send film to colleges after each season and
for those who request it
• Contact college coaches on all potential
college football players
Parents Job
• Complete financial aid form by the deadline
(do this for any college student)
• Make sure:
Student takes SAT/ACT
• Student graduates with a Core 40
diploma
• Student registers with NCAA clearinghouse
• Student completes college applications
(sometimes there are fees to be paid)