Do's and Don'ts !!!
About College Recruitment
for Parents and Student Athletes
Do's and Don'ts for Parents About College Recruitment
How to help your children find the college that's right for them
1. Be a team with your child. Understand their capabilities and work style. Some kids will handle the bulk
of the college search and look to the parent mainly for approval and support. Others are less willing or
motivated, so the parent must be more involved. Uncertain how much to participate in the process? Watch
how your child handles homework, especially complex assignments and projects.
2. Establish a timeline. Senior year is too late to begin gathering information on prospective schools or to
send letters and playing resumes to coaches: The early signing period for letters of intent is in November,
and the late period begins in April. Coaches at competitive programs start tracking kids when the kids are
freshmen and sophomores, so that's an ideal time to begin.
3. Stay organized. Make a folder for each school under consideration and put everything about that school
into the folder. Keep track of deadlines, which may differ from school to school. Much of your
correspondence will be by email; if it's important print it out and put it in the folder.
4. Do your own homework. Information is plentiful, so make it work for you. Learn the importance and
terminology of the SAT and ACT tests, the NCAA's regulations and such things as FAFSA (Free
Application for Federal Student Aid) and SAR (Student Aid Report). Here are some helpful links:
• The NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete offers a comprehensive review of the recruiting
process and outlines the steps each golfer must complete. One important step is registering at the NCAA
Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse.
• A similar publication is available for NAIA schools: the NAIA Guide for the College-Bound StudentAthlete.
• The College Board is the organization that conducts the SAT test while the American College Testing
Program conducts the ACT test.
• Families can obtain information and applications for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, track
their applications and receive Student Aid Reports.
5. Encourage curiosity and questions. Everyone and everything is a potential source of information.
Coaches appreciate questions. Current and past students and their families can answer questions about
schools your child is considering. High-school guidance counselors understand the process and can offer
direction. Bookstores and libraries are full of college reference books, which assess schools on a variety of
factors. Help your child develop lists of questions and practice asking questions (and assess the responses)
and take notes.
6. Discuss finances. Communicating your family's financial picture and having a budget for college
expenses will help your child assess the costs of her or his decisions. Every institution has two types of
non-athletic financial aid: merit-based (calculated on grades and test scores) and need-based (calculated on
a family's income and savings). It's important to factor all these costs into a decision because a non-athletic
award, especially at a private school, may be greater than partial golf scholarship at a public institution.
This could reduce the net cost of a private school to a similar out-of-pocket
7. Let your child make decisions... This is one of their first opportunities to make adult choices, and they
must live with the ramifications. Don't push your child to your favorite schools or to seek a golf scholarship
if their priorities don't match yours.
... And communicate with coaches. Coaches want to hear from the player because that's who will be in the
classroom and on the team. Encourage your child to initiate the contact, write the "Dear Coach" letters,
answer questionnaires and field calls from coaches. If you accompany your child on a campus visit let her
or him answer most of the questions.
8. Make time for campus visits. Nothing influences where a college stands on your child's priority list
more than campus visits. Schedule vacations and/or weekends for them during your child's sophomore and
junior years.
There are two types of visits: unofficial and official.
Unofficial: Your family pays all expenses. You can make them at any time and stay as long as you wish -an hour or a day. There's value in making them during the school year, while students are in class, but that's
not always possible. Regardless of timing, don't go unannounced. Let the coach and admissions department
know when you'll arrive. Someone can provide a campus tour and give you a chance to look at the dorms
and classrooms, sample dorm food, meet someone in a specific academic department and tour the athletic
facilities.
Official: These can be taken starting on the first day of classes for your child's senior year of high school.
Recruited student-athletes are allowed five official visits. They are strictly regulated by NCAA rules and
cannot extend beyond 48 hours. Only the student's expenses are paid. Most schools tightly program official
visits. Keep in mind, though, that a lot of athletic departments don't have the funds to pay these costs so
you might have to pay for all visits. It's money well spent.
9. Can the sales pitch. Numbers will influence a coach at first: GPAs and test or tournament scores. As
they come to know your daughter or son each coach will make a wider assessment of your child. Bragging
or a sales pitch from a parent can be a turnoff to a coach -- especially if it is not supported by what the
coach sees or by the numbers.
10. Encourage and follow-up. These are key themes for parents. Your child may think you are nagging
them about whether they have responded to e-mail or mailed an important document, but you can do it a
way that is supporting and not degrading. In the end your child or children will appreciate the role you
played in helping them select and attend the best college for them.
Your athlete needs your support
Every scholarship athlete I have met has worked hard and deserves personal credit for his or her success.
However, these students also received support and guidance from the important adults in their lives. This
support ranges from washing uniforms, car pooling and cheering at events to coaching and to teaching
sportsmanship and maturity. As student athletes make the transition to collegiate competition they need
adult support and advice more than ever.
Parents understand the numbers:
It is parents for the most part who are looking at current college costs and dispairing. Parents who want
their sons and daughters to have a college education are seeing the costs go out of sight. Sports scholarships
are not available to everyone, but for talented athletes they can combine the positive experience of college
sports with a huge financial benefit. Parents understand those issues well enough to take an active role in
helping their student athletes to help themselves.
Why students need help:
An athlete can either wait passively by the phone hoping that coaches will call or an athlete can take an
active role in the recruiting process. Which will it be? Let's face it, it's easier to wait by the phone for the
call. This is natural. Unfortunately, this passive approach is also encouraged by the image that the NCAA
would like you to have of sports recruiting: that all worthy athletes will be contacted by fine coaches from
terrific colleges and get offered scholarships to compete. This image is a myth.
There are plenty of reasons to avoid the effort. It's not "cool" to make the effort yourself. Greg, Beth and
John got called by a coach and they got scholarships. Waiting for the call is the way it's supposed to work.
If I was a good enough athlete the calls would be coming....
It is true that many top prospects will get called without making an effort. Was it from a coach they had
chosen? Was it from a school they had especially wanted to attend? Not all calls are the ones that an athlete
was wishing for. Even for athletes who are almost certain to get recruiting calls, it is worthwhile for them to
let coaches know of their interests in a sports program and a school.
How can parents help?
Most student athletes do not get serious about college plans until their senior year. We have talked with
hundreds of high school counselors over the past several years. Unfortunately, these professionals also
think that college sports recruiting is an activity that is only for seniors. Parents must motivate student
athletes to start early. The earlier that an athlete starts, the better the athlete's chances of getting the best
college sports situation.
First steps:
Encourage your athlete to learn about the recruiting process. What are the divisions of the NCAA? Which
schools are in what division? How does the division relate to athletic scholarship opportunities? What must
the high school student do to be eligible to play in college? What other perks are possible for competing in
college sports? How does your athlete's talent match up with the requirements in the sports programs of
particular schools? Getting answers early to some of these questions will start an athlete on the road to a
good recruiting experience. The Sports Scholarship Handbook can provide answers, but most high school
students are unlikely to spend money on a book; even a book that could result in thousands of dollars in
financial aid.
The Sports Scholarship Handbook is mostly available from on line sources and ordering it will generally
take a credit card. Parents can help by ordering the handbook for your student athlete. You can also
encourage your local library or high school to order the handbook. Parents can help by reading the
handbook and supporting their student's strategies for contacting coaches and visiting schools.
Starting early boosts opportunities
The enterprising high school athlete can get a big head start on the recruiting process because students who
start early have all the advantages. Students who start early and initiate contacts help themselves and
help the coach. With only a couple of exceptions, coaches cannot initiate a contact until after the athlete's
junior year in high school. However an athlete can call a coach almost any time.
NCAA rules also define when and under what conditions a recruited athlete can visit at the school's
expense, but parents and their student athletes can visit a school at any time at their own expense. On
such a visit you can meet with school officials and coaches. The sooner the choices get narrowed down, the
better off the athlete is when his official recruiting season starts.
The Sports Scholarship Handbook has specific actions and strategies that an athlete can do to increase
recruiting opportunities and recruiting success. Many of these should be started long before the end of the
junior year in high school.
Be wary of recruiting services
The pitches from so-called "recruiting services" and "sports marketing services" are appealing. They say
that they can put your athlete's name in front of a hundred coaches. They have testimonials from athletes
and coaches. Every year in almost every school there are parents who pay hundreds of dollars to these
services. Almost every parent I've talked with who has paid for such a service has said it was worth it.
Their athlete got some letters from schools showing interest. On the other hand, almost none of the athletes
I talked with ended up attending a school identified by a recruiting service.
Why the discrepancy? Maybe it is because they thought that a few hundred dollars was worth it to be able
to say that they gave it their best shot. Maybe the excitement of getting some letters from schools they had
never heard of thousands of miles away was worth the cost. It is not clear. What is clear is that they could
have gotten a better sports situation by using the strategies in The Sports Scholarship Handbook, checking
out colleges directly and visiting schools that their student athlete found interesting.
It isn't rocket science
It is easier for student athletes to get actively involved in their own recruiting than they think. Not only is it
easier, but it is exciting and motivating. It can make opportunities happen. The Sports Scholarship
Handbook has dozens of suggestions and examples of steps that student athletes can take to enhance their
college sports opportunities. Some of these steps will require the support and involvement of parents. Some
of them require working within NCAA rules to avoid problems. It isn't rocket science but learning the ins
and outs will help.
The "full ride"
In almost every high school there are senior athletes who get recruited by college coaches. It is pretty
typical that the level of this recruitment and the size of the scholarship offers get exaggerated. What is a
full ride? More than once you are likely to hear that some athlete received a "full ride" scholarship offer.
Athletes and their parents are anxious for recognition and the gold standard for sports scholarships is the
full ride. Therefore it is not surprising to hear of anything from a semester's tuition to a full grant-in-aid
referred to as "a full ride." Do not feel in competition with the offers received by other student athletes.
Situations don't compare, sports don't compare, schools don't compare and you don't even know what
someone else is calling a "full ride."
What constitutes a good scholarship offer varies widely with the college, the division that the college
competes in, the sport, the talents of the individual athlete and even the athlete's gender. Rather than
worrying about someone else's scholarship offer, you and your student athlete should be looking for the
best college option for him or her. It may mean a full ride or a partial ride or it may mean the chance to
attend a great school and have fun competing in college sports. The recruiting process is the chance to
evaluate everything about a college offer. Judge the opportunity as a whole, not simply the dollar amount of
the award.
It is the student's decision
Parent support starts with encouragement and it ends with supporting the student athlete's decision about
which opportunity to accept. In the middle it will help to keep in mind that it is the student's talent, the
student's hard work, the student's success and the student's life and not yours. The line between supporting
the student and living through the student's success is one that can be hard to negotiate at times. Try to
recognize when you cross that line and make an adjustment
2009 Recruiting Terminology
To avoid breaking recruiting rules, break in your NCAA recruiting lingo. Here’s a list of terms to master so
you can steer clear of potential violation disasters.
Award Any item given in recognition of athletic participation or performance.
Competition site Facility in which athletic competition is conducted. This includes a dressing room or a
meeting space that’s used in conjunction with a tournament, match or game.
Contact Extended face-to-face dialog between you or your parent/legal guardian and an institutional staff
member or representative of an athletic department.
Contact Period Time during which head or assistant coaches may make in-person, off-campus contacts
with you to evaluate your athletic abilities.
Dead Period Time during which you may not officially or unofficially visit schools, and coaches may not
communicate with you.
Equivalency sport A sport [e.g., soccer, baseball, volleyball] with a fixed number of scholarships that can
be divided among two or more athletes on a team. Example: a D-I baseball coach can distribute 11.7
scholarships to more than 11.7 athletes, which means it’s less likely you will receive a full ride.
Evaluation Period Time during which D-I and D-II head or assistant coaches are permitted to visit your
high school to assess your academic qualifications and observe your playing abilities in practice and/or
games. They may not make any recruiting contacts with you during this period.
Headcount sport A sport [e.g., football, basketball] in which a maximum number of athletes can be on
scholarship in any given year. Example: a men’s D-I basketball program may allot only 13 scholarships
each year. So if you receive a scholarship, only 12 of your teammates may be awarded one in that year.
Official visit A university-paid visit, which can occur only after your first day of class as a high school
senior.
Printed recruiting materials Letters, business cards, camp brochures, questionnaires, game programs,
academic and admissions publications, NCAA educational material (e.g., NCAA Guide for the CollegeBound Student-Athlete ) and athletic publications, such as a recruiting brochure or media guide.
Quiet Period Time during which authorized college athletic department staff cannot leave campuses to
make in-person recruiting contacts. However, they can make contact with you if you are on their campus.
Red-shirting Allows a student-athlete enrolled in a four-year college to spread four years of eligibility over
five years. In your red-shirt year, you will not lose a year of eligibility. You may attend classes and practice
with the team, but you cannot compete in games.
Representative of athletics interest An independent agency, corporate entity (e.g., apparel or equipment
manufacturer) or individual who is recognized by a university to participate in promoting the school’s
athletic program, contribute financially to the athletic department, and assist in recruiting prospective
student-athletes.
Slush funds Funds prohibitively provided by an outside organization, agency or group of individuals used
to recruit you, including transportation, entertainment, gifts and services offered to you and/or your
parent/legal guardian.
Sports camp/clinic Owned and operated by a university and located on or off campus; places special
emphasis on a particular sport and provides specific instruction on activities designed to improve overall
skills and general knowledge of a particular sport.
Telephone call Electronically transmitted human voice exchange; this includes video conferencing and
videophones.
Unofficial visit A visit to a school that you pay for. Unlike official visits, there is no limit to the number of
unofficial visits you may make before your senior year.
Unavoidable incidental contact Contact that isn’t prearranged and doesn’t take place on your school’s
grounds or at sites of organized practice and competition involving you or your team.
Problematic Recruiting Situations
Use the terminology you just learned, along with advice from two experts, to simplify the recruiting
process.
Situation: According to author and Sacred Heart University pitching coach Wayne Mazzoni, high
school athletes expect their coach to manage their whole recruiting process.
Advice: First, define what you want from your college experience, including academics, location, campus
size and level of athletics at which you can realistically compete. Based on those criteria, Mazzoni suggests
creating a list of five to 10 schools. Then, gather info about the college coach from each school, including
name, phone number and email address.
“Once you’ve done that, take [that] information to your high school coach and say, ‘I know I can play at
these schools, but these coaches don’t know about me. Could you please call these coaches and tell them
about me?’” Mazzoni explains, “Just about every coach, when they’re given that directive, will do it. But if
they have to sit there and go through that [initial] process, it’s too much.”
Situation: Writing a generic letter to coaches whom you want to know about you.
Advice: University of Florida volleyball head coach Mary Wise’s advice: Be specific. She says, “If it’s a
form letter that [an athlete’s] sending to all [coaches], I would wonder just how much effort she’s spending
to find out, ‘Is this the right fit?’”
Wise recommends including the following with each letter: the coach’s name, details about the sport’s
program [including the conference and style of play], the school’s academic level and where it’s located.
Those details “show a genuine interest,” Wise says
2009 Key Recruiting Checklist
Literally hundreds of tasks are necessary to achieve your goal of playing at the college of your dreams—
ranging from tearing it up on the field to making sure your No. 2 pencil is sharpened at SAT time. And each
task, no matter how significant or how small, presents a risk and an opportunity. Use the following
checklist to avoid the pitfalls and make yourself the best recruit possible.
Prior to junior year
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Set seasonal, yearly and overall high school athletic and academic goals
o Write them down
o Be realistic
o Keep them where you’ll see them regularly
o Assess your progress at the end of each season/school quarter
Maintain good academic standing
o Don’t cut class
o Strive for good grades
o Take advantage of study halls and tutors
o Don’t cheat
o Show respect to teachers and fellow students
o Avoid detentions and suspensions
Identify athletic weaknesses; research safe and effective methods, or professionals, to help you
eliminate them
Develop good relationships with teachers who will eventually write your college letters of
recommendation
Get involved in extracurricular and volunteer activities
Be aware of your off-field lifestyle and the image it portrays
o Choose friends wisely; avoid troublesome crowds
o Keep online profiles clean
o Avoid drugs, alcohol and tobacco
o Don’t fight
o Don’t break the law
o Adhere to a reasonable curfew
Meet with your guidance counselor to discuss NCAA curriculum and grade requirements
Consider playing multiple sports to develop and display well-rounded athleticism
Maintain poise and sportsmanship at all times. College coaches watch you during competition,
even when you are not playing. Always:
o Cheer on teammates
o Respond to referees and/or bad calls in a professional manner
o Interact positively with coaches on the sideline
o Keep your head up. Don’t pout regardless of score or situation
o Avoid fighting
o Celebrate with class
Have all athletic competitions videotaped for future use
Create a filing system to organize athletic awards, newspaper clippings and outstanding
achievements
Research the best non-schoolsponsored athletic leagues in your area—club teams, AAU, summer
leagues, etc.
Participate in non-schoolsponsored athletic competition
Create a resume that includes academic and athletic achievements
Send initial contact letters to college coaches at schools you are interested in attending
o Find name, address and other information about coach on school’s website
o Express your interest in playing for the program
o Include athletic and academic resume
o Attach a schedule of your games for the upcoming seasons
Create a filing system for materials and info you receive from colleges and coaches
Complete and return all questionnaires
Inform college coaches about camps and clinics you’ll be attending
Attend camps and clinics at schools you are interested in attending
Begin pulling clips and creating a highlight tape
Attend a college competition in your sport
Contact parents of athletes on the college team’s roster to find out if they’re happy with
their son’s or daughter’s experiences with the team
o Observe the way the coach interacts with his team
o Gauge the level of play compared to your ability
Assess your athletic ability
o Talk to your coaches
o Measure yourself against other players at your position in your state/district/conference
o Compare your accomplishments to the high school accomplishments of players on rosters
of colleges that you think you could play for
Begin thinking about the academic area of study you might want to major in, and research which
schools excel in that area
Solicit information about colleges by talking to:
o Friends
o Guidance counselors
o College’s alumni
Talk with parents or guardians about:
o Cost and what you can afford
o Location
o Academic opportunities and programs
o Their academic and athletic expectations for you in college
Create a target list of colleges in each of the following categories:
o Likely admission
o Safety net
o Reach
Send follow-up letters to coaches who haven’t responded to your initial contact
Assess benefits of using a recruiting service
Familiarize yourself with the NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Athlete
Open a dialogue with your high school coaches about the college coaches who have contacted
them about you and the colleges that most interest you
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Junior year
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Register, prep for and take standardized tests
Register with NCAA Eligibility Center [must be done by end of junior year]
Schedule and take unofficial visits
o Find time to meet with coaches around their busy schedules
o Bring pen and notepad, and have a few questions ready about the program, the coach’s
level of interest and his or her plans to remain at the school during your four years
o Provide coaches with your highlight tape and stat sheet
o Talk to players on the team
o Check out the facilities
o Go to a class in your area of interest
o Keep a journal to list pros and cons of each school and coaching staff after visits
Continue to update college coaches on your athletic successes
Update highlight tape with recent clips
Talk to athletes from your school who now play at the collegiate level. Ask about:
o The level of competition
o How college life and sports differ from their high school experiences
o Any additional advice they have to offer
Update wardrobe with clothes appropriate for meetings with college coaches
Send thank you note after any meeting with a coach
Have high school coach call college coaches to recommend you as an athlete
Prepare a list of questions for coaches when they call (they can call after May 1 of your junior year
for football and after July 1 for most other sports). Cover these topics:
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Their level of interest
Chance of an official visit
Possibility of a scholarship
Who they have at your position (height, weight, stats)
Your upcoming game schedule and the possibility of their attendance
Senior year
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Be prepared for an in-school visit from a college coach at any time
o Have questions ready in your locker
o Dress appropriately at all times
Retake standardized tests if necessary
Avoid senioritis—continue to take challenging courses and strive for good grades
Narrow down schools you’re interested in and eliminate those in which you definitely have no
interest
Plan and take official visits. Remember, only five are allowed
o Bring pen and notepad. Have questions ready for meetings with coaches (see
Communicating with a Coach, page 33)
o Talk to as many players as possible, not just the happy ones
o Go to a class in your field of interest
o Stay on campus
o Always conduct yourself properly
o Keep a journal to list pros and cons of each school and coaching staff after visits
Set time standards as to when you want to take phone calls from coaches
Assess financial needs by talking with parents and various schools’ financial aid offices
Apply for financial aid
Research and apply for alterative sources of funds
Once you begin receiving financial aid offers from colleges, share them with other coaches to
improve your final offer
Create timetable for all application deadlines
Ask teachers for recommendations
Calculate your GPA and find out your class rank
Request official transcript from guidance counselor
Ask college coaches to waive application fees
Decide whether to apply early action or early decision
Write application essays early so you have time to edit and perfect them
Complete the rest of applications and mail before deadlines
Narrow college choices to your top three opportunities
Make final decision
Notify all college coaches you’ve been speaking with of your final decision
Contact your new college coach to receive strength and conditioning manual
Mail thank you letter and/or graduation party invite to
Divisional Breakdown
Choosing a college is one of the most important decisions you’ll make, as the school you select needs to fit
you as both a student and an athlete. This might mean turning down the bright lights of the big city to head
to a low-key school that better suits your style. Going to a school where you feel out of place and
uncomfortable could put you on a path to bad grades and poor athletic performance.
Taking the junior college route allowed Houston Astros outfielder Hunter Pence to accomplish his college
athletic goals much sooner than he would have by playing on the big stage of Division I. “If you go to a
junior college, you’re going to learn a lot about the game and you’re basically going to start from day one,”
he says.
Of course, what worked for Pence might not be best for you. Study the chart below. For each division and
association of college athletics, it details both the benefits and the things you should be aware of. If you’re
looking to play against the best competition in the best facilities, Division I is your destination. If playing
two sports and having small class sizes will put a smile on your face, Division III may be for you.
Reviewing the chart, you’ll notice right away that NCAA and NJCAA Division III programs cannot offer
athletic aid. Each association—NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA— prescribes the total number of athletic
scholarships that can be made available for each sport.
Sports fall into two categories: headcount and equivalency. Headcount sports have a set number of full
scholarships. If your sport offers 15 scholarships and a college gives you one, it has 14 left to offer.
Equivalency sports have a set number of scholarships, but they can be divided among two or more student
athletes. Say a sport has three scholarships available; a school could award a full scholarship to one athlete,
split the second between two athletes, and divide the third among three or more athletes.
When talking with college coaches, ask whether your sport is headcount or equivalency. This will give you
an idea of what kind of money you might be eligible to receive.
Division
Benefits
Be Aware Of
Division
I&
Division
I-AA
Football
Practice outfits and athletic equipment //
Team strength and conditioning coach //
State-of-the-art training and game facilities
// Top-notch competition
Division
II
Lower student-teacher ratio // Less pressure
to perform athletically // Less cross country
travel
Lack of fan support for program //
Athletic time commitment // Average
facilities
Yes
Division
III
Lower student-teacher ratio // Games played Lack of fan support for program // No
in immediate region // Easier to play two
athletic aid available // Lack of
sports // Minimal summer commitment
facilities
No
NAIA
Low student-teacher ratio // Coaches have
fewer recruiting restrictions // Less pressure
to perform athletically // Transferring
between NAIA schools is easy
Lack of facilities // Coaches may be
faculty members as well // Athletic time
commitment
Yes
Better opportunity to play right away //
Chance to improve GPA to get admitted to a
four-year college // NJCAA Division I
programs can offer full athletic scholarships
NJCAA Division II programs can only
offer tuition, fees, and books // NJCAA
Division III programs cannot offer
athletic aid // Lack of facilities
NJCAA
Division
I-II-III
Larger class sizes // Athletic time
commitment // Pressure to perform //
Traveling cross country
Athletic
Financial
Aid
Available
Yes
Division I,
Yes
Division II
Yes,
partial
Division
III, No
Financial Aid 411
Congratulations! You’ve been accepted by your number one school. But before you attend your first
college practice or class, getting your finances in order is crucial.
A cap, a gown and a $19,000 hole in your pocket. Even with financial help along the way, that’s the
average debt of students graduating from college. According to the National Postsecondary Student Aid
Study, nearly two-thirds of undergrads can’t make it through their four years without assistance. This
means it’s your duty to do whatever you can to make sure you’re studying and competing without
overbearing financial worries.
If you’re a Division I or II student-athlete, you can pursue an athletic scholarship and other types of
financial aid. D-III schools can’t offer athletic scholarships, but they can offer other forms of assistance.
What you’ll discover, however, is that grants, scholarships, work-study and other forms of aid typically
don’t cover the full cost of a college education. Many students find that they must supplement with private
and government loans. Government loans typically offer lower interest rates and more flexible repayment
plans than consumer loans, making them an attractive way to finance your education.
What’s Popular
The two biggies—scholarships and grants—are similar in that, essentially, they are free money and do not
require repayment. For that reason, you should seek them first, before considering loans. Note, however,
that most scholarships and grants must be renewed annually.
Merit scholarships
Distributed on the basis of specific criteria established by the scholarship’s donors and administrators.
Common criteria include financial need, academic excellence, community service and athletic ability.
Athletic scholarships
Most Division I and II schools [with the notable exception of the Ivy League], and some NAIA and
NJCAA institutions, offer athletic scholarships in baseball, basketball, cross country, crew, golf, hockey
[ice and field], lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, track, volleyball and wrestling. Few colleges offer
athletic scholarships in other sports. Your scholarship can be cancelled if you:
• become ineligible
• voluntarily withdraw from your team
• falsify information on a financial aid agreement
• engage in misconduct that results in disciplinary action by the school
Grants
Disbursed on the basis of a student’s financial need, or to support a specific project [e.g., research]. The
grant application process begins with completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
Work-study programs
Administered by colleges and universities, work-study provides student-athletes with a certain number of
paid work hours throughout the academic year in return for at least federal minimum wage. In addition to
providing much needed funds, work-study programs can offer valuable work experience.
Loans
Money borrowed from a bank or other institution that must be repaid with interest. Read that again: with
interest.
Pell Grants
Awarded by the U.S. Department of Education on the basis of a student’s financial need and how much the
Department thinks his/her parents can provide. The maximum amount currently available per year is
$4,050.
Perkins Loans
Federally backed, low-interest loans available to undergrads with demonstrated financial need. Keep in
mind that many schools distribute Perkins funds on a first-come, first-serve basis, which means your school
may not have enough funding to cover all eligible students. Don’t forget: Apply for your Perkins early in
the year.
Alternatives
Depending on your financial situation, you can look into military enlistment, employer support and various
tax credits.
NCAA Initial Eligibility Center
Sports may be number one in your mind, but there’s a reason student comes before athlete in studentathlete. If you don’t give academics top priority in high school, you have a good chance of becoming
neither a student nor an athlete after graduation. To continue your status as both, make the NCAA Initial
Eligibility Center your first stop on the recruiting trail.
What is the NCAA Initial Eligibility Center?
Formerly known as the NCAA Clearinghouse, the Center determines whether a high school student is
eligible to participate in Division I or II athletics. “The [Center] is confirming that the courses you took are
college readiness courses,” Nancy Nitardy says.
Nitardy, a recruiting expert, recommends registering with the Center as early as spring semester of junior
year. By registering, you qualify to make official college visits during your senior year. However,
registration does not mean you are NCAA-eligible; that happens at the completion of your senior year.
ACT vs. SAT
Nitardy recommends taking both standardized tests, because there’s a good chance you’ll do better
comparatively on one. If you test early enough in high school—at least by your junior year—you’ll have
the option of retesting to improve your scores.
Is one test better than the other? Nitardy thinks the NCAA “sort of” favors the ACT. One reason may be
that the writing portion of the SAT is not used for NCAA purposes, leaving the critical reading and math
sections to count for your score. The ACT is the sum of four sections: English, math, critical reading and
science. Nitardy adds, “I’ve found that a lot of athletes actually do better on the ACT.” Maybe because the
NCAA considers scores on four sections, rather than just the SAT’s two.
What You Need to Do: A Year-by-Year Breakdown
Grades 9 and 10
• Review the NCAA core-course requirements to make sure you’re on track; verify with your guidance
counselor
Grade 11
• Register with the Eligibility Center
• Again, make sure you’re on track to meet NCAA core-course requirements
• At the completion of your junior year, have your guidance counselor send a copy of your transcript to the
NCAA Eligibility Center
• When taking the ACT or SAT, request that a set of test results be sent to the Eligibility Center
Grade 12
• Complete the Eligibility Center’s Amateurism Questionnaire [used to determine a prospect’s eligibility
according to NCAA rules]; review and finalize your answers to the Questionnaire before submitting your
electronic signature for final verification
• Have your high school guidance counselor send final transcripts, including proof of graduation, to the
Eligibility Center
High School Course Requirements
Division I: 16 Core-Course Rule
Complete 16 core courses
• 4 years of English
• 3 years of math [Algebra I or higher]
• 2 years of natural/physical science [one year of lab if offered by high school]
• 1 year of additional English, math or natural/ physical science
• 2 years of social science
• 4 years of additional courses [choose from English, math, science, social science, foreign language,
nonsectarian religion or philosophy]
Division II: 14 Core-Course Rule
Complete 14 core courses
• 3 years of English
• 2 years of math [Algebra I or higher]
• 2 years of natural/physical science [one year of lab if offered by high school]
• 2 years of additional English, math or natural/ physical science
• 2 years of social science
• 3 years of additional courses [choose from English, math, science, social science, foreign language,
nonsectarian religion or philosophy]
Division III
The NCAA has no academic eligibility requirements for D-III colleges. Check with each college for
specific admission policies.
Self Marketing Tips
Reality check: Most high school athletes are not five-star recruits. So, college coaches probably won’t be
kicking down your door or blowing up your cell, day in and day out, like they do for the top 100. That said,
you still might have what it takes to play at the next level. You just need to put in some extra effort to get
noticed.
Making contacts
During your junior year, create a list of target schools that interest you and research them for the head
coaches’ contact information. Then, send each coach a customized letter of interest with your athletic
profile and a schedule of your games enclosed.
David Oliver, 110m hurdles Bronze Medalist in the Beijing Olympics, kept on hand a typewritten letter that
included all of his stats. “I had a big book with all the colleges in it and the addresses, and I just sent off
letters all the time,” says the football and track recruit.
Tips for your letter of interest
• Make sure it is typed or neatly handwritten
• Proofread the entire letter to make sure there are no misspellings or grammatical mistakes
• Include something specific about the school’s program, (e.g., facilities, record, top rival)
• Make each letter original from beginning to end
• Express interest in the school’s academic program and the major you want to pursue
• Include education and career goals, leadership ability, personal values and athletic accolades
• Request additional information on the school and its athletic program, and say that you’d like to visit for a
home game
• Make it no longer than one page
Personal profile
• Set this up as a one-page résumé
• Include jobs, interests, volunteer and community work, and athletic accomplishments
• List academic information such as ACT and SAT scores, GPA, class rank and honors courses you’ve
taken
Once you send coaches your packet, keep in touch periodically by phone or email to let them know that
your interest is sincere and sustained.
Camps
Attending a showcase camp, where coaches from the region can personally evaluate your skills and
attitude, is another attention-grabber. University of Kentucky head basketball coach Billy Gillispie says, “If
you play [in an AAU event] and do really well, you have a chance to prove yourself, because you’re going
up against the best players, and that’s how you get noticed.”
Sidney Lowe, NC State’s head basketball coach, advises monitoring your on-court attitude and off-court
demeanor. “Just work as hard as you can and try to win [at AAU events or camps],” he says. “Coaches
notice players who win.”
Tips for heading to camp
• Contact coaches on your target list to let them know you’ll be at camp
• Arrive on time
• If a uniform isn’t provided, wear a jersey with your name on the back
• Don’t wear any jewelry
• Hustle at all times
• Encourage other athletes during the camp; cheerlead when someone makes a big play
• Display a positive attitude
• Get evaluated at multiple positions
Highlight video
A highlight video is a great way to show off your skills to a busy college coach. A few tips for creating a
highlight reel:
• Make it look professional
• Create an introductory slide listing your full name, high school, city and state, year of graduation,
coaches’ names, height and weight, sports played, positions, areas of academic interest, SAT/ACT scores
and GPA
• Use a combination of practice and game footage
• Wear a full uniform with a visible number if applicable
• Show action only; delete dead time
• Include footage in which you make great plays and some in which you’re not in the middle of the action
• Show plays from different angles
• Make the video no longer than five minutes
• Label the tape with your name, graduation year, position, jersey number, address and phone number
Communicating With a Coach
If you’ve taken the time to polish your skills and market yourself right, the coaches on your college wish list
know you’ve got game. So, how then, beyond the stat sheets and highlight tapes, do they measure your
potential? By your character and communication skills, because winning teams are more than rosters full
of muscle and speed. The best programs are built on strong character, too. And character doesn’t show
through only during face-to-face meetings with coaches.
Coaches pick players who have the ability to focus on improving themselves—academically, athletically
and personally. UCLA baseball coach John Savage says, “We want to learn as much as we can about [a
recruit]—how they treat people, how they respond to adversity. We have to determine [if] they’re going to
have the aptitude to be a major student-athlete.”
While coaching soccer for UCLA, Sigi Schmid judged a potential recruit’s character from the stands by
studying his body language and how he interacts with others. “I would watch the player at halftime [and]
after the game,” says Schmid, who coached the Columbus Crew to the 2008 MLS title. “I would see if he
listens to his coach. And, I know it sounds silly, but does he carry his own soccer bag, or do his parents
carry his bag for him?”
“Character is the hardest thing to find,” Schmid says, because many athletes can compete with your
rebounding or pitching skills, but not all of them have the solid character to back it up. That means you
have to prove that you’re more than a standout jock.
You only get one shot at making a good first impression. And although impressions are formed by the
character you convey before you ever meet your dream coach in person, how you speak and act around him
matters, too.
Posture Stand up straight. It sounds simple, but it’s a key to body language. Your posture reflects your
personality, and slouching hardly conveys strength and confidence.
Grip When first meeting a coach, offer a firm handshake. Don’t overdo it, though; breaking the coach’s
hand will not improve your chances of locking down a scholarship.
Eyes Make eye contact from the start. Coaches want athletes with character and maturity, and frequent eye
contact is a sign of both.
Extras
• Be on time
• Don’t chew gum
• Turn off your cell phone
• Ask questions [you’re interviewing him, as well]
• Speak slowly and avoid using slang
• Relax
• When leaving, shake hands again and thank the coach for his/her time
Gauging A Coach's Interest
To give yourself the best chance of playing your sport in college, you need to evaluate two factors before
choosing a school: (1) your athletic ability, and (2) coaches’ degrees of interest in you. Measuring your
ability will help you decide what division or association best fits your game. Observing how seriously a
coach is pursuing you will help you determine his or her level of interest.
Self-Assessment
Say you’re a 5’9” guard who shoots under 50 percent from the field. A MAC school offers you a partial
scholly, while a D-II extends a full ride. Would little playing time at the bigger D-I school and paying for
some of your education be enough for you? Or, are the full scholarship and substantial playing time more
attractive?
According to legendary Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim, you need to answer that type of question and gauge
your ability before contacting potential schools. “Talent is always going to be important when it comes to
being a college basketball player,” he says. “Size is important, but it isn’t the only thing, and [size] is not
the determining factor to whether you can be a good college player.”
Use each school’s website or media guide to measure your physical tools against the school’s current
roster. Check out each player’s age, position, height, weight, athletic profile, home town and high school
highlights. Comparing yourself to current players will show you the type of talent the team recruits.
To assess your ability, The High School Athlete’s Guide to College Sports: How to Market Yourself to the
School of Your Dreams recommends asking yourself the following questions:
• How have you performed at major events, such as showcases, tournaments, meets and state or national
championships?
• Do you know of any college athletes with abilities similar to yours?
• Do you possess impressive physical attributes? A coach might recruit you if he/she believes that you’ll
develop into a great athlete within a few years.
• Do you possess the leadership skills necessary to compete in college?
• Do you play in competitive summer or club leagues?
Coach’s Interest
Every athlete wants to be pursued by top-tier schools. But sometimes—just to leave you with a positive
feeling, or because they don’t want to see you go elsewhere— coaches will mention the opportunity to
walk on. Make sure you know the coach truly believes in your ability before picking his or her school.
Measure each coach’s commitment to you.
They’ll send you questionnaires, call you, text you, etc. Boeheim says, “There are so many different factors
that figure into the process. Unofficial visits are one small part of it, and home visits are also important to
show a kid you’re interested.” Generally speaking, the more a coach personally contacts you, the more
serious he or she is about recruiting you.
DEGREES OF COACH INTEREST
Coach Notices You If
• Mailed a questionnaire for you to fill out and return
• Mailed a summer camp application
• Put you on the school’s athletic mailing list
Coach Is Interested If
• Does all of the above
• Calls your high school coach
• Comes to see you play
• Emails you regularly
• Mails you a media guide and school information
Coach Is Very Interested If
• Does all of the above
• Sends you text messages
• Sets up a phone conversation with you
• Sees you play more than once
Coach Is Committed If
• Does all of the above
• Sets up regular phone calls
• Invites you for a visit
• Offers you a scholarship
Getting Attention from College Coaches
STACK tracked down University of Tennessee head basketball coach Bruce Pearl at the Disney Wide
World of Sports AAU Showcase to find out what gets his attention on the recruiting trail.
STACK: If a player isn’t a top-100 recruit or is flying under the radar, what can he do to attract a
college coach’s interest?
Bruce Pearl: If you’re in the AAU program and you’ve got a decent team, then the summertime is when
you’ve got a chance go make a name for yourself. You can’t hunt bear in the lodge, so kids have got to go
out there at these tournaments and give us a chance to evaluate them.
STACK: Besides basketball talent, what attributes are you seeking in a player at an AAU event or
high school game?
BP: Certainly attitude is a factor. I want guys who are going to play with emotion and passion.
STACK: What’s the best way an athlete can conduct a self-marketing campaign?
BP: Don’t be afraid to be aggressive, and participate in the process. If there’s a campus you want to visit
and [a school] you’re interested in, then make an appointment. The head coach may not have time for you,
but that doesn’t mean there isn’t an assistant coach [available].
STACK: Can a high school athlete’s persistence be perceived as “annoying” to a coach?
BP: I want to coach guys who want to play for me, so I’m always intrigued by guys who will be aggressive
in the recruiting process.
Researching Colleges
College coaches and their recruiting staff have done their homework on you. Now it’s time to return the
favor. Before narrowing your choice of schools, use the following guidelines to determine where you fit
best.
Location Two main things to consider: distance from home and weather. If you tend to get homesick,
choosing a school on the opposite coast isn’t smart. Likewise, if you’re a beach bum, Michigan’s Upper
Peninsula isn’t for you.
Academics Are you familiar with the admission requirements for the schools you like? Do those schools
offer your major? If not, find out what colleges offer it and how their programs rank nationally. “I chose
USC, because [my degree from there] would stand for itself,” says Los Angeles Sparks center Lisa Leslie.
Size/Student body This should be a huge factor when picking a school, as it affects everything from class
size to getting around campus. Will you feel like a number in a lecture class of 500? Or do you want the
personal attention that comes with smaller classes?
Housing It may have been cool to spend the weekend in a dorm during camp, but can you handle it for an
entire school year? How about two years? Also, how close are on-campus residences to the places you need
to be, such as the team’s athletic complex, your classes and the library?
Scholarship availability Not all college programs can offer full rides to every player on the roster. Are you
willing to accept a partial scholarship? Don’t rule out the possibility of earning an academic scholarship,
either.
Level of competition Be realistic when considering how much playing time you will get and when. If you
want to play immediately, you might have to consider a smaller school. But if you’re willing to wait a year
or two before playing in a primetime game with thousands of screaming fans, aim big.
Time commitment Playing college sports is time consuming. Just how time consuming is something you
should think about. How long is the season? How much time will be spent traveling? Are you willing to
devote most of your summers to training? And always remember, you’re in college to be a student first.
Coaching staff A coach might say just about anything to land you in his program. Ultimately, it comes
down to whom you trust and feel comfortable around. Take into account coaching style and philosophy,
and try to get to know the entire staff, from position coaches to strength coaches. “The biggest thing I saw
from Ohio State was the type of person Coach Tressel was,” says New York Jets linebacker Vernon
Gholston, a Michigan native who chose the Buckeyes.
Emphasis on academics Does coach value your education? “Coach [Dean] Smith made it a point that he
knew who our teachers were,” says New Jersey Nets shooting guard and former North Carolina Tar Heel
Vince Carter. “He knew our teachers—just like he expected us to know them.” Also, check to see if team
tutors and study sessions are available.
Facilities You’ll spend plenty of time in the school’s stadium, arena, weight room and trainer’s room. Are
state-of-the-art facilities important to you, or will it fire you up to lift in the same gym as the team’s
legends?
The Team You’ll be spending the bulk of your college days with these guys. Do you see yourself fitting
in? “I loved my teammates…Those guys taught me how to be a better basketball player…a better man,”
says Golden State Warriors forward and Gonzaga grad Ronny Turiaf.
Do you share common bonds with other players on the team, such as the same major or classes? Are any
players on the team from your home town or region?