Most student athletes who want to participate in college sports will not win a college scholarship. But that doesn’t mean that they can’t play a sport in college. Seeking an athletic scholarship or simply using your athletic ability to help
Most student athletes who want to participate in college sports will not win a college scholarship. But that doesn’t mean that they can’t play a sport in college. Seeking an athletic scholarship or simply using your athletic ability to help with college admissions are both important considerations.
The following is some advice for prospective scholarship and non-scholarship college-bound student athletes.
For any aspiring college athlete, it’s important to remember that the greatest catalyst in helping to get recruited is the student athlete’s own drive and diligence. To help get recruited, athletes, with some help from the parents, can do the promotional work themselves. Start early and establish a timeline. High school and club coaches can also play an important role if they are experienced and willing to help with recruiting. Learn as much as you can about the recruiting process and financial aid.
Recruiting for Division I athletes typically begins in an athlete’s freshman year and winds down in their junior year. If you do not aspire to be a Division I athlete, then you will have until your senior year to make a final decision. Find at least one unbiased person to give you feedback on what level you may be able to play. Just because you want to play at the Division I level, doesn’t mean you have the athletic ability to do so. You may be a perfect fit for a DII, DIII or NAIA college.
You can begin by searching online for schools by sport and NCAA Division/Conference.
For each college on your ‘wish’ list, go to the school website, select the “Athletic” link and navigate to the specific site for your sport. Look for a link entitled “Prospective Student-Athlete Questionnaires” or a similarly titled recruiting link. Take a moment to fill out the questionnaire for prospective student-athletes. Write a follow-up email and send it to the college coach. You can find the coach’s email address in the athletic department’s “Staff Directory.” An introductory email is very important, so make it something personal. Do not send a “cut and paste” email to every coach. Take time to personalize it to those programs that interest you. In the email, provide further information and provide a link to your video (if applicable). For “team sport” athletes, you should have a basic video and a profile or website available online. Inform college coaches about summer leagues, camps, and clinics you have attended. Participate in tournaments and recruiting showcases, in hopes of being noticed. These events are designed to help college coaches see a large number of prospective student-athletes, given their finite amount of time and often limited recruiting budgets. If you get a response, ask about the possibility of an official visit.
Remember, academics count! College coaches look for athletes who are also serious students, ones who are challenging themselves in the classroom by taking tough courses and doing well in them. They also want to know about your character. Is this the student athlete who after practice is by themselves, wearing their headphones, walking quickly off the field, or is this the player who picks up and helps out? Coaches want the team member who has an unselfish awareness of other people. Be mindful of what you do away from the field. College coaches are watching everything. They watch the way you warm up, how you interact with coaches and teammates on the sideline, how you act and treat your parents away from the field. Many also monitor your online activities via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc. Don’t block your social media accounts so the coach wonders what you are hiding. Keep them public, and keep them clean.
Some parents hire a third party to evaluate their child’s abilities and to hopefully help their student gain exposure to college coaches. These are known as recruiting services, and the NCAA has rightfully scrutinized them. Parents must be very cautious about spending money on a recruiting service.
Parents should be there to help their child through the process, but should not do most of the work. Coaches want to hear from the student athlete. They want to see an applicant who has taken ownership of the process. Parents should be involved in the recruiting process, but they should not be contacting college coaches by email or phone on the student athlete’s behalf. The coaches are recruiting the athlete, not the parent. The quickest way to get crossed off a coach’s recruiting list is to have an overbearing parent, no matter how good a player you are.
If you are recruited and are considering options, base your final college decision on academics, the financial aid package, and the athletic program. Do not base your decision on the coach. Chances are, the coach may not be there all four years while you are attending the school. If something happens such as a coaching change, a career-ending injury or ineligibility, etc. will you still be happy that you chose that school? Think beyond your athletic endeavors. They are certainly important and will make your college experience more rewarding, but think about the larger picture — what the college or university offers you in the terms of an excellent, affordable education that will benefit you for a lifetime.
College Goals is a team of four college admission professionals with expertise in every facet of the college search and application process, and decades of experience. David Prutow, former Director of College Counseling at high-performing private and public East Coast secondary schools, lives in Waikoloa and focuses on supporting Hawaii-based students and on guiding athletes through the admission process. For more information, check out the website: www.collegegoals.com.
