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Next Play Productions has done the research. We have spoken with numerous college coaches from a wide variety of sports. Below we have laid out the most important things to consider if you are serious about an collegiate athletics.
It’s not "Division I or Bust." There are opportunities for all athletes at many levels of play. If you have the confidence that you’re good enough to play somewhere, you probably are. Be realistic, open-minded, and motivated to find proper placement. Use these suggestions to help you start the process.
General Advice
How To Promote Yourself
Requirements
People Who Can Help You
Grades Matter [Top]
Division I and II schools are limited to the number of athletic scholarships they can offer per team (not per year). Schools have learned to be creative by “disguising” athletic scholarships as academic scholarships, or even doing ½ and ½. Think of it this way: Athlete A and B are similar in skills. Athlete A has a 3.7 GPA and athlete B has a 3.0. One athletic scholarship remains. Who does the coach choose? Athlete A and Athlete C… who also has a 3.7 and similar skills. They split the one remaining athletic scholarship and each get a ½ academic scholarship. Two players for the price of one. The fact is, the better your grades, the more “recruitable” you are.
Character Counts [Top]
After you get a coach’s attention with your athletic talent, he’ll look deeper. Are you a hard worker? Are you dedicated? Are you ‘coachable’? Don’t make the mistake of thinking your talent is everything. With all things equal, the athlete with the better character will win every time.
Be Realistic [Top]
Almost every athlete (and their parents) dreams of playing Division I. Try to keep an open mind about your options. If you think you may be able to play Division I, don’t limit yourself… what if a Division II school offers you a scholarship? Seek the honest advice of your coaches and mentors about what level of play they believe you should seek, and then send your video to as many as possible.
Start Early [Top]
When to promote yourself is different for every athlete. A good rule of thumb is “the better you are, the earlier you start.” But remember, colleges have extremely strict rules as to when they can send you letters, call you, or contact you in any way, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t hear back right away… it’s their job to pay close attention to the talent. If they are interested, they will contact you. An athlete should definitely begin promoting himself during his junior year. For more information, call NCAA and request your free copy of the “Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete” or click here to download a copy on line." Can you contact them? ABSOLUTELY.
Send Your Next Play Production To As Many Schools As Possible [Top]
See our “Why Video Works” web page for more information about how your recruitment video can open doors for you.
Write A Letter To The Coach [Top]
If you are particularly interested in a school, tell the coach what interests you about their program. Do you love the coach’s style? The integrity of the program? The winning reputation built on hard work? They like to hear why you chose them.
Follow-Up [Top]
Be the squeaky wheel. Coaches are usually overwhelmed with work and tend to forget, put aside, or wait until later. After you send your recruitment video, call them. Ask them how they liked it. Ask them if there is anything you can do to improve your chances to be a part of their program. Show them you are motivated to make things happen, even in your own recruitment.
Ask A Respected Coach To Write You A Letter [Top]
Your letter is great, a coach's letter is better. Many college coaches have relationships with club and high school coaches. Your coach’s letter can list important stats and can speak mountains about your character, which as you may remember, matters.
DO NOT WAIT FOR RECRUITERS TO FIND YOU! [Top]
This is a biggie… too many athletes and their families mistakenly think if they are good enough, they will be “discovered” and recruited. Yes, it happens, but more times than not, it doesn’t. Coaches simply cannot be everywhere or know every athlete. They slip through the cracks, and often great athletes are waiting well through their senior year before they realize their door isn’t knocking. Promote, promote, promote.
Aspirations of Division I and II? You must register with the NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse [Top]
See your high school guidance counselor for registration. It is $30 and important to take care of during the spring of your junior year.
Admissions [Top]
Remember, you are not just playing a sport, you are also applying for your education. Most schools have strict admissions requirements. Make sure the schools that interest you are academically realistic so you will be accepted. Your school guidance counselor or an independent counselor will help with this process.
Test [Top]
Many colleges require ACT and/or SAT scores for admissions. Contact your guidance counselor to find out the dates of the tests and start studying. This should definitely be done by your junior year.
Your Coach [Top]
Whether it’s your high school coach or a club/traveling team coach, they want to see you play at the next level and can be your strongest ally. Make your aspirations known and ask for help.
The Guidance Counselor [Top]
Make an appointment and tell him/her your athletic and academic goals. They can be an invaluable tool for counsel on academics and admissions, NCAA clearinghouse, and career planning.
Your School’s Career Center [Top]
The career center advisor has access to college search programs that are designed to help you narrow your choices. These programs are usually updated twice annually, are free for high school students, and are easy to use. The guidance counselor can enter her code and help you get set up, and your family is usually welcome to join you in the search. This is a better search tool than the internet and can help you easily find, for example, a west coast school with wrestling, scholarship opportunities, and an engineering degree program, that fits within your budget. After you have a list of schools, you can further research the schools online.
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