SportsGist Rules!

EXPOSURE

There are many reasons why some student-athletes are recruited more than others. The number one reason is exposure, If you need the exposure to get involved with at least 100 schools, you should begin to market yourself as soon as possible.

HOW TO MARKET YOURSELF

To market yourself, you should research as many schools as possible to obtain direct contact information. Next, compile your student-athlete profile by verifying your grades and test scores along with sport-specific statistics and conditioning levels. The profile and a concise introductory letter expressing your interest should be sent to all the schools you have researched.

There is the more traditional way of using direct mail, and the more modern approach of using e-mail. If you use either of these methods, please understand it is time-consuming and expensive to do it the right way. All correspondence must be personalized and all coaches (not just the head coach) must be contacted. Just remember, the greater the effort, the great the reward.

Also keep in mind that a quality collegiate scouting organization is an affordable and effective way to produce the contacts you need.

READING BETWEEN THE LINES

So…finally…you are receiving recruiting mail! Are the letters unsolicited? Are they in response to a letter you have written? What do the letters mean? What is the coach saying? Are you getting the message?

Read your recruiting mail carefully. It is important to evaluate each school and how interested they are in you. If you don’t like the messages in the letters you are receiving, you should broaden your search and contact a wider range of college coaches. DON’T GIVE UP

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RECRUITING CORRESPONDENCE

• Simply put-if you are not directly involved with a minimum of 100 schools; you are not giving yourself the best opportunity available.
• The most important thing for you to do is to make contact with as many schools as possible and get into their recruiting pools.
• It is vital that your return every questionnaire and any other materials requested by every school that contacts you.

The student-athlete often does not return questionnaires because of the tedious and repetitive task involved. The easiest and most efficient way is to simply staple your profile to the questionnaire and return it immediately upon request.

PHONE CONTACT

Once you have established an interest in a school, you need to find out how serious they are about you. This can be accomplished by asking a specific set of questions when phone contact is made.

1. Find out who are you speaking with?

Head Coach? Assistant Coach? Graduate/Volunteer Assistant?

2. Have they made a personal evaluation of the student-athlete?

3. Will you (Head Coach) be making a home visit?

4. Do you intend to invite my son/daughter for an official paid visit at this time?

5. Are you interested in having my son/daughter sign early?

THE HOME VISIT

The home visit is usually the first time an actual face-to-face meeting takes place. You finally get to meet the people you have been speaking with for the past several months. This is the perfect time to review and clarify any questions or answers from the phone contact. You should keep in mind that the coaches are evaluating you as much as you are evaluating them.

THE CAMPUS VISIT

The campus visit, without question, has the biggest influence on your final decision of where to attend college. This is an exciting time for the student-athlete and it is important to now the guidelines college coaches have to follow during a campus visit. Student-athlete are only allowed a total of five official paid visits. Remember to refer to your “Guides for the College-Bound Student-Athlete” to comply with these rules.

THE PARTIAL AND WALK-ON-PITCH

We find more and more collegiate coaches breaking up scholarships with partial offers and the so-called walk-on opportunity. It has even been stretched to the point where coaches will entice a student with the “preferred walk-on” status.

Student-athletes and families accept such offers for a variety of reasons, but do so primarily because they don’t have a lot of options.

The key is to get as many schools as possible interested in your academic and athletic talent to put yourself in the position to negotiate.

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Myth 1 // A DIVISION 1 SCHOLARSHIP IS THE ONLY OPPORTUNITY FOR A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT-ATHLETE?

REALITY// Only 0.8% of High School Student-Athletes receive a fully funded Division 1 scholarship. These are hundreds of outstanding Division II and III colleges around the country that provide scholarships, grant money and an outstanding education.

Myth 2 // THE ONLY COLLEGE TO CONSIDER ARE BIG NAME SCHOOLS OR UNIVERSITIES?

REALITY// Don’t get caught up in the name game. According to US News and World Report, over 50% of the tip-rated college and universities do not have Division 1A football programs. This is about getting your education and going someplace where they care about your future…and believe in you.

Myth 3 // MY HIGH SCHOOL COACH WILL TAKE CARE OFMY RECRUITING RESPONSIBILITIES?

REALITY// They are a great resource for college recruiters, but it is your responsibility to market your talents and get your name front of college coaches. The average high school coach has personal relationships with less than 5% of the collegiate opportunities across the country.

Myth 4// ONCE A STUDENT – ATHLETE IS A SENION, IT’S PROBABLY TOO LATE TO BE RECRUITED?

REALITY// Other than the big time schools, a major portion of athletic recruitment takes place during your senior year. Eighty percent of college programs make their final recruiting decision after January 1^st of the student-athletes senior year.

Myth 5// PARENTS KNOW WHAT’S BEST FOR THEIR OWN STUDENT-ATHLETE’S SCHOLARSHIP CHANCES AND, THEREFORE, MUST MAKE SURE THE COACH IS PROVIDING SUCH OPPORTUNITIES?

REALITY// High school sports are supposed to be fun. If parent meddle with their school coach and put pressure on their kids, the joy of competition will be lessened.

Myth 6// BETTER TO WALK-ON AT A NAME SCHOOL WHERE YOU MIGHT HAVE THE POSSIBILITY OF PLAYING RATHER THAN A SMALLER COLLEGE WHERE YOU’RE SURE TO PLAY?

REALITY// One of the most important choices a student-athlete makes is finding the idea school, not just the biggest or most familiar. If you love your sport, you’ll want to play regardless of size or location.

Myth 7/ IF YOU RECEVIE A CALL FROM A COLLEGE COACH YOU ARE SURE TO BE A SCHOLARSHIP CANDIDATE?

REALITY// Just because you’re getting calls from college does not mean you are one of their top recruits. Ask the coach directly, “Are you offering an official paid visit, and will you be making a home visit?” Their answers will signal their true interest in you.

Myth 8// IF YOU RECEVIE A CALL FROM A COLLEGE COACH YOU ARE SURE TO BE A SCHOLARSHIP CANDIDATE?

REALITY// The more options you have available, the better your chances to not only find the best financial package, but also the right college for you. Put yourself in a position to negotiate by being involved with as many schools as possible.

Myth 9// UTILIZING A RECRUITING SERVICE IS THE BEST WAY TO GET A COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP?

REALITY// College coaches rarely use recruiting services. However, most college coaches do use collegiate scouting organizations. We would only recommend an organization that has established coach relationships, works with qualified student-athletes and offers a money back guarantee.

Myth 10// THE BEST WAY TO GET DISCOVERED IS TO GO TO THE COLLEGE CAMPS OR PARTICIPATE IN CLUB SPORTS BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE A STUDENT-ATHLETE GAINS ?

REALITY// College coaches and/or pro scouts primarily attend to evaluate student-athletes already on their lists. Your high school coaches are knowledgeable are care about your future so take their recommendation when it comes to participating in these events.

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