If you’re reading this blog, then chances are you have an interest in playing a collegiate sport, getting recruited and earning a scholarship. I’m here to tell you that is possible, ANYTHING is possible. But it will require work, dedication and time. And no, it won’t be easy.
It doesn’t matter how talented you are, or how great your academic standing is. The recruiting process is challenging and time consuming. And contrary to what many families think, needs to be started years before you graduate high school. Coaches in the NCAA identify recruits two, sometimes three years in advance. This means that if you wait until grade 12, it will be very difficult to find a team that is still looking to fill roster spots, and even more difficult to find a team with scholarship dollars remaining. Many schools even ask for verbal commitment from athletes in their Grade 11 spring, even though they are not able to sign a letter of intent until the next fall.
Now, you have a goal, you understand it will take work, and you know you need to start early. The only thing left is to make a plan!
Follow these steps to help outline your own recruiting plan.
1. Gather all your recruitable information and fill out your online profile with as much detail as possible. Include images and most importantly video of yourself which highlights your talent. I know it is ‘un-Canadian’ but it is important to brag, share your stats, awards, achievements and any other information that shows a coach why YOU should be at the top of their recruiting list.
2. Identify your top 10 schools: Throughout the recruiting process it is easy to get excited when a coach contacts you, invites you to camp or for a campus visit. However, make sure you are targeting schools that you ACTUALLY want to attend. Do you want to live in Canada or the US, in an urban city centre or college town. West coast or East coast, what are tuition costs, what do you want to study. Of course there are also the athletic considerations, coaches, schedule, ranking, what role will you play on the team. The athlete questionnaire within your profile will ask questions to get you thinking about your ‘make or break criteria’. Don’t wait for these schools to come to you, It is important to pursue the schools that interest you, and fit what you are looking for.
3. Write an introduction letter, that will be your first contact with the coaches of your top schools. This letter should grab the coaches attention, and make them want to investigate you more. Write this letter in the body of an email (not an attachment – coaches may not open an attachment) Include the link to your online profile, and let them know your upcoming tournaments or events and any other opportunities for them to come and see you play in person.
4. Follow Up Follow Up Follow Up. Make sure that the coaches at your top choice school know who you are, what you are up to, and how hard you are working both in school, and in your athletics. Stay in communication continuously, ask questions that will help you to narrow down your list. Your coaching staff can be your parents away from home when you are at University so use these early communications develop a relationship of trust, and open communication and this starts throughout the recruiting process.
5. Be Seen: Attend camps, Showcases, keep your highlight video up to date and make unofficial visits whenever possible. Try and put yourself in a position to be seen by your target coaches two or three times a year in addition to your written and telephone correspondence.
6. Be familiar with the recruiting rules and regulations: You’ve sent out what feels like hundreds of emails, and made some phone calls but you aren’t getting much response. Some schools have sent form letters with university information, or information about their teams summer camp but that is it!!? what’s wrong? the NCAA has very strict recruiting regulations, If you are in Grade 10 you may contact coaches, but coaches are NOT allowed to contact you at any point to discuss recruiting in any way. You can call them, however they cannot return your call. Coaches are ONLY allowed to respond by mail / email with a athlete questionnaire and information about their summer camp. Avoid the confusion and become familiar with the rules.
7. Know the academic requirements both for your school admissions, and for the eligibility centre: make sure you are eligible to play! If you fail to complete the NCAA eligibility requirements you will not be permitted to practice, compete or receive scholarship for university during your first year of college? Review the eligibility guidelines on our website – including links to the NCAA’s 2014/15 “Guide for the College Bound Student Athlete” and “Guide to International Academic Standards for Eligibility”