Preparation for your on-the-field endeavors are important when trying to get noticed by college scouts and recruiters. Focusing on the physical aspects of your game can get your foot in the door of hundreds of schools, but what about the “back-office” stuff? Your performance on-the-field is only part of the game plan when it comes to your overall college transition. Making sure you have your academic requirements met and your paperwork completed is the other half of the process.
NCAA acceptance regulations are there for a reason. They’re there to ensure that you are enrolling to become a student-athlete, with an emphasis on the former (that being the “student” part)! In order to compete at the D-I level; you must reach certain GPA and ACT/SAT requirements.
NCAA Division-I Requirements (2007 – 2008):
- Earn a minimum grade-point average for the required 14 core courses
- Earn a combined SAT/ACT sum score that matches your core course grade-point average.
An example of this: a 2.400 core-course grade-point average needs an 860 SAT score or a 71 ACT score to qualify. The entire sliding scale can be found on the NCAA website (ncaa.org). It’s important to note that these SAT and ACT tests are only offered sparingly throughout the year. It’s wise to think ahead and take these tests during your junior year, in case you didn’t reach the test scores needed to satisfy the NCAA requirements the first time around.
The other item you’ll need to anticipate on is the NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse registration. The clearinghouse evaluates your academic record to determine if you are eligible to participate at a Division I or II college as a freshman student-athlete. (The clearinghouse is not the NCAA, but an organization that performs academic evaluations for the NCAA.) At the beginning of your junior year, you must register online at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net and then send a $50.00 registration fee to the NCAA Clearinghouse for processing.
Taking care of business off of the field will get you one step closer to making the college transition a smooth one and alleviates the burden of last minute formalities.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Year-Round Dedication Yields Recruiting Results
Q: Want to get on a college coach’s radar?
A: Play Year-Round!!!
It’s simple and most of all … it works! It takes a certain level of dedication and sacrifice to play the sport you love year-round; but in the long run, you’ll find this is the best way you can get your name out there to college coaches in need of talent. Filling your summer, spring, and/or fall-time (respective to your sport) with weights and conditioning is a must, but there’s something to be said about playing the sport you love year-round.
Getting involved with off-season league play provides you with three key developmental tools. 1) More reps during an organized game/tournament gives you more confidence when your school-season begins, 2) college coaches look for athletes dedicated to playing year-round (because you’ll be doing so in college), and 3) traveling elsewhere to play against other athletes yields more exposure to you.
Playing in organized off-season games and tournaments gives you situational experience, which you can’t get just by hitting the weight room everyday. In college, you’ll be dedicated to one sport year-round (with a small percentage playing two in college), so getting use to it now will make your college transition a smoother one.
Additionally, playing against top-league performers allows you to grow, but traveling to play top-regional performers will only make you a stronger competitor when your school season begins. Dismissing the fact that you’ll be playing the best will only harm your long-term potential! You hear it all the time, “I was playing in front of scouts who were there to see a blue-chip recruit and had the BEST game of my life. The next day, I’m the one answering the scout’s call!”
Dedicate yourself to your sport and take every opportunity that’s presented. You never know when your ‘BEST Game Ever’ will present itself!
A: Play Year-Round!!!
It’s simple and most of all … it works! It takes a certain level of dedication and sacrifice to play the sport you love year-round; but in the long run, you’ll find this is the best way you can get your name out there to college coaches in need of talent. Filling your summer, spring, and/or fall-time (respective to your sport) with weights and conditioning is a must, but there’s something to be said about playing the sport you love year-round.
Getting involved with off-season league play provides you with three key developmental tools. 1) More reps during an organized game/tournament gives you more confidence when your school-season begins, 2) college coaches look for athletes dedicated to playing year-round (because you’ll be doing so in college), and 3) traveling elsewhere to play against other athletes yields more exposure to you.
Playing in organized off-season games and tournaments gives you situational experience, which you can’t get just by hitting the weight room everyday. In college, you’ll be dedicated to one sport year-round (with a small percentage playing two in college), so getting use to it now will make your college transition a smoother one.
Additionally, playing against top-league performers allows you to grow, but traveling to play top-regional performers will only make you a stronger competitor when your school season begins. Dismissing the fact that you’ll be playing the best will only harm your long-term potential! You hear it all the time, “I was playing in front of scouts who were there to see a blue-chip recruit and had the BEST game of my life. The next day, I’m the one answering the scout’s call!”
Dedicate yourself to your sport and take every opportunity that’s presented. You never know when your ‘BEST Game Ever’ will present itself!
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
NCAA Recruiting Definitions & Boundaries: Be Informed
When it comes to the athletic recruiting world, those who know … succeed! NCAA programs are on a short leash when it comes recruiting. College coaches will follow these guidelines to mitigate the risk of making a student-athlete and their own program ineligible. Take time to research the NCAA calendars and guidelines (ncaa.org) to be better informed.
Then following definitions will give you a foundation on when to expect correspondence from college programs and when not to.
Quiet Period: College coaches can only have in-person meetings with recruits on their own college campus.
Evaluation Period: Authorized college coaches and personnel can assess a recruit's playing ability and academic qualifications during off-campus visits. During these visits, the college coaches cannot meet with the recruits.
Contact Period: Authorized college coaches and personnel are free to have in-person meetings with recruit’s off-campus.
Dead Period: Nothing allowed during this period. No meeting or evaluations are allowed, and no unofficial or official visits are permitted.
Every sport has different requirements regarding when, where and how a college coach and/or program can contact you. Learn more about NCAA guidelines and take no chances in your college athletic career!
Then following definitions will give you a foundation on when to expect correspondence from college programs and when not to.
Quiet Period: College coaches can only have in-person meetings with recruits on their own college campus.
Evaluation Period: Authorized college coaches and personnel can assess a recruit's playing ability and academic qualifications during off-campus visits. During these visits, the college coaches cannot meet with the recruits.
Contact Period: Authorized college coaches and personnel are free to have in-person meetings with recruit’s off-campus.
Dead Period: Nothing allowed during this period. No meeting or evaluations are allowed, and no unofficial or official visits are permitted.
Every sport has different requirements regarding when, where and how a college coach and/or program can contact you. Learn more about NCAA guidelines and take no chances in your college athletic career!
Friday, August 10, 2007
Recruiting Tips Every High School Athlete Needs To Know
Tip #1 – Academics, Academics, Academics: No matter how much talent you possess, you won’t go anywhere to play the sport you love unless you have the grades to do so. Keep track of your GPA and take your ACT/SAT during your Junior Year of high school as colleges can offer scholarships earlier than what you think. Take care of business in the classroom!
Tip #2 – Send Your Information: Too many athletes wait for colleges to contact them. Guess What? They can’t contact you if they don’t know who you are! Take control and start contacting college coaches today. Create an athletic resume with game film, achievements, awards, honors, stats and ACT/SAT scores and send them to the programs you’re interested in. It’s never too early or too late!
Tip #3 – Play Summer Leagues: If you want to be the best … play against the best! These teams often play regional tournaments, which means you get a chance to play against some of the regions-best not just the states-best. Also, many of the summer coaches have contacts at the collegiate level. You never know who you might leave an impression with!
Tip #4 –Attend High Profile Camps: The best way to gain exposure is to put yourself in highly visible situations! Consider attending summer camps at colleges in which you’re interested. Nothing speaks louder to a coach than an athlete willing to showcase his or her abilities one-on-one. Again take advantage of these venues, they only come around once in awhile!
Tip #2 – Send Your Information: Too many athletes wait for colleges to contact them. Guess What? They can’t contact you if they don’t know who you are! Take control and start contacting college coaches today. Create an athletic resume with game film, achievements, awards, honors, stats and ACT/SAT scores and send them to the programs you’re interested in. It’s never too early or too late!
Tip #3 – Play Summer Leagues: If you want to be the best … play against the best! These teams often play regional tournaments, which means you get a chance to play against some of the regions-best not just the states-best. Also, many of the summer coaches have contacts at the collegiate level. You never know who you might leave an impression with!
Tip #4 –Attend High Profile Camps: The best way to gain exposure is to put yourself in highly visible situations! Consider attending summer camps at colleges in which you’re interested. Nothing speaks louder to a coach than an athlete willing to showcase his or her abilities one-on-one. Again take advantage of these venues, they only come around once in awhile!
When it Comes to Recruiting: Talent Desired … Dedication Required
To All Athletes Wanting on the Top of College Recruiting Lists: Make it known that you not only want to play at the next level but you want to compete!
Fighting for an athletic scholarship in today’s world is like fighting for anything in life! You have to want it more than the other person! It takes dedication and perseverance to accept that type of mentality. Solid performances and achievements will only take you so far in the college recruiting world and unfortunately, it’s only half of the battle. Selling yourself and your accomplishments are the other parts of the recipe.
Take proactive measures in your recruiting efforts. Today’s technology allows you to promote yourself better than ever. We live in a world where blogs, pod casts, and athletic recruiting services can help shape your athletic future. Also, even if it’s “assumed”, inform your high school coaches of your intentions to play at the college level. If you have enough confidence to tell them one-on-one of your commitment, they’ll fight even harder for you when it comes to recruiting.
Finally, keep track of your stats, achievements, as well as your game and/or highlight films. Keeping an up-to-date and accurate athletic resume can make all the difference in the world. Whether it’s on your own or with assistance; contact ANY and EVERY college coach you can! Take steps to opening doors wherever and whenever possible. Like anything in life … you have to fight for those opportunities. Win enough battles, and you’ll most definitely come out on top!
Fighting for an athletic scholarship in today’s world is like fighting for anything in life! You have to want it more than the other person! It takes dedication and perseverance to accept that type of mentality. Solid performances and achievements will only take you so far in the college recruiting world and unfortunately, it’s only half of the battle. Selling yourself and your accomplishments are the other parts of the recipe.
Take proactive measures in your recruiting efforts. Today’s technology allows you to promote yourself better than ever. We live in a world where blogs, pod casts, and athletic recruiting services can help shape your athletic future. Also, even if it’s “assumed”, inform your high school coaches of your intentions to play at the college level. If you have enough confidence to tell them one-on-one of your commitment, they’ll fight even harder for you when it comes to recruiting.
Finally, keep track of your stats, achievements, as well as your game and/or highlight films. Keeping an up-to-date and accurate athletic resume can make all the difference in the world. Whether it’s on your own or with assistance; contact ANY and EVERY college coach you can! Take steps to opening doors wherever and whenever possible. Like anything in life … you have to fight for those opportunities. Win enough battles, and you’ll most definitely come out on top!
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About Me
- Brent Hilton
- Work-Life balance is an ongoing issue for me. I've always had an issue with either 100% on or 100% off ... there is no dimmer switch for this guy. Hopefully this blog can allow me to voice my struggles and triumphs.