From Mashable
Answer: You do not have to come from a championship team to get recruited to play college sports. This is a huge concern for a lot of high school athletes and their families as they step into the recruiting process. Thinking that you can only get recruited because you are a part of a championship team is not a legitimate reason to call it quits on your collegiate career.
Do you really think all division I athletes came from winning high school teams? Of course they didn’t; college athletes got to where they are because of hard work and persistence. These athletes were willing to put themselves out there and tell college coaches why they think they are a good match for a their team and why the team will benefit from having them on it.
Once you are ready to get your name out there, you will be prepared to start your recruitment. As a recruit it will be your job to market yourself to college coaches, no matter if you are on a winning high school team or a losing team. Being on either side of the field will have its benefits, you will just need to realize what the benefits are and what college coaches really want to know from you.
Being on a winning team will provide you with talking points about the cohesiveness of your team and how you are able to contribute; however, if you are on a losing team you will have a lot to talk about, including why you have stuck it out, how you kept yourself motivated throughout the season, how you respect and work with your coaches to improve, what you hope the next season will look like, and what you were able to learn coming out of a losing season.
Don’t get caught in the mindset that coaches do not have time to talk or hear from you just because you are from a small town with a mediocre team and no real talent has come out of your high school in years; this is the mentality coaches don’t even waste their time with. Instead, they focus their attention on players who are goal-oriented and team players. They want to fill their roster with athletes who are not afraid to do all they can to reach their goal.
This is the key for recruiting you must understand. It will be your job to plan out your recruitment strategy and find the best possible way to make it to your end goal- competing at the college level.
If you have any other questions about competing in college level sports then leave your comment below and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
My name is starr jackson and i am n the 10th grade and is 16 years old i go to a small school in bushwick its called bushwick campaus
Thanks for leaving a comment Starr. Tenth grade is the best time to begin your recruitment. Have you started researching colleges and reaching out to college coaches? Let us know if you have any recruiting questions we will be here to help.
Can i always start playing volleyball as a sophmore and then register in 11th grade?
I am not sure quite what you mean, register in 11th grade but you can certainly get recruited if you start playing volleyball as a sophomore, it will just be more difficult. The most important thing is that you find a good travel team to play on in the summers, don’t just play high school volleyball. Good luck!
Why would it be more difficult?
It all depends on what level of volleyball you want to play in college. For many of the top programs, they have been recruiting certain girls since 7th and 8th grade so it is going to be difficult to get recruited by them starting as a sophomore. However, you will have several opportunities if you are looking at the NCAA D2 and NAIA levels.
Ok I’m only a freshman I’m only about 5’4 maybe 5’3 I’m not sure coaches will look at me i play basketball I’m 14 and I’m serious about playing at the next level I’m not the best on my team people tell me I suck and all that but I suck it up because I know I can get better……Basketball is actually in my blood my big brother played basketball he was a McDonald’s All-American PG but he is like 6’3 so I don’t know what to do any tips please I need them……
It is difficult to give advice on what you need to do to improve. I would suggest you ask your coach for some extra help. Ask them for advice on what drills and training you need to do to improve. Good luck.
My name is Bianca and I’m a junior at Hardaway High School. My parents and I waited very late to jump on the recruiting train, but I was emailed by a D2 school. I’m just worried that if I ever get far in the recruiting stage and any coach comes to see me play for my school with people who have just touched a soccer ball for the first time a month or so ago and my club options are no better. Please tell me any kind of advice that you think will help me out because my time is running out.
Thanks
There is nothing you can do about the quality of your teammates or your club team. The coaches are aware your teams might not be very competitive. The most important thing to remember is make sure you show a good attitude no matter what. If you have positive body language and show you are trying to make everyone better, they will notice that more than how bad your team might be. good luck!
I am a 6’4 inch 220 pounder DE 10th grader that plays for the Gautier Gators in Gautier, Ms. I have great skills and potential which I inherited from my father Keith Joseph sr. Whom played at Miss. State University and also was a blue chipper himself coming from Pascagoula High School in Miss. Along with great teammates like Terrell Buckley and Shane Matthews. I’m just trying to get my books and get no shortest of recognition on the gridiron. Thanks.
Im a junior in high-school. I am from a very small school . i would love to play football at college level. I honestly feel that i got what it takes. But being from a small school puts my hopes down.
Hundreds of players go on to the college level from small schools every year. The most important thing is that you find camps and combines to attend this summer in order to get more exposure. Find some local combines with Under Armour, Nike Sparq or Schumann’s. Second, begin contacting coaches at the schools you are interested in and where you think you can play. Email those coaches and send them your highlight tape.
I play baseball for a small highschool. I cannot afford to play on a travel ball team does this significantly reduce my chance of being noticed?
Not playing travel ball is going to make it more difficult but there are other things you can do. Having a good skills video can really help coaches get an idea of the kind of player you are. Make a skills video.