Are you panicking about college recruiting and how you fit in? Are you an athlete who’s currently sweating because unlike some of your friends and teammates, you haven’t signed or even been contacted by a school?

ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN

Are you a parent experiencing the situation through the eyes of your son or daughter? Is it possible that you’re one of the two–athlete or parent–pre-senior year, trying to avoid the above mentioned situations? No matter your position or affiliation to college recruiting, it’s not always a fun experience, especially when you are on the outside looking in.
Understand that not everyone involved in high school sports will be offered scholarship opportunities, not everyone involved will have a chance to walk-on, not everyone has the skill to play at the college level. This means year after year many athletes are left standing on the sidelines with nothing more than their unfulfilled dreams and a handful of “what if’s.” These feelings of unanswered questions and regret can be avoided, but immediate action is required.

ANOTHER POTENTIAL PATH

Alberto Gonzalez–a kicker turned defensive tackle receiving no college opportunities–found himself in this familiar college recruiting situation. To have a chance at playing in college, Alberto and 400 or so other unsigned senior football recruits found themselves competing at the Greater Houston Football Showcase.
The unique thing about this showcase is that coaches from all over the country, usually smaller schools many of which cannot offer athletic aid, come to “window shop” athletes. If you are the athlete who hasn’t signed with a school, maybe a showcase similar to this one is your ticket.
It’s possible that if you show up and DO GREAT, a coach MIGHT become impressed with you.
This is an amazing opportunity if it’s taken advantage of properly, but doesn’t mean waiting around is the right approach to take.

DID WE MENTION THAT YOU SHOULD START EARLY?

Aside from prospect showcases, there are many things that can be done to either salvage or avoid a failed recruiting experience. For those that have the opportunity, START EARLY. In today’s scholarship thirsty environment it’s essential that you start looking at schools and opportunities as early as possible; for most this means before your junior year.
If it’s affordable, EXPLORE WALKING-ON. Don’t look at walking-on as not being on the same level as scholarship athletes; college sports thrive because of the contributions walk-ons provide. Remember there are far more walk-on opportunities than there are scholarships available. Being open to walking-on allows a coach to see you as a talented athlete who won’t cost any money. This is a benefit to you and the coaching staff, possibly opening some previously closed doors.

KEEP WORKING AND MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN

Always make sure to STAY POSITIVE and PERSISTENT. Scholarship opportunities fall through quite often; coaches go with different athletes and athletes go with different schools. Staying persistent with coaching staffs allows you an opportunity, albeit a small opportunity, at being picked up in lieu of someone else.
The only way to achieve this is to keep a positive outlook and attitude toward your recruiting situation and continue to work toward what you want. Keep in mind, this isn’t the time to sit back and relax–YOU HAVE TO MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN.

If you have questions or comments about the recruiting process please use the comments section below or connect with us on Twitter or Facebook.

You’re finally realizing that waiting for college coaches to find you has not been the best recruiting strategy. Don’t think it’s too late to get recruited–instead, think about making the most out of your recruitment by getting organized and training hard to make it to the next step, playing college softball.

Sometimes it takes a quick run of the numbers before athletes and their families realize that it would be impossible for college coaches to watch each top softball player in the nation. There are also international athletes who are working toward the same collegiate goals.

Below is a listing of what softball recruits will be faced with once they begin to take their college softball recruiting seriously.

OVER 1600 COLLEGE SOFTBALL PROGRAMS

Beginning with the five main divisions there are currently over 1600 total college softball programs. Break that down even more and you are left with 550 softball programs representing the NCAA Division I and Division II colleges and universities throughout the country.

JUST LIKE BUYING A CAR

Think of your college sports recruiting in the same way you think about buying a brand new car. Think of recruiting as doing research on a big investment. Let’s say that you are in the market for buying a brand new car, you have the money and you THINK you know what you want. You do the research and find out all you can about all types of cars that match your needs.

You put in the time to learn all you can about the big purchase. Finally the day comes when you feel confident in your choice, thanks to your own dedication, effort, and understanding of the process.

DON’T MISS YOUR OPPORTUNITY

Typically players are driven toward NCAA DI and DII levels because of preconceived notions that their softball talent alone will be enough to get a full-ride softball scholarship.
This fixed mindset is how most student-athletes miss out on college softball opportunities, especially from other collegiate athletic divisions. Although other divisions outside of DI and DII cannot offer athletes “athletic scholarships” they are allowed to help out student-athletes with finding other forms of financial aid, such as academic, need-based and merit scholarships.

HAVE AN OPEN MIND

In order to be successful and play college softball, athletes will need to keep an open-mind and explore all of the options.

If you are a softball player and would like more assistance in learning how to get a softball scholarship, please leave a comment below or send us your questions on Facebook or Twitter.

Let’s say you’ve done everything right during the recruiting process: started early, went to camps, excelled on the field and in the classroom, made a great highlight tape, and even became an expert at communicating with coaches by phone and through email. And still nobody wants you? What next?

Does this story sound familiar? It’s the story of Jeremy Lin and a host of other athletes. Lin, who is currently setting records and turning heads as the starting point guard for the formerly forlorn New York Knicks, had doubts when things didn’t happen exactly the way he wanted them to, but he never gave up and he made his own path.

HE EVEN WON A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

The facts: Lin played at Palo Alto High School right across the street from Stanford. He led his team to the state championship his senior year of high school, averaging 15.1 points, 7.1 assists, 6.2 rebounds and 5.0 steals. He had a 4.2 GPA. Seems like a dream come true, right?

You would think so, but Lin didn’t have one D-1A scholarship offer and ended up walking on at Harvard, where he became team MVP and once scored 30 points against future lottery pick Kemba Walker.

INTANGIBLES GALORE

Lin had decent numbers in high school, but didn’t have eye-popping athleticism, one of the first things college coaches notice. What he did have was a plethora of intangibles: he made his teammates better, had a quick-first step, and an infectious, never-say-die attitude. These qualities, as Lin admits himself, can’t always be appreciated with just one viewing–to truly appreciate Lin is to watch him play more than once.

NOT AN EXACT SCIENCE

Recruiting is not an exact science, especially in basketball. Coaches often evaluate players by comparing them to well-known players who have similar physical attributes and a similar game. A coach with a little imagination might have watched Lin and said he’s a bigger version of Steve Nash. Do you think that would have got him recruited?

If you can identify with the Jeremy Lin story and find yourself being under-recruited all you can do is keep doing all the right things. You may have to walk-on and play yourself into a scholarship. Perhaps Jeremy Lin–no scholarship offers from D-1A schools and now a starter in the NBA–can inspire you to keep trying.

If you have questions or comments about Jeremy Lin or your own recruitment please use the comments section below or connect with us on Facebook or Twitter.

Becoming a college student-athlete means so many things–new experiences, a college education,and playing at an elite level. On a personal level, it means you’re no longer training and playing your sport just for fun.

Studies show that 15% of scholarship athletes give up their place on the team and their scholarship because they no longer want to compete. Many attribute this to burn out, choosing the wrong school, or falling out of love with the sport.

REASON FOR LEAVING: BURN OUT

Once you get through the recruiting process and have picked a school that is when the real work begins. Most athletes who make it to this competition level have played their sport a majority of their lives. Once you enter college as a student-athlete you’ll spend most of your time training. For some it can be upwards of 40 hours a week between practices, travel, competition and physical therapy.

In the off season it will be about 20 hours a week. Remember this is a job not just a game. Depending on the sport a good or bad season can mean a lot of money or notoriety for the school and athletic department.

BOTTOM LINE: COLLEGE SPORTS IS STILL A BUSINESS

There are reputations and people’s jobs on the line so they expect the most out of their athletes, especially those on scholarship. You need to really love the sport and continue to love the sport you’re playing in order to put in that kind of commitment.

You are a representative of the team on and off the field so even when you leave practice you need to be mindful of your actions and how it will affect your team. Whether it’s eating junk food or going to a party you probably should have skipped you always have to be on the alert in ways a non-athlete doesn’t.

CLASS CONFLICT

A majority of student-athletes’ athletic careers end the day their eligibility ends. They are in college to get a good education and plan for their future so when practices and game schedules start to interfere with classes student-athletes have a decision to make: take the class at another time (sometimes meaning adding a semester or two onto your college career) or take the class when it’s offered and see how that affects your place on the team.

Depending on the sport and the coach there may be several practices a day so you may be able to move your normal time slot to practice with another part of the team in order to make your class, but this also means that you are not getting the training you might need. If you swim and are a sprinter but have to change your practice schedule to practice with the distance swimmers, you are still getting a practice but it is not individualized to meet your needs the way practicing with the sprinters would. This could ultimately affect your performance.

SOCIAL LIFE

Student-athletes also realize that their life is different from a normal student at the same school. Just like any other job you may have that helps put you through school, athletics can really impact your time and how it is spent.

You develop relationships and are given access to many things as a student-athlete but you have a lot of restrictions put on you as well. For example, some coaches don’t allow athletes to join fraternities/sororities or other clubs on campus because they don’t want the time commitments to interfere with practices.

YOUR COLLEGE EXPERIENCE WILL BE DIFFERENT

I’m not saying that student-athletes are miserable, but as a potential student-athlete you need to realize that you are not going to have the same college experience as the normal student. This sport has now become your job, and no longer a hobby. You represent the school in everything you do, so you have to answer to your coach and the athletic department for all of your actions.

Being a student-athlete is a wonderful experience and such a few number of people get to experience it. Be mentally and physically prepared to take on the responsibilities and choose your school wisely. Your coach and teammates will be your social, athletic and in many cases academic environment for the next four years.

If you have questions or comments about the college athlete experience please use the comments section below or connect with us on Facebook or Twitter.

Football season is officially over, signing day has come and gone, and yet we believe there is still a fascinating recruiting graphic that is just begging to be shared. This one comes from ESPN.com’s Recruiting Nation and is called Field of Battles. It takes a look at the ESPN 150 over the last five years–a total of 750 players–and, while some results are predictable, there are enough surprises to make for interesting reading.

Images from http://assets.espn.go.com/pdf/2012/0125/mag_0206recruiting_map.pdf

TAKE A BOW, FLORIDA

While Florida is only the fourth most populous state it has been well represented in the ESPN 150, supplying 148 players over the past five years. That’s nearly one in five of the most highly-rated players that come from the sunshine state. Is it any wonder that the University of Florida leads the pack here, signing 57 ESPN 150 players over the past five years?

HOW ‘BOUT THOSE GAMECOCKS?

Who rounds out the top five? Texas, Georgia, California and South Carolina, respectively. While Texas and California are widely known to be recruiting hotbeds, Georgia and South Carolina provide a lot of bang for the buck. For instance, South Carolina is the 24th most populous state and yet it has the 5th most players in the ESPN 150.

ALABAMA HAD TO BE IN HERE SOMEWHERE

Perhaps the most interesting part of the graphic–at least to us–is the positional breakdown, what state they hail from and which schools they choose. UCLA, as an example, ties for the leading destination for top quarterbacks, a mild surprise considering their on-the-field struggles over the last five years. Can all of this teach us anything about the character and makeup of a particular state? Does it really mean anything that Texas produces the most offensive linemen, but the state of Alabama produces the best centers?
Finally, let’s take a look at the top schools by average miles recruits traveled to attend.

STANFORD? OF COURSE IT’S STANFORD

Stanford is at the top, with recruits moving an average of 1,466 miles to attend. No surprise here as Stanford is the top academic school that plays really good football and they’ve been good the last five years. Others in the top ten fit a similar profile with the likes of Cal, Northwestern and Notre Dame.

Are there any trends you notice? Surprising results? If you’d like to share your thoughts on this graphic please use the comments section below or connect with us on Facebook or Twitter.

It’s a question every athlete has on his mind, a scenario that ignites fear deep within parents.
Hollywood has even created characters to live out this “situation”, perhaps shedding a “real” light on what just might happen. “If I get injured what will happen with college recruiting?”

This is a legitimate question and, as a former athlete, something I was well aware of. The most important aspect when answering what will happen is to understand that unpredictable injuries happen all the time. Now that we understand the possibility of this happening we can discuss possible ways to salvage your college recruiting effort.

DON’T LIMIT YOUR OPTIONS

Just because you’re really interested in a school, were offered a scholarship, or gave a verbal commitment doesn’t mean your recruiting process is over.

Nothing is guaranteed until you sign an NLI or its equivalent with that particular school. Up until signing, scholarship offers and commitments can be dropped by both sides for any number of reasons.

SPREAD YOUR RISK

There’s an old saying “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket”; limiting yourself to only a small number of school options creates a larger opportunity for disappointment. Look to create interest from as many schools as possible while making sure you share a real interest in every school you contact. As an example if you are thinking about 5 schools try 25 , 25 try 50, and so on and so forth.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY

Many athletes become injured because they are not taking proper care of themselves. Make sure to work out and eat right so your body stays in shape, injury free. If injuries should happen get them checked out. Don’t make the mistake of thinking it’s something small because small injuries become large injuries; you don’t lose scholarship opportunities because of small injuries.

WORK HARD IN THE CLASSROOM

Again with the eggs in one basket, many student-athletes try to place everything they have into being an athlete and forget about being a student. There is far more money in academic scholarships than there ever will be in athletics. If you get good grades and you suffer an injury, you still might qualify for an academic scholarship and could later walk on.

A REAL WORLD PERSPECTIVE

Meet Keith Corliss, a senior standout football player and wrestler at Germantown Academy in Pennsylvania. If Keith had followed even a few of these listed steps he wouldn’t be caught in the college recruiting pickle he’s found himself in. Although Keith is an excellent student, he’s in this position due to the mismanagement of his recruiting process.

Other examples include Alabama football recruits Justin Taylor and Darius Philon. Both lost their scholarship opportunities last minute without much explanation. What I can explain is that this happens every year, many times without as much as a phone call for some.

PLAN FOR YOUR FUTURE AND BE PREPARED FOR THE UNEXPECTED

Being prepared for a scenario such as the one these young men are living only makes you that much more prepared for recruiting and for college. Start living without fear and start planning for your future no matter the hand you are dealt.

If you have questions or comments about injuries and recruiting please use the comments section below or connect with us on Facebook or Twitter.

DON’T BE LATE

Of all the recruiting questions we receive, the most common deal with contacting college coaches. This is a major dilemma for senior high school athletes, many of whom come to realize this too late in the recruiting process.

YOU CAN INITIATE CONTACT WITH A COACH

Many athletes already in their senior year contact us asking why coaches have not found them or contacted them directly since their season concluded. They often proceed to explain that they were misinformed by a high school coach or administrator who told them that they are not allowed to contact college coaches until their senior year or until they register with the NCAA eligibility center.

This is simply not true. Student-athletes who were misinformed have lost valuable time they should have been using to reach out to college coaches either through email or phone conversations.

If you don’t know the coach then they don’t know you or your athletic
abilities.

WHEN CAN YOU BEGIN TO EMAIL COACHES?

Student-athletes are allowed to email college coaches whenever they would like. This does not mean that you should send coaches generic emails that explain how you’ve performed in every game you’ve played since you were five. What it does mean is that you have a way to contact college coaches and make a good first impression, even if it is by email or phone. Keep in mind that some NCAA regulations only permit coaches to contact recruits during certain recruiting periods.

HOW TO EMAIL COACHES

Take time to determine what you would say to these coaches and what your intentions are in contacting them. Make sure that you’re serious about wanting to be a part of their program and email each coach directly. Don’t contact college coaches by sending mass emails. Coaches will see this and be less than thrilled, and chances are your email that was supposed to help you get in contact with coaches will only end up being deleted.

IT’S OKAY TO KEEP TRYING

Making sure that college coaches will respond can prove to be challenging. College coaches are busy individuals because they are preparing for their regular season play or because they are organizing their strategies for the up and coming recruiting class. In either case, student-athletes need to set a good impression and send appealing and relevant material to coaches if they want to hear back from them.

If you have further questions about emailing or contacting college coaches, then please leave a comment below or connect with us on Facebook or Twitter.

Talk about one-stop shopping. Our latest and–dare we say–greatest infographic outlines the NCAA Academic Requirements. Who needs to visit the NCAA Eligibility Center when this infographic can help you understand virtually all NCAA Clearinghouse issues?

LET’S REVIEW

If you’ve made it this far you are no doubt an expert on all NCAA Eligibility Center issues. You now have a deep knowledge of the NCAA Clearinghouse, including fees, required tests and core course requirements. Just in case you need to review some of these NCAA Eligibility Center facts we’ll walk you through it here.

Not only do you need to graduate from high school with the required grades and test scores, you need to be taking the right core courses. The classes you need and the sliding scale for grades and test scores are provided above.

CONTROL YOUR OWN DESTINY

High school student-athletes need to be aware of all the requirements necessary to compete in intercollegiate athletics. It takes planning and, unless you want to spend a lot of time on the phone with the NCAA Eligibility Center, studying this handy infographic should do the trick.

Another area of emphasis for us here at collegesportsscholarships.com is educating high school athletes and their parents about the different division levels in the NCAA. Academic requirements are not universal across the division levels. For instance, Division 1 requires a minimum GPA in 16 approved core courses while Division 2 requires just 14 approved core courses.

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

The infographic is a great visual representation of the facts college-bound athletes need to understand. It’s not enough to run fast, score touchdowns, or make baskets. The sooner student-athletes and their parents understand and accept this fact, the easier it is to prepare and be ready for the next step.

When you can only compete for four years at the college level, being ineligible for even one year can sting. Get a jump on the competition and take care of your business!

If you have questions or comments about NCAA eligibility issues please use the comments section below or connect with us on Facebook or Twitter.

Student-athletes get confused about what it means for a school to be a Division 2 or Division 3 school. Many people believe that the level of competition is not as high. In some sports this may be the case, but it really depends on the individual conferences and school to determine the athleticism of a team.

DEFINING DIVISION 2

There are currently 281 Division 2 schools, with 21 schools currently in the membership process of joining the ranks of NCAA Division 2. 52% of the schools are smaller public institutions while 48% of the schools are private schools.

Division 2 sports can offer athletic scholarships. Student-athletes are able to combine athletic scholarships, academic scholarships, student loans and grant money to help pay their way through school.

Division 2 schools must offer at least 10 sports teams–women’s and men’s team of the same sport are considered two teams. If a school is co-ed they have to offer at least 4 different team sports for each gender.

TEAMS COMPETE WITHIN THEIR REGIONS

Every sports championship must involve a school/team from each region. This helps encourage teams to compete within their region to gain a bid into a National Championship contest instead of scheduling games/tournaments/meets against schools across the nation. This encourages the schools to have smaller travel budgets.

DEFINING DIVISION 3

There are 442 institutions that compete as an NCAA Division 3 school. 19% of these schools are public schools while 81% are private.

Division 3 athletes don’t have to register or qualify with the NCAA eligibility center because their academic eligibility is determined on the admissions qualifications of the school.

Division 3 schools can’t offer athletic scholarships.

TIMELINE LINK

It’s important to understand what it means to be an athlete of a Division 1, 2 or 3 school. To find out the individual timelines for recruiting or the specific sports that each Division sponsors, please follow this link.

If you have questions or comments about competing in intercollegiate athletics at a Division 2 or Division 3 please use the comments section below or connect with us on Facebook or Twitter.

Thinking about playing sports in college? If you love playing and think you have what it
takes to play at the college level then here are quick tips for getting started in your recruiting
process.

KNOW THE LEVEL OF COMPETITION THAT IS THE BEST FIT

The NCAA is the organization that oversees collegiate sports in three different divisions, DI,
DII and DIII. Universities that are part of the NCAA decide which of the three divisions they’ll join, according to school enrollment, finances, fan support and other factors.

DI and DII are considered the top levels of college competition. DIII differs from DI and DII in its eligibility process, and in not being able to offer athletic scholarships (DIII schools are able to help finance student-athletes by using non-athletic forms of financial aid).

WHAT ABOUT THE NAIA?

Another collegiate athletic association is the NAIA. Most of these institutions have fewer than 10,000 students per campus and over 90% offer athletic scholarships. Lastly, there is the NJCAA, the governing sports entity for two-year Junior Colleges.

Knowing which division is the best fit for you is a great way to start your college recruiting
process. Keep in mind that each governing body along with each division has its own eligibility standards that student-athletes must meet before being able to play at specific colleges and
universities.

START EARLY

Starting your recruiting process during your freshman year is ideal–it broadens your options versus finding out your senior year that you have not met the eligibility standards for the college you choose.

Next, do some research on the types of colleges you want to attend. Ask yourself where
you would prefer to live, what you want to study, and how far from home you are willing to travel.

All of these questions must be answered by you, the recruit. Be confident in your decision. You are the one who will be attending college while juggling sports, academics, and a life.

REACH OUT TO COLLEGE COACHES

Compose a letter of interest and a sports resume. If you don’t know any college coaches then they don’t know you. Send them information about yourself. Tell them why you’re interested in their program, why you will be a good match, what you plan to bring to the team.

Think of finding the right college and connecting with the right coach as a job search. Let them know what you are capable of on and off the field and most importantly see if they are “hiring.” Some coaches won’t be able to contact you directly because of the amount of emails they get from recruits all year long, while others will be willing to discuss college opportunities with you if they think you’re a good match for their program.

Finding the right fit may take longer than you expect. As a recruit you will have to be proactive, organized and persistent.

If you have questions about the recruiting process, feel free to leave your comments below or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.