For many high school athletes getting a scholarship to play ball in college is what they dream about. Their parents are usually enthusiastic about the idea too, if only because it will help pay for their kid's education. If you really want to be considered by coaches, you have to understand the college athletic recruiting process and follow its rules.
Being good at your sport will only get you so far. You have to have the grades to make it as well. Don't make the mistake of thinking you can coast the last half of your senior year because your grades have been fine up until then. Coaches are most interested in your academic performance as you get close to graduation. If you have the grades, you have more choices when it comes to colleges. Researching and touring the ones you're interested in is a good idea around this time.
How you respond and interact with coaches makes a huge difference. You are the one who needs to create the relationship with coaches. Don't leave it up to your parents, friends, or teachers. If a coach contacts you, be sure to respond promptly and respectfully. If you aren't pro-active, the school may assume you are not interested. Don't mass email coaches. They don't like it.
Sending a highlight or training video is great, if it has been requested. Don't just send them out spontaneously. The big college coaches watch about fifty of these things a week, and those are the ones they asked for. An unsolicited video might easily be trashed. If you get a positive response from a text, you might send a link to a short highlight video.
Parents have important roles to play in the recruitment process. They should never overstep the boundaries however. Trying to force a kid, even a talented one, into playing ball at the next level will eventually backfire. Trying to get friendly with the scouts will be counterproductive. You'll annoy the scout and embarrass your child. Parents are best as advisers, listeners, and quiet cheerleaders.
It's important to understand what coaches do and don't do when it comes to recruiting. Coaches start off sending informational materials, brochures, and questionnaires. Athletes who respond are kept on their list, and the ones who don't are scratched. Actual recruiting materials are not sent until the beginning of an athlete's junior year.
It's great to be excited about the prospect of getting recruited, but you have to be realistic. Most athletes aren't offered full scholarships to play ball. You should not think that, just because you get invited to a sports camp or receive a general admission letter, that coaches are looking seriously at you. Scouts go to games all the time. Unless one is going specifically to watch you play, it doesn't mean you might get a call from a coach.
An athletic scholarship is a great thing. It will offer you all kinds of opportunities, open doors, and pay for your education. In order to be considered for one you have to know how the system works and play by the rules.
Being good at your sport will only get you so far. You have to have the grades to make it as well. Don't make the mistake of thinking you can coast the last half of your senior year because your grades have been fine up until then. Coaches are most interested in your academic performance as you get close to graduation. If you have the grades, you have more choices when it comes to colleges. Researching and touring the ones you're interested in is a good idea around this time.
How you respond and interact with coaches makes a huge difference. You are the one who needs to create the relationship with coaches. Don't leave it up to your parents, friends, or teachers. If a coach contacts you, be sure to respond promptly and respectfully. If you aren't pro-active, the school may assume you are not interested. Don't mass email coaches. They don't like it.
Sending a highlight or training video is great, if it has been requested. Don't just send them out spontaneously. The big college coaches watch about fifty of these things a week, and those are the ones they asked for. An unsolicited video might easily be trashed. If you get a positive response from a text, you might send a link to a short highlight video.
Parents have important roles to play in the recruitment process. They should never overstep the boundaries however. Trying to force a kid, even a talented one, into playing ball at the next level will eventually backfire. Trying to get friendly with the scouts will be counterproductive. You'll annoy the scout and embarrass your child. Parents are best as advisers, listeners, and quiet cheerleaders.
It's important to understand what coaches do and don't do when it comes to recruiting. Coaches start off sending informational materials, brochures, and questionnaires. Athletes who respond are kept on their list, and the ones who don't are scratched. Actual recruiting materials are not sent until the beginning of an athlete's junior year.
It's great to be excited about the prospect of getting recruited, but you have to be realistic. Most athletes aren't offered full scholarships to play ball. You should not think that, just because you get invited to a sports camp or receive a general admission letter, that coaches are looking seriously at you. Scouts go to games all the time. Unless one is going specifically to watch you play, it doesn't mean you might get a call from a coach.
An athletic scholarship is a great thing. It will offer you all kinds of opportunities, open doors, and pay for your education. In order to be considered for one you have to know how the system works and play by the rules.
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