GET NOTICED EARLY!

After making a highlight film and informational profile you need to create a business plan. Getting an athletic scholarship is about much more than how many points you score or what all league teams you make. It’s also about research, contacts, academics, commitment and strategy. The recruiting game or getting noticed has its own rules and begins only when you start. To better help you understand I have included recruiting checklists/timelines: http://www.mygamefilm.com/

SOPHOMORE YEAR
Research
Learn about the difference between Division 1, 2 and 3 schools.
Become familiar with NCAA Recruiting Rules.
Get a copy of the NCAA Guide to College Bound Athletes @ www.ncaa.org
Make a list of 10–15 schools that interest you.
Ask parents, coach and guidance counselor to make a list of schools that they believe might be a good fit.
Make a file for each of the schools on your list.
Begin collecting information on: school's profile, student body composition, GPA and test scores for incoming freshman.
Contacts
When traveling, check out schools on your 10-15 list.
E-mail or write each coach on your top 10-15 colleges.
Academics
Become familiar with NCAA academic requirements for core courses.
(Eligibility Button – Clearinghouse Division 1 and 2. None for D3.)
Maintain a strong GPA in as rigorous a schedule as you can manage.
Sign up for the PSAT and ACT tests. Use as practice run.
If your school offers practice SAT/ACT testing, take advantage of it.
NCAA Rules
Division 1 or 2 schools cannot contact you in any way.
Division 3 schools can contact you but not in person.
You may write, E-mail or call D1 and D2 coaches and talk to them, but they cannot return your call.
The only written responses allowed from them are brochures, generic letters and questionnaires.
Unofficial visits to the college, initiated by you, are not limited.
You can meet with college coaches on campus.
Sport
Find a good club team with coaching and competition that you need to develop.
Maintain a strong practice schedule and work ethic.
Set goals for the up coming three years.
Ask your coach if your goals and college choices are realistic.(Adjust if necessary.)
Talk with your coach about your interest/desire regarding your sport.
JUNIOR YEAR
Research
Start thinking about what is important to you in your college choice.
Narrow your list of colleges of interest to approximately 10.
Make sure you have a good mix of colleges on your list.
Include at least two that will be “sure things”. (Confident of being accepted.)
Research schools program, coaching staff, academic strengths, culture and location.
Research financial aid opportunities generally, and at each school on your list. (Particularly important if you don't believe that you will be able to secure a full scholarship.)
Contacts
Prepare a highlight video and profile of yourself and send it out to your schools of interest.
Try to develop a steady dialog with Coaching Staff.
Take unofficial trips to the colleges on your narrowed list.
Take a tour of the campus.
Set up meetings with the coaches.
Talk with athletes if you can.
Ask a lot of questions.
Send thank you note to coach.
Academics
Take a SAT or ACT class, if necessary.
Start meeting regularly with high school counselor.
Continue to maintain a strong GPA.
Make sure you are continuing to meet all NCAA core courses.
Take the SAT and ACT, and the SAT 2 if required for your selected colleges.
Take these tests early and often.
Possibly determine whether you have a specific interest in an area of study in college.
Evaluate potential colleges based upon whether they offer this area of study.
Closely review the requirements for the schools on your list.
Which require which test?
Are essays needed with the application?
Obtain the applications and requirements of the schools on your list.
NCAA Rules
Familiarize yourself with the Rules and follow them.
September 1 – you can receive recruiting materials from Division 1 and 2 schools.
Division 1 and 2 coaches will still not talk with you if you do not initiate the call.
Parents cannot talk with coaches at competitions, or any time off campus, no matter who made the contact.
Coaches can E-mail you, as this has been ruled printed material.
You can continue to make unofficial visits to colleges, at your expense.
Coaches can talk with you at length during these visits to the campus.
You can be given a tour of the campus, watch practice and attend meetings.
Verbal commitments can be made on both sides.
Sport
Play year round with your club.
Maintain a strong practice schedule and work ethic.
Continue to work toward achieving the goals – revisit those goals and adjust if needed.
Continue talking with your coach about how best to achieve your goals.
Share your narrowed list of prospective schools with your high school coach.
SENIOR YEAR
Research
Select the colleges to which you will apply.There is no limit on the number of applications you can submit. (Keep in mind there is a fee associated with each application.)You should have narrowed your preferred list to approximately 5, plus “sure things”.
Keep up to date on the local news, and college team results for those schools you are considering.
Continue to research and apply for scholarships and financial aid.
Contacts
Prepare or Update Highlight Film and Profile - send to schools of interest.
Send College Coaches a schedule.Continue to show interest in the programs on your list.
Make official visits, and continue unofficial visits if needed.Apply to your selected colleges. (Work on your applications early.)
Submit your financial aid forms as soon as possible after January 1.National Letter of Intent signing dates.
Academic
If you haven’t taken the SAT and/or ACT. GET IT DONE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!
Sign up with the NCAA Eligibility Clearinghouse if you intend to participate in Division 1 or 2.
Maintain a strong high school schedule and GPA.
NCAA Rules
After July 1 before your Senior Year, you can be contacted by Division 1 Colleges by phone once per week.
Division 2 Colleges can begin contacting you after July 15, phone calls are limited to one per week.
Division 3 can meet with you after the end of your Junior Year.You may be contacted in person, off campus, three time.(Subject to Recruiting Calendar Restrictions.)
Parents (or you) can talk with coaches at competition or other events, but this will count as one of the three contacts allowed, no matter how limited the conversation.
From the first day of classes your senior year, you may make up to 5 official visits. (Paid by the college.)
You may not make more than one official visit to the same school.
Sport
Continue playing with club team.
Maintain strong practice schedule and work ethic.
Work toward achieving your goals.
Talk with your coach about how best to achieve your goals.
Share your narrowed list of prospective schools with your coach.
Regularly update your coach on the recruiting process.

Making and Editing a Highlight Film!

If you've thought about making and editing your own highlight film on your computer, but haven't gotten started either because you didn't know where to start, or because it seemed WAY too complicated, then this information is for you! Click on http://computer.howstuffworks.com/video-editing.htm and dive into home video editing. You will learn: what you really need – in terms of equipment, software and the concepts you have to understand to use any editing package. At the end of the process, you will be surprised to see just how much you can do with today's technology and how easy it is to making your own highlight film.

GET YOUR NAME KNOWN!

A very small percentage of scholastic athletes get actively recruited. The vast majority need to promote themselves. OK, where do you start?
Create a Highlight Film. Start by asking your head coach for game, practice or showcase footage. If your high school doesn't have quality films call your opponents and ask to buy their film; sometimes they'll give or loan it to you. If your school or sport does not film, you will have to do it yourself or hire a professional. When putting together a highlight film think ESPN “Plays of the Week” and put the best plays first. You must get the coach’s attention now! College coaches get inundated with films. They don’t have time to watch hours of films on each prospect. They prefer a quick three minute highlight reels to see if you are a good match. If you are, they will request full game film and other information.
Produce an Informational Profile. Include factual information only, don’t embellish!
– Personal and parental contact information: names, addresses, phone numbers and emails.
– High school, address and phone number.
– Coach and Guidance counselor’s phone numbers and email addresses.
– GPA, Class Rank, SAT and/or ACT scores if available.
– Academic and service achievements and honors.
– Athletic and statistical accomplishments.
– Statistical suggestions by sport and positions:
Baseball: Fielder
Stat 1: Speed – Home to First
Stat 2: At Bats
Stat 3: Hits
Stat 4: Home Runs
Stat 5: RBIs
Stat 6: Runs
Stat 7: Strike Outs
Stat 8: Bases on Balls
Stat 9: Steals
Stat 10: Fielding Percentage
Stat 11: Fielding Errors
Stat 12: Bat Swing (Left or Right)
Baseball: Pitcher
Stat 1: Earned Run Average
Stat 2: Complete Games
Stat 3: Wins
Stat 4: Losses
Stat 5: Saves
Stat 6: Inning Pitched
Stat 7: Hits
Stat 8: Runs
Stat 9: Strike Outs
Stat 10: Base on Balls
Stat 11: Fastball Speed (in mph)
Stat 12: Batting Average
Basketball
Stat 1: Vertical Jump (in inches)
Stat 2: Standing Reach
Stat 3: Field Goal Percentage
Stat 4: 3-Point Field Goal Percentage
Stat 5: Free Throw Percentage
Stat 6: Rebounds per Game
Stat 7: Assists per Game
Stat 8: Turnovers
Stat 9: Blocks
Stat 10: Steals
Stat 11: Average Points per Game
Field Hockey: Field Player
Stat 1: 40-yard Time
Stat 2: 1-mile Time
Stat 3: Shots
Stat 4: Goals
Stat 5: Assists
Stat 6: Total Points
Field Hockey: Goalkeeper
Stat 1: 20-yard Time
Stat 2: Saves
Stat 3: Save Percentage
Stat 4: Shutouts
Stat 5: Goals Against / Average
Stat 6: Wins / Losses
Football: Offensive Linemen and All Other Positions
Stat 1: 40-yard Time
Stat 2: 20-yard Time
Stat 3: Bench Press (max)
Stat 4: Squat
Stat 5: Short Shuttle Time
Football: Running Backs
Stat 6: Rushes
Stat 7 Total Yards
Stat 8: Rushing Touchdowns
Stat 9: Receptions
Stat 10: Total Receiving Yards
Stat 11: Receiving Touchdowns
Stat 12: Fumbles
Football: Quarterbacks
Stat 6: Passing Attempts
Stat 7: Passing Completions
Stat 8: Passing Yards
Stat 9: Touchdown Passes
Stat 10: Interceptions
Stat 11: Total Rushing Yards
Football: Receivers
Stat 6: Receptions
Stat 7: Total Yards
Stat 8: Longest Reception
Stat 9: Touchdowns
Stat 10: Fumbles
Football: Defensive Players
Stat 6: Tackles
Stat 7: Tackle Assists
Stat 8: Tackles for Losses
Stat 9: Interceptions
Stat 10: Sacks
Stat 11: Pressures
Stat 12: Fumbles Caused
Stat 13: Fumbles Recoveries
Football: Punters
Stat 6: Punts
Stat 7: Average Yards per Punt
Stat 8: Punts inside the 20
Stat 9: Longest Punt
Football: Place Kickers
Stat 6: Field Goal Attempts
Stat 7: Field Goals Made
Stat 8: Points after TD Percentage
Stat 9: Longest Field Goal
Lacrosse: Field Players
Stat 1: 40-yard Speed
Stat 2: Goals
Stat 3: Assists
Stat 4: Points
Stat 5: Groundballs
Lacrosse: Goalies
Stat 1: 40-yard Speed
Stat 2: Goals Allowed
Stat 3: Goals against Average
Stat 4: Saves
Stat 5: Save Percentage
Soccer: Field Players
Stat 1: 40-yard Speed
Stat 2: Goals
Stat 3: Assists
Stat 4: Total Points
Stat 5: Tackles
Soccer: Goalkeepers
Stat 1: 40-yard Speed
Stat 2: Shutouts
Stat 3: Goals against Average
Stat 4: Saves
Stat 5: Save Percentage
Softball: Fielders
Stat 1: Speed – Home to First
Stat 2: At Bats
Stat 3: Hits
Stat 4: Home Runs
Stat 5: RBIs
Stat 6: Runs
Stat 7: Strike Outs
Stat 8: Bases of Balls
Stat 9: Steals
Stat 10: Fielding Percentage
Stat 11: Fielding Errors
Stat 12: Bat Swing (Right / Left)
Softball: Pitchers
Stat 1: Earned Run Average
Stat 2: Complete Games
Stat 3: Wins
Stat 4: Losses
Stat 5: Saves
Star 6: Innings Pitched
Stat 7: Hits
Stat 8: Runs
Stat 9: Strike Outs
Stat: 10 Base on Balls
Stat: 11: Fast Pitch Speed (in mph)
Stat: 12 Batting Average
Volleyball
Stat 1: Vertical Jump (in inches)
Stat 2: Standing Reach
Stat 3: Kills per Game
Stat 4: Hitting Percentage
Stat 5: Digs per Game
Stat 6: Blocks per Game
Stat 7: Assists per Games
Stat 8 Service Aces
Stat 9: Serve Percentage

MyGameFilm.com provides the resources to upload highlight film and send promotional emails containing a link to your film and profile to any college program! A feedback scoreboard shows you when coaches click on your link to view your film. No more sending tape/DVDs and wondering if anyone has seen them.

DO-IT-YOURSELF ATHLETIC RECRUITING!

Looking for an athletic scholarship? Many athletes and their parents spend thousands of dollars playing AAU basketball, JO volleyball, premier soccer or travel baseball preparing for the challenges on the athletic field but few prepare for the challenges of winning College Athletic Scholarships! Rising costs of a college education has made the competition for athletic scholarships and financial aid extremely competitive! Whether competing for money from NCAA D-I, D-II, D-III or NAIA level programs, self marketing and promotion has become a must!
Every year deserving athletes get overlooked. Many with the academic and athletic ability, but lack exposure. Colleges don’t know about them because they don’t have the recruiting budgets, and neither the athlete nor their parents know how to market them.
Athletes and their parents feel so intimidated by the recruiting process they do nothing or rely on their high school coaches or a professional recruiting service to generate exposure. Although your high school coach can help, he or she may be limited by time, geographical or budgetary constraints. With recruiting services you’ll never know how hard they work at it after your check clears. Maybe they hustle. Maybe it’s worth it. You take their word. If you do it yourself, you’ll know how hard somebody is trying because that somebody is you! Who’s most interested in an athlete? The parents. Find your recruiting solution at www.mygamefilm.com, a web site that will help your son or daughter get a sports scholarhip or at least a partial ride. This Do-It-Yourself recruiting tool is designed to increase student-athletes’ exposure to college coaches from a state or region level up to a national level. In sports like basketball, football, soccer and volleyball college coaches must see you play, this site enables you to take their game to them!