Home Recruiting Visit

Athlete's perspective

To get to know the Coach better.

Ask direct questions about academics, scholarship, the program and expectations.

It's you chance to interview the Coach!

Coach's perspective

NCAA rules no longer allow athletes to sign in front of a College Coach.

However expect the Coaches to push for a verbal commitment.

If you feel pressured you aren't ready to make a commitment.

To avoid pressure - make it clear from the beginning of the meeting that you will need time to discuss any offer as a family.

It is a reasonable demand. This allows you to review your notes and discuss your options without making a hasty decision.

What does a Verbal Commitment mean?

Understand a Verbal Commitment is not a legally binding contract.

The athlete and/or college can back out of the commitment.

What if you don't verbally commit, will they offer your Scholarship to someone else?

Coaches usually recruit more than one person at a position.

Understand your slot may be taken by someone else if you don't commit.

The Recruiting game involves sales and timing.

That is why you should do your homework ahead of time!

If a school sends you a National Letter of Intent and/or a financial–aid agreement, you are guaranteed a scholarship.

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT UNOFFICIAL VISITS

Unofficial Visits

How many Unofficial Visits can I make?

Rules do not limit the number of unofficial visits to a school.

Can I stay on campus?

Yes, you can stay in a campus dorm or apartment as long as you pay the institution rate for such lodging.

You also must pay for any meals you eat while on the unofficial visit.

The only expense a school can pick up for you on an unofficial visit are three complimentary admissions to any home athletic contest.

What You Should Know About An Official Campus Visit

Know what the school is paying for before you accept!

Most Division 1 schools pay for the entire visit (transportation, lodging and meals).
Some smaller Division 1 schools, and most Division 2 and 3 schools, pay for part or none of the trip.

How many Official Visits can you make?

In Divisions 1 and 2, you are allowed a total of five official visits between the two divisions.
Although an official visit to a Division 3 school does not count in the five-visit limit, you may not make more than one official visit to a Division 3 school.
If you live within driving distances of a college that interests you, you may be better off making an unofficial visit to that campus and save the official visits for more-distant colleges.

How long can you stay?

Official visits are limited to 48-hour from the minute you arrive on campus.
If a coach drives you to the campus the 48 hours begins when he starts transporting you.

Where do you stay?

You will most likely stay at a local hotel
Accommodations must be comparable to typical student living.
NCAA rules forbid the school to pay for incidental charges.
We'd recommend spending at least one night in a dorm.
This would give you a feel the current members of the team and the atmosphere at the school.

Do you get entertainment money?

At most Division 1 schools, your student host is given $30 a day to entertain you.
The host can't give you the money or buy you a sweatshirt, hat and so on.
You are permitted to receive 3 complimentary admissions for any home contest.

Questions to ask Coaches/Recruiters

Academics and Eligibility

What percentage of players on scholarship graduate?
What is the current team's grade point average?
What academic support programs are available to student athletes?
How many credit hours should I take in season and out of season?
What pace do I need to follow to obtain my degree on time?
Are there restrictions in scheduling classes around practice?
Is summer school available?
If I need to take summer school classes, will it be paid by the college?
If I have a diagnosed and documented disability, what kind of academic services are available?
How much time is spent in class, practice, study and travel?

Recruiting

What position will I play on your team?
What other players may be competing at the same position?
What year in school are those players?
Who else are you recruiting for my position?
Will I be redshirted my first year?
When does the head coach's contract end?
How long does the coach intend to stay?
How would you best describe your head coach's coaching style?
What expectations do you have for training and conditioning?
If I'm seriously injured while competing, who is responsible for my medical expenses?
Is medical insurance provided by the college?
Is medical insurance required for my participation?
What are preferred, invited and uninvited walk-on situations?
How many earn scholarships?

Scholarship/Financial Aid

Exactly how much will my athletic scholarship be?
What will and will not be covered?
How long does my scholarship last?
Under what circumstances would my scholarship would be reduces or canceled?
Are the academic criteria tied to maintaining the scholarship?
Will my scholarship cover summer school?
What scholarship money is available after eligibility is exhausted to help me complete my degree?
Who is financially responsible if I am injured while competing?
What scholarship money is available if I suffer an athletic career-ending injury?
Will my scholarship remain if there is a head coaching change?
What are my opportunities for employment while I am a student athlete?
Can I work during the season, out of season or during vacation periods?

Recruiting Calls

Coaches/Recruiters want to be able to carry on an intelligent conversation with you. They don't want to hear “I dunno”!

Know what your strengths and weaknesses are on the field or court.

Be ready to express what you have to offer his/her team.

Know your GPA, Class Rank and Board Scores.

Know what you want academically from the college.

Be able to express what you expect from a college.

Be able to communicate why you believe his/her college has what you want.

Make note cards with pertinent questions to ask the coach/recruiter.

What does Receiving a Recruiting Letter Mean?

If you receive a letter from a coach, are you being recruited?

Be honored but realize that College Coaches send out thousands of letters to prospects.


Receiving a letter means a coach knows your name and that you play his/her sport.


Until the coach calls you and tells you he/she is interested or invites you to visit the school, the letter means very little.


Respond to the letter or questionnaire and follow-up with the coach.

Recruiting Terminology

Basic Recruiting Terms
Contact – A contact occurs any a coach has any face-to-face contact with you or your parent off the college's campus and says more than hello. A contact also occurs if a coach has any contact with you or your parent at your high school or any location where you are competing or practicing.

Contact Period – During this time, a college coach may have in-person contact with you and/or your parents on or off the college's campus. The coach may also watch you play or visit your high school. You and your parents may visit a college campus and the coach may write and telephone you during this period.

Dead Period – The college coach may not have any in-person contact with you or your parents at any time during the dead period. The coach may write and telephone you or your parents during this time.

Evaluation – An evaluation is an activity by a coach to evaluate your academic or athletic ability. This would include visiting your high school or watching you practice or compete.

Evaluation Period – The college coach may watch you play or visit your high school, but cannot have any in-person conversations with you or your parents off the campus. You and your parents can visit a college campus during this period. A coach may write and telephone you or your parents during this time.

Official Visit – Any visit to a college campus by you or your parents paid for by the college. Colleges may pay the following expenses:
Your transportation to and from the college.
Rooms and meals (three per day) while you are visiting the college.
Reasonable entertainment expenses, including three complimentary admissions to a home athletic contest.
Before a college may invite you on an official visit, you will have to provide the college with a copy of your high-school transcript (D1 only) and SAT, ACT or PLAN score.

Quiet Period – The college coach may not have any in-person contact with you or your parents off the college's campus. The coach may not watch you play or visit your high school during this period. You or your parents may visit a college campus during this time. A coach may write or telephone you or your parents during this time.

Redshirt – Describes a student-athlete who does not participate in competition in a sport for an entire academic year. If an athlete does not compete in a sport the entire academic year, he/she has not used a season of competition. Each student is allowed no more than four (4) seasons of competition per sport. If an athlete were not a qualifier, he/she may have fewer seasons of competition available to him/her.

Unofficial Visit – Any visit by you and your parents to a college campus paid by you or your parents. The only expense you may receive from the college is three complimentary admissions to a home athletics contest. You may make as many unofficial visits as you like and may take those visits at any time. The only time you cannot talk with a coach during an unofficial visit is during a dead period.

Financial Aid - Division 3 and Ivy League!

Can Division 3 and Ivy League Schools offer Athletic Scholarships?
No! Division 3 and Ivy League schools cannot offer Athletic Scholarships – these schools offer need-based and academic financial awards.
Athletic departments are staffed and funded like any other department in the university.

Should Athletes consider D3 schools if they need a Scholarship?
Many schools offer attractive financial aid programs therefore don't overlook any school, even if they don't offer athletic scholarships.

What are Division 3 Financial Aid Packages?
Division 3 financial aid packages consist of need based grants, loans and work study programs, plus academic and leadership scholarships.

How do you apply for a Financial Aid Package?
Speak to your Guidance Counselor and/or go to FAFSA web site.www.fafsa.ed.org
It is the form you fill out to apply for federal grants and loans.www.fedmoney.org
Applying for financial aid may sound daunting, but in reality, the form is short and painless.
Don't let the idea of applying for financial aid scare you away.
You may be surprised by everything financial aid may have to offer you.

Defining a College Athletic Scholarship

Athletic Scholarships - Division 1 and 2

Do all four-year colleges offer Athletic Scholarships?

Not all four-year colleges offer athletic scholarships.
Only NCAA Division 1 and 2, NAIA schools and Junior Colleges offer Athletic Scholarships!
The three Athletic Associations mandates how many scholarships a school can offer for a particular sport.
It is up to the school whether or not they want to and can offer the maximum number of scholarships allotted to them.

What is a full-ride Athletic Scholarship?

It provides full tuition, fees, room, board and course-related books in exchange for the athlete's performance.

Are all Athletic Scholarships full rides?

Full scholarships are very rare.
The only guaranteed full scholarships are for NCAA Division 1 Basketball and Division 1 Football programs.

What is a half-and-half or Partial Scholarship?

Half and half or Partial scholarships may offer financial aid for both athletics and academics.
Most sports and teams divide scholarship money up between players.

How long do Athletic Scholarship last?

Most people think a full scholarship is good for four or five years.
Athletic Scholarships are renewed every year and may not be guaranteed (in writing) for more than one year.

Who decides if you get to keep your Athletic Scholarship?

Ultimately, the decision as to whether you'll keep your scholarship and for what amount is made by the Head Coach.
Student-Athletes must be notified by July 1 each year.

NCAA Eligibility Center - MUST REGISTER!!

NCAA Eligibility Center use to be known as the NCAA Clearinghouse.

The NCAA Eligibility Center is an agency which will provide initial-eligibility certification for all prospective student-athletes wishing to compete as a freshman at NCAA member institutions offering Division 1 or 2 athletics.

The NCAA Eligibility Center is not a recruiting service, just because you register doesn't guarantee that a college will take an interest in you. What it does is review your transcripts to determine if you are eligible to play as a freshman athlete at NCAA Division I and II schools. Your official transcripts must be sent directly from your high school’s guidance department. The NCAA Eligibility Center will not a copy of your grades sent by you.

If you have dreams of receiving any kind of athletic scholarship, you must register with and be certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center.

Find link tO NCAA Eligibility Center in http://www.mygamefilm.com/ Recruiting Guide / Academic Requirement section.

What does a Recruiting Letter mean?

If you receive a letter from a college, are you being recruited?

• Be honored but realize that College Coaches send out hundreds if not thousands of letters to prospects.

• Receiving a letter means a coach knows your name and that you play his/her sport.

• Until the coach calls you and tells you he/she is interested or invites you to visit the school, the letter means very little.

• Respond to the letter or questionnaire and follow-up with the coach.

The Basics of College Athletic Scholarships!

Do all four-year colleges offer Athletic Scholarships?
• Not all four-year colleges offer athletic scholarships.
• Only NCAA Division 1 and 2, NAIA schools and Junior Colleges offer Athletic Scholarships!
• The three Athletic Associations mandate how many scholarships a school can offer for a particular sport.
• It is up to the school whether or not they want to and can offer the maximum number of scholarships allotted to them.
What is a full-ride Athletic Scholarship?
• It provides full tuition, fees, room, board and course-related books in exchange for the athlete's performance.
Are all Athletic Scholarships full rides?
• Full scholarships are very rare.
• The only guaranteed full scholarships are for NCAA Division 1 Basketball and Division 1 Football programs.
What is a half-and-half or Partial Scholarship?
• Half and half or Partial scholarships may offer financial aid for both athletics and academics.
• Most sports and teams divide scholarship money up between players.
How long do Athletic Scholarship last?
• Most people think a full scholarship is good for four or five years.
• Athletic Scholarships are renewed every year and may not be guaranteed (in writing) for more than one year.
Who decides if you get to keep your Athletic Scholarship?
• Ultimately, the decision as to whether you'll keep your scholarship and for what amount is made by the Head Coach.
• Student-Athletes must be notified by July 1 each year.
Find more scholarship information on http://www.mygamefilm.com/

Which Schools Should I Contact?

The first step to promoting yourself to college coaches is an honest evaluation of your talent level. Are you a NCAA Division I, II, III or NAIA prospect? In sports like track and swimming you have times and distances to rely on. However, in subjective evaluated sports there are no charts or graphs that can tell you what division you should try to compete. There the beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Your high school and club coaches can be excellent judges. Opposing coaches, camp evaluations and comparing yourself with players who you have competed with or against and seeing how they are doing in college can help. Talk with people who have nothing to gain in the recruitment process.

In determining which schools to email your profile and highlight film, make sure you research the school and have an interest. Speak to your guidance counselor to make sure you can meet the school's academic standards. Another factor you might consider is the region or state the school is located.

Gather all the information you can, be realistic but don’t to sell yourself short, and get the ball rolling!

GET YOUR FILM OUT EARLY AND OFTEN

If you are receiving a personal phone call from Jim Tressel or Charlie Weis, you probably don’t need to promote yourself. All the colleges know the big high school stars, especially in football and basketball.
There are other boys and girls in other sports who are good enough to play in Mid Major, D-IAA or D-II, where scholarship money is available, but two things happen. The smaller schools don’t know about them because they don’t have the recruiting budgets, and neither the kids nor their parents know how to market them.
Major programs have huge recruiting budgets for travel and research.
Schools like USC and Notre Dame recruit nationally but schools like Elon or Illinois State recruit regionally. Somebody’s got to get the word out. High Coaches don’t always have the time and budgets. They’ve got the next game to get ready for. They’ve got a full teaching load. They’ve got their own families to take care of. Who’s most interested in a kid? The parents. What do they do? When it comes to recruiting, they sit and wait.
Don’t be misled if you receive a letter of interest from a college. Receiving a letter means a coach knows your name and that you play his/her sport. Letters are mass mailings.They might send out hundreds of letters. Until they invite you for an official visit, they’re not recruiting you.
Get your film out early and often and to many schools as you see fit....and 10 is definitely not enough...get yours out to 50 plus schools that can see your skills. Click on http://www.mygamefilm.com/. Utilizing today's technology this site has made it easy to email recruiting video. This Do-It-Yourself recruiting tool provides both the guidance and resources for athletes to email their highlight film and profiles directly to college coaches across the country. It also provides a Feedback Scoreboard showing them when coaches click on a link (in the email) to view their film. No more sending tapes/DVDs and wondering if anyone has seen them!
Be proactive make sure college coaches are aware of your desire to play and find out where you fit!