“There are only two options regarding commitment. You’re either IN or you’re OUT. There is no such thing in life as between.” ~Pat Riley
STEPS TO GETTING RECRUITED
The recruiting process is no joke! You have to be diligent, consistent, determined, proactive, prepared, and thorough. The process is long and tedious… but so well worth the effort. A lot of parents and student-athletes wonder where do you begin, when do you begin, how do you begin, and what do you need to begin. This page is designed to answer those questions.
Step 1 - Academics
Getting good grades are important, but, getting good grades in the right classes are even more important. As a student-athlete, you have to make sure you are taking the right courses, and it is your responsibility to know what they are. To be successfully recruited, student-athletes have to meet NCAA eligibility by making sure they are taking corresponding NCAA approved courses at their school.
Step 2 - Create An Online Recruiting Profile
Online recruiting profiles are an excellent way to get the attention of coaches. In addition to phone calls and emails, recruiting profiles provide another way to connect with coaches and promote you. Make sure your profile includes videos, statistics, measureables, academic information, and photos. Include fun stuff, like your favorite hobby, dreams, etc. By doing that, you connect with readers on a more personal level.
Step 3 - Create A Highlight Video
Highlight videos are one of the best ways to increase your exposure to college coaches and recruiters. They are also a great way to showcase your skills and athletic ability. Your highlight video should include any major competitions you play in and provide coaches with a great perspective of how well you perform under pressure.
Step 4 - Register For The NCAA Eligibility Center
Every student-athlete must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center. The Eligibility Center certifies whether prospective college athletes are qualified to play sports at Division I or II colleges. Learn everything here!
Step 5 - Create A List Of Potential Schools
Where do you want to go? Start creating a list of schools that interest you. There are a lot of factors to consider, location, cost, GPA, etc. The Right Fit book goes in to great detail about choosing a college!
Step 6 - Research Teams And Coaches
Now that you have made your list, it’s time to research! Learn about the colleges, culture, academics, and teams of the colleges you are considering. Check out the teams roster, who is graduating, and the coaches.
Step 7 - Reach Out
Don’t reach out until you have your profile and highlight videos online. You want to have something to present to coachers and recruiters when you do reach out. Start by organizing a list of coaches/recruiters contact information from the schools you are interested in. Email to introduce yourself, and fill out college recruiting questionnaire.
Step 8 - Maximize Athletic Skills
Practice, train, condition, rest. Practice, train, condition, rest. Practice, train, condition, rest. Practice, train, condition, rest. Practice, train, condition, rest. Put that on repeat! Have your skills evaluated to see what you need to work on.
Step 9 - Maximize Athletic Exposure
There are a lot of pros and cons to camps and showcases, especially when they cost… a lot! So, do your research! The right ones (ones you have been invited to) can provide you with great experience and exposure. Others can give you the great experience, but not necessarily the exposure. So research, research, research!
Step 10 - Visit, Visit, Visit
Schedule unofficial visits and take advantage of official visits. You will be able to tour the campus, check out the facilities, attend a game, hang out with players, get an overall feel for the school, and so much more.
Step 11 - Time To Choose
You are finally here! Senior year and it’s time to choose! All of your long hours of research, practices, games, trainings, sacrifices, etc. have hopefully paid off. Now you have a big decision to make.
RESOURCES
Learn everything you need to know about grades, recruiting, choosing the right college, financial aid, Division I, II, III, and more.
A great resource for keeping track of everything recruiting related… coaches names, telephone numbers, email addresses, to-do lists, classes and grades, dates, etc.