6 Factors to Consider in the Athletic Recruitment Process
There are many things to consider in the college athletic recruiting process for high school athletes and their parents. While there are some guidelines and best practices to follow, there is no set path to guarantee the outcome you desire. Keeping up with the rules of recruiting can be challenging and exhausting but these six factors should give you a general idea of things to consider moving forward in your recruitment process.
Options and Compatibility
Getting an objective view of how you stack up against other student-athletes is a helpful component of the recruiting process. Each school has different academic expectations and time commitments for athletics. The social aspect of a college and how that will affect you might be harder to figure out, but you need some understanding of who you are and what you are looking for in your college experience. Once you’ve determined your level of interest, talent and expectations surrounding college athletics, it’s important to consider the various division levels available to compete in. There are 3 NCAA divisions (approximately 1,200 schools), 2 Canadian divisions (USports and CCAA, approx. 200 schools) and several hundred NAIA and NJCAA schools. No two schools or programs are alike. Some major self-reflection is needed to establish what level of commitment you want to have throughout your college experience and what role you want to have on a team. While high school athletes should aim high, you also need to aim where your skills and abilities will be a good fit.
NCAA Registration and Eligibility
The NCAA Eligibility Center is an agency of the National Collegiate Athletic Association that certifies the initial eligibility of all perspective student-athletes looking to compete in NCAA DI or DII schools. You’ll need to create an NCAA Certification Account and enter information about your academic curriculum, athletic information, amateur status, etc. The programs purpose is to verify that athletes meet minimum academic standards and have maintained their amateur status. The certification of athletes who compete at other levels of college athletics is determined by each school and not the NCAA Eligibility Center.
Academic Eligibility
Academic eligibility is the most important aspect of the recruiting process and should not be overlooked. Your grades will ultimately dictate what colleges you can get accepted into. There are different eligibility requirements for American NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA schools as well as Canadian universities and colleges. Each school will also have its own admission criteria depending on the program you are interested in. It is crucial to actively work to maintain your grades and ensure you have the correct prerequisites needed for the program you are interested in.
The first question a college coach will usually ask is “how are your grades?” For them, if they aren’t up to par, it’s not worth their energy to pursue you because no amount of athletic skill is going to get you accepted at most institutions if your grades and test scores are too low. Although coaches have some sway on who gets accepted, a great grade point average (GPA) and/or standardized test score can be the difference-maker between you and another recruit. Being academically sound will also open more doors for you scholarship-wise. By focusing on your eligibility early, you can ensure that you’re on track to complete all core courses in time and you are maintaining the GPA requirements. If you intend on attending an NCAA institution you need to do well on your SAT or ACT and be prepared to retake the tests if you fall short. There are many SAT study resources available to help you succeed. You must submit the test results to the schools you’re interested in and to the NCAA Eligibility Center.
Communication Guidelines
Every sport has different contact periods, each with its own rules and regulations concerning the kind of communication permitted between a coach and a prospective recruit. During a “Contact Period”, communication is permitted, including face-to-face and both on- and off-campus. Coaches may also write, call and speak with parents or guardians. During the “Evaluation Period”, a coach may visit an athlete's high school to take in a practice or game; however, contact is forbidden. During the Quiet Period where phone calls and letters are permitted, but in-person contact is forbidden, and coaches may not watch athletes play or visit their schools. You must be sure the rules are not being broken from the NCAA or the university’s standpoint because this can cause you to lose your chance as a prospect.
Visits and Commitments
There are two types of visits that are possible; unofficial and official visits. Any visit to a college campus by a college-bound student-athlete or his or her parents paid for by the college is an official visit. Visits paid for by student-athletes or their parents are considered unofficial visits. Each prospective student-athlete is permitted to have 5 official visits to schools of their choice. Campus visits are a great way to gauge your interest in a school, their programs and the team you could possibly play for. In addition to finding a school that aligns with your personal academic and athletic goals, you need to find a school that you feel comfortable attending. Proximity to home, choice of major or career path, size of the school and campus, compatibility with the team and coaches, and athletic and academic scholarships all need to be taken into consideration when determining where to continue your athletic and academic career.
Commitments to a school can take place in two ways. Verbal offers, or non-binding, handshake agreements between a recruit and a college coach, can happen at any time and age. Something to be aware of with early verbal agreements is that both the recruit and the coach can back out of them at any time. Offers become official when the athlete signs their National Letter of Intent which typically occurs during their senior year of high school.
Athletic Scholarships and Financial Need
College is expensive and finances play a considerable role in every family’s college choice. No one wants to leave school with massive student loan debt after graduation. It is important not to dismiss a college until you have explored the financial aid process to see what you might qualify for apart from an athletic scholarship. Each level and sport differ in the amount and number of athletic scholarships they can offer. Even if a team is fully funded with the maximum level of athletic scholarships, a coach may decide to divide those to many players and offer partial scholarships. Grants, loans, merit aid, financial aid and academic scholarships can also be obtained along with athletic scholarships.