Top 10 questions asked of college coaches.
By
Craig Ross
of
All-Stater Sports
High school student-athletes
seeking scholarships often bombard college coaches with questions. This
article presents the 10 most frequently asked questions.
Give yourself an advantage by studying the answers. Then make sure the
answers work for you as you navigate through the recruiting process.
1. Will participating in multiple sports help or hinder my
scholarship opportunities?
Today, athletes are encouraged to work daily on the skills required for
mastery in their chosen sport. If you ignore this guideline, you risk
falling behind the competition. Nevertheless, participating in other
sports-and also in other activities-often reaps benefits. Darryl Smith,
head women's basketball coach at Wichita State University, encourages high
school athletes to pursue multiple activities, if they desire. "You want
kids to have different coaches so they have different experiences. It's
from these experiences that they will learn. Mentally, this is so
important."
Your key: You're only in high school once. Make your decisions
based on your own personal priorities.
2. What are my options if, when I graduate from high school, I am
academically ineligible to compete at a four-year college?
You have a couple of options. You can still attend a four-year school
without accepting a scholarship. You will not be a member of the team, but
you can work on your grades and prepare yourself academically and
physically for the following year. Or you can attend a junior college,
compete with that team while you improve your academic standing, and then
transfer to a four-year school once you have made satisfactory academic
progress.
Your key: Determine what sort of experiences you want directly
out of high school, and choose accordingly.
3. If I am academically eligible to compete at a four-year school,
should I still consider a junior college?
It is extremely important to keep all of your options open. Choosing a
junior college increases the chances that you will have more options to
choose from two years down the road. Junior colleges provide a window of
opportunity to develop academically, socially, and on the playing field.
You must weigh this against paying your dues-which usually means limited
playing time in the early years-at a four-year school.
Your key: Entertain interest from any school early in the
recruiting process.
4. What are the major differences between Division I, II, and
III?
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Recruiting timeline
To be successful in the recruiting game, you need to know when to do what. Take a look at the timeline below, and use it as a guide through the sometimes confusing world of college recruiting.
Rules, etiquette, and tips on reaching out to college coaches
Many experts advise high school student-athletes who want to play at the college level to take the initiative by writing to college coaches. This can be intimidating, particularly if one is unfamiliar with NCAA rules. All-Stater asked Ramona Barber to shed some light on the process and to help our readers get comfortable taking this essential step toward playing at the next level.
Should you walk on?
If you've seen the motion picture Rudy, keep reading. Welcome to "Walk-On College Athletes 101." We're here to erase some myths that are out there about walk-on athletes and walk-on opportunities at the college level. Class is in session.
Timing is everything taking the big test
Many students wait too late in the cycle to take the national college admission exams, the SAT and the ACT. To do your best, you’ve got to prepare with the same intensity you do for athletics. That means you’ve got to have a plan, and you’ve got to get the skills.
Division III athletics Dispelling the myths
Myth #1: D-III schools are just for rich people. When beginning your college search, keep costs out of consideration. Too often, students and families shy away from private colleges with high tuition, assuming they are only for high-income families. This is a myth. According to the 1999 college issue of U. S. News and World Report, “roughly 72 percent of students at private colleges and universities receive some financial aid.”
Choosing a Division III college
When choosing a college, don. t make your choice based on where you are going to play. Injuries happen, and you want to make sure that you will be happy in the atmosphere that you have chosen,. comments senior Holly Harris. Harris was a two-time All-League soccer player at South Torrance HS in California before going to Div. III Macalester College in Minnesota.
Recruiting Insider
Dear mom and dad, You cannot get your athletic offspring a college scholarship. But you can help them get exposed to college coaches, then hope that their academic and athletic abilities will entice a few coaches and colleges to offer financial assistance.
Coach-Athlete Incompatibilities
College athletic careers aren't supposed to end like this. After winning back-to-back state high school volleyball titles, all three girls were highly recruited. Their team-from Centennial High School in Bakersfield, California-was a state volleyball powerhouse, finishing with a national championship and a no. 1 ranking in USA Today.
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