Coach-Athlete Incompatibilities Can Shorten An Athletic Career
By
Dan Tudor
of
All-Stater Sports
Succeeding despite athletic disappointment:(from left) Kim
Stainer, Sarah Slayton, Alisa Bennett
|
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.
Colleges were interested, coaches were calling, offers were made. Every
starter on the team won a college volleyball scholarship. Sarah
Slayton, Alisa Bennett, and Kim Stainer headed off to volleyball powerhouses in
Utah, Texas, and California.
Sounds like a fairy tale, huh? Yes, but that's just the beginning of
the story. Instead of enjoying what might have been the prime of their
college athletic careers, these three student-athletes ultimately found
themselves out of college athletics and unhappy with how they handled the
"recruiting game."
"When I was going through the recruiting process, my coach was
completely different from how she was when I got to the school," says Slayton.
"She was very controlling. Unfortunately, I didn't pick up on that when I
was going through the recruiting visits."
Bennett had a similar experience. "My coach was not good at interacting
at all," says Bennett. "He was a great teacher, but an absolutely horrible
person to deal with on a daily basis." She adds, "He called me almost
every day while he was recruiting me, but after I signed, he didn't talk to
me until I got to the school and started practice."
Kim Stainer echoes these sentiments. "I had always played volleyball
because I loved the game," she says. "But my experience at the college
level took the fun out of it." Stainer's coach recommended that she
red-shirt her freshman year. She did so, but then she was activated
later in the year when a player ahead of her on the depth chart was injured.
Although it would mean losing most of her freshman year of eligibility,
the coach insisted that Stainer play. "I had a coach who was a huge success
at the college level," she says. "I was kind of intimidated and did not
question his motives."
|
|
|
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.
Top 10 questions asked of college coaches.
High school student-athletes seeking scholarships often bombard college coaches with questions. This article presents the 10 most frequently asked questions.
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.
|
