School Sport

As high school athletes move from the lower- to upper-class years, one constant begins to overwhelm their thoughts: getting recruited by a college. Most are aware that doing so isn’t a passive processthe most likely recruits are those who take the initiative and jumpstart their own college careers. But the exact “how” of the process can be a little murkier. While there’s no surefire way to make it to the college of your choice, there are some things you can do to increase your chances.Get evaluated. NCSA Athletic Recruiting is a team of former student-athletes with a passion for helping the new generation. NCSA Recruiting Coaches will work with students to find matches for them. After speaking with an NCSA Scout, students can log in to the NCSA website and register for an evaluation. This is a great way to build a trustworthy athletic “resume” which can be easily browsed by coaches.Make sure to practice your academics as well. The days when talent alone got you the pick of the college crop are gone. Today, it’s equally important to be able to keep up academically as well. A balanced GPA with above-average talent may be a better combination than an obsessively perfect game with a poor GPA.Reach out to coaches. As good as you think you are, it won’t mean anything if no one’s heard of you. That’s why it helps to be proactive in contacting the coaches at your favorite schools. It’s never too early, either. Student-athletes must now plan ahead starting earlier than ever, starting in their freshman year of high school or even before that.Make a video. A good tape will have footage of both your best games and skills exhibitions. These videos can be posted online or sent out to coaches along with copies of your transcript and NCSA evaluation.Be prompt in your communications. If you get a response from a coach, always reply immediately. Don’t worry about seeming too forwardif they ask for more information, you’re already likely a top candidate. Get them what they’re asking for, and make sure that your high school coach is equally as prompt.Research, research, research. There are a vast number of sites out there just like this one. Don’t rely on a single sourceinvestigate areas of interest and make sure you know what you’re talking about before you approach coaches. You should know about the college’s academic programs as well as their athletic records. And remember: a good body of knowledge will help show your ambition. A good network of friends, coaches, players, and other contacts will help show that you’re someone the school could use on their team.