Athletic Scholarship Advice for HS & JuCo Athletes
A: Whether helping your child choose a school as a blue-chip prospect with 50 scholarship offers or as a Division III non-scholarship athlete, it is very important to develop personal selection criteria that will help them through the process – and prioritize it based on their non-negotiables and preferences. Before the process becomes overwhelming, what are the core factors that …
A: Injuries, in most cases, are more mentally challenging than physically challenging to recover from. And depending on when your injury occurs (freshman year vs. junior year), you may have a little tougher route to getting scholarship offers, but it’s not impossible. Yes, you can come back from most injuries—it just takes plenty of extra patience, work and faith. This …
A: Within many programs, walk-on slots are just as competitive as scholarship spots. Many teams have children of former players, boosters and university staff on their roster as walk-ons. If you think your opportunity will come as a walk-on, it’s best to approach coaches in the same way a scholarship player would with game film and their Student-Athlete Resume, and …
A: Yes, if you are able to provide quality backup minutes to a starter, you will probably earn playing time and possibly a scholarship – but it may take you a few seasons. I’ve worked with walk-ons who saw significant playing time, who earned scholarships and who were major contributors to the team, but they were players who put in …
A: Yes, during an Unofficial Visit, the institution may offer a maximum of three complimentary admissions (issued only through a pass list) to a home athletics event at any facility within a 30-mile radius of a member institution’s main campus, in which the institution’s intercollegiate team practices or competes. The three admissions allowed are for the prospective student-athlete and …
A: Yes, coaches have been putting together their preliminary ‘Watch Lists’ of prospects for each class, even if players are too young to contact or recruit. These are just their base lists, their early lists—used to get the process going for the next recruitable class. These lists change DRASTICALLY during the first few months of these evaluation periods. Coaches …
A: On both Official and Unofficial visits, coaches are trying to both get to know you better and want you get a better understanding of them, what they have to offer and to get to know their coaching staff and players. It’s a two-way street and coaches are often trying to impress you as much as you are trying …
A: Whether choosing a school as a blue-chip prospect with 50 scholarship offers or as a Division III non-scholarship athlete, the process of choosing a school can be time consuming and overwhelming. It’s important to develop your personal selection criteria that will help you through the process – and prioritize it on your non-negotiables. Before the process becomes overwhelming, …
A: 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 college-bound student-athletes or their parents are “Unofficial Visits.” During an Official Visit the college can pay for transportation to and from the college for the prospect, lodging and three meals …
A: Most likely yes, unfortunately. Your recruitment by a particular school can end at any time, with no warning, sometimes for reasons you can’t control. Coaches offer more scholarships then they have available. And until you sign your National Letter of Intent (NLI), nothing is “official” on either side. Each coaching staff breaks down their depth chart for each …