Recruiting and Injuries: How do I get evaluated by coaches after injury?

Q: I was getting recruited by multiple schools last year, but had a season-ending injury. I’m back now, how do I get recruited again?

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 …

All Communicating with Coaches Walk-Ons

Q: When should I contact a coach about walking on to the team?

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 …

All Scholarship Offers Walk-Ons

Q: If I walk-on and am good, can I eventually earn scholarship money and/or get playing time?

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 …

All Campus Visits (Official & Unofficial) NCAA Rules

Q: Will colleges give you free tickets to a game for an Unofficial Visit?

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 …

All Campus Visits (Official & Unofficial)

Q: Are Junior Days invitation only?

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 …

All Campus Visits (Official & Unofficial) Selection Factors

Q: I have never been on an Official Visit, what should I expect?

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 …

All Campus Visits (Official & Unofficial) Selection Factors

Q: What exactly should I be looking for on visits?

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, …

All Campus Visits (Official & Unofficial) NCAA Rules

Q: What’s the difference between an Official Visit and Unofficial Visit?

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 …

All Communicating with Coaches Evaluations

Q: If you are offered a scholarship but communication stops with the coach—are they no longer interested?

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 …

All Committing Communicating with Coaches Scholarship Offers

Q: The coaching staff that has been recruiting me has been fired or taken a job at another school—does my scholarship offer still stand?

A: One of the toughest hurdles a player can go through during their career is dealing with a coaching change, especially at the collegiate level. Whether a coach retires, leaves for another school, decides to go coach a pro team or gets fired—emotions run high and the media and critics will pile on the uncertainty. It’s important to understand …

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