Recruiting Questions and Answers:
You are Visitor Number 
Since
Sept. 19, 2002
Q. I love softball and I really want to play in college. When should I
start thinking about the college recruiting process?
A. The ideal time to begin the recruiting process is in your junior year
of high school. This is when your GPA starts to count the most, plus you have
time to make sure everything is on track for eligibility. Starting the process
as a senior can be hard if your GPA was lacking as a junior, or you don't have
all your core classes done. However, seniors can still make it with hard work!
Q. Where do I start?
A. A good place to begin is with your school counselor.
Q. What should I talk with him/her about?
A. Check with your counselor to see that you are fulfilling or have
fulfilled your Core Class Requirements and grade point average, and ask for an
NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse Release Form.
Q. What is the Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse?
A. The Clearinghouse is a place where your academic information is
stored, including high school transcrips and SAT scores, so colleges can check
to see that you have met all your eligibility requirments to attend college.
It is an NCAA requirement that all student athletes are registered and
certified (completed all core classes and graduated from high school) though
the Clearinghouse prior to attending college. Colleges will usually request
verification from the Clearinghouse prior to official contacts with prospective
athletes to make sure these athletes are "recruitable".
Q. I'm not sure if I have the core classes or grades to
go to college?
A. This page (adobe pdf file) will provide you with all the
answers to Division 1, 2 and 3 eligibility.
Q. What is the SAT test?
A. The "Scholastic Aptitude Test" or SAT is a nationally
administered test to help determine your math and verbal skills. It is a required
test for eligibility into NCAA Division 1 and 2 colleges. Note that the SAT test has changes as of
2005!
Q. How do I figure out what college is right for me?
A. Start here to begin searching for colleges that meet
all of your interests.
Q. Ok, I've come up with a list of colleges that interest
me. How do I let the college coach know I'm interested?
A. Marketing yourself is the most important factor in attaining your
collegiate softball goals!
Q. Isn't playing travel ball and attending those
so-called recruiting tournaments all the marketing I need? I thought college
coaches go these tournaments to "shop for players" who have good
skills and play hard?
A. Not hardly. Playing travel ball and attending recruiting tournaments
is only the start.
Recruiting tournaments are a venue for college coaches to assess the
skills of players who have contacted them and successfully marketed
themselves well enough to peek the coach's interest. There are thousands of
potential players who are seeking the same thing your are. The thing that will
separate you from them is marketing and persistence.
Q. How do I market myself to a college coach?
A. Marketing starts with introducing the product (you in this case) to the
potential buyer (the college coach). Download
a copy of the sample introduction letter and edit it to best suit you. Send it
to every college coach on your list of colleges, along with a comprehensive
player profile and summer or fall schedule.
Make sure your profile includes all the information that you believe will
"Sell" the coach on the product (you). The more you can tell the
coach about who you are, what your interests are, and what your academic,
athletic, and social skill level is, the better the chance the coach's interest
will be peeked.
Be sure to include your GPA and SAT scores if available, as well as all
academic and athletic acheivments, all awards including leadership attibutes,
outstanding statistics, attitude toward competition, as well as who you are
socially. Believe it or not, college coaches want more than just highly skilled
athletes. They want the whole package. Players who are well rounded academicly,
ahletically and socially will more likely be able to indure the tremendous
demands placed on the collegiate athlete.
Q. You said I should be persistent. How persistent?.
A. Persistence is a very important part of the marketing process. Once
you've sent out your letters of introduction and profile, be sure to follow up
with an email or phone call to the coach to be sure he/she has received your
information. Offer to follow up with any other information the coach may need.
Tell the the coach that you are excited for him/her to see you play and assess
your skills.
Continue to keep in touch by email or phone, informing him/her about any
new outstanding achievements both athleticlly and/or academiclly. Remember,
coaches are just people, and they are glad to hear from potential
student-athletes just like you. Most of them are very nice to talk to as well.
Q. I though I wasn't allowed to talk to a college coach?
A. They are many recruiting guidelines for Division 1, 2 and 3. However,
you or your parents can call or email a college coach as many times as you wish
without violating recruiting guidelines. If your interested in finding out
about these recruiting guidelines than start here.
Keep Checking Back For More Q & A!