NCSA College Athletic Scholarships Blog

Attention all men’s basketball recruits! The NCAA has put into effect legislation restricting, NCAA Division I men’s basketball coaches, from observing non-scholastic events in April. A vote to override this new legislation has failed.

Since coaches will not be able to attend your travel team events in April–events in July will be crucial to your recruiting. Make sure you know where the NCAA Division I coaches you are talking to and have interest in, will be this July. If you do not know where they will be, you could miss out on an evaluation.

Now it is more important than ever to play on your high school varsity team. You need to get college coaches to your high school tournaments and games for more exposure. You might need to play on a travel team earlier in your career, because you need the opportunity to get in front of as many college coaches as possible.

How does this affect your summer schedule? What do you think about this new rule?

 The USA Today had a great story today about the potential of an early signing period for college football.  Essentially, the proposed plan would allow potential football recruits to officially sign in the third week of December rather than forcing them to wait until the traditional February signing day. 

Basically, the conference commissioners strongly oppose the early signing period while the majority of football coaches are in favor.

On one side…

At the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), a proposal was written by the coaches and forwarded to the commissioners for a vote.  Apparently, the commissioners were not impressed.  “It wasn’t that close a vote,” SEC associate commissioner Greg Sankey, who attended the vote at the NCAA convention, told The Associated Press. “I would say for now an early signing period is done. I wouldn’t want to suggest there’s not another idea out there. But there’s not one that’s been identified at this point.”

On the other side…

According to a survey conducted by the AFCA, 73% of FBS (i.e., Division I-A) head coaches and 82% of FCS (i.e., Division I-AA) head coaches backed the plan.

What gives?  Why are two sides so far apart?  In my opinion, the early signing period would allow student-athletes a chance to formalize their commitment by officially signing, thus ending the emotional rollercoaster that recruiting can cause, while simultaneously providing the coaches assurance they have locked in the recruits they have spent the last two years pursuing.

Unfortunately the article does not provide much insight as to why the commissioners are so adamantly opposed to the early signing period.  They claim that the plan is extremely flawed and really do not seem optimistic that an early signing period will exist for football in the near future.  Can you think of why?

I recently read that Samford University signed three 2010 softball recruits. 

Being reminded once again that student-athletes seem to be signing earlier and earlier these days, I was struck by something else worth mentioning again.  There is something very valuable about attending college sports camps.  

Besides the obvious benefit of learning from collegiate athletes and coaches, you are getting a chance to showcase your skills for them first-hand.  I believe there is extraordinary value in this.  

Most colleges offer camps for kids starting as early as 6th grade.  So, consider this scenario:

You sign up for a softball clinic during your holiday break at a university near your home that has a good coaching staff and a successful program.  You are 12 years old.  You learn some great things about fielding and bunting and pitching and hitting and you are excited to use what you’ve learned at your next practice and during your upcoming season.  You really enjoyed learning from older girls who love the sport and are playing it at the level you someday hope to as well. You see that they will be holding a week-long camp over the summer so you sign up again.  You participate in these camps/clinics each time they are offered for the next 5 years. You have now become a fan of that softball program and you go to watch their games and cheer them on.  You imagine yourself playing there someday.  It has been a great experience for you personally over the past 5 years.  

Now look at it from the perspective of the college coach and the softball program:

A 12 year-old girl signs up for your holiday clinic and makes an immediate impression.  She’s a hard worker and listens to instruction.  She is fun and has a good attitude.  You can see she loves the game and is working to make improvements in her game based on what you are teaching her.  She asks questions and is eager to learn.  She continues to come back to your camps and clinics and it is gratifying to you and your program to see a familiar face and to see how she has grown and matured over the years.   She comes to your games and cheers you on and even invites her friends and teammates to do the same.

By the time you (the student-athlete) are in high school and start to think seriously about your college recruiting process, you have already laid a foundation with this particular school and softball program.  The coaching staff KNOWS your name.  They know a lot about your character and about your skills as an athlete.  You know plenty about them too.  You have seen them play. You know the recent history of their program.   You know the coaching staff well.  You know their approach to the game and their coaching style.  You know the current players.  You even know some that could potentially be your future teammates if you continue to attend their camps through your senior year.  You also know a bit about the school itself.  You have been on the campus numerous times.  It is all familiar to you.

Here is what 2010 Samford University signee Jessica Jackson and coach Beanie Ketcham had to say:

“I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to meet a few of the softball players at Samford at a young age while attending clinics on campus,” Jackson said. “The question of where I wanted to play softball in college was determined by how amazing the coaches and players seemed to be and now I’ll be living out a four-year dream playing softball at Samford University.”

“Jessica has been on our radar for a long time, having attended our softball camps over the last several years,” Ketcham said. “We have been waiting on this day for a long time and are excited that she will finally become a Samford Bulldog. Jessica brings a level of toughness and commitment that will help us continue to improve as a program. Her “big game” experience while playing on the Vipers is also a positive. We expect her to make an impact in the line up with the potential to hit for power and drive in runs.”

There is tremendous value in attending a clinic/camp at a local college or university.  You may be laying the groundwork for a great future opportunity.  And if you attend a camp or clinic and have a negative experience, that too can be beneficial, as you will know which places you DON’T want to spend time contacting.  

In addition to camps at specific schools, there are a number of other sports camps, nationwide, that can offer you similar exposure.  These camps are often run by current college coaches from all over the country.  Another great way to get your name out there and to be seen by coaches who are ALWAYS looking for their next great discovery!  

So, get busy.  Start by checking the websites of some local schools and get signed up for upcoming camps and clinics.  Check out the NFCA site that offers a number of recruiting camps.    US Sports camps has teamed up with Nike.  FCA holds camps on various college campuses.   Kids camps is a great source for not only athletic camps but academic, arts, adventure, and many other camps. 

The recruiting buzz this time of year for seniors typically centers on the National Letter of Intent (NLI) and corresponding signing dates.  This is one of the most important and often times misunderstood aspects of the recruiting process.  For many student-athletes, the signing of their NLI is the culmination of all the hard work they have put towards athletics, academics, and recruiting.  For other student-athletes, the lack of a NLI to sign indicates a need to shift their expectations and focus on different schools.  Either way, it is critical for student-athletes of all ages to understand the NLI.

Let’s start with the basics. 

What is the National Letter of Intent?

The NLI is a voluntary program consisting of 610 DI and DII schools.  DIII, Junior Colleges and NAIA universities do not participate in the NLI program.  The NLI is a binding agreement between the student-athlete and the college that, when signed, indicates the student-athlete has agreed to attend the chosen college for one academic year and the college has agreed to provide athletic financial aid for one academic year.

Why only one academic year?

Athletic scholarships are renewable every year at the college’s discretion and the student-athlete is notified annually regarding whether or not the athletic aid has been extended.  However, the student-athlete is not required to sign a NLI each year.  It is also important to note that the agreement encompasses a full academic year and not only the athletic season.

Do I have to sign a NLI?

No, the National Letter of Intent is a voluntary program for both student-athletes and the colleges choosing to participate. 

If it’s voluntary, why should I sign the NLI?

Basically, the NLI provides security for both the college and student-athlete.  For the student-athlete, the NLI serves as assurance of an athletic scholarship for one full academic year.  It also signals the end of the recruiting process and bans other college programs from pursuing a student athlete.  For the college, the NLI focuses on a commitment to the academic institution rather than a team or coach so the student-athlete’s education is the priority.

How do I get a NLI?

The college providing the athletic aid will send you the official NLI through one of the following ways; express mail, courier service, regular mail, email, or fax.

When do I sign the NLI?

You can only sign during the designated period for your sport outlined below.  If you sing the NLI outside the appropriate period, the NLI will be considered void.  The student-athlete and a parent or legal guardian must sign the NLI within 14 days of issuance.  Student athletes may sign the NLI before being certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center, however if they are deemed a non-qualifier, the NLI is rendered void.  For updated signing days (since the ones below are from last year, click here)

Is there anything else I should know about the NLI?

There are quite a few rules and regulations governing the voluntary program and here are a few to keep in mind:

• The college coach cannot be present if the NLI is signed off campus.
• Student-athletes are able to sign a NLI while on campus for an official visit.
• Student-athletes are allowed to make a verbal commitment and then sign the NLI with a different school since the verbal agreement is non-binding.
• The NLI does not guarantee playing time, only a financial reward for one academic year.
• Student-athletes cannot sign a NLI for two sports since the commitment is towards the academic institution and not a coach or specific sports team.
• If the student-athlete is under the age of 21, a parent or legal guardian must also sign the NLI.
• If the student-athlete changes their mind about attending the institution with which they signed the NLI, the basic penalty is a loss of one year of eligibility.
• The NLI is binding even if the coach who offered the letter leaves the college.

What happens if I do not receive a NLI?

That is a great question and thousands of student-athletes every year do not sign a NLI and go on to play their sport in college.  Next week, I will explain what you should do if you do not have a NLI to sign.

Coach Chmiel with some old Notre Dame friends

Matt Webb with National Champion Urban Meyer

Maybe Division I isn’t always what its cracked up to be…. Sports Illustrated on Herb Magee, the Philadelphia University basketball coach.

He had chances to move. He had chances to make more money. “And who doesn’t want to make more money?” he asks. But he stayed because Philadelphia is home, and because he loves his life, and maybe because Division II is in the shadows and more comfortable and closer to what he wants sports to be about. And also, maybe, because he knows that sometimes when chasing happiness, happiness is what you leave behind.

“Without sounding cocky, I do think I could have coached Division I basketball,” Magee says. “But the way I figure it, coaching is coaching. You’re teaching kids. That’s what it’s about, right?”

The trouble is, people say those words all the time, and they don’t sound right if they come from coaches like Nick Saban or Bobby Petrino, men who would switch locker rooms at halftime if the price was right.

Sparks, 64, has been the coach at Carson-Newman in Jefferson City, Tenn., for 29 years. It’s his alma mater. His teams have won 276 games and lost 70. They won five NAIA national championships before becoming a power in NCAA Division II. He, too, could have gone big time. People called. But he stayed in Jefferson City. He kept his children in the same school. He kept signing his one-year contracts.

“Listen, fortune and fame and power and pleasure, all those things appeal to this ol’ boy pretty good,” he says. “But there’s a greater cause beside those things. I’m not one of those guys who thinks God comes around and slaps you on the side of the head or writes a message in the clouds. But best I can figure out, I feel like He’s wanted me here.”

Then he pauses to take a call from school president J. Randall O’Brien. Sparks needs to talk to him because he wants to drop off a homemade cake at the president’s office.

If playing sports in college is really important to you and you don’t fit the Division I profile, there are hundreds of programs across America that offer the chance to compete.  Who knows, you might later look back at your decision and smile.

Read Part One Here

Even though academic concerns should take priority when choosing a college or university, as a student-athlete your success in your particular sport will make your entire undergraduate experience more rewarding.  It’s tough to do well in the classroom if you’re struggling athletically. 

The following are some concerns an athlete might deal with before making a final decision on what college to attend:

1. How many returners are there at my position?

Competition is part of being an athlete.  If you don’t want to compete, you shouldn’t even try to take your talents to the next level.  At same time, it’s a lot easier to know how to set your goals if you know exactly what challenges you will face.  And don’t forget, the more experienced players will help you mature as an athlete.

(more…)

The start of a new year brings the beginning of the end of your high school academic year.  You are already half-way through your year!  That may sound like good news if you’re anxious for spring and summer to arrive.  But if you haven’t been on top of your game in the area of college visits, it may mean you have some catching up to do.  
This weekend is a prime opportunity for you to get back in the game.  The Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend is one of the most popular weekends of the year for College/University Open Houses.  It is almost a guarantee that if you log onto the website of your top choices for colleges, you will discover that they are holding an Open House this weekend.  
It may be too late in the game to travel to some of your out-of-town favorites.  However, you can still suit up and get over to one or more of your local schools.  This weekend is a perfect chance for you to see what great things may be waiting for you in your own backyard!  
Your moment has arrived.  MLK weekend is upon us.  There are just a few seconds left on the clock.  Get in the game and be the one who takes that final shot.  You never know.  When the weekend is all said and done – you just may be holding onto that ultimate prize – a college decision! 
Take a look at some last minute tips before you head to your visit.  

I am usually completely in awe of Pete Carroll’s genius recruiting tactics, but I’m not too sure where he was going with his comments yesterday on Mark Sanchez leaving school early for the NFL.  I can understand why he is upset that USC’s National Championship hopes are hurt, but doesn’t a coach have a responsibility to support his players?  However, maybe he was trying to come out against palyers that leave school early without a diploma?

Does Pete take the right angle with these comments?  What do you think?

Its official.  The NCAA has declared that athletic recruiting begins in the 7th grade.  The organization has taken the step to formally declare 7th graders as prospects.

The organization voted Thursday to change the definition of a prospect from ninth grade to seventh grade – for men’s basketball only – to nip a trend in which some college coaches were working at private, elite camps and clinics for seventh- and eighth-graders. The NCAA couldn’t regulate those camps because those youngsters fell below the current cutoff.

“It’s a little scary only because – we talked about this – where does it stop?” said Joe D’Antonio, chairman of the 31-member Division I Legislative Council, which approved the change during a two-day meeting at the NCAA Convention. “The fact that we’ve got to this point is really just a sign of the times.”

Schools had expressed concern that the younger-age elite camps were giving participating coaches a recruiting advantage, pressuring other coaches to start their own camps.

“The need to nip that in the bud was overwhelming,” said Steve Mallonee, the NCAA’s managing director of academic and membership affairs.

While men’s basketball is the only sport affected, D’Antonio said he could envision future discussions on lowering the limit for other sports, notably football.

A common phrase at NCSA is, “I’ve never met a recruit who started too early or had too much help.”  The NCAA has now formally announced how early the process starts and I urge every potential recruit to get started as soon as possible.