NCSA College Athletic Scholarships Blog

Last week the NCAA agreed to pay former Oklahoma State pitcher Andrew Oliver $750,000 to settle the case he filed challenging the NCAA’s rule banning players from using legal advisers in contract negotiations with professional teams.  Richard G. Johnson, Oliver’s attorney, wrote NCSA to air his view on the settlement and the NCAA.

Apart from class actions, I’m not aware of another student-athlete who won a declaratory judgment or permanent injunction, or who has prevailed on liability on one of our two jury counts, and I’m not aware of another individual student-athlete that the NCAA has settled with for any amount of money let alone a substantial amount of money.

In regards to the obvious question: What this means is that there is no declaratory judgment now against the NCAA invalidating its Bylaws 12.3.2.1 or 19.7.

So the NCAA can continue to act with its typical arrogance and try to continue to deny student-athletes the right to counsel, or it can realize that it will lose 100/100 of any such future lawsuits over this rule, since no court is going to allow the NCAA to regulate lawyers or prohibit nonmember student-athletes from retaining counsel (Can you imagine what would happen if they had a rule that its members couldn’t have counsel when negotiating their media rights?). As has been reported recently, the NCAA has sent out a baseball questionnaire to student-athletes who were drafted, but who did not sign, and this questionnaire goes beyond even the bad-faith the NCAA evidenced towards Andy. No student-athlete legally has to respond to this inquiry, but we’ll see if they are bowed into submission or whether someone decides to challenge this new affront to student-athlete rights.

Since I represent Andy, I had to do what was in his best interest, and without a settlement here, we would have won the trial, and probably received a very large verdict, in my opinion, and then we would have been stuck in 3-5 years of appellate hell. Andy needed to move on with his career and life, and to do so, the NCAA was able to “extort” its way back to the status quo–which it can only do, because no one regulates it as a nonprofit unincorporated association with a $20MM annual legal budget that it spends to beat up on student-athletes and anyone else that dares to challenge it. In fact, the NCAA is the only unregulated monopoly in the United States. Until Congress gets involved, decides to regulate undergraduate sports and the NCAA, and passes a national Student-Athlete Rights Act, the kids will continue to be mistreated by the NCAA as well as by its member colleges and universities, who at the Division I level hide behind “amateurism” while chasing the mighty dollar as fast as they can (See Myles Brand’s quote in the April 2nd U.S.A. Today, I believe, but I don’t have it in front of me, about how the NCAA wanted to compete with the professional sports leagues for revenue.). For instance, the NCAA Eligibility Center, LLC is now a for-profit, wholly owned subsidiary of the NCAA, which is now making money off of the NCAA’s supposed tax exempt purpose! I could think of a thousand more hypocrisies within the NCAA. Why is this allowed? Why, apart from an historical accident, does the NCAA have tax-exempt status as a 501(3)(c), when it acts like a trade association for its members, when its primary purpose by revenue is to, well, generate revenue, and when its spends less than 5% of its budget on its tax-exempt purpose, as far as I can tell from its IRS Form 990 filings (it spends more than this on executive salaries and private jet service)?

I’ve got plenty to say on the topic, but the NCAA is a billion dollar bully, we could not fight this battle alone forever, nobody came to our aid, and so we did what was in Andy’s best interests, which, unfortunately, is not in the best interests of the other 360,000 or so student-athletes nationally, which I regret.

Don’t fall into the same trap.  Get advice from the experts.

If you are interested in bringing Coach Chmiel to speak to your school, camp, combine, or convention please visit HERE or call a Recruiting Education Coordinator immediately or call (888) 333-6846, and press option 4.

As I awoke to the blaring of my alarm clock, I rolled over and checked the time to make sure that I was indeed waking up at the right hour. It read 4:30 AM, and yes, this was the correct time for me to be waking up today, even though the sun was still an hour away from rising. I rolled out of my temporary bed for the week which was a pull-out couch in the condo that my family had rented. We were in Knoxville, Tennessee for the 17 & Under AAU National Olympics and my traveling baseball team, the Redshirts of Chicago, Illinois had the misfortune of being slated for a 9 AM game this morning. Pregame for us started at 7:30 AM, which meant getting to the field at 7 AM, after an hour drive to the field. As I gradually awoke from my sleep I began to pull on my uniform and quickly noticed that I was not the only one up. My mom had heard my alarm go off and was in the kitchen putting a cooler together for me as the temperature would undoubtedly reach into the 90’s that day. As I munched on a bowl of cereal and a banana, she wished me luck for the game and went back to bed for another hour or so.

The above situation was something that occurred often in my house ever since I started playing baseball at the age of 5. My dad coached me from my first t-ball game until I joined my traveling team at age 14 and both of my parents made every attempt possible to attend every game that they could. Family road trips were common and the sacrifices my entire family made, including my younger sister, should not go unnoticed. Summers basically revolved around my baseball schedule and for this I am grateful for everything that my family has done for me over the years to encourage my growth both athletically and as a person. This is why I urge all student-athletes, especially those who are involved with the National Collegiate Scouting Association, to be appreciative and thankful when it comes to their families, especially their parents. Without our parents and guardians, we as student-athletes would not have the means to play the sports we love and attend the school of our choosing. Uniforms, equipment, rides and time are just a few of the things that parents contribute to us and we should work hard everyday to make their sacrifices well worth it.

Emily Simpson attended Saint Louis University and played four years for the Women’s Club Soccer team. The time she spent at SLU was truly memorable both for soccer and academics, but when asked about the role her parents played in her development as an athlete, she voiced the true appreciation she has for them.

“My mom went to every soccer game she possibly could, even to a few in college, while my dad made it to the games he could due to his heavy work schedule. My parents have always been the most supportive people in my life, even when it comes to my activities like soccer.”

As young people growing up, we sometimes lose sight of the sacrifices and hard work our parents commit in order to help us become better athletes and better people. Now a 22 year-old college graduate, Emily spoke about her parents during her youth playing soccer.

“When I was younger, they would either take turns taking me to every soccer practice and game or found a way to get me there.”

Again, to us as student-athletes, it seems common and assumed that our parents help us in any way possible. At the very least, as high-school athletes, collegiate-athletes and perhaps beyond, we should act in accordance with the values and commitments of our parents. When it’s all said and done, we are given the means to succeed athletically and academically because of the opportunities they have provided for us.

For those student-athletes that are enrolled with NCSA, take the time to thank your parents for giving you the opportunity to utilize our services and maximize your college recruiting experience. Time and time again we here at NCSA see parents and guardians going above and beyond to provide our services for their children, services that will undoubtedly help these student-athletes achieve their goals on the playing fields and in the classrooms. Not only should these student-athletes thank their parents, but they should also make decisions that will be a reflection of the commitment their parents have made.

Luke Powers, a former basketball player at John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio, spoke fondly of his parents and all of the work they did to provide him the means to play basketball in high school at Loyola Academy in Chicago and beyond.

“My parents were always there to support me and my basketball career. Every time I needed a ride to practice or a game they were always there to be counted on. When I got to John Carroll to start playing, their support continued and it felt great to make them proud of my achievements. I owe it all to them.”

Emily and Luke are just two student-athletes who understand the true commitment and sacrifice that their parents have made over the years. I strongly urge the hundreds of thousands of other student-athletes across the country to do the same, especially those who are involved with NCSA. I personally know that I would not be anywhere close to the person I am today without the support and dedication of my parents.

There was a running joke amongst the baseball parents at John Carroll University that every time my parents came to campus to see a game, I would have the game of my life. Specifically, the mothers all had a theory that it was because my mom was there to watch me, and they very well could have been right. I tried to make my parents proud whether it was performing well in the classroom or committing myself to the team at JCU. So please, take the time to thank your parents, your guardians and even teachers and coaches who have given you the opportunity to play the sport you love so much. Make them proud by the way you carry yourself on and off the field, because someday you will hope that your children follow the same path that you once did. Besides, it really is the least you could do.

Coaches like to send letters.  Lots of letters.  The mail stacks up in recruits mailboxes pretty quickly because there are virtually no restrictions when a coach can send mail.  Unfortunately, this has some disastrous consequences for recruits that don’t have a grasp on the recruiting process.  Many athletes think they are getting recruited just because they are getting mail!  Recruits need to understand that EVERYBODY gets mail, even kids that are already committed to another school. ESPN.com described how one recruit literally can’t stop the flow of mail.

Eric Reid gets more mail than anyone else at his house.

It started two years ago with a letter here and there, all from colleges interested in recruiting the highly touted safety. He began saving the letters in an old shoe box.

Now, even though Reid’s feet are size 16, the shoebox is overflowing and there’s an additional pile of mail stacked next to it.

Reid verbally committed to LSU in March, yet the Dutchtown High School (Geismar, La.) senior still gets five or six recruiting mailings every day.

“It would have been crazy had he not committed early,” Dutchtown coach Benny Saia said about Reid’s recruitment. “He was getting stuff from Notre Dame, Stanford, Florida, all the big schools. When you find a kid that has the size, the speed and the grades that he has, everybody gets on him.”

Despite interest from schools all over the country, Reid was set on LSU.

Keep in mind that you can’t get a much more solid commitment than the one Eric has given LSU.  They are an undefeated national power and he is a life-long fan, yet still the letters come.  Why?  Because coaches figure WHY NOT?  It costs them a tiny fraction of their recruiting budget.  It’s the same reason recruits whoa ren’t being seriously recruited still get mail.  Coaches figure, “Heck, maybe he’ll improve at the last second and we’ll get a walk-on.”

Recruits need to understand this recruiting reality and learn how to build REAL relationships with college coaches.  One place they can learn to do that, is talking to a recruiting expert at NCSA.

The fall sports season is truly one of the most exciting times in all of the sporting world from the high school level, collegiate level and on to the highest ranks of the professional sporting leagues. As Major League Baseball enters their postseason play, the National Football League kicks off their season and the puck drops for the National Hockey League. High school athletes are in mid-season form for their respective sports and the same goes for college athletes across the country. What is so magical about this time of the year is that while so many sports are going on congruently, at so many different levels, one major lesson is to be learned by everyone participating in these sports. Whether you are taking the field as a professional athlete or waking up early for off-season training for your high school or college, one thing is happening to all athletes. They are being taught the values of hard work, commitment and dedication by their parents, coaches, teachers and teammates. To many, sport is merely that; a game that is played by people of all ages and that it is merely a game. However, those who understand sport at a much deeper level know that it is so much more than just a game. The lessons that are learned and the work ethic that is instilled in athletes are truly amazing. Let’s take a look at a few examples of how athletes use what they’ve learned in sport and have applied them to everyday life.

Nothing has changed for Trevor Heffernan in terms of his schedule since he graduated from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. During his days at WMU, he would wake up at 4 and 5 AM for early morning skate with the Men’s Ice Hockey Club Team where he played goalie, and then head off to school for a full day of classes. This routine was engrained within Trevor so when it was time for graduation, he was well-practiced in the ability to be a hard worker no matter what he was doing. Whether it was working down at the Chicago Board Options Exchange upon graduation or working on his family’s farm in upstate Illinois, Trevor always put 110% into whatever it was he was doing.

“The bonds I formed with my teammates playing hockey are unbreakable. It was these bonds that taught me the value of counting on the person next to you, whether it’s on the ice or working on my family farm. You need to commit and work towards your goals regardless of what they are.”

Today, Trevor’s main priority is preparing his family farm, Susanna Farms, for the annual harvest, which is a month long celebration of the history and natural beauty of the vast acreage of their farm. To be more specific, Trevor spends countless hours making sure things are prepared for hayrides, pumpkin picking and his pride and joy, the First Annual Haunted Hayride.

“I understand and appreciate the great history that this farm represents. Everything I learned about respect and dedication, I put towards this farm and getting it ready for other people to enjoy it as I have.”

Trevor is a true example of how playing college athletics can not only mold you physically to perform at a high level on the fields, courts and rinks, but more importantly, mold you mentally to be an all-around better person.

Kellen Kmiecik began his collegiate career playing baseball at Marietta College in Marietta, Ohio. He soon found opportunity elsewhere at Southern Wesleyan University in South Carolina. During his college years, Kellen competed in several prestigious summer leagues including invite-only leagues in Alaska and South Carolina. In January, Kellen will head to Arizona to compete in an invite-only league so professional teams can evaluate his talent. However, Kellen brings the same passion and determination to the baseball diamond that he brings when he helps his father run the local Recreational Center in Elmwood Park, Illinois.

“I enjoy my time at the recreational center because it is a great way to give back to the surrounding area and it’s so enjoyable to see all the kids come in here and play the sports they love to play.”

When I asked Kellen if playing baseball, especially at the collegiate level, had anything to do with this, his response was precise.

“I learned everything I know about respect, focus, hard work and dedication from playing baseball. I was always taught from an early age that playing baseball is about ability and respect. There is a right way and a wrong way to play the game, and I play the game the right way. I try and live my life the way I play the game.”

Parents often worry about their student-athlete as they head off to college for their freshman year in terms of academics and athletics. Will they play enough? Will they get a good education? Will they make the right decisions? Both Trevor and Kellen are great examples of student-athletes becoming upstanding, respectful citizens upon graduation. So much goes into being a collegiate athlete that is behind the scenes, and those who can’t handle the responsibility of hard work, dedication, commitment and respect will quickly make the adjustment or fade away.

The first step towards finding the right school for your son or daughter is through an aggressive and meaningful recruiting process. We here at the National Collegiate Scouting Association understand what it takes to not only be a student-athlete, but also be a well-rounded citizen. We understand the process and the requirements better than anyone in the business and we urge you to take that first step towards starting that recruiting process. The road may seem long and harrowing, but what lies beyond it for your future student-athlete is truly amazing and will make you proud.

One of the biggest myths about recruiting that NCSA is constantly trying to correct to athletes that play every sport all across the country is that, Coaches discover talent at camps. Coaches depend on verified information well ahead of camps to identify their top prospects.  Once they arrive at camp, along with all the other paying customers, the coaching staff evaluates their ability.

Pete Carroll was recently profile d by Esquire magazine and they described exactly how the USC staff treated camp.

A few minutes before seven on a Saturday morning, the queues were already forming outside Heritage Hall, another football camp, this one for actual players. A shish kebab of high school kids in colorful Under Armour and shower sandals waited expectantly, their accompanying family members settling in for the day’s long haul — most would picnic along the sidelines of the Howard Jones practice field. (That the neighborhood around the university is historically dicey would keep most of the families on campus until 4:30 P.M., when the camp ended with the fastest-man contest.) By the time the doors opened, more than 350 had registered, at a reasonable sixty-five dollars a pop, some clutching highlight DVDs, others just out for the thrill of being coached by Carroll and his staff. A dozen juniors and seniors were actually scholarship worthy — the staff knew well who they were.

So how do you join the dozen or so players that get evaluated?  You need to get verified as a viable recruit by a trusted third party to college coaches ahead of camp time.  Coaches simply don’t have the time or resources to evaluate every player they come in contact with.  Recruits should take the time to make sure they are verified ahead of time.  One way to do so, is to get evaluated by an NCSA Scout.

One overlooked part of choosing a university is the network of alumni that support graduating students once they graduate.  Powerful alumni networks often set elite academic institutions apart from their competitors.  The main benefit of a strong alumni is obvious: They help graduates find jobs!  However, you rarely hear recruits mentioning alumni when they make a college decision.

One prominent alumni at Stanford University is doing her best to give her school a recruiting edge and is proof of why recruits might want to think about alumni when choosing a school.

Tai-Ler Jones was one of the top high school football players in the country when he visited Stanford last spring. At the time, he was more interested in attending traditional college powerhouses such as Notre Dame and his home-state University of Georgia, as well as Cal and UCLA.

But three days later, Jones committed to play for Stanford — thanks in considerable measure to the words of a political science professor whose last job was at the White House:

Condoleezza Rice, the Stanford athletic department’s secret weapon.

“She heavily influenced my decision,” said Jones, who will enroll in 2010. “How many colleges can say they have a Condoleezza Rice and that she can be a mentor to you? It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me.”

The former Secretary of State is as accessible to Stanford athletes and recruits as a first-year teacher’s assistant.

“I believe so much in the (athletic) program,” Rice said by phone from Washington, D.C., last week. “I also believe we have an obligation to help the athletes, and the recruits see that academics is taken as seriously as athletics, and the faculty is the best conveyor of that.”

Rice is an equal-opportunity conveyor.

She addressed participants of the Pac-10 women’s golf championships, which were held at Stanford last spring. She met with Harrison Barnes, the top basketball recruit in the country, when he visited campus over the summer. She welcomed former Cardinal football players Evan Moore and Trent Edwards when they appeared, unannounced, at her office door a few months ago.

And whenever possible, Rice meets with football recruits.

“We call, and when she’s available, she’ll do it,” Stanford football coach Jim Harbaugh said. “She’s so generous with her time, and she pours her heart into it. She talks to the athletes like she’s their age. It’s phenomenal.”

Jones, a highly sought receiver from Gainesville, Ga., was one of approximately 20 recruits watching an April practice when Rice walked over and introduced herself. She recognized Jones and knew of his father, Andre, who played football in the late 1980s at Notre Dame, where Rice earned her master’s degree in political science a decade earlier.

Tai-Ler Jones, normally loquacious, stood silent as Rice talked about Stanford and all it could offer. She suggested that Jones enroll in one of her classes and offered to “be a mentor to me,” he said.

A school’s support system is a key part to both graduating and finding the right job.  It can also be a support system that can help guide your entire professional career.  However, recruits can only choose a school based on extra factors like this if they have numerous school options.  How can recruits have so many options?  Only be starting early and developing relationships as soon as possible.

Before calling the coach, a student should visit the college’s website to learn some facts about the college and the team. Does the college offer the athlete’s major? What are the graduation rates? What was the team’s record last year? How many senior players are graduating? An athlete should know all this information going into the call. If a student calls to inquire into a program at a school that doesn’t offer their major, the athlete will be embarrassed and the coach might be irritated.

Parents should consider role-playing with the recruit before the  first phone call. For adults, the process seems easy: Pick up the phone and call the coach. But parents need to remember that their child is inexperienced and needs to practice calling authority figures. They should have their child record his or her practice calls. Play them back and help their child eliminate “ums” and “ahs.” A confident voice mail can pique a coach’s interest.

Contacting coaches one at a time is the next step for a student-athlete. Ideally, recruits will call those colleges that have sent questionnaires or have their name on their “recruiting list” since it will make the identification easier.  That being said, recruits should also be empowered to call the schools they are interested in attending, but have not heard from yet.

Coach’s Tip
After five or ten calls, a student-athlete will start to get into the rhythm and develop confidence and comfort leaving messages. Practice makes perfect!

To get acclimated to the process, an athlete should start by calling those colleges who rank at the bottom of their list of favorite colleges. Recruits will probably be nervous, stumble, and mutter when they talk to this coach. By talking to a coach at theirleast favorite college, they will gain confidence for when they call the coaches that are higher on their priority list. Recruits can also call during off-hours so they are able to leave messages, allowing a chance to warm up to the process.

A student-athlete should have a list of questions, as well as a script, to work from when calling the coaches.  Below is an example script that recruits can follow:

Sample Script
Student-athlete: Hi. My name is Jane Student. I’m a soccer player at Boulder High School in Boulder, Colorado. I received your questionnaire last week. Thanks for sending it. I sent it back a few days ago, and I’m really interested in your program. I’m wondering if you have a few minutes to answer some of my questions.

[Pause and wait for coach to affirm his ability to spend time answering questions.]

What GPA and ACT or SAT would I need to have a chance to attend your school and play for your program?

Have you had a chance to see me play? [If the student-athlete has not sent the coach a highlight or skills video, replace this question with: Would you like me to send you a link to my video?]

When would be a good time to visit your campus?

How many players are you recruiting from my position?
Thanks so much for your time. I just have two more questions:

What else would I need to do to have a chance to compete for your program and earn a scholarship?

What is the next step I should take with you?

Great! Do you have any questions for me?
[Pause to allow the coach to answer questions, which the student has prepared for in advance and will be covered in next week's newsletter]

I really appreciate your time, and I look forward to talking with you in the future.

The best way to improve your phone calls with college coaches is to establish familiarity prior to the call.  This can be done by contacting college coaches at an early age and making sure you are on their recruiting list.

If you found the information in this article helpful, be sure to check out the Complete Game Plan for Athletic Scholarships - Athletes Wanted

The term “need-based” is most often applied to a student’s financial need, with the financial aid, grant, or scholarship being awarded based on the economic profile of the student-athlete’s family.  Often times this is the easiest type of aid for families to understand since it usually correlates with their economic situation. 

However, parents and their student-athlete should consider that other “need-based” scholarships exist that do not always relate to their annual income.  These scholarships are awarded to a student-athlete based on the school’s need for the student.  A student-athlete attending a Division III school, for instance, cannot technically be awarded an athletic scholarship as the NCAA prohibits scholarships based solely on athletic ability at this level.  Colleges give out scholarships based on leadership, academic, or merit, as well as their desire to create a competitive grants-in-aid package to attract a student they need for t heir team and campus.

The hidden reality is that colleges have “pots” of money they can dip into for students that qualify (especially athletes).  These “pots” are not listed in the brochures, and therefore a lot of families do not realize they exist.  For example, some colleges have pots that the financial aid staff can dip into for students who are journalism majors from Wisconsin,” or for students who have a “3.77 GPA and 1100 SAT and want to major in physical therapy”

Whether you are looking to maximize your traditional “need based aid” or find the hidden money that exists at colleges, here are 8 steps to follow:

1. Know your family’s EFC:
EFC stands for Expected Family Contribution.  You can find the EFC calculator here to determine an estimate of this number.  Whatever your family’s EFC turns out to be, will make a big difference in the amount you are expected to contribute to college. So think of the EFC as the amount of money you will be expected to come up with for school (to which academic/athletic scholarships will be added).

2.  Complete your FAFSA
FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid and can be found here.  The biggest mistake a lot of families make is not filling the FAFSA out because they think their family income is too high. This could not be further from the truth. Every family, regardless of income, has an EFC (estimated family contribution) number and the LOWER your EFC, the more aid you will receive. Even if you may not receive a significant amount of financial aid, you should still complete the FAFSA because it can act as an insurance policy for your son/daughter’s education. If there is a change or loss of income or an emergency in your family; you will not be eligible for college funds if you do not complete the FAFSA on an annual basis.

The first date you may submit the FAFSA is January 1 of senior year. Submit the FAFSA on this date or as soon after as possible! University financial aid budgets are limited and are awarded on a first come first serve basis, so the earlier you submit your FAFSA, the better your chances of receiving aid. Each college/university has a specific deadline and at a certain point, the money does run out.

3. Apply early:
Funds are given on a first-come first-serve basis.  If you can get your application in by the early date, that is ideal.  Most schools will automatically qualify you for merit-based aid just for applying.  From a recruiting standpoint, this is yet another reason to get started early and begin targeting the right schools and developing relationships with those coaches.

4. Ask the coach for an early financial aid read: 
Most schools have their own financial aid forms you may fill out before the FAFSA is even turned in.  They would then submit the information to financial aid and give you an estimated dollar amount.  This gives you a starting point. 

5. Know the school’s financial aid policy:
Most schools will list their scholarships on the website under “Financial Aid.”  Be sure to thoroughly check for merit-based scholarships you may qualify for.  Make sure to understand the right questions to ask the coach about types of financial aid you qualify for. 

6. Obtain outside scholarships:
Ask your high school guidance counselor, church, workplace, or anyone for that matter about scholarships they know of.  Third party sites like Fastweb offer a free, personalized and comprehensive list of scholarships that might fit your circumstances.

7.  Have leverage:
Leverage is a term typically reserved for the boardroom, but when it comes to recruiting, it can have a strong impact on the amount of money a recruit will receive.  The reality for recruits is that the more schools that are pursuing you, the more leverage you will have when negotiating your financial package.  While there are right and wrong ways to parlay your leverage into  proper negotiation strategies, the first step is to get as many of the right schools involved as possible.

8. Appeal your offer:
Calling or emailing the financial aid office to inform them of other offers or just to simply ask them for more money often yields great results.  You will never know if you don’t try.  Sometimes the coach is also able to offer you support during this process.  Ask a lot of questions and find out what the individual school policy is.    There are certain appeal techniques which can be used to maximize this portion which can save you thousands of dollars. 

The financial aid process can be overwhelming and confusing.  There are many intricacies and nuances that prevent families from capitalizing on the amount of money they could receive to attend a particular college.  The good news is that even in a struggling economy, many colleges and universities are finding sources of money to make school more affordable.  The best advice for recruits is to start early, do your research, and surround yourself with experts to make sure you are taking all the right steps.