NCSA College Athletic Scholarships Blog

I was fortunate enough to sign a National Letter of Intent during the early signing period to a school that was the perfect fit for me. I had not even heard of the school a month before I signed. However, the coach at the school saw me play at a national tournament and immediately invited me to come on an official visit. I went and enjoyed myself tremendously. While on campus, I tried to picture myself there for the next four years, and I could. The academics were right for me and the athletics were competitive.

A major part of my recruiting success is owed to our NCSA experience. As a freshman in high school, my family and I were having trouble figuring out where to start with the whole recruiting process. We heard of NCSA and immediately set-up a conference call to learn more about it. The main reason that my family and I decided to partner with NCSA was to get help with questions that we had about the process. Neither of my parents were involved in being recruited out of high school, and I am their oldest child. So this was literally the first time our family had gone through something like this. NCSA provided a backbone for help whenever we needed it.

Throughout the recruiting process NCSA connected me with hundreds of schools that were potential choices for me and numerous connections translated into an email or phone conversation with the school’s head coach. However, NCSA did not actually connect me with the school I would eventually choose. What NCSA did do was provide me with the information I needed to be the most attractive student-athlete possible when a school showed interest. When I did receive an offer for an official visit I knew exactly how to seize the opportunity because of NCSA. They thoroughly prepared me for this crucial step in the recruiting process.

The best advice that I have is that it is essential to play on a team that is competitive and that will be seen. I live in a state that does not receive much recognition for baseball and does not have many colleges with baseball teams. I pretty much assumed that I would have to go to an out-of-state school. I found that the best way for me to be seen by out-of-state schools was to travel to tournaments that host teams from many states.

Lastly, it is important to remember that I was not being recruited by the school I would eventually sign with until a few weeks before the signing period. The bottom line is you never know when you will be seen. This is a very cliché statement, but it is true, so always play your hardest. Because if I had been slacking off for the ten minutes that my college coach watched me, I would probably still be looking for a place to play.

Jerianna Pikul

“No one could have prepared us for our recruiting journey a couple of years ago. We had no idea what to expect. It was a little scary in the beginning because it seemed like such a lot of work to do but once you get focused and organized you are able to keep everything in order. Everyone at NCSA was very knowledgable and helpful. If for any reason we didn’t contact them, they made sure to contact us to make sure we were headed in the right direction. There was never a problem getting in contact with anyone and it was easy to set up a conference call with our recruiting coach, Amanda Rawson. We were able to send unlimited emails to ask questions and to pass on information. The blogs that we received via email were VERY helpful. I would print them out and keep them in a notebook so I could refer to them often. If we had a general recruiting question anyone we spoke with in the customer service department helped us out a great deal”.

“You get out of this what you put into it. To be successful, do your homework and investigate all of the colleges you are interested in. We kept individual files for each college and separated them in order of interest. They changed order frequently in the two year period we were with NCSA but by the last 4 months we were down to a top 5. Keep in touch with college coaches you are interested in and log everything in your NCSA monthly log report. If you ever have any questions about the calls you are making and the emails you are sending just contact your recruiting coach. Request lots of information from admissions so you become very knowledgable about the schools. Make sure you keep up with your grades in school and prepare for your SAT’s or ACT’s. We invested in a college SAT prep course which was very helpful for us. It may work for other student-athletes, too. We also invested in a small DVD video camera to film tournaments and games that we could send to coaches. The camera was a great investment. We were lucky to find a videographer who copied our DVD’s for us at a reduced price since we ordered in large volume and made a very nice, professionally-looking case for each one to send to coaches”.

” There were a few challenging parts for us throughout the recruiting process. One was to gauge a coaches’ interest level. They may seem very interested one day but then as time goes by their interest level as well as yours may change. Don’t give up. Keep confidence in yourself and push through it. The second challenge was to juggle all of the games, camps and tournaments. It was hard sometimes but we found a way to make it work” Getting your child into a college with a sport has its sacrifices but is well worth it”.

“The best part of the whole recruiting process is when everything all works out and your child commits to a college or university and you make all of the phonecalls to share the good news. Of course, Amanda was one of the first people we told. She became part of our family. To see the smile on Jon’s face when he verbally committed to the university coach was priceless. It made it all worth it. He said he felt great knowing where he was going and a huge weight was lifted. He also said it feels different playing a game after being a college committed player. You are able to really relax and enjoy the game 100% instead of having the pressure of wondering which coaches are out there watching you”.

“The impact that NCSA had on Jon’s whole recruiting process cannot be put into words. Without them we wouldn’t be where we are today. Amanda was amazing and we are so happy she was there to help us along the way. It was a great investment and worth every penny. We’d do it all over again in a heartbeat. As long as you do your part the recruiting process can be much easier with NCSA in your corner showing you the way. I would recommend NCSA to anyone interested in getting recruiting help for their student-athlete”.

“Our advise to any student-athlete going through the recruiting process is do your homework looking into schools, keep your grades up in high school, get involved in and videotape as many games and tournaments you can get into and send them out to the schools you are interested in, always follow up with phonecalls and/or emails to the coaches, call your NCSA recruiting coach with ANY questions and have patience. You need lots and lots of patience and never, never give up. There will be some disappointment along the way but there will also be many great moments. You may not end up at the college you really thought you would end up going to but not to worry……..the college where you are meant to be will find YOU and it will be the perfect fit”.

Good luck and best wishes from the Diodati Family

Is it too late?

Seniors

If you are a senior who has yet to commit to a college or might be scrambling for a last minute opportunity, here is some advice:

Get realistic.  If you had goals of playing for your Division 1 “dream school” be prepared to accept that it might not happen.  Don’t give up entirely until you receive a firm “no” from the coach but I would encourage you to pursue other opportunities.

Look at other opportunities.  Be open to exploring opportunities at a lower division level than you might have hoped for.  For example, there are many more DIII college coaches looking for recruits right now that DI coaches.  Remember more than 80% of all the collegiate athletic options fall OUTSIDE DI.  This late in the recruiting game, that number is much higher.

Get active.  Time is slowly running out.  While a college coach might somehow still “discover” you, (don’t count on it) the remaining seniors who find the most success will be the ones who are the most agressive and take matters into their own hands.

Get involved.  Below is asmall sample of requests we have received from college coaches in the last few days alone that are STILL looking for 2010 prospects in a number of men’s and women’s sports:

- Looking for players for 2010 from the east coast. Players must have a 1230 SAT out of 2400, 78 / 100 GPA, and Top 1/3 of their class.
- 2010: Still looking for Cornerbacks, Inside linebackers, and Offensive linemen.
- Still have open spots for women in 2010 class.
- We’re still looking for a quality setter for 2010. We’re looking for someone that would want to play based out of central xxx state. We play a very competitive schedule with four of the 2009 top 25 teams and all of the top 8 regional teams slated for competition with us in 2010.
- We are in need of 2010′s still looking for a school. Specifically we need strong catchers that can handle a pitcher throwing mid 60′s consistently.

My final piece of advice?  If you are seniors still looking for opportunities, do not get discouraged. 

If you want to find out NCSA might be able to connect you with the coaches who are still actively looking for prospects, feel free to call the Recruiting Hotline at 866-579-6272 or click here.

Underclassmen

My advice is simple, and I will refer to a simple passage that I wrote in Athletes Wanted – The complete game plan for maximizing athletic scholarship and life potential:

The pot of scholarship money is limited, so the recruitment process should be started early.  The earlier it is started, the more money and opportunities that will be available for the student-athlete.

Get started now and avoid having to scramble at the last minute for a dream you have had your entire life.

P.S. If you need more proof that the process starts earlier than ever, the USC Head Football Coach recently offered a 13 year old kid a scholarship.  Read about, learn from it. 

Coach Taylor, How Can I be sure that coaches really use NCSA?

Great question.  To tell you the truth I was very skeptical the first time I walked into NCSA.  I had spent over 30 years recruiting student-athletes and assumed that I knew the best and only way to recruit.  When I first walked in the door I was amazed at just how behind the times I had fallen.  Take a quick look at why coaches REALLY use NCSA.

Now take a quick look at the reaction we get from college coaches after they use our Recruit-Match System  (Note: All of these comments have come this week).

Thanks for all your help for the 2010 class we are on some good players. We have already begun work on 2011 and continue to use your website exclusively.

The ability to see video and transcripts is key. We can make a quick decision on whether we will take the recruiting of that athlete to the next level instantly.

Thanks again for your service it is a tremendous help to us in identifying potential prospects for State.

We like the format you use in sending information to us on recruits. You make a good impression and the info on each person is well presented.

We like the way that you accurately rate the player’s level. Very good and very helpful.

I think you do a fantastic job of getting the information we need to make a judgment of whether or not we want to recruit a young man to State College. Keep up the good work!!

After watching and reading why coaches really use NCSA I hope you don’t make the same mistake I made for years;  Maximize your Recruiting Potential with NCSA.

Send your recruiting questions to askcoachtaylor@ncsasports.org

If you would like to speak with a NCSA Recruiting Coordinator about your personal recruiting situation, call 866-579-6272.

Coach Taylor – Should parents write letters to the college coaches?

Easy answer: No.  This is the student-athlete’s recruiting process and they should take the initiative of writing letters to college coaches.

I completely understand why a parent might want to write and send a letter on behalf of the student-athlete and many do. 

However, I would recommend encouraging your student-athlete to take the proactive steps of writing the initial draft and as a parent, playing the role of editor and supporter.   

At the end of the process, the college coach will be recruiting the student-athlete, not the parent.  While a parent writing a harmless letter on behalf of the student-athlete is not going to hurt anyone, I am a firm believer that if you establish that the student-athlete needs to take responsibility from the start of the process, they will take more ownership of the results.

As parents you should guide your student-athlete through the process.  If you do not feel comfortable playing that role, the do not hesitate to contact someone who might be able to help.

Send your recruiting questions to askcoachtaylor@ncsasports.org

If you would like to speak with a NCSA Recruiting Coordinator about your personal recruiting situation, call 866-579-6272.

Coach Taylor – Our daughter has been accepted to a D2 school and is being offered an athletic scholarship. The coach has indicated that he does not provide individual full ride scholarships. He said that the school has given him the equivalent of eight full rides which he then divides up amoung the 17 girls. His method of doing this is by negotiation, similar to that of a job interview. Is this common? Where do we begin? We have no ability to help our daughter so with the exception of scholarships, the financial burden will be on her.

Yes, it is common, more so in the last year as many athletic budgets are being cut and just about every student-athlete is looking for an athletic scholarship. Coaches try to maximize their chances of getting their recruits so they often split scholarships up amongst athletes. What you should do in situations like this, is stress to the coach your sincere interest in their school, but that you are concerned about not being able to afford attending the school. Ask if there are any other scholarships you might be eligible for and could apply for. It doesn’t matter where the money is coming from as long as you are receiving some financial help to attend that school.

Your daughter seems to be in a more unique situation than most student-athletes and she needs to explain the situation to that coach and to admissions in order to maximize her chances of receiving financial help from that school. If she has offers from other schools or is being seriously considered by other schools, she should let this coach know about those as well and he will hopefully do what he can to fight for her a bit more.

As always, the more options you have, the more leverage you will have when you negotiate.

Send your recruiting questions to askcoachtaylor@ncsasports.org

If you would like to speak with a NCSA Recruiting Coordinator about your personal recruiting situation, call 866-579-6272.

Drew begins his third season on the Toro sidelines after enjoying a three-year career at former CCAA-rival Cal State Bakersfield. After his college days, Rea played professional soccer in Ireland for Glentoran from 2004-06 until a torn ACL/MCL ended his career.

In addition to his on-the-field coaching duties which was instrumental in helping the Toro men claim the 2008 NCAA National Championship, Rea is primarily responsible for recruiting.

NCSA: How would you describe yourself as a coach?

Coach Rea: Open minded and willing to work with all types of soccer players.

NCSA: What do recruits need to know about you?

Coach Rea: Easy going!!! All our staff is relaxed and enjoys what we do. This is a dream job so every day we enter the office looking forward for the day to get started.

NCSA: What do you look for in recruits?

Coach Rea: Hard working players, Guys or Girls who want to be here. We want players that know who they are on and off the field. We want someone that isn’t afraid to express themselves on and off the field. They also need to be winners

NCSA: What is the one thing every recruit needs to do with the recruiting process?

Coach Rea: See as many schools as possible. Make sure you are 100% committed to the challenge and don’t rely on having a back up if it doesn’t work. Know that the school you sign for is the one for you.

NCSA: What sort of questions do you really like to hear from recruits?

Coach Rea: questions on soccer and school…..

NCSA: What turns you off when you’re recruiting a student athlete?

Coach Rea: Quiet and not knowing what they are looking for in a future school. We like our kids to have looked into the college experience.

NCSA: What do you think your program is the most successful at?

Coach Rea: Winning! We have a long history of bringing home awards at the end of the year, and I think the most important thing is our Alumni all have nothing but great things to say. That is important to know your Alumni are happy and enjoyed their time here.

NCSA: What’s unique about the experience at CSUDH College?

Coach Rea: We pride ourselves on winning titles and giving our kids a shot of the National title during their time here at CSUDH. Dominguez Hills is a relaxed environment that allows you to enjoy your college lifestyle as well as perform at the highest level and prepares you for the next level in life or in soccer.

NCSA: Why should a recruit consider your program?

Coach Rea: For an experience that no other athlete can experience. We can offer you more here in one year than many schools can in 4 years.

NCSA: If a recruit is interested in your program, how should they reach out to you?

Coach Rea: Email or by phone

Emailing me at csudhsoccer@csudh.edu

Phone: 310-243-2612

The Powerful Story of an athlete who lost his starting position in 12th grade, but wouldn’t give up on his dream of playing College Sports. Read the story of Zac Fagan, and how perseverance, guidance from NCSA, and inspiration from his dear sister enabled him to connect with the perfect College for him!

By Zac Fagan, as told to NCSA Senior National Educational Speaker Charlie Adams

“I had been playing quarterback for five years. I trained year round and was totally dedicated to my game. My senior year finally came. This would be my year and all the hard work would pay off. I was elected Team Captain and our team at T. C. Roberson High in Asheville, North Carolina had really pulled together on and off the field.

We had a scrimmage game and we lost. The next practice my Coach let me know that he was changing our complete offense and putting in our star running back, who had committed to play at Elon College the next year, as quarterback. Our coach changed us to the Wildcat offense with him running a lot as QB. I was crushed. Now my confidence was shook to the core, I would not have the opportunity to compete for my position and was still Captain. I tried any other position the coach would give me (I think I did everything but kick the ball). It looked like my dream of being a college football player was over.

Right after the dreaded first game, someone told me about NCSA and their recruiting program. I did the follow up call but was totally skeptical on how anyone could help me. My parents and I did a conference call, we were totally honest with the consultant and he was totally honest with us. He didn’t try to sell us a program that we didn’t need. He immediately started asking me questions about what I wanted and offered suggestions on how to take the necessary steps to get them. We ended up signing up for a lower level of the program and moved cautiously forward.

I immediately began to build my profile but the challenge was going to be getting film. I talked to my NCSA counselor and we began participating in conference calls on contacting coaches, making unofficial visits, researching coaches and learning about D3 Schools. There were programs on financial aid, college match programs and probably the best overall resource for colleges that we had been exposed to.

I went eight games without playing quarterback. In November, I won my position back before the final game of the regular season. I was able to throw for two TD’s and run for another. One of the TD passes was in overtime to set up the winning two point conversion. It was the best game I played.

However, earlier that day my sister Meryl was admitted into the Hospital. She had battled a life long illness known as Rett Syndrome. It is a neurodevelopmental disease where in her case she had seizures and could not talk. She was in the PEP program at School, which is Progressive Education Program. Each day I was able to spend 90 minutes as a PEP mentor. (photo below of my sister and me).

She was hospitalized for pneumonia before my game that day and was in critical condition. That night, after the great game, they told me about her being in the Hospital. I went from being really excited to being completely devastated in one second. I literally fell down on my knees on the field. Saturday she seemed okay, but got worse. My sister died on Monday. She was 18. The Doctors had diagnosed her with Rett Syndrome when she was 13 and told us to make funeral plans then, but she lived five more years. When I was going through that hard time where I had lost my starting quarterback job, I would come home from practice where it was a crappy day and I would see her in her wheelchair. She couldn’t talk. She couldn’t move much. You could tell what she was trying to say by her eyes. I would come home worn down from how my senior year was going and see her and say to myself, “I can handle my challenge. I can do this.” When Meryl died, I made a promise that I would go on for my dreams and live life with passion.

I would not give up on the dream of playing college football. I kept nagging my coach until he got me the game film. We rushed it to NCSA and they edited it for me. They posted it and I had also introduced it to other coaches in emails.

To my surprise, Coaches started contacting me. I was getting calls and emails from colleges. They were schools with my major and football. I knew how to set up visits, write follow up emails and log in my communication contacts on the NCSA website. I had participated in their educational programs on how to ask questions, learn about both the educational and football aspects of the college and then set up visits.

I ended up visiting a college that I had never heard of before in the neighboring state of Virginia, only five hours from home – Bridgewater College in Virginia. This was a match on the site, I had an instant connection with the coach that had contacted me, and it seemed to have everything I was looking for. We attended a group meeting, and I was not nervous as I had the experience of what NCSA had taught me. It was the perfect match, I felt right at home with their people and philosophies. I loved that it was a small campus with a very personal environment. Everyone knew each other, which is what I like. I had learned how to meet with Financial Aid and set up for merit based scholarships. My hard work in the classroom helped. I had a 4.3 GPA with 10 honors classes. The Coaches were able to nominate me for merit based scholarships. The fact that I had taken hard classes really helped as I was offered a $18,250 yearly scholarship. That doesn’t cover everything, but it makes it manageable for us as a family.

I am thrilled to say that my college choice was made clear. I will be a Bridgewater College Eagle. A lot of kids get caught up in D-1. Those guys are huge and fast. I could walk-on but that probably wouldn’t work out. I love the game of football. I want to play it. It’s not about the level. It’s about the game and the fans. I will be competing for the quarterback position, dedicated to their program, studying Athletic Training – pre Physical Therapy and enjoying all that this special college has to offer. A college that I had never knew about if it were not for my relationship with NCSA. Thank you.”

Zac Fagan

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Zac isn’t done. He works part time at Marco’s Pizzeria and has organized a big fund raising day on Valentines where Marco’s is donating a significant amount of all revenues that day to go to the Progressive Education Program in their county, which serves students with moderate to significant intellectual difficulties.

Zac and the QB from Asheville High (T C Roberson’s biggest rival) have become friends as they both have relative that have battled or are battling serious illness. They are now planning a basketball tournament where the funds will be split between cancer research and International Rett Syndrome Association. They both wore #9. – Charlie Adams

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“I think that sports and football are an amazing platform to learn about how to focus on the positive in life. Zac is the youngest of 8 children in our “blended” family. Zac has applied for some other local scholarships offered through the Rotary Club, Education Foundation, and other programs so the story is not over.

Zac’s focus is on his education, on athletic training (and maybe coaching) and the future. And, as a parent, it is very healing for me to see how bright the future is for him. I would be happy for you to share his story. I would also be happy to talk to any parent that is considering using NCSA. Your program was wonderful and it has kept his dream of playing going. But, more importantly, it helped him continue his education and matched him with a college that we had never even heard of before. The total system worked.”

Vivien, Zac’s mother.