NCSA College Athletic Scholarships Blog

1. How would you describe yourself as a coach?

I believe I am committed, organized, and fair, but I guess you should ask my players that question…

2. What is unique about the experience at your school?

Slippery Rock University fosters a real sense of community “Rock Pride” and this definitely is the hallmark of our program… It’s always about the team.

3. What do recruits need to know about you?

I want nothing but the best for them as young women first and as student-athletes…..

4. What do you look for in recruits?

Good character, work ethic and the commitment to improve plus a sense of humor goes a long way….

5. What is the one thing every recruit needs to do with the recruiting process?

Check out all your options and don’t feel rushed into a decision… make sure it is truly the right fit for you both academically and athletically..

6. What sort of questions do you really like to hear from recruits?

What is our style of play, prospects don’t ask that question enough and I believe it is very important.  Also, asking about prospective team mates…..

7. What turns you off when you are recruiting a student athlete?

When someone wants to come on campus to meet with me and has not taken the time to research our program prior to the meeting…..

8. What do you think your program is the most successful at?

I feel we have an excellent balance of ambition yet perspective, and the players know they have a voice in the program.  Practical jokes are always on…..

9. Why should a recruit consider your program?

Good tradition of success as a women’s program combined with excellent academics and great facilities….

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

Simply by phone or email.

1. How would you describe yourself as a coach?

I am demanding coach who wants my athletes to do what is right at all times.  They should come to practice ready to work-hard and apply themselves to the self and team improvement.  If you work hard and do what is asked of you, practice can include some fun.  I am intense and want to win and will get on you if you do something wrong.  At the same time, I will be your biggest supporter when you have done something right.  Away from the pitch, I have been there for my players through nearly anything and everything; car problems, family issues, academic problems, significant-other troubles, and numerous other issues which young-adults come across in college.

2. What is unique about the experience at your school?

Iowa Wesleyan College is the most diverse college in the State of Iowa.  With students coming from numerous different states and countries, it does not take long for students to be connected around the world.  Also, our on-campus population is extremely small, 400, but yet we offer 14 varsity sports for the student athletes.  This allows all the students to share the common experience of juggling the importance of an education while developing their skills on the field.

3. What do recruits need to know about you?

I enjoy having fun, but there is a time and place.  I believe in the importance of team off of the field and my wife and I have the team over for dinner or desserts at our house throughout the year.  Also, I never claim to be perfect and know everything.  I continue to educate myself through attending clinics, reading books, watching videos, and watching the game.  This being said, some of my favorite drills are because players tell me some they enjoyed doing with their club.  I am very open to learning new drills to improve our team.

4. What do you look for in recruits?

I look for student-athletes who are getting the job done in the classroom, while possessing the talents and abilities to play at the college level.  Although we give out athletic scholarship money at Iowa Wesleyan College, the majority of scholarship will come from the student’s academic success.

Aside from this, I want hard-working, committed, and team players who are constantly pushing themselves and their teammates to improve.  I am looking for the player who makes a mistake and is the first to win the ball back.  I am looking for the player who constructively criticizes a teammate.  Last, I am looking for the player who knows he/she is not perfect and not to be too hard on teammates when a mistake is made.

5. What is the one thing every recruit needs to do with the recruiting process?

With small college recruiting, it is important for the recruit to be proactive in the recruiting process.  I prefer students who are as interested in Iowa Wesleyan College, as I am interested in them.  It is nice to receive an email or phone call from a recruit just to ask a question or give an update of their recent game.  This little extra touch goes a long way in the recruiting process.

6. What sort of questions do you really like to hear from recruits?

I like to hear informed questions from recruits.  It is nice to see students have done their research and know a little about the program and our school.  Other good questions to ask are:

• What are your goals for the program?
• How do you see me fitting in with the program?
• How do you see me helping your program achieve goals?
• What areas do I need to improve upon to compete at this level?

7. What turns you off when you are recruiting a student athlete?

Usually, one thing that will turn me off instantly is as simple as the email address that is given.  Do I really want partygirl@hotmail.com joining our program?

Other areas are the student-athlete listing a bunch of Division I schools they are looking at in the recruiting process.  This tells me that you are either too good to be playing with us or you think you are better than the level you are being recruited.  Students (more so the parents) need to realize the capabilities and understand the level the student may be most successful.  If you have D-I dreams then don’t use me as a “fall back” because I want players who are willing to accept the fact that this is the level they can play at and be successful.  Last, are the parents who want to tell me all about their son or daughters successes.  I have researched, talked with coaches, and already know this information.

8. What do you think your program is the most successful at?

Taking dedicated players with above average skill levels and getting them to work hard and compete with teams that are much more skilled than us.  Next, we graduate players in four years if they start school here as a freshmen.  Last, we give our players the opportunity to meet people from around the globe and many of our former and current players have had the opportunity to travel to other countries to visit.

9. Why should a recruit consider your program?

Our program is extremely competitive and rewards hard-working players, no matter the age, with playing time.  With an exciting attacking style of play we set, or tied, numerous school records this past season and look to build upon our successes in the 2010 season.  The opportunity to continue building our program and set new records is within reach as we have a young team that will be mostly juniors next season.  Next season I am still looking to fill holes at all positions.

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

The easiest way is to visit our website, www.iwc.edu, then complete our RECRUIT FORM on the soccer page of the website.  After completing the recruit form it is always nice to receive and email as well from the person.  You can email me at eheberling@iwc.edu.

Our high school football journey began during Shavarez’s Junior year at Eagle’s Landing High School in McDonough, Georgia. His new , first year head coach did not have a tailback. He demanded that Shavarez play tailback due to his natural athletic ability and speed. Shavarez had always considered himself to be a wide receiver. I convinced him to play tailback, against my better judgment and despite knowing that as a Junior, his scholarship recruiting goals would be affected. Three games into his Junior season, Shavarez broke his big toe playing tailback and would miss the rest of his Junior season. We are now, really behind the “power curve”. Therefore, I asked the head coach to agree that since he played tailback this year, that he would return to his natural position during his Senior year to compete for a scholarship.

The next series of events, while unfortunate, led to my introduction to NCSA and much unfamiliar recruitment techniques. The coach refused to honor his end of the bargain to return Shavarez to wide receiver and chose to sideline him during spring training and not play him at all. As a parent, I became concerned about my son’s morale and future. I decided to transfer him to Henry County High School also in McDonough, Georgia. I met with the coach and shared my concerns and goals. The head coach needed a wide receiver and was very supportive and impressed with Shavarez during combines and camps earlier in the summer.

It was then that I decided that I must find professional resources and quick means of exposing Shavarez’s skills despite having no high school film to share with recruiters. I signed him up for several well known camps in the area as well as out of state. It was at the Mark Richt Georgia Football Camp that another parent told me about NCSA. I researched information on NCSA. Then I attended a Nike combine in Atlanta where an NCSA representative, Joe Burns gave an overview of NCSA. I took the pamphlets and application and enrolled immediately. Now, it was critical to get video from the camps and then hope that Shavarez has a good Senior season at wide receiver. I invested in a very good camcorder to produce quality footage to submit to NCSA and college recruiters. NCSA immediately constructed our site and Scouting Report following an informative phone interview with my family. Remember, earlier in my journal, I mentioned that we need a process that was quick and would expose Shavarez’s skills and accomplishments. Well, I am honest when I say that, when NCSA got the first three game highlight video and circulated the footage to multiple schools throughout the country, great things happened immediately. The responses were not all from D-1 schools, but we understood that most schools recruit one year to three years out. So realistically, D-1 was not of primary concern. Shavarez had a stellar season and received many honors at wide receiver. We received many calls and/or letters from D-II, and Junior Colleges, and a few from D-1. I began feeling confident that we would at least get an all paid college placement somewhere. NCSA allowed me to have a second video on the site. I chose to wait until the end of the season to post that video. That strategy proved most effective as the signing period does not end until April 1st, allowing much time to peek the interest of late recruiters. The most impressive thing about NCSA is the constant contact and inquiries from the NCSA recruiting staff. Also, they responded promptly to all my questions and ensured my Scouting Report was always updated.

As a parent, I had a conversation with my son and asked what your goal in athletics and academics is. Once I understood that he wanted to play college football, I began scheduling ACT tests and getting with counselors to ensure that the core courses were covered. It is imperative to enroll with NCAA Clearing House (Eligibility Center) and get your ID #. Nearly all coaches will ask about your Clearing House status. Failure to enroll could turn-off some recruiters. The best advice that I can add at this point is to never give up or feel hopeless. If scholarship does not look imminent you may want to inquire about getting recruited in preferred walk-on status. It’s not as bad as it sound. In preferred walk-on status, the athlete is guaranteed a spot on the team roster. You may have to foot the cost during enrollment to the college but the athlete has an equal opportunity to compete for a scholarship and starting position. In the traditional walk-on status, the athlete has to earn a spot on the roster and is not guaranteed the spot up front as is the preferred walk-on.

Hope my journal is informative and appreciated. Don’t waste time. Now is the time regardless of the athlete’s school grade. Your hard work and perseverance will pay off in some capacity.

Steven Smith

I’ve written a lot on this blog about Pete Carroll and the USC’s program’s use of Social Media to help with recruiting.  They were the model program for the country using YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and their USCRipsIt Blog to tell the world about all things USC.  Marketing efforts are always very difficult to measure, but I think a development yesterday validated the success of the social media strategy.

Since Pete Carroll left for the Seattle Seahawks his Twitter feed went strangely silent.  It turns out that he was just waiting for his head social media expert Ben Malcolmsen to join him in Seattle.  A professional football team has now hired a professional blogger.  Ben posted this farewell yesterday on USCRipsIt.

After three years of running USCRipsIt, the RipsIt Blog and the online presence of the Trojan football team, I am resigning to take a similar position with the Seattle Seahawks.

This site and, most notably, the Blog have grown into something bigger than I could have ever imagined when we started it in August 2007. What began as a shot-in-the-dark idea to disseminate inside information about the Trojans eventually blossomed into what CNBC named the No. 1 all-access blog in sports last fall — and what a ride it has been from start to finish.

We brought you along where no site has gone before — inside team meetings, the locker room at halftime and many other never-before-seen places — as the Trojans captured two Pac-10 championships, two Rose Bowl crowns, three bowl wins and 32 overall victories. But now, more than 10,000 blog entries, countless albums of photos and encyclopedias of memories later, my time at USC has come to an end. While I am excited about a new opportunity, it is also sad to say goodbye to something so close to my heart. USC and its athletic department are unrivaled, and I want to thank all the people who continue to make this university one-of-a-kind, from the most tenured staffer to the most loyal alum to the freshest freshman.

All of our successes over the years would not have happened without you the reader, so I’d like to express my eternal gratitude to you for making this site and this experience so special. Whether you read it daily or hourly and whether you e-mailed in frequently or never, your support of this site and what we were doing in the online sphere made this endeavor such a sensation. And above all, your unwavering support exemplified the power and uniqueness of the Trojan Family.

There’s so much gratitude to go around. Thanks go out to the people who worked for USCRipsIt over the years, including photographers Po-He Tseng and Jon SooHoo and student assistants Ricky Cambier and Katie Boggs. This is also an opportune time to thank the behind-the-scenes people in the athletic department who make this football program one of the best in the nation — and who contributed to this site in their own unique ways: Eric Espinoza, Russ Romano, Chris Grosskopf, Tim Tessalone, Paul Goldberg, Randall Green, Bryan Bailey, David “Pops” Scott, Tino Dominguez and many others.

So in the end, I’d just like to thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Until our paths cross again, always Fight On.

From one fan of all things Social Media, Good luck Ben!

Parents and athletes, there are powerful, candid insights on recruiting in this article!

NCSA is brought in to do the official recruiting education at the Mizuno Mid East Volleyball Qualifers in Indianapolis. Over 6000 volleyball players are there. 6000! A lot of parents come to one of the six presentations I deliver over three days. So many of them said, “Hey, we need to learn about the recruiting process!”

Like I did when I spoke at a similar event in St Louis, I interviewed many coaches to see what catches their attention in recruiting. Literally every one of them said that the young person that personally reaches out to them with the ability to play at their level and a genuine interest in their school, will get on their List. Those that have the ability to send them credible, verified information on themselves will separate themselves. A coach from Bowling Green raved about a young lady whose web profile had everything they were looking for – transcripts, ACT, hilites, skills and a game action.

Here are some insights.

Craig Vlietstra, asst. Volleyball coach at D2 power Grand Valley State said this to me:

“95% of kids have never seen a college volleyball game. They have no idea of Self Evaluation. They don’t know the level of college they are capable of playing. We will have HS or Club Coaches contact us sometimes and say they have the perfect D2 kid for us. I ask, ‘Can she play Division One?’ All of our kids here have been recruited by D1 programs. We recruit against Ball State, Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan. We want to hear from the kid that specifically is interested in us. A young person that writes ‘I had a knee injury in the 7th grade that made me interested in Physical Therapy. I know you all have a strong PT program. I also understand you have just 1 Libero on your roster and I am genuinely interested in playing for you.’ We will pay attention to that kind of email. Videowise, show us what you can do with attacking right off the bat, unless you are a Libero or something like that. If you can touch the rim, show it. Getting verified information is a challenge.”

Did you get what the College Coach said about Evaluation? So many kids have not had a realistic, objective 3rd party evaluation from people who have been there and done that on a regular basis. That is one of the strongest things we do at NCSA, is help you understand your realistic fit in college. If you have not had an evaluation from NCSA

Speaking of evaluation, I moved over and talked with Ken Erawe, who has coached young people for a long time with the KC Extreme team. He had this to say to me:

“If you are used to playing a lot in High School and Club or what-have-you and then you don’t play a lot in college, it’s frustrating. 90% of the kids I deal with that are on the bubble of being able to play D1 or D2 end up going D1, and most end up coming back. My daughter is a 5’8″ volleyball player. She has some division one interested, but is looking to go to a D2 power. She has a 120 mile radius.”

I spoke with the assistant coach of an Ivy League school. Here is what he had to say about attitude:

“We watch them on the bench and after mistakes. We really watch attitude. We had a kid we liked that we saw in Las Vegas. At the next event we wondered about her attitude. When she came to our camp, it was terrible. We don’t have time for that crap. As far as video, at some point we will want to see ten minutes unedited. How does she react when aced? When blocked? When taken out? Ivy League volleyball is good. Penn won the Ivy League and then won a NCAA Tourney game. The Ivy League stigma that since there are not athletic scholarships doesn’t mean we don’t recruit very good players. We sell education. For example, at Brown it is open curriculum. ”

Translated: There are too many good players out there for any college program to put up with anyone with any kid of attitude problem.

Mark Hardaway, asst. coach at D1 Bowling Green, had these observations on recruiting:

“A lot of kids don’t do too much follow up, and that hurts. They won’t pick up the phone. When I coached Club, I told kids to call after they had sent something and ask in a politeful manner if they had got the tape and what did they think. You may get rejected, but the follow up is important. They’ll have parents do these things, but we don’t know if the parents are interested in us or the kids. We know it’s hard for kids to reach out, but it will help them later in life. This one young lady had a way to have everything on a web site and that really stood out. She had game footage, skills, academics all right there. Front row players, can they attack the ball? Middle hitters, show your attacking. When they show blocks first, I don’t always watch.”

“Anytime you can show you jump well, that catches our attention at Bowling Green. If I get something random, unless they have a jump touch that grabs me, it goes to the bottom of the pile. Something above 9’9″. Certain Clubs bet a quicker look. If I get something from a Sports Performance kid, that will get quick treatment.”

I spent some time talking with Abby Showers, asst. coach at D2 Jacksonville State, based in Alabama. Like all coaches, she had a List of kids to specifically watch. We stood there as she watch a 6’3″ 11th grader from Columbus, Ohio.

“She has been calling us. She has a good arm swing. A lot of tall kids are just tall. She is vocal in between points and shows leadership. Our team practically is from the Midwest. We have none from Alabama. We have kids from Colorado, Kansas and Texas as well. (roster). They like us because we want to win and they love our campus and size. We have 10,000 students so we aren’t big or small. Usually we go for smaller kids. Our outside hitters are 5’8″ and our middle is 5’10″. Usually we go for kids who could be Libero’s in the Big Ten. Our team attitude is intense. We have gritty kids, with good attitudes but who really want to compete. We made it to the 2nd round of the NCAA where we lost to Florida State, the #3 national seed.”

I spoke with Gary VanCauwenberge, head coach of D2 Lake Erie College Volleyball.

“Charlie, I like to get emails. I can respond to juniors if they email me. I can’t call them back. Approach Touch is big. It’s hard to be front row in our conference in if you aren’t at 9’4″ minimum. Approach block. We look for setters that are creative and hitters that are versatile with decision making skills. At D2 we can have tryouts once they start senior year. We have never signed a girl we haven’t seen multiple times in person. We also like to see them practice with the team to see if they mesh with our chemistry. They have to be academically sound for our school because of the rigors of a private institution.”

I hope you have found this information helpful. Please forward this to other Volleyball Clubs and families. I do a Volleyball Specific form of College Recruiting Simplified that has been very popular with Clubs. At NCSA, we would be more than glad to work with you to bring it to your Club or event.

Charlie Adams, NCSA Recruiting Expert

cadams@ncsasports.org

To Set up an Evaluation of Where You are in the Recruiting Process, click here

Norwalk High School CA 3/30/2010 Ricky Ellis

Twin Lakes High School IN 3/30/2010 Charlie Adams

Urbana High School IL 3/30/2010 Randy Taylor

C.E. Ellison High School 3/31/2010 Othello Henderson

Carmel High School CA 3/31/2010 Derrick Mayes

Champaign Central High School IL 3/31/2010 Randy Taylor

Heritage High School CA 3/31/2010 Julian Jenkins

Kiski Area High School PA 3/31/2010 Jai Hill

NIKE Combine – Baltimore, MD 4/3/2010 Howard Stevens

Richmond Police Athletic League “Rock Out” CA 4/3/2010 Julian Jenkins

Schuman NUC – Boise, ID 4/3/2010 Paul Putnam

Schuman NUC – Durham, NC 4/3/2010 Tony Collins

Schuman NUC – Hampton Roads, VA 4/3/2010 Mike Tomczak

Schuman NUC – Nashville, TN 4/3/2010 Blaine Bishop

Hofball Baseball Fever Classic FL 4/5/2010 Rich Hofman

Mesa Verde High School CA 4/5/2010 Derrick Mayes

Plymouth High School IN 4/5/2010 Charlie Adams

Burnsville High School MN 4/6/2010 Randy Taylor

Cosumnes Oaks High School CAl 4/6/2010 Derrick Mayes

San Rafael High School CA 4/6/2010 Julian Jenkins

Alta High School UT 4/7/2010 Paul Putnam

Monessen High School PA 4/7/2010 Mike Tomczak

Trucks Training CA 4/7/2010 Julian Jenkins

Jamestown High School VA 4/8/2010 Howard Stevens

Schuman NUC – Mobile, AL 4/10/2010 Izell Reese

Schuman NUC – Orlando, FL 4/10/2010 Phil Clarke

Schuman NUC – Philadelphia, PA 4/10/2010 Cecil Martin

Schuman NUC – San Angelo, TX 4/10/2010 Othello Henderson

Steubenville HS Football Combine OH 4/11/2010 Jai Hill

Tennis Pros of Atlanta GA 4/11/2010 Nicole Watson

1. How would you describe yourself as a coach?

I would describe myself more as a teacher than a coach.  I believe that there needs to be an emphasis on fundamentals.  I think it is important to develop each player on a daily basis and I hope each day my players feel they have learned something or have improved from the day before.

2. What is unique about the experience at your school?

CNU is in a great location!  It is near beaches, cities, you name it.  The area provides great internship opportunities for the students as well.  CNU is also in an amazing transition period.  The school is growing and amazing new academic and residential facilities are being built in order to offer the student body the best.  Here at CNU we believe “Students first” and our President strives to make sure the student body has everything necessary to be successful here at CNU.

3. What do recruits need to know about you?

Recruits need to know that I love lacrosse and I hope to instill my passion for the sport into all my players.  I am also willing to work with players who may not have the best fundamentals, but are willing to learn and to work to get better.

4. What do you look for in recruits?

I look for girls who are committed to success and excellence both in the classroom and on the lacrosse field.  It is important to to have student-athletes who will work hard in school so they can leave CNU with a degree they are proud of.  I also look for girls who are passionate about lacrosse and are willing to give 110% every day to push themselves to become better as well as their teammates.  I look for girls who are willing to do the extra to make themselves the best they can be and to make our team the best it can be.

5.   What is the one thing every recruit needs to do with the recruiting process?

Visit the campus and try to set up an overnight visit with the team.  It is very important for recruits to feel like they fit in with the team and they could picture themselves on campus.  I think it’s important that you pick a school to play at because you love the school first, it has your major and you like the lacrosse team is the added bonus.

6. Why should a recruit consider your program?

A recruit should consider our program because just like the school we’re in a really great transition and we’re ready to turn the corner and take this program to the next level.  We want girls who want to be a part of a new tradition of CNU Lacrosse.

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

The best way for a recruit to contact me is via email.  It is the easiest way to get a hold of me since I can always check it anywhere.

1. How would you describe yourself as a coach?
I’m the type of coach that likes to push my players to the best of their ability. Every practice I give them feedback to make them better for the next game. I teach them to learn from their mistakes and build off of it. I like for my players to take risks and challenges in games because it makes them a better player. think outside the box in every field situation. I’m also a very approachable coach and a listening ear for all my players both on and off the field. I’m a strong believer that players need their coaches to teach them the game of lacrosse but also need direction on everyday life situations.  As a coach guidance of these young student-athletes is important because you’re not just preparing them for a game but you’re preparing them for real life after 4 years

2. What do recruits need to know about you?

We are a growing program that is part of one of the toughest conferences in the nation. We look for student athletes who are dedicated to their academics and dedicated to lacrosse. We look for dedication, motivation and commitment.

3. What do you look for in recruits?

I look for strong athletes who are willing to see the game in a different light and better their skills. I look for young ladies that are ready to face a challenge. I especially like recruits that play basketball because they are the best defenders. We like our players to have good communication and just ready for the next level of play.

4. What sort of questions do you really like to hear from recruits?

I like when recruits ask about our academics as well as our program. I like to hear about what the overall experience at Hood is and what the student-athletes do on the weekends. I also like when they ask about where the program is going and how they can fit in with the program and the school as a whole.

5. Why should a recruit consider your program?

A recruit should consider Hood College because it gives a young student-athlete the chance to earn a great college degree as well as making a legacy for our lacrosse program.  Freshmen get the opportunity to play and show their talent right away. They don’t have to wait for later years in their career to play like at some other schools. Its like they will be a big fish in a little pond.

6. If a recruit is interested in your program, how should they reach out to you?
The best way to reach me is email evans@hood.edu or my cell phone 860-508-1782.

1. What is unique about the experience at your school?

Every student or student/athlete who comes to Tiffin University experiences a great environment. Here at Tiffin we offer all the tools student/athletes need to become successful adults. Our students have an opportunity to major in Business Administration, Education, and Forensic Science. Our athletes have the opportunity to play at great facility as well as receive high level instruction in the classroom.

2. What do recruits need to know about you?

Recruits need to know that as a coach I will provide them with all the tools they need to be successful on and off the field. I am working on developing players to be part of a team that does not have a winning season, but a team that will go post season. I have been part of successful programs both as a player and as a coach. It gave me an insight to know what it takes to go to the national tournament. It was a great experience for me and I would like for my players to have the same opportunity to experience post season as I did many years.

3. What do you look for in recruits?

I look for players who are committed on the off the field. I look for team players. I look for student/athletes who understand the importance of representing a university and who are willing to follow the team and the university’s rules. I look for recruits that love the game and who will give their all by trying their best with everything they do.

4. What turns you off when you are recruiting a student athlete?

A student/ athlete’s bad attitude is what turns me off when I am trying to recruit him/her. Their attitude shows a lot about their personalities and I am the type of coach who wants to have people who are going to influence my other players in a positive way. In my opinion, players with bad attitudes are bad apples and these types of players will never be part of my program because I need everyone on the same page for us to be able to accomplish our objective.

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

If a recruit is interested in our program they should send me an e-mail or call me. They can find my contact information by accessing our women’s soccer program webpage at http://www.tiffin.edu/athletics/women/soccer

They can also find information about our university at www.tiffin.edu.