NCSA Soccer Recruiting Experts Allie Kabat and Jeff Schlicht give soccer players the inside scoop n the best way to maximize athletic scholarship potential.
See if you have what it takes to play college soccer – Schedule a free recruiting analysis by calling 866-579-6272.
Today is National Signing Day, when student athletes sign their letters-of-intent to attend colleges across the country for basketball and all other sports EXCEPT: Football, Field Hockey, Soccer, Track and Field, Cross Country, and Men’s Water Polo.
We wish all the athletes that made a commitment for their future big congratulations. The NCSA “Commitment” bell is ringing like crazy for you!
If you participate in a sport began its signing period today and have NOT established real relationships with college coaches, it might be time to re-evaluate your recruiting efforts. Use this day as a “wake up” call and start targeting other schools or finding out where you stand on a college coach’s recruiting list.
If you want to discuss your recruiting situation and learn what steps you can take to maximize your scholarship potential, call 866-579-6272 today to speak with the NCSA Team.
We wish you all the best of luck!
Did you sign your letter of intent? If so, comment below and share your story so others can learn from your experience!
Visits are a critical part of the recruiting process. Many athletes and families have no clue what to expect and are unsure how to maximize each opportunity. Over the next two weeks, the NCSA Team will be teaching families everything they need to know about recruiting visits. If you missed Part 1, check it out here. Check out part 2 below!
If you would like to discuss your personal recruiting situation with the NCSA Team, call 866-579-6272 to schedule a free analysis.
I talk to families everyday about their son(s) or daughter(s) and their abilities on or in the field/court/track/course/pool. It’s great! If you want to get to any parent’s heart, just ask them about their kids and they will be glad to talk to you for 6 hours if you have the time. Within my responsibilities I need to really find out important information regarding each High School (sometimes Junior High) athlete and how serious they are about taking their abilities to the college level. At NCSA (for those that don’t know) we have a standard of what types of athlete’s we are looking for, but the goal is to help all of those that want/need help. Each athlete that qualifies for the Athletic Recruiting Network of College Sports needs to have various abilities on the field/in the classroom/and all around that really help us get an idea of who they are and what their personality is like. So many times at the end of my conversations a parent will ask me “well how do you know exactly if he qualifies and how can we tell?”
Good Question.
A lot goes into whether we can qualify a student athlete and it goes in a series of steps. But what is most important and what we need to hear is the athlete COMMUNICATE and explain their desire to play their sport in college. If they aren’t serious about playing (insert sport here) in college then what are we doing here? I feel like this message misses young adults and parents everywhere. It’s all about communication and how you come across to people.
Communication is almost the most important step in this process. First you must communicate through your abilities and how pro-active you are about getting your name out there in exposure. Then you are asked to communicate to the coach through e-mails, written letters or to even call into their office during the coaches’ downtime. Finally they will be calling you once a week and meeting you in person! Then, IF you get lucky enough, you get to have four years under their guidance and direction through college sports. All of that being said, don’t you think that its fair to assume that if you can’t impress them with the first time you are asked to communicate with them then you probably won’t be afforded the second time (especially if you don’t run a 4.4 40 or have an 11 foot block jump). Communication is key; it is essential to making this process smooth and understood in whatever stage you are in.
Too many times on a daily basis I find myself on the phone with a student athlete/parent who don’t have the ability to speak up for something they want or to even express politeness and generosity in their voice. Trust me on this everybody, YOU WILL NOT GET THE OPPORTUNITY THAT THE PERSON NEXT TO YOU GETS IF YOU CAN’T IMPRESS THE COACH WITH YOUR COMMUNICATION OVER YOUR COMPETITION. If you are serious about playing in college, impress those that assist you in the process and hold the keys to your dreams, and that means doing more than just on the field, it means through your ability to express your intelligence and desire to earn your spot. Be polite, be sincere, and be you! Good luck!
Andrea Daley from Western New England College gives some insight into recruiting and the swim program there. Read on:
1. How would you describe yourself as a coach?
I am passionate about swimming. I love watching athletes improve and reach their goals. I make it a point to make each individual feel important and take time for them as well as challenging them as a team.
2. What’s unique about the experience at Western New England College?
WNEC is a great place for swimmers to come to grow as student athletes. Our team is small enough to allow us to give each athlete individual attention and support while being big enough to allow for a fun team atmosphere to exist. We have a cohesive group of athletes who take care of one another in an outside of the pool.
3. What do recruits need to know about you?
I have high expectations for every athlete who walks through the door and I am excited to work with anyone who is willing to put forth an effort. I want athletes who will work hard and be mentally tough.
4. What do you look for in recruits?
Positive attitude, open mindedness, and a willingness to push beyond their comfort zone and a desire to succeed. I don’t want okay to be good enough. Mediocre should not be a goal or be satisfying. I love it when athletes have what I call a “fire in their belly” to do well. I love someone with a competitive drive balanced with a strong work ethic.
5. What is the one thing every recruit needs to do with the recruiting process?
Stay in touch throughout the school year, not just at the beginning or the end.
6. What sort of questions do you really like to hear from recruits?
Any question that shows a genuine interest in the program and the school is welcome. I like to hear athletes acknowledge that this is a team environment and not just an individual sport.
7. What turns you off when you’re recruiting a student athlete?
Being closed minded- thinking that the only way that she can be successful is if she continues to do whatever she has been doing in previous competitive situations. Also, coming in thinking that they can’t change strokes or events. It is good to shake things up and try new events to decrease stagnation and burn out.
8. What do you think your program is the most successful at?
Our program is strongest at harnessing individual improvement. Once an athlete comes to us, if they put in the time, they will become faster. We have been fortunate to have success in all events throughout the year. I think that this environment helps athletes to grow as people and develop strong ties to their teammates as well.
9. Why should a recruit consider your program?
We are a growing program looking to expand. We are willing to work with athletes who are willing to work.
10. If a recruit is interested in your program, how should they reach out to you?
Email is the fastest/ most efficient way to contact me.
Unofficial and Official Visits are a major part of the recruiting process. Former DI Recruiting Coordinator at Notre Dame and Michigan, Bob Chmiel, sat down with the NCSA “Live” Team and shared his knowledge with more than 300 recruits and families. Check it out below!
If you would like to discuss your personal recruiting situation to see if you have what it takes to play at the next level, call 866-579-6272 to schedule a free Recruiting Analysis.
Here are some valuable insights for you from two former Indianapolis Warren Central High School athletes. I was on a panel discussion of recruiting with them in Indianapolis.
Butler University soccer player Cara Burchett and recently graduated Northern Illinois University football player Jason Onyebuagu stood up and shared valuable information that families with athletes in all sports can learn from.
At the time, Cara Burchett was a senior defender for the Butler soccer team. She started every game her senior season, and except for a stress fracture her junior season, played a lot during her college career. Here’s what Cara had to say about recruiting:
“I have played soccer since I was 3 years old. I have always wanted to be a college soccer player. My sister played Division 3 soccer. I was fortunate to play for a great Club Soccer team (Carmel Crossfire). Club is very important. We went to big Showcases in Las Vegas and Walt Disney World. There were a lot of college coaches there, but I wasn’t getting letters from them after going to those events. I learned that you have to have ways to put yourself out there so they know to look for you.”
“I really wanted to play Division 1 soccer. There were schools like Indiana University and Mid American Conference (MAC) schools recruiting me. IU was too big. I do well with more personalized instruction, where a Professor could sit down with me after a class. Ball State was not a fit. There was just something about Butler University that was right. My parents always said pick a school that if you can’t play your sport you will still love.”
“It is important to ask a lot of questions on your visits. You can sit in on classes. Those things are important.”
ANALYSIS: Cara was a 2 time All State Soccer player, 4 year varsity letter winner, played on a state championship Club team, and yet she didn’t get much response after going to Vegas and Orlando. College coaches, although open to ‘discovering’ kids if someone does something amazing right in front of them when they walk by, were primarily there to evaluate prospects on their lists. Cara learned that she had to be more proactive in the game of recruiting. An athlete that has a profile with all their accomplishments can contact college coaches, let them know their playing schedule, and get them access to their online profile. Cara became much more proactive in getting her information out to college coaches before Showcase events, so they made sure to spend time watching her play in person at those events.
In today’s world of recruiting, many coaches use NCSA to build their recruiting lists. Having an online profile there also enables athletes to reach out to specific coaches, let them know their schedule, and then send them a link to all their athletic and academic accomplishments on their profile.
Like Cara, Jason Onyebuagu had been a standout athlete at Warren Central High in Indy. At the Panel Discussion, he had more valuable insights that can help everyone go through their recruiting.
At Warren Central High School Jason was named team football captain, first team Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference, first team Indianapolis Star Super Team and 2005 Mr. Football Position Award (O-line), and first team Associated Press Class 5A All-State on 14-1 league and state champions as a senior. He was a 4 year Honor Roll student. Here is what he had to say:
“I didn’t realize what the recruiting process was all about. I landed in it. Young athletes ask me about recruiting. I say ‘enjoy it, the fact that someone wants you.’ A lot of people get frustrated.”
“I was a football-everything kid! Academics, though, came first. I always looked at it that if I wanted to play football, I had to have good grades. However, for the ACT and SAT I went in unprepared. Thankfully my core GPA was high. I got into Northern Illinois with a 19 ACT.”
“As far as my decision making process, I was good at football. However, I was the good football player that didn’t look good on paper. I never had that height that looked good on paper (he would grow to be 6’1″ and 308 pounds). I never let that get me down. I had a lot of offers. Going to Northern Illinois University was the best decision of my life. I enjoyed every second of it. Before going, my father sat me down and talked about the importance of getting a degree. I graduated early, in 3 1/2 years.”
“I remember when I took my Visit to Northern Illinois. It was very cold. After conversing with the coaches, I decided to commit. I wanted to go to a place where I would have a chance to play early (Oneyebuagu would go on to be a 4 year starter at Center for NIU and make First Team all Mid American Conference). Even after committing, other schools recruited me. Marshall came after me. I took a visit up there to West Virginia, which I felt bad about because I had told NIU I would come there. Well, they found out about it and the NIU assistant coach that had been recruiting me came right down to school the next Monday. That showed me they really wanted me. It is important to go to a school where they really want you. I had a great time playing college football. I had a chance to make the Jacksonville Jaguars NFL roster, but didn’t make it. My college coach talked to me a lot throughout that experience, which showed me again how much he cared about me, and how NIU was a school that really wanted me.”
“Find out who really wants you for WHO you are rather than just what you can do for their program.”
ANALYSIS: Great insights from Jason. At 6′ 1″ his lack of height hurt him as far as being recruited by major powerhouses as the D1 level, but he said that didn’t get him down. A realistic evaluation for him was a D1 program such as Northern Illinois (there are different levels of D1). As a result, he played major minutes all 4 years and said he loved every second of college.
Did you notice he got his degree in 3 1/2 years? He didn’t let college sports take advantage of him. He worked hard as a player and as a student, His pro aspirations ended quickly, but because he emphasized education while playing college football, he has a degree and a bright future. Sadly, many knuckleheads in college football take classes that keep them eligible, finish without a degree, get cut from the NFL, and go out into the world without a completed degree.
His point about finding the college where they really want you is big as well. When I speak, I emphasize finding the “right fit.” A school that really wants you for who you are as a person, and not just an athlete, is a right fit.
Jason is now in coaching and has the credentials to build a successful coaching career. Don’t be surprised to see this young man go on to accomplish significant things in life.
Another important point about Cara and Jason is that Division 1 was right for them. We often focus on the major time commitment of D1 and the pressures and all, but there are plenty of D1 kids that are fine with all of that, and have a remarkable experience. To be a D1 athlete is a major commitment, no doubt, but Jason said he loved every second of it and Cara is having unforgettable experiences at Butler. Their young Butler team just won the conference regular season soccer championship and they will host the conference tournament – memories she will have for a lifetime. This season they upset Milwaukee on the road, something no Horizon League team had been able to do in over 12 years. In that game Cara was given the challenge of defending Milwaukee’s Sarah Hagen the entire game. Hagen is the 2-time Horizon Conference Player of the Year. Cara did her job as Butler won 1-0.
20 years from now, Cara will have the gratifying feeling of knowing she was a college athlete. She will be able to reflect on the incredible pressure of defending a bigtime college star, and succeeding! Cara had one crack at the recruiting process, and she found the right fit. You get one shot too. You don’t get a mulligan,
What are you doing in recruiting to make sure you nail it like Cara and Jason?
For an Evaluation of where you are in the recruiting process
Charlie Adams
Senior National Speaker for the NCSA Recruiting Network
cadams@ncsasports.org
Coach Taylor – All my friends are talking about taking “unofficial” visits to colleges. How can I set those up?
This is a great question that I’m sure a lot of people are wondering. Unofficial visits are a great way to be able to talk to a coach in person, and see if the team and school is a good fit for you. Also, you can take an unlimited amount of unofficial visits, and coaches are more than happy to give them to you because it doesn’t take away from their recruiting budget.
However, coaches don’t usually give unofficial visits to kids who are not a potential prospect for their program. So first, you need to develop a relationship with a coach that you are interesting in playing for. The visits will come from there. Expressing your interest is key, and it is not a bad thing to say that you are free for a weekend and would like to come for an unofficial visit. Then from there you will work on both party’s availability.
If you haven’t started to develop a recruiting relationship with college coaches, here is a great way to start! Join the NCSA Recruiting Network list to begin developing these crucial relationships.
Send your recruiting questions to askcoachtaylor@ncsasports.org
You can also get your questions answered directly by contacting an NCSA Recruiting Coordinator at 866-579-6272.
Coach Taylor – I’m getting some emails from college coaches, but there are strictly generic and not specific to me at all. What does this mean?
I understand that it makes you feel a lot more important when you receive a personal email from a college coach. They feel the same way! It’s important to realize that these coaches received your Recruiting Profile and then chose to proactively contact you. They know that your Recruiting Profile goes to a lot of coaches. They are not sure right off the bat whether you will be interested in them. There is no way for them to know what type of athlete you are or anything about your character. The coach is going out on a limb to contact you! So do not be surprised if the first contact the coach makes is a questionnaire or generic form letter. That is completely normal and to be expected! That is how coaches recruit. The personal emails and correspondence begins after you respond and the coach gets to know you a little better.
Send your recruiting questions to askcoachtaylor@ncsasports.org
You can also get your questions answered directly by contacting an NCSA Recruiting Coordinator at 866-579-6272.
