NCSA College Athletic Scholarships Blog

NCSA Athletic Recruiting & Front Rush

I know it is illegal for coaches to text recruits, but are recruits allowed to text coaches?

Over the past few years, new rules regarding newly widespread communication technologies have been created to make sure that the recruiting process stays as fair as possible. 

It is LEGAL for a recruit to text message a coach at any time, just as it is legal for the recruit to email, call, or write to the coach whenever he wishes.  Unlike other communication rules, however, it is ALWAYS ILLEGAL for a coach to text message a recruit.  During certain periods decided on by the NCAA, coaches are allowed to email, call, or write to recruits in attempts to make contact.  These rules vary based on sport and division.

It is very clear that the NCAA wants to avoid, at all costs, new types of simple communication such as text messaging to become overly involved in college sports recruiting.  The other factor rarely noticed about texting recruits is how incoming text message fees can pile up a recruit’s phone bill very quickly.  For these reasons, the NCAA has drafted strict rules regarding communication in the recruiting process.

 Good Luck!

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

Why do college coaches acceess the NCSA Network?

1. Verified Information
The NCSA Network consists of verified information on a large database of committed student-athletes.  NCSA’s Team takes every step possible to ensure accuracy about the information we distribute to college coaches by conducting an initial analysis, evaluating video, requiring official transcrips and coaching our athletes on how to communicate effectively with college coaches.

2.  Tools and Technology
NCSA has dedicated significant resources to help college coaches by developing software and applications that will make their job easier. These tools include a custom Contact Management System, recruit interest indicators, trackable bulk email capabilities and access to our proprietary Recruit-Match Database used to narrow down the talent pool based off of program specific preferences.

3.  People
NCSA’s Recruiting Team consists of more than 150 former collegiate athletes and coaches including some of the top recruiters of all time.  This team provides college coaches Access to NCSA’s “Off site Recruiting Coordinators” which extends the amount of staff members that are devoted to identifying talent.  Our talented team has gained the trust of the coaching community by leveraging their experience to accurately matching prospects with the right program based off the coach’s needs.

4.  Reputation
College coaches receive information from hundreds of “recruiting services” and other companies which have left a bad taste in the mouths of coaches across the country.  NCSA is different.  Aside from being much more than a “Recruiting Service” NCSA takes pride in giving college coaches information on qualified prospects. For the last ten years we have built up trust with the coaching community that we work on each and every day.  This is the same reasons that world class organizations like the NFL Players Association and IMG Academies have chosen to partner with the NCSA Network to change more lives.

5. Free
Quite simply, access to the NCSA Network is free for college coaches and this is HUGE.  The vast majority of college programs lack the funds to pay for an outside service and our partnerships allow us to subsidize the network and give it to the coaches for nothing!  Also, coaches appreciate that any athlete can plug into the network and get discovered through our free memberships.

6. (I know we only said 5, but we couldn’t do it)  It works!  More than 90% of verified athletes get connected with the right program. 

Be sure to check out the exclusive launch of the NEW and REVOLUTIONARY Recruiting Management System!

Make sure you are taking advantage of the Network by plugging in here.
Haven’t joined yet? Click Here.

Call 866-579-6272 if you have questions about the NCSA Network.

Yesterday NCSA launched our new and improved College Coach Recruiting Management System (RMS).  It will provide an enhanced platform for recruiting to the entire college coaching community. This free site includes: a contact management system, customizable profiles, new user friendly interface and increased preference filters leading to more efficiency when searching for recruits.

Take a tour of how college coaches use the NCSA Recruiting Network:

Why Else do College Coaches use NCSA? Check it out the Top 5 Reasons!

Coach Taylor, I am a junior, and have sent emails to coaches and have received their responses. I will be making my first call to them this week. When is a good time for me to request an official visit? Do I need to wait for them to invite me? Some of my friends made their official visit after their verbal commitment. Do you think that’s wise to wait that long?

To start off, you cannot take an official visit until your senior year of high school. What I suggest you to do is ask for an unofficial visit as soon as possible. Many kids, who may have verbally committed before their senior year, may still take their official visit, or not take one at all. Here is a sample email to ask for an unofficial visit. Remember: you can take an unlimited number of unofficial visits!

Hi Coach —

My name is (Name) and I’m a (grad year) at High School in (City, State). I am writing to thank you for sending the (email, athletic questionnaire, letter). I was very excited to receive it. —- sounds like it could be a good fit for me so far. I am really excited to learn more about your school.

My mother and I are actually planning to unofficially visit — this fall. We are planning the trip August 14-15. Are you available on those dates? I would love to opportunity to meet with you in person.

I plan on calling you directly on (Date & Time) to talk about possibly meeting you in person during my upcoming visit.

I look forward to talking with you.

Thanks,

Johnny Student/Athlete

1234 Broadway Drive

Email: johnny@aol.com

Phone: 555-555-5555

Cell: 555-555-5555

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 have received a few emails from college coaches that are interested in me. On the downside, they are all out of state, and I do not feel that I am interested. What can I say back, in a nice way, saying I am simply not interested in their college/program?

Great question, and I would first say to really think about still looking into these out of state programs and schools, as they might be a great fit. But of course, it is your own preference as to which schools you are interested in. Here is a great sample letter to tell a coach that you are not interested in their program.

Dear Coach –,

Thank you very much for your time and consideration of my (sport) abilities. Your personal attention was truly appreciated. It was a difficult decision to make, but, I have narrowed my college choices for next year.

I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to contact me and to share information about (school name) over the past year.

Again, thank you and best of luck with your recruiting and season.

Sincerely,

Johnny Student/Athlete

1234 Broadway Drive

Email: johnny@aol.com

Phone: 555-555-5555

Cell: 555-555-5555

Don’t be nervous to do this, because as much as you are trying to narrow down schools, they are trying just as hard to narrow down athletes. They will appreciate your honesty.

You can always 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.

Can a regular student transfer and play sports right away, without sitting out for a year, if leaving a 4 year school and never having played sports?

This is a very interesting question.  Usually there are complicated rules regarding transferring between divisions, the sit-out rule, etc…  In this case, however, there are a few simple guidelines to determine whether you will be eligible to play or not.  If you DO NOT fall under the definition of transfer student-athlete, you do not have to sit out if you choose to take up sports and your new school.

Here are the two main questions to ask, according to the NCAA Transfer Guide, when deciding whether you are technically a student-athlete or not.

. Have you ever reported for practice with the regular squad?

. Have you ever practiced or played while you were enrolled part time?

If the answer to both of these questions is no, you will have to problem regarding the NCAA transfer sit-out rules.

Good Luck!

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

RECRUITING CALENDARS

Each NCAA DI and DII National Letter of Intent member school uses a Recruiting Calendar when recruiting.  There are four different periods that a coach must follow.  The four periods are:

A Contact Period is when almost everything is allowed.  You are able to meet with a coach off campus (during senior year only).  That could be during a home visit or other type of meeting.  The coaches are also allowed to come and watch you play.  The following types of contacts are allowed during a Contact Period:

Official Visits, Unofficial Visits, Home Visits from a coach or other in-person meetings off campus, Letters/Emails, Calls, Evaluations (at your high school or during club competition)

A Dead Period is one of the most confusing periods.  In a nutshell, coaches are not allowed to meet with you on or off campus during this time.  The following types of contacts are allowed during a Dead Period:

Letters/Emails, Calls, Visits to a college but you may not meet with a coach

An Evaluation Period is when the coaches are spending most of their recruiting hours watching you play, either during high school or club competition.  This is not on the college campus.  The coach is not allowed to meet with you off campus though.  The following types of contacts are allowed during an Evaluation Period:

Official Visits, Unofficial Visits, Letters/Emails, Calls, Evaluations (at your high school or during club competition)

The Quiet Period means that coaches are not able to have off-campus meetings with you OR evaluate you.  The only time you may meet with the coach is on their campus.  The following types of contacts are allowed during a Quiet Period:

Official Visits, Unofficial Visits, Letters/Emails, Calls

Football: Quiet Period.

Cross Country/Track and Field:

Contact Period, except for below:

March 11 (12:01 am) – 13 (12:01 am) – Dead Period

Women’s Basketball:  Contact Period.

Men’s Basketball:

Evaluation Period, except for below:

March 16-22 – Contact Period

March 31 – Dead Period

Women’s Ice Hockey:

March 17-21 (noon) – Dead Period

Baseball, Men’s Lacrosse, Softball, Volleyball, Women’s Lacrosse: Contact Period.

PHONE CALLS

2011 Grads (Seniors)

Division I:

Men’s Basketball – 2x per week

All Other Sports – 1x per week

Division II: All Sports – 1x per week.

Division III/NAIA/2-year: All Sports – Unlimited.

2012 Grads (Juniors)

Division I: Men’s Basketball/Men’s Ice Hockey – 1x per month.

Division II: Not Allowed.

Division III/NAIA/2-year: All Sports – Unlimited.

2013 & 2014 Grads (Underclassman)

Division I/II: Not Allowed.

Division III/NAIA/2-year: All Sports – Unlimited.

EMAILS & LETTERS

2011 Grads (Seniors) & 2012 Grads (Juniors)

All Divisions: All Sports – Unlimited.

2013 & 2014 Grads (Underclassman)

Division I/II: Not Allowed.

Division III/NAIA/2-year: All Sports – Unlimited.

*Please Note: Some DIII/NAIA/2-year programs have institutional or conference rules prohibiting the college coach to make contact before the student-athletes senior year.

*Reminder: The student-athlete can call or email any coach at anytime.

RECRUITING TIPS

*All spring sports seasons are starting, therefore communication with these coaches and recruits will be limited.

*All spring sports should set a game day visit.

*All non-spring sports should be setting unofficial visits.

*Football recruits, juniors and underclassmen, need to be attending combines and junior days.

*Volleyball National Qualifiers: Right now coaches are out making evaluations.

TRACK:  We are getting into the busiest recruiting time of the year.

ALERT: DI coaches are always recruiting and looking at athletes, however, at this point in the recruiting process there is not always a spot available or money tied to that spot. Seniors need to be open to 2-year programs and lower levels.

ALERT: For the following sports at this point only low major DI programs might have scholarship money available with an opening on their roster: basketball, football, volleyball, tennis, softball, baseball, soccer, lacrosse, golf, water polo, ice hockey, and field hockey.

ALERT: College coaches continue to recruit earlier and we have received notifications from DII, NAIA and even DIII programs that they are done with the 2011 class.

What position is a coach recruiting this year?  What is in dire need?  What specifically are they looking for?

All very difficult questions to answer.  That is why the NCSA Recruiting Network gets requests directly from college coaches.  Its just one example of the connections the network makes with college coaches and verified athletes.  Everyone can see the most recent coaching request by logging in to their recruiting management system here!

You can also check out the free e-book we put together:   Sport Specific Recruiting Guide

Take a look at these recent examples from every division level across the country!

We just had some changes to commitments and are now in need of an outside and a middle to contribute immediately this fall.

 If you have anyone who you could recommend that would be great.

Current recruiting needs:

Pitchers and Shortstops

Current recruiting needs:

Division I caliber player, 3.0 gpa or higher, 1200 SAT or higher, well rounded student-athlete, has a reasonable level of self funding to supplement an athletic or academic scholarship, comfortable attending a historically black university that now has a diverse population of students

Current recruiting needs:

Need Point Guard, and two shooting guards and three Forwards

Current recruiting needs:

Women Distance, Butterfly and Sprint events Men Sprint and Backstroke events

Current recruiting needs:

Female High Jumpers who have personal bests over or around 5’6″ Male High jumpes with personal bests over 6′

Coach request content: I am looking at all positions for the 2011 season. We are coming off a 25-12 season but with the lose of 4 seniors I want players who can make an immediate impact. I look for quality students athletes that can work hard in the classroom and on the court.

Current recruiting needs:

Aggresive forwards to can finish (who doesn’t need those)

Coach request content: Still looking to add one more pitcher to our roster from the graduating class of 2011, or a JC transfer. We are looking for a pitcher with speed and good command of her pitches.

If you are interested in seeing the most recent requests be sure to log in to your RMS!

Coach Taylor,

Where do I go to do the Clearinghouse?  How do I manage college choices and what school to go to?  How will I get the schools to start emailing me?  How can I get evaluated to see what star athlete I might be?

 All very good questions.  First off, the NCAA Eligibility center, formerly known as the NCAA Clearinghouse, can be found at http://www.eligibilitycenter.org.  Any athlete planning to play in college must register with the Eligibility Center and be sure that he or she meets all the necessary academic requirements.  

Next, managing college choices can be done in many ways.  First and foremost, figure out generally what kind of school you would like to attend, what you are looking for academically (majors, programs) and athletically (what division).  All of these factors can help you in thinning out the list as far as possible schools.

To answer your question about contact with schools, you need to contact the school first, do not just wait to be contacted.  Ideal materials for contact with coaches include a well-edited recruiting highlight video, personal letter, and a comprehensive profile that sums up your academic and personal information. 

Athletes are evaluated in multiple ways including performance on the field, recruiting videos, and performance at camps and combines.  Having a verifiable third party evaluate you is the best way to get credible ratings as far as your athletic ability.  NCSA’s college scouts are experts at evaluating high school talent in all sports.

As always, the sooner you get on top of the recruiting process the better.  The college sports recruiting process started yesterday, and there are a lot of things to be sure of in order to maximize your success.