NCSA College Athletic Scholarships Blog

SI.com recently published an article about the rising number of high school student athlete’s decommitting to colleges or asking out of their National Letters of Intent. While coaches may be heartbroken over their decision, players may be changing their minds for a number of reasons. However, are top-100 recruits decommitting or transferring more often? If so, why?

SI.com is searching for answers through their Commitment Project. They compiled data from the past five classes of top-100 recruits from 2007 to 2011. After tracking their entire path from high school to college they discovered that one in six players from the top-100 lists for the 2012 and 2013 class will eventually decommit.

If you’re interested in finding out why these players are decommitting and how that might affect you as a committed student athlete read the full SI.com article here.

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It all depends how the school wants to spend their recruiting budget. The school is allowed to pay for lodging, transportation, meals, and entertainment. That includes (1) round-trip transportation (rental car or airfare) for the student-athlete between home (or high school) and the campus, (2) you (and your parents) may receive 3 meals per day and (3) complimentary admissions to campus athletics events. This is the maximum of what they can cover, but unfortunately every athletic department and even program has different recruiting budgets that can change every year. They can chose how to split this up any way they like, so they might not be able to offer all of these. So when you’re setting this visit up, make sure to ask what they can offer to pay for, traveling in your case, so you are prepared for this.

If you are in the Network, want to become a part of the network, athlete or parent, LIKE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE and join the Athletic Recruiting Network on Facebook!

NCSA provides the recruiting education for Pro Lacrosse Camps, a top notch series of Camps that includes instructors like Hannah Nielsen who won 4 National Championships at Northwestern University, Caitlyn McFadden, who won the women’s version of the Heisman in Lacrosse, the Teewarton Award, in 2010 at the University of Maryland, and Brian Phipps, former University of Maryland All America goalie. One of the points that I emphasize in College Recruiting Simplified is that being a college athlete will impact the next 40 years of your life. In the professional world, this means connections. Former University of Virginia All America Lacrosse player Kyle Dixon was among the Camp Counselors. Kyle played on two National Championship teams for the Cavaliers, was 1st Team All America as a senior, and named the nation’s top Midfielder. Before I delivered Recruiting Education presentations to parents and athletes, I talked with him about how being a college athlete impacts one’s future.

“We have something at Virginia Lacrosse called VLand,” he told me. “It is the Virginia Lacrosse Alumni Network. There is a spread sheet that has all of the UVA Lacrosse players that have graduated and their field of study. I work for RBC Wealth Management in Annapolis, MD. It is a fantastic job and there is no chance I would have that job if I didn’t have the network of having played at Virginia.”

I talked with Kyle about the value of playing multiple sports in High School. In Lacrosse, especially, college coaches prefer High School athletes who played more than one sport. “I learned a lot from playing basketball,” said Kyle. “You set picks in basketball and in Lacrosse and the spacing is similar.”

While at the Camps, I had a chance to talk with Amanda Counts, who helped to run the girls Camps, about her recruiting story. Amanda is in her 5th season as Head Girl’s Lacrosse Coach at James Madison High School. She did not have much recruiting education when she was in High School so she just forged ahead! “I made contact with college coaches via email,” Amanda told me. “I went to look at Virginia Tech and went to the coaches door. I had sent game film. They asked for my tournament schedule and the coach told me what Camps she would be working, which included the University of Virginia camp. She was from Charlottesville. I went there to that Camp. It was nerve racking but she got to see me play there. I did not get a scholarship at the beginning at Virginia Tech. I was a recruited walk-on which was like continually trying out all Fall. By my Junior and Senior year I got about half a scholarship. I broke my hip, which doesn’t happen often. When they did an x ray they found a break in the other hip. My scholarship was given to me not knowing if I could play again but my coaches wanted me around because if I couldn’t play I could be a player coach. I ended up having three surgeries in a year and a half and played maybe a month, but it helped shape me. I switched majors to Education so I could be a coach and that is what I am today.”

Amanda has been very successful as the Coach at James Madison High School. She absolutely loves what she does in life. She is around sports all the time. Having played college made her a much more attractive coaching prospect to that High School. I asked her about the recruiting process now that she coaches college prospects.

“The Club scene tends to be where coaches do the majority of their recruiting,” she said. “A lot of girls are hesitant to contact college coaches because they are not sure what to say. You have to be an advocate for yourself! You are one of a lot of prospects. Be a little on the relentless side. Sometimes the college coach can’t respond. You may be at an event and the college coach doesn’t speak to you. That’s because of the recruiting period. It doesn’t mean they don’t like your abilities. Especially at the D1 level a lot of girls feel rushed in recruiting and feel it is such a big deal to be called at midnight the first time coaches can call. You don’t want to hold off to hurt your signing prospects but you don’t necessarily have to jump on the first thing. Check out the schools and the coaches to see where you best fit. Sometimes Club can be a more realistic gauge of where you can play in college. Club coaches tend to be younger and more recently out of college. High School coaches often are more ‘parenting’ in that they want you to do well. They may not give you false hopes but may pump you up more than is correct.”

Before speaking at Camp one day, I sat down at lunch with former University of Maryland goalie Brian Phipps, who made All America as well as Academic All ACC. He is now a pro All Star goalie with the Chesapeake Bayhawks of the MLL. “You have to be a team leader,” Brian said as far as what it takes to be a successful goalie. “You have to be able to communicate with the defense. It’s not just saying ‘ball left’ or ‘ball right’  but things like ‘turn him’ or ‘slide.’” I asked Brian where he would suggest young goalies go to improve. “The Charley Toomey Goalie Camp is the one,” he said. “He is the coach at Loyola of Baltimore. It is 3 1/2 days long. It made me better.” Families have to be educated about the potential scholarships in the sport they want to play college. In Lacrosse, even at the major D1 level, they have to be spread around. It’s not like football, basketball and the other few sports that are full athletic scholarships at D1. “Men’s Lacrosse at D1 gets 12.6 scholarships,” said Brian. “I would say two thirds are on some scholarship and of those two thirds about a quarter of those get 75% or better.” Kyle Dixon, who played at national power Virginia, could think of just one Cavalier that got everything. Now, it’s different at every school but they have to divvy up that scholarship money among 35 or so players.

While watching the Pro Lacrosse Camps girls work one day under the direction of former University of Maryland star Caitlyn McFadden (who was the nation’s top player in 2010), I talked with Eleanor Gollob, Commissioner of the McLean Youth Girls Lacrosse Club. She played Lacrosse and Ice Hockey at Princeton in the late ’80′s and we marvelled about how different recruiting and sports in general are different these days. “The myths around here,” she told me,”and I can just speak on Lacrosse and not other sports is that many parents feel their daughter needs to play on THE Club team that is most established, wins the most and goes to the biggest tournaments and that it equates to more recruiting. I think in Lacrosse it is not necessarily the case. Is it better for 11, 12 and 13 year olds to go to good tournaments, have a great time while they are learning the sport versus driving over an hour away just for practice at that age because you have to in order to be on that Club team at age 16? Many feel they need to.” “I also hear that top D1 programs like Virginia knows the sophomores they want and that offers are out there. So much can happen from sophomore year until college. Is that the smartest thing to decide that young?”

As I made my around, I talked with Danielle Peters, who was the Trainer at the Camp. She told me that she wished she had recruiting education when she was in High School. She is from Missouri and after waiting to be recruited finally reached out to regional school William Woods University in Fulton, MO. A NAIA school, they can offer athletic scholarships as well as other aid. She ended up with a combination of scholarships that basically covered everything. She got her degree in Athletic Training, had a great experience playing Soccer at the college level, and  now works in sports for a living. She said having been a college athlete is a huge boost on her resume because it separates her from those job candidates in athletic training that did not play college.

To Learn How to Get Into the Recruiting Database College Lacrosse Coaches use to Build their Recruiting Lists click here

Other Valuable Articles by NCSA Recruiting Speaker Charlie Adams on Lacrosse Recruiting include:

Former Johns Hopkins All America Steve Boyle on What it is Like Playing at the D1 Level

Hard Hitting Information Every Lacrosse Family Needs to Know!

Charlie Adams, NCSA Athletic Recruiting Network Speaker Questions on recruiting: Email Charlie at cadams@ncsasports.org

Editors Note: Charlie is part of a team of NCSA Educational Speakers (former college coaches, athletes, broadcasters) that educate and inspire audiences around the world about the recruiting process.

Charlie Adams educates and inspires audiences on the college athletics recruiting process

To bring NCSA Recruiting Education to your School, Club or Event

NAIA schools have a limited amount of athletic scholarship money but there are definitely opportunities to get an athletic scholarship. The amount of scholarship money varies between sports.

My suggestion would be talk to the schools you are interested in attending and see how many they offer for the sport you are interested in playing.  This may help you make you decision on which school to attend.

If you’re looking to take an Official Visit to the school, this may be a good time to see how they spend their recruiting budget. Remember, have questions prepared beforehand next time you speak to a college coach! You only get one shot to impress them!

If you are in the Network, want to become a part of the network, athlete or parent, LIKE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE and join the Athletic Recruiting Network on Facebook!

NCAA AUGUST 1^st BYLAWS

Unlimited calls, evaluations & contacts and text messages allowed the day after the recruit signs the NLI, written offer of admission and/or financial aid, OR the day after the college receives a financial aid deposit.

Men’s Basketball recruits are not allowed to take unofficial visits during the month of July, unless the recruit signs the NLI, written offer of admission and/or financial aid, OR the day after the college receives a financial aid deposit.

During visits, a recruit can receive up to 2 additional complimentary admissions to a home athletics event, if they have a non-traditional family (i.e. divorce, separation).

Before status has been certified by the NCAA, freshman may practice, but not compete during a 21-day period and they cannot receive athletic monies. After the 21-day period, if they meet all requirements as a qualifier they can continue practicing, compete and receive athletic monies.

All sports, besides Football and M/W Ice Hockey, can receive 2 calls per week during their senior year from a Division I coach.

AUGUST EDUCATION

Preparing for the School Year:

1. Video – Speak with your coaches and family to see who can or will be filming and when you will be able to get copies. As you film each game, meet or match; review your footage each week and compile your video log ahead of time instead of waiting till the end of your season.
2. Statistics – Speak with your coaches and family to see who can or will be tracking your stats and when they will be made available. After each game, meet or match; please update your profile, because your profile is live for college coaches to view.
3. Guidance Counselor – It is important to meet with your guidance counselor at the beginning of the year to track the courses you are taking match the NCAA Eligibility Center core courses list and that you are on pace.
4. Setting Goals – Before your season starts, write what you want to accomplish over the next year based on academics, athletics, and recruiting. Review and update your goals on a regular basis.

AUGUST REMINDERS

National Letter of Intent: The Signing Period ends on August 1st. This is the last day for a student-athlete in the following sports to sign the NLI for this fall for any DI or DII program: Field Hockey, Soccer, Track & Field, Cross Country, Swimming, Baseball, Softball, Tennis, Volleyball, Lacrosse, Wrestling, Ice Hockey, and Water Polo.

Graduating to the Next Class: The NEW NCSA date, August 31^st, is when our student-athletes graduate to the next class. Therefore, any 2012 grads will be referenced as a senior and any 2011 grads will be marked graduated high school, if they did not report their fall decision.

Official Visits: The student-athlete can start taking official visits opening day of class senior year.

Unofficial Visits: Juniors and Underclassmen should take a visit once the college has started classes, to see what the school is like in full swing.

AUGUST RECRUITING CALENDARS

Division I

Football, Men’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball:  Quiet Period.

Baseball, Softball, Volleyball: Contact Period.

Cross Country/Track and Field: Contact Period, except for below:

• June 9 (12:01 am) to June 12 (12:01 am) Dead Period

Men’s Lacrosse:

• August 1 Contact Period
• August 2-8 Quiet Period
• August 9-31 Dead Period

Women’s Lacrosse

• August 1-31 Contact Period (No Evaluations)

*Seven contact days selected at the discretion of the school and designated in writing by the AD’s office. On those days, the coaches are not restricted on the amount of recruits contacted in a single day.

*Those days not designated: Quiet Period

Division II

Football:

June 1 to the beginning of the s-a high school or 2-year college football season (as determine by the first regularly schedule practice immediately preceding the start of the regular season): Quiet Period

During the prospect’s high school or two-year college football season (as determined by the first regularly scheduled practice immediately preceding the start of the regular season: Evaluation Period.

Men’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball:

• August 1 Evaluation Period
• August 2-31 Quiet Period

PHONE CALLS:

Upcoming Seniors, 2012 Grads (Division I):

• Football: 1x per week, starting Sept. 1^st
• M/W Ice Hockey: 1x per week
• All Other Sports: 2x per week. (*New rule as of 8/1/2011)

Upcoming Seniors, 2012 Grads (Division II):

• All Sports:  1x per week.

Upcoming Juniors, 2013 Grads (Division I):

• Men’s Basketball, Men’s Ice Hockey:  1x per month.

EMAILS & LETTERS

2012 Grads (Upcoming Seniors)

• All Divisions: All Sports – Unlimited.

2013 Grads (Upcoming Juniors)

• DI:  Men’s Basketball, Men’s Ice Hockey – Unlimited.
• Division I/II:  All Other Sports – Allowed on or after Sept. 1st.

2014 & 2015 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.

AUGUST RECRUITING TIPS

Fall Sports – Coaches will be getting ready for their seasons in August. Pre-season conditioning and practice will be starting.

Other Sports – August is the time of the year coach’s head out for vacations and communications may be limited.

Offers – At this time, juniors and top tier sophomores have or will be securing DI offers by the end of the month and throughout the fall months. Top tier DII programs will be extending offers as well.

Upcoming Seniors (2012 grads) need to pay attention to application deadlines, get a head start on application essays and determine if they need to re-take the SAT or ACT this fall.

Upcoming Juniors (2013 Grads) need to determine if they will take the SAT/ACT this fall. If so, remind them to take advantage of the mock exams inside their RMS from Revolution Prep.

NCSA’s recruiting experts have selected some of their top recruits in different sports and we need your help to vote for the best Student-Athlete of the Month for July.

It’s Easy to Vote:

1. Read through a quick description of the student-athlete

2. Click on the link below the description to view more information

3. Click the “Like” button featured at the bottom of their Recruiting Profile if you feel like they are the best candidate for NCSA Student-Athlete of the Month

Here are the five candidates for this month’s NCSA Student-Athlete of the Month:

1.) Amanda Martinez: 2012 Graduate, Women’s Basketball Student-Athlete from Colorado

Amanda is a 5’11″ wing who has been in communication with coaches in the Ivy League; she has a 3.9 GPA and a 28 ACT. Amanda has really taken advantage of NCSA’s Recruiting Classes to learn more about Recruiting in the Ivy League, Fall Basketball Recruiting, and Making and Receiving Phone calls to name a few of the ten she has registered for in the past.

2.) Erin Taylor: 2012 Graduate, Women’s Volleyball Student-Athlete from Texas

Erin Taylor is a dynamic OH out of Texas who is receiving strong interest from the Ivy’s. Her information was distributed to over 250 colleges.

3.) Ryan Radue: 2012 Graduate, Baseball Student-Athlete from Wisconsin

Ryan just joined NCSA in June, updated his Recruiting Profile in less than a month, and had his information distributed to college coaches within two weeks. He is a great student with a 4.025 GPA on a 4.0 scale, is ranked #1 in his class of 153, and he scored a 31 on his ACT. Athletically, he has been clocked at 89 MPH on the mound.

4.) Erin McCoy: 2012 Graduate, Women’s Track Student-Athlete from Illinois

Erin is a junior from Oak Park, Illinois. Her main events are the hurdles and she is running top times. In addition to be a standout on the track, Erin holds a strong GPA and test scores and is involved in other areas at her school.

5.) Matt Marvin: 2013 Graduate, Men’s Soccer Student-Athlete from California

2013 graduate from California that plays club for Real So Cal Academy.  In the classroom he carries a 4.154 / 4.0 GPA and is looking for a top academic school nationwide. Matt had his Recruiting Profile distributed for the first time about a month ago and has already had over 70 college coaches view his information.

Feel free to send this to as many people as possible to make sure your favorite wins this upcoming month!