NCSA College Athletic Scholarships Blog

National Letter of Intent:

The Signing Period ends on August 1st. This is the last 31 days for a student-athlete in the following sports to secure an athletic scholarship to a DI or DII program: Field Hockey, Soccer, Track & Field, Cross Country, Swimming, Baseball, Softball, Tennis, Volleyball, Lacrosse, Wrestling, Ice Hockey, and Water Polo.

Visits:

Remind student-athletes to take time to visit college campuses over the summer months. Plan to visit colleges around summer tournaments, games and family vacations. Reach out to the coach prior to visit, do not just show up on campus and hope the coach is available.

If a student-athlete is a top tier recruit, the unofficial visit during the summer may be the vital key in securing their scholarship offer and spot in the team. Majority of DI and DII program intend on having the recruiting done as early as possible. This also includes top level DIII and NAIA programs.

Camps:

All student-athletes should attend a few camps, combines and/or showcases throughout the summer months in order to get evaluations of their skill set, stay conditioned, compile additional video and get exposure.

Reminder: Don’t plan on getting discovered, prepare to get evaluated!

JULY RECRUITING CALENDARS

Men’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball:

• July 1-5 Quiet Period

• July 6-15 Evaluation Period

• July 16-21 Dead Period

• July 22-31 Evaluation Period

Football: Quiet Period.

Baseball, Softball, Volleyball, Men’s Lacrosse,

Women’s Lacrosse, Cross Country/Track and Field: Contact Period

PHONE CALLS:

Juniors, 2011 Grads (Division I):

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

2. Women’s Basketball: DI – 3x in July (max one per week).

3. Women’s Ice Hockey: DI – 1x per week starting July 7th.

4. All Other Sports EXCEPT Football: DI – 1x per week starting July 1st.

Juniors, 2011 Grads (Division II):

1. All Sports: 1x per week.

Sophomores, 2012 Grads (Division I):

1. Men’s Basketball: DI – 1x per month (includes letters/emails).

2. Men’s Ice Hockey: DI – 1x per month (includes letters/emails).

3. Women’s Ice Hockey: DI can call Internationals 1x from July 7-31.

JULY RECRUITING TIPS

Football: End of June and the beginning of July is the best time during the summer to reach out to coaches, as coaches’ head out for vacation in July and August to get ready for pre-season.

Fall Sports: Recruits should reach out to coaches during June and July, as fall sports will be getting ready for their seasons in August.

!!!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 this late need to look at walk-on spots, junior colleges and understand that they may need to tryout.

See what Whitworth University Softball Coach Joe Abraham has to share about recruiting in NCSA coaches corner:

1. How would you describe yourself as a coach?

I am extremely competitive, perhaps too much so, but I view myself mainly as a coach who enjoys teaching the game and setting a good example for our players. I don’t talk too much about life lessons, but I like to think that I and my staff teach them by example. We are prepared for practices and we are organized in every aspect of the program. We attempt to treat our players and everyone who comes into contact with the program the way people should be treated.

2. What is unique about the experience at Whitworth University?

Whitworth offers a Christian-based education, but is open to all ideas and does not push any particular ideology. For someone who wants a great liberal arts education that you traditionally think of with many small schools in the East, but which also incorporates faith and the study of faith, Whitworth is the place to be.

3. What do recruits need to know about you?

Having worked as a journalist out of college and then as a lawyer for 13 years, and having coached at the middle school, high school and travel ball levels, I think I bring some perspective to the position. As a result, my staff and I do not play head games with our players. Recruits need to know that I am constantly trying to improve our program, so vying for playing time is going to be competitive. They also need to know that we love to teach game situations and how to think about the game. I believe that players should mostly be on their own on the field and not controlled like a robot from the dugout, as that is the only way to learn great ball playing instincts.

4. What do you look for in recruits?

I look for (1) talent; (2) very good grades; (3) passion for the game, which includes hustle, work ethic, desire to play at the college level, etc.; (4) good softball instincts.

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

The one thing I see very few girls and parents do is to talk to a good ASA, high school or college coach who knows the girl well and who will give the family an honest evaluation of the level at which a girl can realistically play in college. As a result, many girls scramble at the last minute to find a school at which they can play.

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

At our Division III level, I want to hear questions that indicate that a recruit is making sure we are a program that takes our softball seriously. Do you go out and actively recruit or do you just see who is coming to your school? Is your team working out year-round? Are you a full-time coach or do you have a full-time job and just coach on the side? Do freshmen automatically sit for a year or do the best players play?

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

1. Lack of hustle. 2. Lack of prompt response in communications. 3. Entitlement attitude.

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

On the field, the most successful part of our program is that our players understand the game and overall game strategy very well. We are also a strong hitting squad. From a program standpoint, we are extremely strong in the classroom, as well as having a team that understands that we always want to do what is right in every situation.

9. Why should a recruit consider your program?

First, they will get a fantastic education at Whitworth. Second, with our coaching staff entering its third year here, we have quickly built a great softball program that is improving each year on the field, as well as in giving girls an overall experience that is a ton of fun and rewarding. Finally, it doesn’t hurt that we have an incredible softball facility.

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

A phone call would be the best way, simply because it happens so rarely, whether it is preceded or followed by a letter or e-mail. Because most recruits are probably too tentative to call, a letter or e-mail is fine. Whatever the case, reach out! Unless you are Jennie Finch or Danielle Lawrie, we’re probably not going to find out about you unless you let us know you are interested!

Joe Abraham

Head Softball Coach

Whitworth University

Graves Gym

300 W. Hawthorne Road

Spokane, WA 99251

(509) 777-4397 (Office)

(614) 271-4070 (Cell)

Coaches corner caught up with Gavilan College Softball Coach Nikki Dequin to talk about her school and recruiting:

1. How would you describe yourself as a coach?

Honest, tough but fair, passionate about the game/sport and learning. Most of all I enjoy all aspects of being part of a team, the fun, the competition, even the ups and downs. I feel you can learn something from every experience and I try and instill that in my athletes.

2. What is unique about the experience at Gavilan College?

Athletes will learn how to become a student of the game. They will get individual attention whether that be for fine tuning a skill or help in the classroom. We care about our athletes and try and help them to be successful.

3. What do you look for in recruits?

The type of person they are. Are they hard working, good people? Are they willing to learn?

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

Get all the information they possibly can about a program, whether that be through talking to coaches, athletes or former athletes, but keep an open mind. Talk to other people who will be involved in their education (Athletic directors, academic advisors-whomever can help them meet their goals).

5. Why should a recruit consider your program?

We will help athletes meet their athletic and academic goals, as will many schools, but we create relationships. Our school is small, the instructors here love to teach and this reflects onto our athletes. We are competitive and classy. We carry ourselves well and give back to our community. Those are only a few positive considerations.

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

Email or by phone.

Nikki Dequin

Head Softball Coach &

Physical Education Inst.

Gavilan College

(408)848-4894

Read what Dean College Softball Coach Jackson has to say about recruiting in the coaches corner:

1. How would you describe yourself as a coach?

I want to let the players be college students as well as having a good softball experience. I believe college to be one of the best times of your life, and the teammates and coaches share experiences that will last a lifetime. We are structured, but also allow the players the opportunities to experience many facets of the college campus.

2. What is unique about the experience at Dean College?

We are one of the few private residential, two-year colleges left in the country. We are a small college of 1000 students which offers a tremendous support program. We also have five bachelors programs, three of which are very specialized (Dance, Theater, Performing Arts Management). These programs provide excellent entertainment for the college population. Our location affords student the opportunity to visit Boston, Providence and Cape Cod, all which are within a hour’s drive, and we have a train within walking distance of the campus that takes students into Boston.

3. What do recruits need to know about you?

I played both fast pitch and slow pitch softball after college for about 15 years, and just love the game. I coached softball for the first time 8 year ago, and absolutely fell in love with the different aspects of the defense, pitching and hitting mechanics that are very different from baseball. I am competitive, but want to play the game the right way.

4. What do you look for in recruits?

I look for good athletes who are willing to play multiple positions. I also want athletes who want to perform well in the classroom as well as the softball field. The students who attend our school usually need additional support, and I love working closely to see them achieve their academic and athletic goals.

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

Be honest with the coaches about your abilities, and return any form of communication. Take care of the paperwork necessary for admissions and financial aid.

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

Academic questions, as that tells me they are interested in academics.

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

Poor attitude on the field and lack of hustle. Also, recruits that talk back to their parents shows me a lack of respect.

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

Turning players who may have had a hard time academically in high school into successful students at the four-year level. We also give them a softball experience which will be competitive and an experience they will enjoy.

9. Why should a recruit consider your program?

We have an outstanding academic institution, and boast the largest two-year athletic program in the New England area. Our softball program has been very successful, as we won two regional titles right out of the gate when I took over the program eight years ago. We can’t win without good athletes, and we put the time in to make sure that happens every year. Our campus is located in a prime area of New England, affording players the opportunity to experience many different events in this part of the country. You do not get lost at our college, and we have a very diverse population, including international students.

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

E-mail is the best way, at jjackson@dean.edu or call my cell phone at 508-954-4053. I can guarantee them an excellent experience.

Read what Dave Williams from CSU San Marcos had to say about recruiting from our coaches corner clip:

1. How would you describe yourself as a coach?

Funny, energetic, hard worker.

2. What is unique about the experience at CSU San Marcos?

CSU San Marcos offers the life-style of a small “private school” campus with the unequaled value of the California State University. Students benefit from state of the art equipment and facilities, a great faculty that enjoys teaching, and strong academic programs that prepare students for a successful life.

CSU San Marcos is only 15 minutes from the beach in North San Diego County. Students are able to enjoy the benefits of a major metropolitan area while escaping the stresses of urban life.

3. What do recruits need to know about you?

I like chocolate.

4. What do you look for in recruits?

3 things: Athletic Ability, a Strong Work Ethic, a Winning Attitude.

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

Find the school that is just right for them.

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

How will playing softball at CSU San Marcos help me grow as a person?

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

If a recruit does not return phone calls or emails, I take it as a lack of interest.

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

Building winning teams with exceptional players that truly care about their teammates and love their school.

9. Why should a recruit consider your program?

Because they want to commit to be a part of a winning team that promotes a tradition of excellence.

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

Either US mail, UPS, FedEx, phone, fax, text, facebook, pigeon messengers, or pony express, but email works best.

We are always focused on answering your recruiting questions.  Its our firm belief that spreading recruiting education is a necessity to ensure that qualified student-athletes maximize their scholarship potential.  The following is the best of  “Ask Coach Randy Taylor” series.  Coach Taylor has been named the nation’s top recruiting coordinator by ESPN.com and high school football recruiting analyst, Tom Lemming. He most recently served as the Director of Football Operations for the University of Minnesota.

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.

Unofficial and Official Visits

How do I set up unofficial visits?

How many official visits can I take?

What is the difference between official and unofficial visits?



Do DIII schools offer official visits?

What should I wear on a campus visit?

Do I have to know a coach to take an unofficial visit?

How should we contact coaches about visits?

How can I schedule college visits during spring break?

Are official visits for ALL sports?

Scholarships/Financial

What types of financial aid packages are available for DII and DIII?

When should I expect a written scholarship offer?

Do DIII schools offer athletic scholarships?

Can you get paid to play?

How do I secure financial aid?

Do Ivy League schools offer athletic scholarships?

What to do with a verbal scholarship offer?

Are there any tax implications with athletic scholarships?

Are we on pace with financial aid?

How do college coaches divide scholarships?

When should we express financial need to a coach?

If I get hurt will I lose my scholarship?

Should we expect a full ride?

Academics

Is there a different application process for athletes?

Can I get recruited even if I am home schooled?

What GPA do I need to play in college?

When is it too late to take the ACT/SAT?

Recruiting

Should my son/daughter call the coaches?

What role does the eligibility center play in the recruiting process?

When is the best time to call a college coach?

What division level can I play at?

How important are stats in recruiting?

How do you get on a coach’s recruiting list?

I get nervous talking to college coaches.  What can I do?

Do summer camps help with exposure?

Do college coaches come and watch high school games?

When should I ask a coach where I stand?

Should parents write letters to college coaches?

Where can I find recruiting questionnaires for college coaches?

Should I fill out all those questionnaires?

What happens during a coaching change in recruiting?

Should my son/daughter have heard from college coaches?

Rules and Regulations

The contact rules are confusing! Can you clarify?Can a coach rescind a signed national letter of intent?

What are the restrictions about emails from college coaches?

What about text messaging?

Can college coaches talk to 7th and 8th graders?

When can a college coach call?

How binding is a verbal commitment?

When is the earliest you can make a verbal commitment?

NCSA

How can my son get “pre-evaluated”?

What about my question?

What is “verified” information?



Do coaches really use NCSA?

What is recruit-match technology?

Videos

What do college coaches look for in a highlight video? Just ask Tom Lemming…

Where do I send my highlight video?

Do I need to edit my highlight video?

How do I get my video to college coaches?

When should I use full game footage?

Coaches

What about the politics?

What questions will a coach ask ME?

How do I find out where I stand?

Should I simply use a coach’s email address from the website?

How can I tell if the coach is seriously interested?

How can I find the right contact info for college coaches?

What should I include in my first letter to a college coach?

How should I respond to college coaches?

Why haven’t I heard back from college coaches?

Question to ask a college coach?

High School

Why would a high school coach hold back letters?

What can I expect from my high school coach?

Should we consider transferring high schools?

How do I decide which club team to play for?

I attend a small high school, will this hurt me during the recruiting process?

Do I have to start on my high school team to get recruited?

My high school team is terrible! What should I do?

Should I start on JV or ride the bench on Varsity?

Can I still play in college if I don’t play in high school?

What should I do with my newspaper clippings?

How can I show leadership in games?

What should I do if my coach is holding my recruiting letters?

Should student-athletes request letter of recommendation?

Miscellaneous

The one tool to answer ALL of your recruiting questions!

When should I commit?

What is the NAIA?

What happens if I change my mind about my commitment?

How important is a third party in the recruiting process?

Why haven’t I heard from my dream school?

What is a National Letter of Intent?

Should I tell a college coach about a past injury?

How do I register for the eligibility center?

What happens if I do not perform well at a camp or combine?

How can I register on rivals.com?

When do I have to decide on my position?

How do we market two-sport athletes to coaches?

What do I need to know about football camps and combines?

Can you explain the transfer rules? Part 1, Can you explain the transfer rules? Part 2

I don’t like my school options.  What should I do?

Even he is looking for an offer?

When are DI, DII and DIII rosters finalized?

What are the benefits of DIII and NAIA Universities?

Recently, I’ve had a number of conversations with 2008 HS grads who didn’t receive any help in the recruiting process.  These are student-athletes playing various sports at D1, D2, D3, and the Juco level.   These conversations were also with student-athletes who never got the chance to play beyond high school.   One thing was common to all I spoke with:  They didn’t receive any help in the recruiting process.  All expressed a wish to do the process over.  Of course, they’ll never have that chance.

I’ve also spoken with over 6,000 families about recruiting and I understand what their hopes, dreams, and desires are.   To put them in a few categories would be unfair.  Every situation is unique to that family.  So each definition of success is unique.  However, there are some common themes that emerge – in no particular order.  First, a large number of families define recruiting success as getting scholarship money to play a sport in college.  For those who have read these pages and all of our education materials, you realize that scholarships are more likely to be “partial” not “full” scholarships.  Second, recruiting success is attending a college where the student-athlete gets to play.  Over 80% of the student athletes I speak with would like to play during their freshman year in college.  Most student-athletes have never sat the bench in their lives.  Third, parents want to ensure that their children graduate.  Most realize that a child’s success in the classroom will correlate with their success on the playing field.  Those parents want the college coach to care as much for their child as they do.  Fourth, student-athletes want to play at a college where they can study what they want.  Most parents don’t realize that this isn’t available at all colleges.  Some are shocked to find out that some college coaches dictate the degrees their student-athletes can pursue.  Finally, adults realize better than their children that the college decision will impact their child for the rest of their lives.  That’s at least 60 years in this day and age.  Getting that decision right is crucial!

So knowing all of this, why do parents insist on entering the recruiting process without competent help?  Why do they think that the “fan in the stands” who had their 2^nd cousin, once removed get recruited knows anything about college recruiting?  Why do parents think that someone who was recruited 20 years ago, know about recruiting today?  Why would a student-athlete rely on the high school coach in this process?  Most HS coaches don’t have the time or resources to help a child find “Recruiting Success”.  They don’t spend enough time getting to know the family to find out what that definition of success is.  Why do parents spend thousands of dollars on activities that will not help their child get recruited?  I’ve heard of families sending their kids to Australia, Hawaii, Europe, and other exotic destinations thinking this will help their child’s recruiting resume.  This is a foolish waste of resources if you have limited funds to devote to recruiting success. 

What is recruiting success?  It’s what you define it to be.  But a family needs to clearly write down those expectations so they can achieve success.  If you need expert help to achieve recruiting success, click here.

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 – What does it take to play my sport at each division level?

We get this question a lot at NCSA.  There is a lot that goes into an evaluation by a college coach.  NCSA has spent the last 10 years evaluating players for college coaches and has a tremendous amount of data stored up.  We used this data to develop our Exclusive Recruiting Guidelines to help give recruits an idea of what schools they should realistically be targeting.  They are guidelines, not hard fast rules, but they can give recruits an idea of where they fit.

Baseball Recruiting Guidelines

Men’s Basketball Recruiting Guidelines

Women’s Basketball Recruiting Guidelines

Men’s Cross Country Recruiting Guidelines

Women’s Cross Country Recruiting Guidelines

Field Hockey Recruiting Guidelines

Football Recruiting Guidelines

Water Polo Recruiting Guidelines

Men’s Golf Recruiting Guidelines

Women’s Golf Recruiting Guidelines

Ice Hockey Recruiting Guidelines

Men’s Lacrosse Recruiting Guidelines

Women’s Lacrosse Recruiting Guidelines

Soccer Recruiting Guidelines

Softball Recruiting Guidelines

Swimming Recruiting Guidelines

Men’s Tennis Recruiting Guidelines

Women’s Tennis Recruiting Guidelines

Men’s Track and Field Recruiting Guidelines

Women’s Track and Field Recruiting Guidelines

Men’s Volleyball Recruiting Guidelines

Women’s Volleyball Recruiting Guidelines

Wrestling Recruiting Guidelines

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.

If you’ve read these pages enough, you know that a college decision is a life-altering, life time decision.  To make that decision without fully understanding the vast landscape of opportunities available is irresponsible at best and negligent at worst.  Another motivation for doing all you can to make a great college choice is found in Bob Greene’s article talking about great, enduring friendship.