NCSA College Athletic Scholarships Blog

Hey guys!

Okay listen up. I know that you have been told all these different things when it comes to being recruited. You have heard these ideas from coaches, parents, and other players. Well let me just tell you from my point of view since I have recently completed this process. I am not a patient person. I will let you know that up front. So if you and I are similar in this characteristic, then you will cherish this knowledge. Yet, I will not go further and call it wisdom for I am young and only experienced in this once, even though it was at first hand.

I hope by now that you have figured out that I also don’t sugar coat things. I am very honest. That’s what I call it. Others say I am blunt as a butter knife. Call it what you must but I will keep my advice short and to the point.

Things you must keep in mind throughout this process:

• Grin and Bear it…This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Cherish every moment of it!

• Swallow the pill called Pride…Keep your good behavior at all times. ALL TIMES!!!

• Don’t Act your Age… Use your mind and not your mouth. Don’t be a TEEN!!!

• Talk the Talk… Even if you aren’t interested, keep on talking. It’s part of the game and manners!

• Patience is a Virtue… Believe me! I had to learn that the hard way. Just go with it!

• Go to Boot Camp… Hate to tell you, camps are your number asset. I don’t like them either!

• Take a Chill Pill… Don’t worry about anything. Things will work out for the best!

Okay, okay. I know what you are thinking… this all sounds like the place with fire and brimstone. Well, all I can respond with to that idea is… yeah it can be a true pain some times. But, don’t let the negative attitude drag you away from something that could possibly and probably will turn out to be amazing! I am not bitter toward the conclusion of this process whatsoever. There are not enough words to express my enthusiasm. Therefore, I know that you will succeed in this. No doubt!

Good Luck and Best of Wishes!

All or Nothing,

Casey… a MTSU Blue Raider

My name is Megan Mayfield and I’m going on a softball scholarship to Lynn University.  Being recruited isn’t something that just happens overnight and you can’t just rely on talent alone, a lot of work goes on behind the scenes.  Between team and individual practices, the hours spent on the practice field are uncountable. If you’re struggling with something, work on it until you get it. Go out with a coach, a parent, or even one of your teammates and practice it until you get it. Playing softball is only part of the process; you can’t be recruited if no one knows about you.  You have to get your letters out, get them out early, and make them personal. No coach wants to get a mass email; if you can’t take enough time out of your day to personally contact them, why do they want to take time out their day and personally come watch you?  When you get to the tournament, you can’t do anything more so relax and just do your best.  Make yourself standout from the rest of the team, my coach will tell you that the only reason she started watching me was because she saw me take off on a dead sprint to my position in outfield. Do something to get yourself noticed, be loud, be focused, hustle, or wear bright crazy sunglasses anything to make them look at you, because they’re looking at you they’re watching you.

There are ups and downs to be recruited.  Being denied is the worst part about the recruiting process and I was denied like there was no tomorrow.  I’ve been told that I was too small to play college ball since I was a kid, but when a college coach says it, it can be discouraging. However, I was determined to get recruited so I shook that stuff off and kept doing my best. The first time a coach waits behind the dugout after your game to talk to you is the most exciting part of being recruited. In your mind you’re thinking I did it, I got recruited and now all those practices, games, batting slumps, everything else pays off. The NCSA did the best they could’ve done for me, they put reality in perspective. They made me realize how competitive being recruited was and they helped me have a chance in that competition by telling me what I needed to do. They gave me an upper hand on all the other athletes that didn’t have someone walking them through the long process.  The only thing I can tell anyone wanting to get recruited is never give up, hustle everywhere you go, be competitive,  challenge yourself, and most importantly have just have fun.

As I awoke to the blaring of my alarm clock, I rolled over and checked the time to make sure that I was indeed waking up at the right hour. It read 4:30 AM, and yes, this was the correct time for me to be waking up today, even though the sun was still an hour away from rising. I rolled out of my temporary bed for the week which was a pull-out couch in the condo that my family had rented. We were in Knoxville, Tennessee for the 17 & Under AAU National Olympics and my traveling baseball team, the Redshirts of Chicago, Illinois had the misfortune of being slated for a 9 AM game this morning. Pregame for us started at 7:30 AM, which meant getting to the field at 7 AM, after an hour drive to the field. As I gradually awoke from my sleep I began to pull on my uniform and quickly noticed that I was not the only one up. My mom had heard my alarm go off and was in the kitchen putting a cooler together for me as the temperature would undoubtedly reach into the 90’s that day. As I munched on a bowl of cereal and a banana, she wished me luck for the game and went back to bed for another hour or so.

The above situation was something that occurred often in my house ever since I started playing baseball at the age of 5. My dad coached me from my first t-ball game until I joined my traveling team at age 14 and both of my parents made every attempt possible to attend every game that they could. Family road trips were common and the sacrifices my entire family made, including my younger sister, should not go unnoticed. Summers basically revolved around my baseball schedule and for this I am grateful for everything that my family has done for me over the years to encourage my growth both athletically and as a person. This is why I urge all student-athletes, especially those who are involved with the National Collegiate Scouting Association, to be appreciative and thankful when it comes to their families, especially their parents. Without our parents and guardians, we as student-athletes would not have the means to play the sports we love and attend the school of our choosing. Uniforms, equipment, rides and time are just a few of the things that parents contribute to us and we should work hard everyday to make their sacrifices well worth it.

Emily Simpson attended Saint Louis University and played four years for the Women’s Club Soccer team. The time she spent at SLU was truly memorable both for soccer and academics, but when asked about the role her parents played in her development as an athlete, she voiced the true appreciation she has for them.

“My mom went to every soccer game she possibly could, even to a few in college, while my dad made it to the games he could due to his heavy work schedule. My parents have always been the most supportive people in my life, even when it comes to my activities like soccer.”

As young people growing up, we sometimes lose sight of the sacrifices and hard work our parents commit in order to help us become better athletes and better people. Now a 22 year-old college graduate, Emily spoke about her parents during her youth playing soccer.

“When I was younger, they would either take turns taking me to every soccer practice and game or found a way to get me there.”

Again, to us as student-athletes, it seems common and assumed that our parents help us in any way possible. At the very least, as high-school athletes, collegiate-athletes and perhaps beyond, we should act in accordance with the values and commitments of our parents. When it’s all said and done, we are given the means to succeed athletically and academically because of the opportunities they have provided for us.

For those student-athletes that are enrolled with NCSA, take the time to thank your parents for giving you the opportunity to utilize our services and maximize your college recruiting experience. Time and time again we here at NCSA see parents and guardians going above and beyond to provide our services for their children, services that will undoubtedly help these student-athletes achieve their goals on the playing fields and in the classrooms. Not only should these student-athletes thank their parents, but they should also make decisions that will be a reflection of the commitment their parents have made.

Luke Powers, a former basketball player at John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio, spoke fondly of his parents and all of the work they did to provide him the means to play basketball in high school at Loyola Academy in Chicago and beyond.

“My parents were always there to support me and my basketball career. Every time I needed a ride to practice or a game they were always there to be counted on. When I got to John Carroll to start playing, their support continued and it felt great to make them proud of my achievements. I owe it all to them.”

Emily and Luke are just two student-athletes who understand the true commitment and sacrifice that their parents have made over the years. I strongly urge the hundreds of thousands of other student-athletes across the country to do the same, especially those who are involved with NCSA. I personally know that I would not be anywhere close to the person I am today without the support and dedication of my parents.

There was a running joke amongst the baseball parents at John Carroll University that every time my parents came to campus to see a game, I would have the game of my life. Specifically, the mothers all had a theory that it was because my mom was there to watch me, and they very well could have been right. I tried to make my parents proud whether it was performing well in the classroom or committing myself to the team at JCU. So please, take the time to thank your parents, your guardians and even teachers and coaches who have given you the opportunity to play the sport you love so much. Make them proud by the way you carry yourself on and off the field, because someday you will hope that your children follow the same path that you once did. Besides, it really is the least you could do.

The fall sports season is truly one of the most exciting times in all of the sporting world from the high school level, collegiate level and on to the highest ranks of the professional sporting leagues. As Major League Baseball enters their postseason play, the National Football League kicks off their season and the puck drops for the National Hockey League. High school athletes are in mid-season form for their respective sports and the same goes for college athletes across the country. What is so magical about this time of the year is that while so many sports are going on congruently, at so many different levels, one major lesson is to be learned by everyone participating in these sports. Whether you are taking the field as a professional athlete or waking up early for off-season training for your high school or college, one thing is happening to all athletes. They are being taught the values of hard work, commitment and dedication by their parents, coaches, teachers and teammates. To many, sport is merely that; a game that is played by people of all ages and that it is merely a game. However, those who understand sport at a much deeper level know that it is so much more than just a game. The lessons that are learned and the work ethic that is instilled in athletes are truly amazing. Let’s take a look at a few examples of how athletes use what they’ve learned in sport and have applied them to everyday life.

Nothing has changed for Trevor Heffernan in terms of his schedule since he graduated from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. During his days at WMU, he would wake up at 4 and 5 AM for early morning skate with the Men’s Ice Hockey Club Team where he played goalie, and then head off to school for a full day of classes. This routine was engrained within Trevor so when it was time for graduation, he was well-practiced in the ability to be a hard worker no matter what he was doing. Whether it was working down at the Chicago Board Options Exchange upon graduation or working on his family’s farm in upstate Illinois, Trevor always put 110% into whatever it was he was doing.

“The bonds I formed with my teammates playing hockey are unbreakable. It was these bonds that taught me the value of counting on the person next to you, whether it’s on the ice or working on my family farm. You need to commit and work towards your goals regardless of what they are.”

Today, Trevor’s main priority is preparing his family farm, Susanna Farms, for the annual harvest, which is a month long celebration of the history and natural beauty of the vast acreage of their farm. To be more specific, Trevor spends countless hours making sure things are prepared for hayrides, pumpkin picking and his pride and joy, the First Annual Haunted Hayride.

“I understand and appreciate the great history that this farm represents. Everything I learned about respect and dedication, I put towards this farm and getting it ready for other people to enjoy it as I have.”

Trevor is a true example of how playing college athletics can not only mold you physically to perform at a high level on the fields, courts and rinks, but more importantly, mold you mentally to be an all-around better person.

Kellen Kmiecik began his collegiate career playing baseball at Marietta College in Marietta, Ohio. He soon found opportunity elsewhere at Southern Wesleyan University in South Carolina. During his college years, Kellen competed in several prestigious summer leagues including invite-only leagues in Alaska and South Carolina. In January, Kellen will head to Arizona to compete in an invite-only league so professional teams can evaluate his talent. However, Kellen brings the same passion and determination to the baseball diamond that he brings when he helps his father run the local Recreational Center in Elmwood Park, Illinois.

“I enjoy my time at the recreational center because it is a great way to give back to the surrounding area and it’s so enjoyable to see all the kids come in here and play the sports they love to play.”

When I asked Kellen if playing baseball, especially at the collegiate level, had anything to do with this, his response was precise.

“I learned everything I know about respect, focus, hard work and dedication from playing baseball. I was always taught from an early age that playing baseball is about ability and respect. There is a right way and a wrong way to play the game, and I play the game the right way. I try and live my life the way I play the game.”

Parents often worry about their student-athlete as they head off to college for their freshman year in terms of academics and athletics. Will they play enough? Will they get a good education? Will they make the right decisions? Both Trevor and Kellen are great examples of student-athletes becoming upstanding, respectful citizens upon graduation. So much goes into being a collegiate athlete that is behind the scenes, and those who can’t handle the responsibility of hard work, dedication, commitment and respect will quickly make the adjustment or fade away.

The first step towards finding the right school for your son or daughter is through an aggressive and meaningful recruiting process. We here at the National Collegiate Scouting Association understand what it takes to not only be a student-athlete, but also be a well-rounded citizen. We understand the process and the requirements better than anyone in the business and we urge you to take that first step towards starting that recruiting process. The road may seem long and harrowing, but what lies beyond it for your future student-athlete is truly amazing and will make you proud.

With the recent success the US Team had in the Confed Cup do you think it will continue or was this just a fluke?

NCSA Caught up with Claire Tolbert, a rising star from Oregon City, Oregon. Claire plays for OJVA 16 Gold and is a two-time varsity letterwinner at Oregon City High School.

NCSA: Why and when did you get involved with volleyball?
Tolbert: I first started playing volleyball when I was 12 years old. I decided that I wanted to play volleyball because I love being part of a team and I love being able to work with others to achieve team goals.

NCSA: How did your team do this season?
Tolbert: This season my team did very well, we finished 3rd in Regionals and stayed in the top ten throughout the season.

NCSA: Do you have any big competitions coming up?
Tolbert: Our last tournament is the California Finals which we are competing in next week June 20-23.

NCSA: What is your forecast for your fall high school season?
Tolbert: My forecast for my next high school season is to make first team all league. I would also like to hold the best stats for outside hitter and for passing on the team. I want to lead my team to a successful season of winning and making it to the playoffs.

NCSA: Tell is about your interactions with college coaches so far.
Tolbert: So far I have only been in contact with coaches through e-mails. I am hoping that soon I can meet some college coaches and have a more personal interaction.

NCSA: What camps do you plan to attend over the summer?
Tolbert: I am not sure quite yet which camps I am going to attend. I have a few different camps to choose from so I need to decide where I would like to go.

NCSA: What are you looking forward to if and when you get the opportunity to play at the collegiate level?
Tolbert: I am looking forward to being able to make friendships with my teammates and being very competitive and having successful seasons.

NCSA: What are your goals- athletically, academically and in your community for next year? Tolbert: My goals for next year are to maintain at least a 3.5 GPA, to make first team all league and to go far in playoffs and I would also like to help out with my school for different events like dances, assemblies, ect.

NCSA: What is the best part of being involved with NCSA so far?
Tolbert: I think that the best part of being involved with NCSA is being able to actually see your progress and being able to have help and assistance whenever you need it.

Congratulations to NCSA student-athlete, Casie Fields, who recently signed her National Letter of Intent to play hockey at Northeastern University in Boston. Here is what Casie had to say about her recruiting process.

 “As a freshman entering high school full of opportunities for success, I was overwhelmed with options available for me to play Division I Women’s ice hockey in college. As the years went on, my options started narrowing as I went on visits, spoke with coaches, and realized what kind of school I was looking for. My senior year I was given scholarship offers to a handful of Division I programs. As the decision sat upon my shoulders, I realized more and more exactly where I wanted to spend the next four years of my life. This decision would be the basis of my near future and prepare me with the tools I need to succeed. After long hours of thought and consideration, I decided to attend Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. It couldn’t feel like a more perfect decision! Thanks to NCSA I was able to organize all my contacts from schools and make the best decision possible.” 

 Central was off to a good start but now we are into October the highlight of the season the time to show your worthy for playoffs. Our first game was October 3^rd against the Lewisburg Dragons at Bucknell University. It was another important game to prove we were back! But once again we beat ourselves and this was another team we should have beat! But sadly we lost 24-7 another heart breaking loss making us 3-3 Varsity. Next Monday was another JV game against the Dragons. We were 0-4 and I hated it! And after the dragons manhandled us we were 0-5, we lost 26-8. In the game I had 10 total tackles, 6 assists, 4 solos and 1 forced fumble.

Our next game was the most important game for our school…. our homecoming game! It was against the Milton Black Panthers and they didn’t know what was headed their way! We practiced hard and focused on mental work and by game day we were ready to let them have it and we did! When we ended the game 55-6! This was my first regular season varsity appearance when I played on kickoff and later offense and defense in the second half. In this game I had 2 total tackles one solo and one assist. I also made a good diving pass deflection. On offense I did great holding off those big boys I also got one pancake block. We did great that game and the next day we saw it again during Saturday practices, I also went to our Homecoming dance later that night.The next Monday we played a JV game against Milton. Most of their JV was also their Varsity so I knew we could beat them, plus I was so mad at our 0-5 start that I just played my heart out and unleashed on every Black Panther. In the end we came up with our first win, 16-0! And I had my third consecutive JV game with tackles in double digits when I got 13 total tackles, 6 assist, and 7 solos! I also dominated on offense playing Tackle when I usually play Center; on offense I had a career high 9 pancake blocks! It was a great game!

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 September a new month…a new season. September started off with our first Junior Varsity game against the Loyalsock Lancers. I was starting at Linebacker, we ran a 5-2 and on offense I started at Guard but I eventually switched to Center halfway through the game. Our team wasn’t prepared for a game; what I mean we never actually practiced as a team. It was more important to get the Varsity team ready for Fridays. So we lost 44-6. I recorded 8 total tackles, 4 solos and 4 assists. So the next day it was back to practices 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm Tuesday through Thursday. But, I was still lifting and running after practices.

Thursday was pre game like every week. Pre game was full pads put light hitting and we had a spaghetti dinner afterwords. This pre game was special though because we were preparing for an important game against the Danville Ironmen. Danville was a team that could make it to playoffs and they have so much talent. Plus this was time for the Central Columbia Blue Jays to redeem themselves from 3 years of losing seasons. We did just that we showed up on Friday played football and won against a great team with a great D-I prospect quarterback, 48-35. I did not play this game but I was still on the sidelines cheering the team on, congratulating players, and calling pass or run. After a great win we had practice Saturday, we watched film and lifted a little afterwards. Next Monday we had a JV game against Danville, it was a tough game but in the end Danville’s special teams led them to a 26-6 win. We lost our second game. I finished this game with 7 total tackles; 1 assist and 6 solos. Now it was back to practices, lifting and running after.

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NCSA caught up with rising volleyball star Alex Martin to talk about her high school and club seasons, and the opportunity to compete at the next level. 

NCSA: How did your high school team do this year?

Martin: This year was a pretty good year. We stood our ground with teams that should have beaten us and we beat teams that we out-hustled. Although this year was a rebuilding year I would say that we played pretty good. We learned a lot about ourselves and hopefully all the good energy will transfer over to next year.

NCSA: Were you recognized by your team or anyone else for your performance this year?

Martin: Surprisingly, yes.  I was in the paper every game I played. Which really was shocking because I only got to play 3 matches due to TSSAA rules (I switched High Schools). It felt great knowing that I was chosen out of all these talented girls I played with and against.

NCSA: How do you handle club tryouts? Are you nervous? If so, how do you get over your nerves?

Martin: Club tryouts for me are so fun! I have always felt pretty confident, because I know that if I get out there and leave110% on the floor and out hustle everyone and just play the game I know how to play that I will be fine. But I mean everyone has the jitters the first few drills and I just remember something my coach for club used to always tell us, “Heart is the difference between believing and achieving.” Then I just take a deep breathe, remember my fundamentals, and leave everything out on the court.

NCSA: What are you looking forward to most during this club season?

Martin: Where to start… This year is a very different year for me because I’m playing up an age group with Choo Choo 17-1’s.  I love a challenge and having to push myself to the limit, simply because I want to improve. It’s going to definitely be a challenge this year, but it’s a challenge I’m ready to overcome.

NCSA: What type of recruiting contacts do you have so far?

Martin:  Several contacts from SEC schools and also SoCon. I have reached out to many more schools and received questionnaires back from maybe half of them.

NCSA: What are your recruiting plans over the next 6 months?

Martin: I plan to continue contacting the schools I would like to attend, and continue to update my scouting report with stats, grades, strength and performance training achievements, all that.

NCSA: What is best advice you have heard about recruiting so far?

Martin:  Start early and stay organized. Stay on top of the things that colleges send you and keep sending them things to make you stand out to them, so that when they can contact you they will have knowledge about your prior achievements.