NCSA College Athletic Scholarships Blog

 I attended an Elite Soccer Camp at the University California Santa Barbara in California and had an awesome experience.  I met people from all over the United States and a couple from around the world who came to this camp.  This was the best camp that I’ve attended.  The coaches and former players that helped out were very good.  They had a lot of coaching tips, things to say about everyone’s performance, the training was intense and hard.  If you didn’t come to play and work hard then you were in for a rude awaking because they treated us just like their own soccer players at Santa Barbara. There were two training groups, A and B.  Group A was in the first training session so we had to wake up early at 7:00.  We got a quick breakfast and then headed to the soccer fields.  We trained for over 2 hours, then went back to the dorm and ate lunch.  Afterwards we started the second training session of more drills and skills.  They gave us a break before dinner at 6:00 and then back we headed to the soccer fields for 11 v. 11 games.  There were 8 teams; Ireland, Germany, Japan, Italy, USA, Netherlands, Spain, and Portugal.  I was on Ireland and we went 2-2-1.  Overall our team held up fairly well.  The finals were between Italy and Germany.  That game was very exciting because there were 7 goals and Italy won 4-3.

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This is an excellent read from an NCSA swimmer (Katleen Lyon, ’09, King George, VA).  A great example of what one can do to help themselves get a competitive advantage and gain valuable lessons of character building.  I as a former coach, would love to see a high school athlete take on this type of adventure for their summer training! 

I was never expecting to spend my whole summer in Colorado to train high altitude with my former coach. I was planning to go on several college visits and spend my summer the way a normal seventeen year old would. Everything changed at the beginning of April when my swim coach, Damon, told my swim team, the Potomac Raiders (Virginia) that he was leaving at the end of April. He was planning on moving out to Colorado to be closer to his family. Damon would reside in the Glenwood Springs area and coach the Sopris Barracudas.

After having my coach leave at the end of April I was stuck to train on my own. There was not another coach to take over but the Raiders board was searching frantically for another coach to take Damon’s place. Halfway through May and still no coach stepped in for the team. I was a little worried because what if I didn’t get one till winter? Thoughts such as that were running through my head.

My good friend and swim buddy, Jackie, came up with the idea to follow our coach out to Colorado. When I first heard this idea, I thought she was crazy. I had been on training trips several times for a week but not a whole summer! I kept thinking what am I going to do about college visits and what will happen when July 1st comes around and my parents aren’t with me to talk to these colleges?

Over the next several weeks my parents and I discussed the pros and cons of this trip. In the end I decided to take the trip. I think what really convinced me to go was I was emailing two college coaches and they said I should take the trip because it would change my life for the good. By the middle of May all of my plans were final. I was to leave June 8th, the day after school ends, spend seven weeks in Glenwood Springs, and have three separate host families. I would spend two weeks with my first two families and three weeks with my last. And each family had younger children, so I would be the adult in the family and it was going to be something new considering I am the youngest in my family. I never really dealt with younger siblings so it would be an experience.

 June 8th came by quickly and before I knew it I was leaving my home for the airport and I would be in Glenwood Springs later that night. I was looking forward to the whole trip except when I arrived at the airport my coach told me that it was going to be about eleven when you arrive to your family’s house and there is practice at five-thirty in the morning, so be ready! I was not expecting that but I knew that training early in the morning was what I came out here for. Finally, after a three-hour flight and driving for another two hours, I arrived to my first host family. It was around eleven o’clock and the young ones were sleeping so the parents showed me my room and said they would see me in the morning.

Morning was rough because I was sleep deprived and I wasn’t ready for the cold weather. I walk outside in shorts and a shirt and didn’t realize that it was maybe a high of forty at that point. I ran back into the house and grabbed my sweatshirt. My coach ended up picking me up every morning because he lived maybe a mile away. Around 5:30 we arrived at the pool and it was empty which didn’t surprise me at all.

Jackie was already there and within five minutes our coach was yelling at us to jump into the pool. I figured the water would be refreshing but it was actually freezing! It got my body moving until I swam one length and realized I couldn’t breathe! I completely forgot that I was about 5,000 feet above sea level and my body was not used to it! I wanted to ask my coach if he could find me an oxygen tank or some sort of oxygen device that would give me air to breathe. I knew from that point on that this training was going to be harder than expected. It was one day down and fifty-six to go.

As the first week wrapped up I was becoming more comfortable with my first family. It was hard being the older sibling because I have never dealt with little kids and I have never been the oldest sibling in the family. Actually, looking back at it now I am so happy I am the youngest in my family! Then, my first weekend in Colorado my coach had a dual meet up in Aspen, but I did not participate in it because my coach felt that I was adjusted to the altitude yet. So I sat there with the younger kids and made sure that they got to their events and that relays were put together.

 During the older kid’s session when my coach did not need me, my friend Jackie and I decided that we needed to tan so when we get home we look nice and brown. BAD IDEA!! We laid out there for a good two hours and afterwards we were extremely burnt. I realized then that we were closer to the sun and that made us burn even more then we normally would in Virginia. I ended up going back to my host family’s house looking like a lobster.

 I ended up swimming my first meet the second weekend I was in Colorado and surprisingly enough I did exceptionally well in the meet. I swam the 800 free on a Thursday night and I dropped over fifteen seconds while taking first place, obtaining the fastest time throughout the whole meet and taking the pool record. That was more than likely my best swim throughout the whole weekend. The meet lasted till Sunday and I think my coach was extremely impressed considering it was only my second weekend training in high altitude.

Two weeks went by quickly and before I knew it I was off to my third family. This next family was going to be a little different because there were two twins that were fourteen years old and another that just turned sixteen. I was no longer taking care of younger ones so it was kind of nice. I actually ended up sleeping on a pull out bed in the basement, but it was in front of a huge screen T.V. so I couldn’t complain.

By then practice was running smoothly, I still had to practice from 5:30-8:00 every morning and 5:00-6:30 every night. It was a struggle and I was extremely exhausted every day but I kept thinking how this is going to greatly improve my swimming.

 Half way through my journey I was ready to go home. I was exhausted from having a meet every weekend, swimming at 5:30 in the morning, and I was just home sick. I was really missing my family and friends. At that point I was starting to count down the days until I returned home, but it never seemed to make the days go by faster. Luckily, I made new friends out in Glenwood and they were extremely supportive and always made me feel better.

Another month of my summer “vacation” has passed by and in one short week, I will begin my junior year! 

I know summer vacation for most everyone I know means going to the mall or the movies, or hanging out with friends by the pool.  But my summer went a little bit differently.  For me, summer “vacation” was spent working out at the gym, perfecting my game, and traveling with my AAU team. 

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 My trip to California Gold was a little different because it was the first tournament that someone had to recommend a player to play in the tournament. I knew that the level of play there was going to be the best. We flew in a day early and my grandpa came a picked us up at the airport. My grandpa lives in San Cruz, so it was about a two hour car ride from his house to the airport. We were in a hotel that was really close to the fields.

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 -by Jamil Shaw 09 Football Grad

Summer started with me attending the Marshall University one-day camp. We did one on one drills and a 7 on 7 challenge.  I saw the football facilities and briefly talked to the coaches.

Next I went to Ohio State University camp and one day senior camp.  I did well in the defensive drills and met Archie Griffin. I spoke with coaches from Ohio University, Bowling Green and Eastern Michigan.  I wasn’t sure if I would get offers, but they all expressed an interest.  So back I headed back to Virginia to await any news!  It was now July 1st and still had not heard from anyone regarding offers.  I kept in touch with my NCSA recruiting coach this summer, too.

The waiting was hard… What if I did not get an offer?  Although, I knew that teams were viewing my highlight film as a linebacker and I was working out as defensive back/safety.  But, I think I have the skills to do well at both positions.

By the middle of July I had visited Eastern Michigan and was made an offer.  Next in the first week of August, I went to Ohio University and was made another offer.  Now comes the hard part…the decision..which one to take?  I liked both schools…I will talk to my Mom and my coach and then decide….

This summer was nerve wracking and gratifying….now the questions is, what logo will be on my helmet next fall?

-by Matt Calhoun 2009 Soccer Grad

Camps are a big deal with getting yourself known and to recieve good training. There are two main types of camps, College Camps and Skill specific camps (Striker camp, goal keeping camp, etc).  College camps have their perks and there downside. The advantage of going to a college camp is that you can see other possible recruits that the coach is evaluating and compare yourself to them.  You also can meet the coach and experience the campus. Personally, I got to see two 08′ grad recruits and talk to the head coach at that week of camp.  You also get to see how the recruits compare to yourself and to see other recruits in other positions.  This helps you find out how the recruiting class is doing and if this college fits with the level of play you wish to play at.  The downside about college camps is that you don’t get the amazing training you would get at a position specific camp. (Examples: Goal keeper schools and Striker schools.) At one of my camps I got to meet the starting goal keeper for UW-Parkside, Jamie Lieberman. He liked my work ethic and dedication to the game. He then told me about a camp named Camp-Shut out for goal keepers only. So right after he told me, I called my dad and had him sign me up for that camp. 

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 -by Christina Kurt 2009 Basketball Grad

My name is Christina Kurt and I recently joined the National Collegiate Scouting Association (NCSA) to further my basketball career and help with the recruiting process to play college basketball.  This experience has enabled me to not only be prepared and organized, but how to market and sell myself to the various colleges interested in my skills as a basketball player.  I have learned that you have to work hard both on and off the court, even in the summer time.  During the summer, you probably are not attending school, but it is extremely important to research those colleges you are interested in attending, participating in ACT and SAT preparatory classes to improve your scores, and personally contacting coaches of the colleges you are interested in attending.  It is important to show college coaches you are interested in their program.  College coaches have long lists of potential recruits, but it is up to you to take the initiative to contact those coaches and highlight yourself. 

Thus far, my recruiting process has brought many college coaches to my NCSA profile and has led me to personal contact with many of them.  I am a believer in putting forth a strong effort in order to achieve your career goals.  Believe in yourself, work hard and never ever quit!  I feel that my basketball career is moving forward at a successful pace.  I have trained extremely hard this summer and I am in the process of completing my AAU season strong.  I have recently attended large NCAA sanctioned tournaments such as the Cy-Fair Tournament in Houston and the Nike Main Event in Las Vegas.  Both tournaments were attended by large numbers of Division I and II college scouts.  I feel great about my recruiting experience to date.  I know I must continue to work hard and keep my head up for the best is yet to come. 

-by Lee Ward, 2010 Football Grad August  2008

Since we played our last game for the Missouri Class 4A State Championship the day after Thanksgiving at the Edward Jones Dome, home to the St Louis Rams, I have dedicated myself to being the best football player I can be.  The next snap I play that really counts will be in late August when my Parkway Central Colts play the St Mary’s Dragons.  I can’t wait.

The day after our last game in November, I embarked on a rigorous Speed and Strength conditioning program under the direction of one of our assistant football coaches.  As the temperatures dropped and the snow fell my teammates and I continued on our quest to be the best.  My weight and speed training have paid huge dividends as my strength and explosiveness have improved. 

Some gains were to be celebrated and some results were barely noticeable, but I was still putting in the work.  If I had a bad day and didn’t reach my goals, I knew that it was just one of those days and my dedication would pay off in the long run. I have learned that if you do the work, you get the results.

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- by David Rehm 2010 Football Grad 

This July has been a busy month.  Every week I have been working out with our weight trainer Sam Sayre.  He got some new toys called kettlebells and has been killing us with them.  I had never heard of a kettlebell until now.  Mondays and Fridays we would follow our lifting program Sam set up for us.  Tuesdays and Thursdays were speed and agility.  Wednesdays were our killer kettlebell workout called the 1200 workout.

July was when 7 on 7′s started.  We had our first one up at Massillon and that was a bit shaky since it was our first one we had.  I felt a lot faster and stronger.  I was actually able to out run the defenders and out physical the wide outs.  I am at wingback this and mostly am used for our passing game.  Our second 7 on 7 was against a local team who wasn’t too strong when it came to passing or pass defending.  The last 7 on 7 we participated in was up at Akron University.  We started out sluggish but pulled it together in the afternoon.  This was probably the best performance I had.  I knocked down a lot of passes and caught a fair share of touchdowns.

My recruiting hasn’t been very exciting.  Since I do not have a recruiting video yet coaches are not sure of my ability.  But I have found a college which I have taken a special interest in, I just hope they take the same interest in me when I get a high light video. 

 -by Megan Richman 2010 Volleyball Grad

Just got back from the High Performance Championships! I had a great time in Tucson, and it was such a great experience. Before I go into the HP Champs, I’ll talk about the camp I went to a week before for the High Performance Program. 

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