Student Athlete’s Name: Katie Crocker
Hometown: Greenwood, IN
Grad Year: 2007
College Attending: Asbury College
Before joining NCSA, I didn't know a whole lot about the recruiting process. I knew I had to get my name out there, but I didn't quite know the best route to take. I sent in a few questionnaires and I sent out a little profile of myself that I put together, but I didn't get much response. Honestly, I didn't know very much a lot.
After joining NCSA, I learned a lot about communication with coaches. I learned the right things to say, and how to handle specific situations. I learned what kind of questions to ask coaches, and I learned to always give them a reason to reply back to me. Like in my emails, I would always make sure to ask them about their program, the team, the school, etc just so they would still be in contact with me. Even those schools that I thought I didn't want to go to, I made sure by asking them numerous questions. Communication was key.
Before joining NCSA, the only coaches I had contacts with were ones from local schools (ones that didn't really have much scholarship money to give out, if any). I had sent them information, but I really never got to talk to any of them. Basically I had no options to consider.
However, after joining NCSA, almost every day I would have emails from different coaches across the Midwest. At one point I was emailing and talking on the phone with six or seven coaches. I suddenly had coaches wanting me to play soccer for them, and I could make decisions. I had options to choose from, and I wasn't limited.
The Recruit-Match system helped me gain exposure because often times coaches can just disregard a long, extended profile. But, after viewing all the stats and specifics needed, they could look further into me if they wanted. They could find all the info they needed really quick. Plus, they know NCSA and NCSA helps the players and the coaches find the perfect fit.
My recruiting coach was Lisa Meyers.
In the Fall of 2007, I will be attending Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky. I emailed with the coach at Asbury off and on, and he had seen my profile from NCSA. When we initially emailed back and forth, we just sort of clicked. I really liked what he was telling me, and I got more and more excited. Eventually I went down for a visit, and I found everything I was looking for. I found a competitive team, a great school (with my major!), and I felt like I belonged there. There was no doubt in my mind that I would fit in perfectly next year. I got accepted, and the coach offered me a scholarship (academic and athletic) which I just accepted about a month ago. NCSA helped me choose because before NCSA, I had never even heard of the college. NCSA helped me find all the specifics I was looking for (small school, journalism, Christian school, etc).
