If you’re phone hasn’t been ringing, you’re not being seriously recruited. Why is that? And what can you and your parents do?

Debunking the Recruiting Myths

There are many myths about recruiting that hurt college-bound student-athletes simply because they don't have a working knowledge of college recruiting and NCAA or NAIA rules. Take at look at these common misperceptions and take action to reverse the myths. 

Myth #1  If I'm good enough, I'll be "discovered" by college coaches.

Nothing has kept more student-athletes from playing the sport they love in college than waiting to be "discovered." And this is how we see it on TV and in movies. While this may be true of the top 100 "blue chip" athletes in the nation, it is completely false for the other thousands out there.

The truth is that collegiate coaches have very small recruiting budgets, which makes it impossible to scout every high school athlete in the U.S. That's why it's critical to send your printed athlete profile and have your evaluation video (by junior year). If they don't know you're interested in their program, they can't recruit you. You have to reach out to them! Other student-athletes with potentially less talent than you are marketing themselves and getting on the coaches' radar.

Myth # 2  I've already received letters from top universities. I can sit back and wait for an offer.

Colleges send out thousands of informational packets to student-athletes all the time. Just as you want that spot on your favorite college's team, they're doing likewise - vying for the best athletes. If you are interested, make sure that you keep the communication open with the coach, by sending your printed profile and letting them know you're interested. At a minimum, you should contact 40 to 50 colleges and universities. Of course, this number is also affected by the number of schools you are interested in applying to, Division I, II, III, etc.

And just because a coach has called or sent information about their school, it doesn’t mean you should expect an offer. This assumption has hurt countless athletes in the process. You should not expect that you’ll get an offer - that’s why you should always have as many colleges recruiting you as possible.

Myth #3  I should wait until my senior year to start marketing myself.

NO!!!! It's never too early to start - even your freshman year - to let them know you're interested and talented enough for their team. In fact, a survey of 300 Division I coaches revealed that they all know whom they want to seriously recruit before the senior year and when they start their process: 30% freshman, 45% sophomore, 25% junior and 0% senior.

If you've waited until your senior year, all is not lost. You must get started now and aggressively begin this process.

Myth #4  I can rely on my high school coach to get me the exposure I deserve and a scholarship.

High school coaches have too much on their plates as mentors and educators to make it their business to market every team member to the right college. Most have really only three or so real contacts that could make a differerence, which is too limiting anyway. Let your coach know of your interest in playing your sport at the collegiate level. (He or she can give you some excellent feedback on your abilities and at what level they think you can play.) Then ask them for a letter of reference and that you appreciate their returning any calls from colleges asking about you - if you really deserve it.

Myth #5  I can expect to receive a full athletic scholarship once I've committed to a college.

Actually, that is almost never the case, and the NCAA regulates this. Most likely you'd be offered a partial scholarship, such as room and board, books and fees, tuition, etc. If your grades are good enough, you can also look at combining with an academic scholarship, which Ivy League and Division III schools offer as well since they are unable to offer athletic scholarships.

Don't discount a school you'd like to attend based purely on the amount of the athletic scholarship. Explore the entire package of financial aid when making this important decision. Bottom line: expect to pay some portion of your college education.

Myth #6  Since I am the star athlete of my school, my grades don't really matter.

What a killer misconception this is! To play at a Division I school, you MUST have the grades to qualify for admission to that school. One of our friends was a "blue chip" athlete, scouted and courted by top universities. He was on the top 100 nationally for his position in football, held numerous city records in track, and had a stack of newspaper clips, online clips, and blogs about him over 3 inches high. They came to his house, paid for visits, eyed him at camps. But he didn't have the grades during his senior year and tanked his GPA. He plays Division II, where he's fantastic, but he didn't get to attend the school he dreamed about.

If there's any advice we can give you as a student-athlete, it would be to focus on the STUDENT part of the equation. Make good grades, study, test well - in addition to working on your athletics. No stress there! :-)

Myth #7: If I'm not being recruited, there's no way I can play at the collegiate level. 

The same truths apply here as they do to Myth #1. And it doesn't mean you don't have the talent to play at the next level. The only way for a coach to recruit you is to know that you exist. And it's impossible to know about every student-athlete out there. Again, that's why it's critical for you to market yourself to as many coaches as possible. They are looking for student-athletes like you to round out their rosters and who have the athletic abilities, grades, leadership, discipline, and so on, that you have.

Get started now! Call! Send your printed athlete profile! Get on their radar!

Useful Web Sites

• NCAA website
• NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse 

The NCAA website is full of great information - espeically the Guide for College-Bound Student-Athletes. Read and learn!

FAQs

Which colleges do I market myself to? 

The first step in the process is to determine what colleges and universities are a fit for your athletic abilities, academics, region, finances, and other criteria you'll use to narrow your search. You may find some schools you've never heard of that are a perfect match. Make sure they know about you! We can help!

What is the NCAA Clearinghouse and why do I need to register?

The NCAA Clearinghouse determines your initial eligibility to participate in Division I and II collegiate sports. The Clearinghouse validates your test scores, high school transcripts, and proof of graduation (when that happens) to certify that your GPA, SAT, ACT scores and that your Core Course requirements meet the minimum qualifications for incoming freshmen student-athletes. Go to www.ncaaclearinghouse.net for more information or to register. Make sure you click on the NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete. Here's something parents can help with.

When do I register for the NCAA Clearinghouse?

Register after your junior year has ended. When you go to their website, click on Prospective Student-Athletes. They have a lot of great information and tools, even letting you know what you should do beginning your freshman year. You must complete a Student Registration Form, which you'll find there. Your registration also authorizes the Clearinghouse to send your information to colleges that want your eligibility status.