The college search for athletes may appear on the surface as a natural challenge, when in reality it is altogether another beast to tame! If you happen to be one of those blessed “blue chip” athletes that rank amongst the top 5-10% of athletes in the country, your college search will be a lot different and a bit more facilitated. College coaches are, for the most part, brilliant recruiters… They’re going to find you! But what about the majority of high school athletes who do not fall into the “A” file, but are looking to complement their college experience with a strong athletic component and play and compete for a worthy college program? Their strategy is going to be slightly different. They will need to awaken the wizard and make every attempt to find it.
When July 1, 2009 came and passed and you were sitting by the phone for the coaches to call, was it a long wait? My guess is yes! Being proactive and making every effort to initiate contact with the coaches is not only a strongly suggested approach to “getting on the radar screen,” it is permissible and it will be, in most cases, much appreciated by the college coaches.
This suggestion may appear simple at first, but typically, the closer prospects get to picking up the phone and placing the call, the more the “butterflies in the stomach” seem to accumulate! Essentially, prospects have two choices here: Either they can continue to put off the initial contact with the coaches, or they can pull themselves up by their bootstraps, prepare for the contact and take a “leap of faith.” Remember, all of us have had our first date, first optional meet, or first whack at the SAT exam. “Firsts” will be with us throughout a lifetime. It takes courage to bridge gaps into the unknown, and navigating the college quest is no different.
Combined club/invitational tournaments, showcases, invitationals and other recruiting events are becoming more and more popular these days and they provide college coaches with the opportunity to evaluate talented prospects throughout the country. I strongly suggest that prospects take advantage of these events, but don’t just “show-up.” Research a manageable list of events and try to determine the consistent level of attendance that college coaches have shown over the past few years. Additionally, when you have lined up the events you plan to attend, do not hesitate to contact the college coaches on your current recruiting list to let them know you have sincere interest in their program and invite them to watch you compete. It just takes a little time, organization and a willingness to “execute.” YOU have to make it happen.
Stirring up the wizard inside is a lot like developing and maintaining momentum in any given challenge. It’s not a sometime thing… It’s an all the time thing, and the moment you think you have it licked is the moment you will begin to lose ground. Remember, all the wizard represents is the personal potential each of us has to offer. Thinking about it is one thing… Committing to making it happen is altogether different.
If you believe in your heart that college entrance and the opportunity to play and compete as part of an NCAA program will simply “open up” and lie at your feet, you will most likely be disappointed with the results. That being said, the prospect and family who maintain a positive approach with a willingness to impeccably organize and manage their college search, while making a full and complete “active” commitment to the plan, will be giving themselves the best chances at success.---------Several years ago and toward the end of my college coaching career I clearly recall a couple of lean years where my program was mediocre at best and we were not meeting the high standards I always set. I took personal responsibility, but I found myself focusing on just about everything “negative.” I was in a downward spiral and I knew I needed to get back on track.
Joel Fish, who heads The Center for Sport Psychology in Philadelphia (www.psychologyofsport.com), was instrumental in helping many of my teams and I enjoy championship success and I immediately turned to him for advice. Not surprisingly, Joel offered me the same advice he offered all of my athletes. “Your digging your own hole to hide in and paying more attention to everything that could go wrong, rather than remembering who you are and focusing on all you can accomplish.” He said.
Joel simply reminded me that I am the one in the driver’s seat and I have the ability to act and react to any situation… At anytime. I simply needed to take the advice I had given my athletes all along and remind myself that the true measure of a champion is not when things are going well, but when our backs are in the corner. I had to find it!------If we are determined to give ourselves every reason NOT to make a proactive effort in executing a worthy plan of action, then the best developed plans will remain in a state of potential and nothing more. Conversely, if we are willing to see each goal we present ourselves with as an opportunity to move to new and higher personal levels and with an unyielding willingness to commit, I truly believe we are half way there.
The college search for prospective student-athletes has evolved into a very competitive arena and one that will continue to be more challenging to navigate in years to come. You can choose to hope for the best, or you can choose to roll your sleeves up and get busy. The dream to participate in college sport is a passion shared by many of our sons and daughters in an effort to compliment a tremendous 4 year experience and I suggest you “pick up the baton and run.” Just as our boys and girls have committed countless hours to grow their athletic skill that carried them to their current level of success, so can a meaningful and dedicated effort help our student-athletes find the right college match. I encourage you therefore to rise up, stay focused and swing for the seats.
About the Author:
Tom Kovic is a former Division I college coach and the current director of Victory Collegiate Consulting, where he provides individual advisement for families on college recruiting. Tom is the author of “Reaching for Excellence”, an educational guide for college athletics recruiting. For further information visit: www.victoryrecruiting.com Copyright Victory Collegiate Consulting 2009
Editor's Note: Publication of this article is not an endorsement of any recruiting service. Always check with the NCAA or your school's compliance officer for any questions regarding recruiting rules, the latest timelines, or other issues.