We're about to start the 2015 season, and we're once again waiting until the last moment to release our ranking of the Top Recruiting Classes. This edition, 2014-2015, is one where we are seeing the full impact of early recruiting. In some cases, the gymnasts who originally committed at age 16 or younger did not end up matriculating at their original college choice. And, with scholarships opening up due to transfers or retirement, we're seeing a rash of late recruiting, early entries (early graduation), and mid-year starts. In fact, our choice for number one had an early grad further strengthen…
We're about to start the 2016 season, and we're here once again to release our ranking of the Top Recruiting Classes. We wait until the last possible moment to release this ranking, as the final picture never seems clear until January 1st. Once again, this season, we're seeing some of the impacts of the acceleration in early recruiting. In some cases, the gymnasts who originally committed at age 16 or younger did not end up matriculating at their original college choice. And, with scholarships opening up due to transfers or retirement, we're seeing an increase in late recruiting, early college…
We're about to start the 2017 season, and it's time for us to release our annual Ranking of Recruiting Classes. We wait until January to release this ranking because the recruiting calendar now extends year round, and we're seeing an increasing number of teams get mid-year additions. And once again, we're seeing some of the negative unfortunate consequences of early recruiting: gymnasts are not signing to their original classes, some choose not to matriculate or other life changes intrude (including, unfortunately, injury). This year's ranking has seen all of that and more, as places shifted with each new late signing…
Wishes for the 2011 Season
Written by Administrator
Happy New Year! With the season just around the corner, we'd like to add a few wishes on what we are hoping to see this season:
With advent of digital camcorders (Flip Cams) and online video sharing sites, a wide range of preseason and intrasquad videos are available. In the list below are links to a few of the latest training videos, from teams across the country.
Today’s college athletic climate is much different than it was 20 years ago and college coaches are under tremendous pressure to achieve two important goals: win and raise money. The one directly affects the other and alumni will enthusiastically support a winning team…and yes, the opposite is true. The cost of effectively managing a successful college athletics department has increased over the years, while support from university subvention has, in most cases, increased slightly, if not at all.
Like it or not, we are a society of rapid change and the rate we effectively adapt to that change can make the difference between a good and great experience. The same holds true in college athletics recruiting. The question is: How do we come to grip with this rapidly mounting culture shock in the college quest for athletes?
Organization is an important component in the college search for athletes and completing a college-bound assessment for what you would like to achieve is a great way to start! Think of the assessment as the seed you want to plant to grow your recruiting effort. What grows will be determined by how you cultivate it from start to finish. Looking at the “big picture” can be a tall task for most high school-aged athletes, but if you can begin with the end game in mind and work backwards in developing your personal plan for success, you will most likely run…
(Editor's Note: The latest in Tom Kovic's ongoing series of articles on the recruiting process... just as in-gym visits begin). Whenever I lecture on college athletics recruiting, a primary area I focus on is using “deliberate” communication with college coaches in an effort to build sincere personal relationships. Although eligibility, financial aid and contacts and evaluations are all very important, I am convinced the area of communication is very important to the likelihood of success in the college search for athletes.
The college experience is, in many cases, the most important four years in the prospective student athlete’s life, as it will shape their future personal and professional direction. That being said, securing admission to a college or university that best match students’ desires, strengths, and aspirations is essential.
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The college recruiting process can be a daunting effort if it is not well planned and executed with organization and enthusiasm from start to finish. In addition, one’s mental approach to the college search, especially when checkered with roadblocks, can make the difference between a fair and a great experience. What follows is a “snapshot” on how prospects and families can proactively prepare for and effectively deal with personal setbacks that will undoubtedly surface along the way.
If there is one area of the college recruiting process that stands above the rest, I believe it is the way prospects effectively communicate with college coaches. Let’s face it, the majority of boys and girls in any given active recruiting pool will not be blue chip prospects and a reluctance to proactively communicate with college coaches will oftentimes result in an undertow that will likely drag a prospect and family backward in the college search. Below are some simple tips to consider when making an introductory contact with college coaches.
Student-athletes bring a unique quality to the table when it comes to college admissions. They offer a special talent that can improve the institution’s visibility and raise the level of popularity among future attendees. College officials understand this and in many cases, offer strong support to student-athletes both in admissions and with financial aid. The college recruiting process can be a daunting effort if it is not well planned and executed with organization and enthusiasm from start to finish. Below is a simple snapshot of terms and athletic recruiting rules and procedures you will run into as you navigate the…
In his latest contribution, Tom Kovic shares the importance of persistence in the college recruiting search... The dictionary definition of persistence is: continuing in spite of opposition; enduring, lasting or recurrent. In a nutshell, I feel strongly that a persistent effort in every aspect of the college search for athletes will, in the end, give prospects and their families the greatest chance at success.
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