Recruiting Misconceptions
Attention Student-Athletes:
In the recruiting landscape there are many misconceptions that can cause you to miss out on getting noticed and obtaining an athletic scholarship.
The solution is to understand what the misconceptions are.
Here are 7 misconceptions that we hear quite often.
Misconception #1: I'm good enough; coaches will find me
About 95% of recruits don’t have to do much in the recruiting process because they have name recognition. There are another very small number of recruited athletes that are just "found" by college coaches. The rest of recruitable athletes need to be proactive by taking the initiative to contact the college coaches.
Misconception #2: My high school coach will get me an athletic scholarship
Though well intentioned, few high school coaches have either the time or knowledge to take charge of your son or daughter's recruiting. The knowledge that they have may also be outdated by today’s recruiting standards. The high school coach will play a key role in the student-athlete’s recruitment but it will not be to run the recruiting process for student-athletes. It’s imperative for student-athletes and their parent(s) to take control of this process.
Misconception #3: I can only get a full ride athletic scholarship in football and basketball
Yes and no. It’s true that only Division I football (FBS) and basketball are obligated by NCAA rule to award full ride athletic scholarships. The great thing about scholarship money, it can come from many sources such as athletics, academics, certain degree fields, leadership, etc. Many institutions of higher learning can put together a scholarship package that results in an athlete not having to pay or paying very little to attend college. No matter what it’s called…it’s a full ride when cost of attending college is covered by scholarship money. There is scholarship money in most sports at NCAA (DI/II), NCAA DIII (non-athletic), NAIA, and NJCAA schools.
Misconception #4: I am being recruited and will get a scholarship offer by colleges sending me mail
Receiving mail only means a college knows about you and that you are in their database. It could mean that a college will contact you but that’s not true for most student-athletes. Don’t be discouraged by the previous statements. It’s better to get mail than not. Receiving a letter from a school can initiate the student-athletes recruiting plan if they have one. Be prepared, have a plan of action to increase the student-athletes recruitment opportunities.
Misconception #5: Only the best athlete on my team to get a scholarship
Even athletes who don’t start on their high school team have garnered scholarships. Blue-chip athletes definitely have an advantage. But make no mistake about it, you don’t have to be a blue-chip athlete to earn an athletic scholarship. Most scholarship athletes aren’t blue-chip athletes. If a student-athlete has some talent and drive then their chance of being recruited is very achievable. To get noticed, colleges need to know that the student-athlete exists.
Misconception #6: I won’t be recruited for an athletic scholarship until my senior year
Every college has a process that they follow. It’s a very time consuming process. Depending on the size of the college they will start as early as the student-athletes freshman year in high school. The larger schools can have over 1000 athletes in their database particularly in football. Best plan is to begin contacting coaches as soon as a student-athlete has Varsity stats to show college recruiters. The best approach is to start as early as possible creating a game plan.
Misconception #7: College coaches don’t want to be bothered by prospective student-athletes
Nothing could be further from the truth. Coaches relish in hearing from talented student-athletes who show interest in their program. The vast majority of colleges can’t recruit and sign all blue-chip athletes. So, guess where the other student-athletes come from? That’s right, the rest of the recruiting class is filled with student-athletes that are proactive.
Don’t get caught up in misconceptions. The student-athletes scholarship opportunities are better than you think if you have knowledge about the recruiting process.
We are here to help you get recruited. Contact us to discuss how we can help you improve your chances of earning an athletic scholarship. Having an opportunity to play college ball and get your education paid for may be easier than you think.
Don’t wait for colleges to recruit you...RECRUIT THEM!