The college search for athletes is an enduring process with a definite starting and ending point. Just like a well-run race, the successful student-athlete will remain focused until she breaks the tape. Below are some simple tips to consider when targeting fall recruiting tactics in college recruiting.
Whether a prospective student-athlete is looking for an athletic scholarship or support in admissions, it is crucial to remain committed to the relationships you have cultivated with college coaches. Furthermore, you will likely have narrowed your college choices down to a select few. Likewise, the college coaches have narrowed down their list of prospects too!
Final Summer Highlight Video
Target the end of August to share your final summer highlight video with the college coaches. If you shared your summer training goals with the college coach back in June, use this as a reference, and demonstrate to the coaches that you have achieved these goals!
Your video should be between 60-90 seconds. It should demonstrate skill mastery with the new skills you targeted three months prior with the college coaches. If there are minor flaws with certain skills, not to worry. Coaches are not looking at the mistakes as much as they are looking for progress.
College Showcases, Camps and Tournaments
Identify a shortlist of college camps and fall showcases you plan to attend. As these events draw nearer, provide the coaches with detailed information about your schedule and encourage the coaches to evaluate your talent as a potential impact player on the team.
If you are a rising junior or senior prospect, and you have identified a clear A+ list of top college options, strongly consider attending a fall prospect camp at 2-3 of these colleges. Not only will you get a direct evaluation from the host coaches, but you also take an unofficial visit to some of your top schools.
Campus Visits
If you are serious about a specific group of colleges on your list, there is no better time for a casual visit to campus than the summer. These visits might not have the same feel and energy as a fall college visit. But if the visits are well-planned, you will likely walk away feeling well-informed and more confident.
Summertime is an ideal time to connect with college coaches on campus, but do not just show up! E-mail the coach two weeks before your visit and convey your tentative visit plans and let her know you and your family would be excited to meet and learn more about the program.
Let the coach know you will follow up by phone to confirm the office visit. Remember, there are new NCAA recruiting contact rules in effect. You are now permitted to interview with coaches beginning June 15 after your sophomore year in high school!
Admissions Pre-Reads
Those prospects demonstrating a keen interest in elite academic institutions would be served best by requesting an admissions pre-read. College coaches at these institutions have, in many cases, significant input in admissions. Provide college coaches with a copy of your transcripts, test scores, and high school profile, and he will forward the information to the admissions office. Turnaround time is about 7 business days, and this feedback to where you stand can be vital.
National Letter of Intent
November 10, 2021, marks the start of the Fall National Letter of Intent signing period for most prospects (Football, Soccer and Men’s Water Polo excluded). This is an exhilarating time for recruits who have accepted verbal offers of athletic scholarships to their top college programs, but prospects and families must do their due diligence before signing:
- Line up your official campus visits before the signing date. This gives you and your family a final “look under the hood” before you make your formal commitment.
- Check with your guidance counselor and the NCAA Eligibility Center and confirm you are on track to graduate with the necessary core courses, grades, and standardized testing that meet the eligibility standards set by the NCAA.
- Speak candidly with the college coach you are committing and confirm the terms of the scholarship that has been offered.
Rigorous organization and a detailed, systematic approach are the glue that binds the entire recruiting effort and will assist prospects and families in successfully closing in on their top college choice.
Tom Kovic is a former Division 1 college coach and the Founder and Principal Advisor at Victory Collegiate Consulting, where he provides individual advisement for families navigating the college recruiting process. Tom is the author of “Reaching for Excellence,” an educational guide for college athletics recruiting. For further information visit https://victoryrecruiting.com.
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