If you are a high school athlete who wants to play college-level sports, keep two priorities in order, they are:
- College First
- Sports Second
This is especially true when talking with recruiters. This way you can avoid situations that might leave you without a degree or even a team to play on.
To begin with, learn all you can about the rules governing recruitment before contacting college coaches or players. Depending on which level of competition you're considering, your relationship with a recruiter must abide by the rules set forth by the NCAA, NAIA, or NJCAA. Violating any of the regulations might result in your being barred from competition. Refer to the NCAA, NAIA, or NJCAA website for a list of rules each athlete should understand.
The NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete identifies areas that each athlete and parent should be aware of. Such as:
- Contact periods
- Campus visits
- Phone calls
- Evaluation periods
- Dead periods
- Letter of intent
- Early commitment/Regular commitment
A certain amount of self-disclosure and self-reflection is necessary both during the recruitment process and after. Asking yourself questions and searching for the answer often helps to identify the school that will fit you right. Such as:
- If I could not play for some reason at this college, could I be happy here academically and socially?
- Could I be happy at this college or accept playing without a scholarship?
- Could I be happy here in a reduced playing role?
- Would I be happy at this college if the present coach were to leave before I graduated?
In a meeting with a coach or assistant coach, asking questions is appropriate. In fact, it is appreciated very much by the coach as well. In a home visit by a coach, plan on an hour and a half to two hours. During that time the following questions could be asked:
- Identify the role of the recruiter. Is he/she the head coach?
- Keep your education foremost in mind by asking about academic programs that interest you. A good recruiter is as informed about college programs as an admissions officer. Ask specific questions about majors and courses in your field.
- Know what level of competition this school competes in. Athletic scholarships available?
- Ask for details about the scholarships. Are they for one year only? Are they renewable? Is this a full or partial scholarship?
- How long is the scholarship good for? Four years? Five years? Summer school? (An institution can commit to a 5th year, but is not bound to do so).
- Is tutoring/counseling available? Other services for the student-athletes? Academic probation?