NCSA RECRUITING TIPS OF THE MONTH ARCHIVES - 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007

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AUGUST 2011
Use these dates [see the August 2011 article here] as a way to determine the level that suits you the best. If you don't hear from Division I or II schools following these dates, those may be reach schools for you. You can still contact those coaches, but make sure you are contacting Division III and NAIA schools as well.

JULY 2011
Always ask coaches about their specific timeline. When do they want to have their recruiting done for your graduation year?

MAY 2011
There are strong and weak programs in every level. Don't get caught playing the "Name Game."

APRIL 2011
There are strong and weak programs within each division. If you don't fit the mold of a Division I player, you need to remain open to opportunities at other levels.

MARCH 2011
Aim to attend 1-2 camps each summer.

JANUARY 2011
If coaches are not coming to you, you will have to work twice as hard to get noticed by them. Initiate contact with coaches; it will increase your chances with that particular

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DECEMBER 2010
Recruiting happens much earlier for top recruits. If you are on a top club team, your recruiting will be accelerated and you should expect to be more active as an underclassman. For the majority of high school soccer players, the busiest recruiting times are junior and senior years.

NOVEMBER 2010
When creating recruiting profiles, you can create one on your own or you can look for help. NCSA's Athletic Recruiting Network (ARN) can offer you free recruiting profiles and also premium memberships. For more information, go to www.ncsasports.org.

OCTOBER 2010
As a parent, you need to help guide your child through the recruiting process. Don't do the work for them, but don't leave it completely in their hands. They still have a lot to learn and they will need your help behind the scenes.

SEPTEMBER 2010
When visiting a school, remember that the current players are reporting back to the coaches so be cautious of what you say and how you handle yourself. Also, take advantage of the opportunity and ask them about the coach, school, program etc. Why did they choose this school over others?

JULY 2010
Tip from a college coach: "As a coaching staff, we are turned off when recruits do not respond to phone calls, texts, and/or emails. No matter your interest level, give us a response. If you are interested, let us know. If you aren't, let us know too."

JUNE 2010
If you receive camp information, be sure to have follow-up questions for the coach, such as:

• How many recruits will be attending the camp?
• How many recruits have you signed from your camp in the past?
• How many recruits, in your position, are you recruiting for the 2011 class?

MAY 2010
One of the biggest turn-offs for coaches is a player's attitude. Be gracious and respectful to coaches and your parents, and avoid talking back to referees. Your attitude is a reflection of your character, and college coaches not only want a solid athlete, but they are also looking for well-rounded young adults.

APRIL 2010
Make sure you are on a coach's recruiting list before attending a camp or a showcase by building your free online Soccer Recruiting Profile and joining the NCSA Recruit Match Database searched by thousands of college coaches. Click here to get started...

MARCH 2010
What is a preferred walk-on? A preferred walk-on is an athlete who is promised a roster spot at the beginning of the season, but is still not a scholarship athlete.

 JANUARY 2010

Remember that you aren't the only senior out there still looking for a college soccer opportunity. The sooner you can reach out to coaches the better. Remember that there is another athlete fighting for that same spot so hold nothing back.

 DECEMBER 2009

The more independent you are, the easier you make a coach's job. Coaches will automatically have more interest in you when you can prove that you can take responsibility for yourself.

 NOVEMBER 2009

When talking about scholarships with a coach, remember to stay humble. You never want to come off as being greedy or arrogant; ask the right questions and think about your attitude and tone of voice when asking those questions.

 OCTOBER 2009

Until you have become fully comfortable emailing coaches, have at least two adults proofread your emails. Good options would be a parent, English teacher, guidance counselor or recruiting coach.

SEPTEMBER 2009

Start your application essays the summer before senior year. This will save you some time when you are filling out applications in the fall.

AUGUST 2009

Don't give up on the school if you don't hear back from a coach right away. Reach out 3 or 4 times (at least 1 being a phone call) and if you still never receive a response, then move on to other opportunities.

JULY 2009

You should be training harder over the summer than you do during the school year. Get signed up for a camp or two and talk with your club coach about getting signed up for some summer tournaments.

JUNE 2009

Start early! The earlier you start researching schools and contacting coaches the better. This will allow you more time to figure out what you are looking for in a school and will allow coaches more time to evaluate you.

MAY 2009

If an offer is extended on a visit, try not to accept right away unless you have been set on that school for a long time. It's easy to get caught up in the moment on a visit and it is wise to sleep on the offer in order to make the most educated decision in the end.

APRIL 2009

Everyone has different priorities and you have to figure out what is most important to you! Take care of your more important activities first and then if you have extra time in the week, you can add back in those less significant activities.

 MARCH 2009

Communicate with college coaches prior to registering for their camps. Find out if they will seriously be evaluating you as a college prospect.

 FEBRUARY 2009

There are approximately 2,800 schools in the United States that have either a Men's or Women's Soccer program, don't limit yourself by only being open to a few.

 JANUARY 2009

The thought of going to college and leaving your high school friends is definitely tough to swallow. Just remember that college is only four years of your life and you will make new friends. Your true high school friends will always be there and you shouldn't let the fear of leaving them get in the way of deciding which college you will be attending.

 DECEMBER 2008

After polling hundreds of college coaches at all divisions, NCSA has determined that the majority of college coaches do not place much value in a student-athlete's introduction. On a similar note, the majority of college coaches prefer to not have any music in the background of videos they are evaluating and oftentimes turn the volume down on their computer. Remember that everyone has different tastes in music and you don't want to risk hurting your chances with a coach simply because of your song selection!

 NOVEMBER 2008

Visit as many schools as you can! If you are interested in a school and a coach asks you to visit campus, you want to do everything in your power to make that visit happen.

 OCTOBER 2008

Research as many colleges as possible in each division! This is the only way you will ever get a sense of what you are looking for in a school and will lead to a more successful decision in the end.

 SEPTEMBER 2008

It is important for every student-athlete to review the Core Course Worksheet inside the NCAA Guide for the College Bound Student-Athlete. Checking this resource will make sure you are on track to complete the required courses for the NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse.

 AUGUST 2008

Question: What if you are talking to Division I and Division II colleges/universities and the coach doesn't offer an official visit during senior year?

Answer: You are not likely a top recruit if it's a Division I or Division II university as a general rule. Always ask questions and find out where you are on the recruiting list before visiting a university.

 JULY 2008

You have probably heard of MCL and LCL injuries too. Unlike MCL and LCL injuries, ACL damage usually requires surgery. This is why ACL injury prevention is so important!

 JUNE 2008 - SAMPLE LETTER: NEGOTIATING A BIGGER PACKAGE

Dear Ms. Burns:

I have recently examined the Student Aid Report for XYZ College, and there are some items I wish to address. First of all, I would like to reject the PLUS loan, as it does not offer a very favorable rate. Please also reduce the $2,500 unsubsidized Stafford Loan to $1,500.

I also noticed that the package you have outlined here does not take into consideration some of the necessary expenses of college, including books, fees, and travel costs.

I am very impressed with the academic reputation of XYZ College, but I have also been considering PDQ University, which has presented me with a package that includes some of the expenses mentioned above. I would like to discuss my package further with you, and explore what other financial aid opportunities might be available to me at XYZ College.

Please contact me at your earliest convenience. Thank you for your time and consideration!

 MAY 2008

If you are very interested in going to a specific college camp but have not received information, do not worry! You can always log onto that college's or university's soccer website and submit a camp form via the website.

 APRIL 2008

Less than 1% of high school student-athletes receive a fully funded offer from a Division I college. Keep in mind that there many scholarship opportunities at the DII, DIII and NAIA levels too.

 MARCH 2008

Make sure you film games against your best competition. Coaches would rather see you play in a hard fought game than dominate weak competition. Try to focus on club games, ODP events, or high school playoff games.

 FEBRUARY 2008

If you are offered the opportunity to go to a high profile tournament with another team and are able to make the commitment for that weekend - go for it! It is best to get as much exposure to coaches as possible.

 JANUARY 2008

A commonly asked question from college coaches is "What other colleges are recruiting you?" Do not be shy in naming those other colleges. It is important to tell coaches who else is recruiting you, especially if the colleges are nearby, or better yet, in the same conference. Coaches do not want to lose you to their competition and will work even harder to secure you as a recruit.

 DECEMBER 2007

Visit as many colleges as possible! Comparing several institutions as opposed to just a few will give you a better idea of what you are looking for in a college and more confidence when making your final decision.

 NOVEMBER 2007

Visit as many colleges as possible! Comparing several institutions as opposed to just a few will give you a better idea of what you are looking for in a college and more confidence when making your final decision.

 OCTOBER 2007

There are several helpful financial aid Web sites all student-athletes should review when going through the recruiting process and applying for college. One vital website is The Free Application for Financial Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.org. The first date you may submit the FAFSA is January 1st of your senior year. Keep in mind that university financial assistance may be limited and is given on a first come, first serve basis.

Other helpful websites regarding financial aid:

http://www.finaid.org/
http://studentaid.ed.gov
http://www.meritmoney.com/

 SEPTEMBER 2007

When possible, take honors and AP courses with the mindset that you will earn either an A or a B. If you are concerned about maintaining a B average, you may want to consider taking a less challenging course level.

  AUGUST 2007

Create a system to file and save your mail. You can also use email folders to help keep your emails organized.

 JULY 2007

Have a friend, family member, or trusted recruiting professional proofread your emails before you correspond with college coaches. They might catch spelling errors or mistakes you may have overlooked.

 JUNE 2007

Respond to all questionnaires from colleges and universities. You can never have too many colleges recruiting you. The more offers you receive, the more leverage you have during the recruiting process.

 MAY 2007

When creating a video, make sure you tape games against your best competition. Coaches would rather see you play in a hard fought game than dominate weak competition. Try to focus on Club games and any ODP games.

ABOUT NCSA
NCSA, the Official Scouting Organization and Provider of Recruiting Education for Cal South, is the premier source for matching high school scholar - athletes with colleges and universities across the country. NCSA is the "Eyes & Ears" of more than 35,000 college coaches, who rely on NCSA's experienced scouting team and instant response capabilities to provide them with quality prospective recruits. NCSA prides itself in educating high school student-athletes and their families about the college recruiting process. Please visit www.ncsasports.org for more information about NCSA.