On August 26th, I sat with a mixture of 16 parents, students, and family members that were connected to Game Plan Football Academy of summer ‘09. For 90 minutes the topic discussed was “What are College Recruiters Looking For?” INTERESTING! Wish you were all there, because there was a lot of one-on-one information exchanged…but here’s a summary of the night’s discussion.
First off, it was noted that less than 6% get recruited to Division I schools. 84% of college scholarships fall out of the Division I level. There are many opportunities for college, you just need to learn the expectations for each level, find your fit, and pursue the best course for you! College recruiters look for 3 things: 1. Athletic Ability 2. Academic Ability 3. Character Each league, NCAA, NJCAA, & NAIA have their levels of expected athletic ability which can be found with a little research of the specific school. Examples and questions about individual positions and athletic talent were discussed. College recruiter tip: “Keep your motor always running. This shows hunger, effort, initiative, and desire.”
Academic preparation is even more important than athletic ability because it will keep you moving forward in life long after athletics cease. College recruiter tip: “You never have to worry about NCAA rules of contact. Only coaches do. Make the effort to contact coaches from schools you are interested in at any time….do it!” Character reflects the kind of person you are off the field. Coaches want a student who shows good character because they want to support an athlete with a scholarship and expect that the athlete will support the reputation of the team.
College recruiter tip: “Watch the music you put on your recruiting video clips. Swearing and violent music reflects on your character. Think about that.” LOTS MORE WAS DISCUSSED….Call 293-7700 for more information. Looking forward to Sept. 30, 7:00, Windward Community College to learn “How to Create Highlight Videos for College Opportunities.” Tip: Parents, take videos of your athlete now….this month during Football season…and get ready for the next Chalk Talk session. Moving forward!