Total Sports Simcoe County Edition, Winter 2016 Winter 2016 Issue | Page 21

Athletic Recruiting 101 By: Jamie Young Are you an athlete or a parent of an athlete interested in going after an athletic scholarship? In this article, we’ll explore one of the biggest mistakes families make when it comes to the athletic recruiting process. Many parents and athletes have no idea how to get the athletic recruiting process started, or more importantly, when. Often athletes and families are left scrambling at the last moment leaving them at risk of hurried decisions, lower scholarship dollars, and even ineligibility. Let’s highlight three paramount reasons for starting the recruiting process early: 1. More time to research. Choosing a school and program isn’t as simple as picking a name out of a hat. There are many, many things to look at to ensure an athlete finds the right fit. For instance, it’s always a good idea to think education first. Ask yourself, what schools have the program I’m interested in and do they have a good reputation for that program? With there being over a thousand colleges and universities offering athletic scholarships, it takes time to sort through which ones will work and which ones won’t. The idea is to ask yourself questions that matter most to you, and narrow down the number of choices. 2. Increased exposure. In today’s recruiting landscape, coaches are constantly searching for that needle in a haystack. The earlier you start the recruiting process, the longer you’re putting yourself out there to be discovered. Coaches often make decisions on their recruiting class multiple years in advance. If you haven’t put yourself out there yet, how can you expect to be recruited? 3. Ensure eligibility. For an athlete to be eligible in college athletics, they must meet certain grade levels, test scores, and have the correct number and level of core courses. Often by the time families look at the possibility of athletic scholarships, the athlete is so far behind in terms of eligibility requirements that it leaves them discouraged and unmotivated. There are very specific guidelines that must be met to be eligible to compete in college athletics, and starting the athletic recruiting process early will make it easier to make those correct decisions & choices. I recommend athletes and their families get the athletic recruiting process started before the athlete attends high school. This way, you can maximize the exposure time of the athlete, take the right steps towards eligibility requirements, and ensure that the school and program meet both the needs of the athlete and their family. If you’re interested in taking the next step in your athletic development and education contact Advantage Athletic Recruiting Services today! AdvantageAthletic.ca | [email protected] | @AdvAthleticRS Totalsportsalliance.com 21