Recruiting the Student Athlete:

A Workshop on College Admissions

Recruiting the Student:

A Workshop on College Admissions

Recruiting the Athlete:

A Workshop on College Admissions

• A few important opening words :• Our priority in the college counseling

program at Minnetonka High School – helping the student (athlete) find the right fit!

• College is a match to be made, not a prize to be won!

• Every student (athlete) is encouraged to follow this rule:“You apply for admission to a college because you want to go (play) there!”

Initial Eligibility• Any athlete who wishes to compete at the Division

I or Division II level must be cleared by the NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse (established in 1993).

• www.ncaaclearinghouse.net• The NCAA Clearinghouse serves:

• Prospective student athletes• High school administrators, coaches, and

counselors• NCAA member institutions

Initial Eligibility, continued• Sixteen core courses

• 4 English• 3 Math• 2 Science• 1 more from English, Math, or Science• 2 Social Science• 4 more from above, foreign language,

religion or philosophy

Initial Eligibility, continued• GPA/Test Score “sliding scale”

• 3.55 core gpa with 37 ACT (adding up the 4 sections)

• 3.00 core gpa with 52 ACT• 2.50 core gpa with 68 ACT• 2.0 core gpa with 86 ACT

NOTE: test score sections can come from more than one test date!

Initial Eligibility, continued• GPA/Test Score “sliding scale”

• 3.55 core gpa with 400 SAT (adding reading & math)

• 3.00 core gpa with 620 SAT• 2.50 core gpa with 820 SAT• 2.00 core gpa with 1010 SAT

NOTE: A grade of B+ is the same as a B-. Both are calculated as a 3.0.

NCAA colleges and universities -- $560 million in revenue in 2006!

• Division I 326 institutions• Division II 290 institutions• Division III 443 institutions• For example, in men’s ice hockey

• Division I 60 institutions• Division II 7 institutions• Division III 71 institutions

Division III programs• 80% private; 20% public institutions• Average enrollment: 2,000 (range is from

400 to over 40,000)• No financial aid related to athletics• Athletic focus is on in-season competition• Student athletes experience the full range

of college life and programs• Student athletes play because they have a

passion for the sport

Division III programs, continued• D-III sports are not “glorified intramurals” –

think about this weekend’s game (St. Olaf vs. St. John’s)

• Coaches can “slot” student athletes for their teams, so they have a “voice” in admissions

• Pressure exists for students to apply early decision

• Financial aid inconsistencies – i.e., “leadership scholarship”

• Recruiting rules are not clearly defined

Division I programs• Head count sports

• Student athletes have large scholarships• Limited number of “counters” on each

team• Football 90• Men’s Basketball 13• Women’s Basketball 15• Women’s Volleyball 12

Division I programs• Equivalency sports

• No limit on number receiving countable aid• Athletic scholarships are smaller• Men’s soccer 9.9• Women’s soccer14• Baseball 11.7• Softball 12

Division I programs• Recruiting process – in an ideal world!

• Coaches identify talented players• Coaches “court” the player • Player likes the coach and wants to play for

him/her• Player makes a commitment to attend and

signs a letter of intent• Student athlete is awarded a scholarship• Student athlete enrolls at the university!

Division I programs• Recruiting process – in the real world!

• Mass mailings, beginning even in grade 9• Communications to all-conference and all-state• Once personal visits can begin, a coach can

make the player feel like he is “the golden boy.”

• All the recruiting attention can stop in an instant – once another (better) player signs. Or, an injury occurs.

Division I programs• College visits

• Official visits• Registered with NCAA Clearinghouse• Financed in part (or whole) by college• Limited to 5 (one visit per school – maximum

of 48 hours)• Unofficial visits

•No limit on number•College cannot pay any travel expenses

Division I programs• National Letter of Intent (NLI)

• Binding one-year agreement/contract• Prospect must attend institution for one year• University must provide prospect with

athletic financial aid (which is renewed on a year-to-year basis)

• Signing dates vary: www.national-letter.org

Walking through the process -- action items in the 11th grade

• Talk with your coach, your parents, and your guidance counselor about your plans

• Register with the NCAA Clearinghouse in June• Research summer camps, regional showcases,

ODP programs – to work with certain coaches• Create a master list of college coaches, with

contact info and roster information

Action items for Grade 11, continued• Create a resume or web site, which lists your

academic and athletic achievements• Send a letter/email to all coaches in the

winter/spring, with your resume attached• For some sports, develop a “highlights”

video• Visit college campuses. Talk with coaches,

when possible, and as many students as possible – including non-athletes

Action items for Grade 12• Remain strongly committed to school work• Continue communication with coaches• Promptly return phone calls and emails• Cut off contact at institutions you are no

longer interested in• Accept the situation when coaches are no

longer interested in you

Action items for grade 12, continued• Apply to colleges that you are interested in

attending – and where you are a strong candidate as a student and athlete

• Update your resume and athletic profile/web site

• Consider the early decision/early action option

• Make a final decision – based on a holistic review of your options.

Role of the counselor• Honor the dream – respect the reality!• Be an objective listener to both the student

athlete and the parent• Help students “sell themselves” to the

college• Communicate with all students, starting in

grade 9, about the core courses• Develop relationships with the coaching staff

The final word!• The general rule about applying to college as a

student athlete: you should apply if the school is the right choice for you.

• For more information: attend our program on November 13, with Mr. J.T. Bruett, the compliance office at the U of Minnesota.

Phillip TroutCollege CounselorMinnetonka High School952-401-5746collegeguy@minntonka.k12.mn.us 10-03-07