The key to the athletic recruiting process is to target schools to fit you— without even thinking about sports.
Only one in four athletes will actually play college sports for their entire college career. Players get cut, get hurt or decide just not to play. So if you want to be happy with your choice no matter what happens, don’t pick a school only because of sports.
Instead, narrow down your school choices based on factors that non-athletes use. Consider what size school you desire, its location, its academic reputation and the social opportunities available.
Having some idea of what major you want to pursue can also narrow your school search from the thousands of choices you have. Once you have narrowed your choices to a manageable number, it’s time to determine which of the schools compete at the athletic level that’s right for you.
Misjudging your talent can hurt your college athletic career.
As a former Division I college coach, I have seen many players get cut from Division I teams when they could have been playing at the Division III level. I have also seen athletes play at Division III schools who were Division I scholarship quality.
Here are some tips to make sure you land in the right athletic program.
• Ask a coach.
Whether they work for a high school, summer camp or even the opposing team, coaches can tell you what college level they recommend you play. Tell them you would like an honest evaluation of your athletic talent. Some high school coaches understand college athletics while some do not, so don’t base your decision on one person’s opinion.
• Be nice.
It is of the utmost importance to have a good relationship with your high school coach. Not all college coaches will make decisions based on your coach’s evaluation, but they will all judge your character by what your coach tells them. If you don’t get along with your coach, you will learn one of life’s great lessons: make the best out of a bad situation. Remember that coaches are in the teaching and coaching professions because they want to help kids. They deserve some respect.
• Go to summer school.
This will give you the opportunity to evaluate yourself against other athletes who want to play sports in college. It will also give coaches an opportunity to see you play and get to know you personally. Sports camps held at colleges also give you the opportunity to experience a college campus.
• Ask the pros.
Ask some college coaches who have seen you play. Most coaches will evaluate your athletic skills regardless of their interest in you for their program. Again, don’t base any decisions on just one coach. But college coaches do know their program’s talent level, so their opinion should be taken seriously.
• Don’t be shy.
Ask players who have graduated before you and who have competed in college athletics how your talent compares to their program’s level. Former players know as well as anyone what you are capable of achieving in college.
• Determine your hometown advantage.
Find out how you rank on your own team and in area. Keep in mind that some teams and conferences aren’t as strong as others. Thus, being the best player on your team or league doesn’t necessarily mean you’re ready to compete in the highest college level. But even if you only had limited playing time in high school, you can still be eligible for a scholarship.
• Be a spectator.
Go watch some college games at each level of division. You may think you’re a Division III player but may change your mind after seeing some Division II games. By watching various division games, you can see how you can fit- or grow- into their team.
• Play by yourself.
It’s usually easier to evaluate yourself in individual sports like golf, swimming and track. Personal scores, record times and distances make it easier to judge what level of collegiate competition is right for you.
People often ask me how to begin an ideal athletic career while in college.
Expect to attend a school where you’ll get limited to no playing time freshman year, regular playing time but not on the starting line sophomore year. Expect to be a starter in your junior year and a leader in your senior year. Some players become instant stars and some players get cut. But if you make your choices wisely, anyone can score in college sports.
Wayne Mazzoni is the author of “The Athletic Recruiting and Scholarship Guide” and regularly consults with students on the athletic recruiting process. You can reach him at:
www.mazzmarketing.com.
