International College Counselors

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Who We Are
    • Our Team
    • Brochure
    • Scholarship Essay Contest
    • Why ICC?
  • Services
    • College Counseling
    • Graduate School
    • International Students
    • Transfer Students
    • Learning Differences
    • K-12 Placement Services
    • SSAT Flex Testing
    • A La Carte Services
    • Corporate Benefits
    • Giving Back
  • Contact Us
  • Results
  • News & Events
    • In The News
    • Press Releases
    • Awards & Recognitions
    • Upcoming Free Webinars and Seminars
  • Essays
  • Blog
  • Testimonials
  • Locations
    • Florida Locations
    • Connecticut Location
    • New York City Locations
    • North Carolina Location
  • Resources
    • New Book: To University and Beyond
    • Overall Admission Rates

16 Tips for Being Recruited as a Student Athlete

June 7, 2021 by Cheree Liebowitz

At International College Counselors, parents frequently ask us how their student-athlete can get recruited by a college, and how their student-athlete can get noticed by the right coach. Standout, all-conference athletes at powerhouse high schools typically get noticed by scouts and coaches. However, that leaves thousands of outstanding athletes at smaller high schools being overlooked for one simple reason: the coaches didn’t know they were out there.

On top of this, 2020 threw these athletes a curveball: many high school athletic associations postponed or canceled games, tournaments, and entire seasons because of the pandemic, leaving many student-athletes worried over how they would be recruited without the traditional avenues for coaches to see them in action.

Have a sports drink and breathe. Some good news: the NCAA has announced that as of June 1, 2021, the restrictions placed on D1 coaches and prospective athletes were lifted, and all recruiting calendars returned to normal. D1 coaches are now able to resume meeting face-to-face with recruits off campus and do in-person scouting. Additionally, in-person recruiting restrictions have been lifted for all other levels, including NCAA D2 and D3, NAIA and NJCAA programs – meaning all forms of contact are allowed.

Whatever sport you participate in, from football to field hockey, or baseball to beach volleyball, student-athletes can do more to get themselves on a coach’s radar.  All you need is a game plan.

Below are some tips for student-athletes from International College Counselors:

  1. Talk to your high school or club coach about your chances of being recruited for college. They can be a valuable resource, from assessing your talent level to knowing college coaches to whom they might recommend you.
  2. Start early! Research the ins and outs of recruiting, regulations, colleges, coaches, and sports programs. Read the NCAA and NAIA Guide for the College Bound Student-Athlete and watch www.freerecruitingwebinar.org. Know the separate rules for exactly how/when coaches can contact you and how/when you can contact coaches.
  3. Use the Internet. Visit college websites, YouTube, and social media pages to collect information about the different sports programs. Look for schools that fit your talents, athletically and academically.
  4. Don’t just focus on NCAA Division I sports. There are more than 1,800 colleges with athletic programs. The vast majority of college scholarship opportunities are at the Division II, NAIA, or Junior College level. Expand your search to give yourself a better opportunity.
  5. Attend college sports camps if you can, which are usually led by the colleges’ coaching staffs. You’ll also get a chance to enhance your skills at these camps.
  6. Join travel teams or clubs. At some events there can be hundreds of teams and thousands of athletes competing. Scouts prefer to go where the better players are. Additionally, it gives you a chance to really check out your competition. Keep in mind, you can’t rely on being ‘discovered’ at a camp or showcase.
  7. Contact coaches in desired programs and build relationships with them as early as possible within the recruiting guidelines. For example, send them a quick introductory email (see https://www.ncsasports.org/recruiting/contacting-college-coaches/email), a link to a highlight reel and/or your online athlete profile. If there’s an opportunity to meet a coach, introduce yourself with a quick rundown of your best achievements.
  8. If you do not already have one, create a sports video, or highlight reel, of you in action, and send it to programs of your choice during your junior year. (The best video is a combination game video and skills video.) Your video should be accompanied by an athletic “resume” highlighting your sports-related achievements. Include stats, win/loss record, awards, high school transcript, and information on SAT/ACT scores.
  9. Start a YouTube channel or website showcasing your talent.  There are dozens of easy-to-use, free website-building platforms and tools. Post videos of your achievements and scans of articles. (Don’t just post links; some papers disconnect the links after a period of time). Create a professional resume that highlights your athletic and academic achievements. Post it online and share it with any coaching contacts you already have.
  10. Get evaluated if you can. Attend showcase-style events where trusted third-party people oftentimes serve as the eyes and ears of the coaches who don’t have time to see every player.
  11. Keep up your academics. Get good grades, meet with your college counselor to make sure you are academically eligible, take the SAT or ACT in your junior year
  12. Maintain a positive attitude. Coaches are looking for players with key traits including leadership, toughness, intelligence, strong work ethic, and a team player. Coaches want to know that you have great habits, you won’t make excuses, and you won’t settle.
  13. Answer any requests from colleges immediately. If a coach or school is requesting more information, chances are they are seriously considering you. Ask your high school coach to complete any requests for information about you as soon as possible, as well.
  14. Register with the NCAA and NAIA Eligibility Centers to be cleared for athletic scholarships.
  15. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t hear from coaches. NCAA rules only permit them to contact student-athletes at certain times.
  16. Take care of your body. Continue working hard to get stronger, faster and fitter. Listen to your body, especially if you feel pain. Eat well. And whatever you do, don’t put harmful substances into it.

One last note, as the result of a NCAA policy from 2015, many colleges now provide scholarship athletes with a monthly stipend. NCAA athletes may receive as much as $5,000 to $7,000 for “full cost of attendance,” and may use this money towards transportation, supplies and other school-related expenses. College athletes are getting closer to getting paid for the use of their name, image and likeness, but that has not yet been approved.

By taking control of the process and being proactive, student-athletes can greatly increase their chances of getting recruited.

The expert educational consultants at International College Counselors are dedicated to helping students and their families from across the country and all over the world find, apply to, and gain admission to the college of their dreams. If you would like to learn how to successfully navigate the college admissions process, please contact our expert college advisors at info@internationalcollegecounselors.com or call 954-414-9986.

________________________________________________________________

Upcoming Free Webinars

June 9 at 7pm EST
How to Write an Amazing Common App Essay
Register and more info: https://tinyurl.com/3y2663t7
____________________________________
June 29 at 7pm EST
Parents’ Role in the College Admissions Proces
Register and more info: https://bit.ly/3uF5imN

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)

Filed Under: International College Counselors blog, Special Students – Athletes, LD, Art Majors Tagged With: athletic recruitment, athletic scholarships, college athletics, college scholarships, D1 athlete recruitment, D1 athlete scholarships, high school athlete, high school athletic association, high school scholarships, NCAA eligibility, recruited athletes, student athletes

Sign up for free college admissions advice!

Subscribe

Recent Acceptances

M.I.T.
Yale University
Stanford University
Brown University
Caltech
Harvard College
Princeton University
Harvard Business School
University of Pennsylvania
The Wharton School
Washington University St. Louis
Cornell University
Columbia University
Dartmouth College
Northwestern University
The Cooper Union
Johns Hopkins University
University of Florida
New York University
University of Michigan
University of Chicago
Brandeis University
University of Texas @ Austin
NYU Dental School
USC Dental School
Duke University
University of Virginia
Barnard College
Amherst College
UNC Chapel Hill
Wesleyan University
Rice University
McGill University
Olin College of Engineering
Tufts University
Emory University
Carnegie Mellon University
George Washington University
University of Notre Dame
Georgia Institute of Technology
Boston University
USC
U.C.L.A.
Vanderbilt University
Syracuse University
UC Berkeley
Rensselaer Polytechnic
University of Maryland
New College of Florida
Loyola Marymount University
American University
Harvey Mudd College
Middlebury College
Boston College
Babson University
Georgetown University
Colgate University
Bard College
Ohio State University
Indiana University
Stevens Institute of Technology
Virginia Polytechnic Institute
Tulane University
University of Miami
Purdue University
Oxford College @ Emory
Wisconsin @ Madison
Northeastern University
Lehigh University
Goucher College
Pennslyvania State University
Muhlenberg College
University of Connecticut
Loyola University Chicago
University of Colorado Boulder
Colorado State University
University of Alabama
Louisiana State University
Drexel University
Embry-Riddle University
University of Arizona
Florida State University
University of Central Florida
S.U.N.Y @ Binghamton
S.U.N.Y @ Stony Brook
S.U.N.Y @ Albany
S.U.N.Y @ Geneseo
S.U.N.Y. @ Oneonta
S.U.N.Y. @ Oswego
S.U.N.Y @ Purchase
Art Institute of Chicago
University of Illinois
Pratt Institute
Ringling College Art & Design
George Mason University
University of Vermont
DigiPen Institute of Technology
Parsons New School of Design
Emerson College
Auburn University
Michigan State University
UC Santa Cruz
UC San Diego
UC Santa Barbara
Elon University
St. John's University
UMass Amherst
UMass Dartmouth
UMass Lowell
UMass Boston
Suffolk University
Bentley University
Lynn University
Arizona State University
University of North Florida
Florida Atlantic University
Florida International University
Florida Gulf Coast University
University of South Florida
Nova Southeastern University
University of Tampa
Hofstra University
Pace University
University of New England
Western New England College
Bowling Green State University
Rollins College
Eugene Lang College
Baruch College
Hunter College
Santa Fe College
Fordham University
UNC Greensboro
University of Hartford
Lasell College
Shimer College
Hillsdale College
College of Charleston
Bryant University
Clark University
James Madison University
Curry College
Southern Methodist University
Florida Institute of Technology
LIM College
University of British Columbia
College of the Holy Cross
University of Pittsburgh
Purchase College
University of Minnesota
Virginia Commonwealth University
Columbia College
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
St. Leo University
Stetson University
Canisius College
LIM College
Case Western Reserve
San Diego State University
Marymount Manhattan College

Blog Categories

  • College Admissions
  • College Applications
  • College Essays
  • College Planning
  • College Visits and Information Sessions
  • Extracurricular & Summer Activities
  • FAQ
  • Financial Aid & Scholarships
  • Giving Back
  • Graduate School
  • In the News
  • International College Counselors blog
  • International Students
  • Other
  • Special Students – Athletes, LD, Art Majors
  • Standardized Tests – SAT/ACT/AP Courses/PSAT
  • Summer Opportunities
  • Tips for High School Freshman and Sophomores
  • Tips for High School Juniors
  • Tips for High School Seniors
  • Transfer Students
  • Uncategorized

Blog Archives

Connect with Us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

International College Counselors

3107 Stirling Road, Suite 208
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33312 USA
(954) 414-9986
(800) 452-9090

Connect with Us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Books By Our Staff:

To University and Beyond: Launch Your Career in High Gear by Mandee Heller Adler and David Teten. From Public School To The Ivy League by Mandee Heller Adler International Admissions by Mandee Heller Adler and Aimee Heller

Navigation

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Services
  • Contact Us
  • Results
  • News & Events
  • Blog
  • Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

  • Personalized Support for Seniors – Get Help with College Admissions, Essays, and Applications!
  • Mark Your Calendars: SAT and ACT Testing Dates for 2022-2023
  • Top Tips for the Common Application
  • Tips to Start the School Year Right
  • Game On: How to be Recruited as a Student-Athlete

Copyright © 2022 International College Counselors • Log in

en English
en Englishes Spanishzh-CN Chinese (Simplified)nl Dutchfr Frenchit Italiande Germanpt Portugueseru Russianar Arabic