College Athletics
CAN I PLAY SPORTS IN COLLEGE?
Student athletes with aspirations of playing competitive sports in college need to be aware and informed about the process of finding a college that is a good match for the athlete. Â Helping student athletes to be realistic about their dreams is an important priority for both the athlete and his/her parents.
How will students know if a college is really interested in a high school athlete?
The college coach writes letters regularly to the athlete, the coach attends the athletes contests, the coach visits the athletes home or the coach offers the athlete an official visit in which the college pays the expenses. Â If the athlete is interested in a particular college that shows this kind of interest then it is important that the athlete respond to the college/coach inquiries.
What is important for the athlete to do during high school?
At the end of the junior year, student athletes need to complete the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) application and pay the NCAA fee online at NCAA Clearinghouse. It is important to provide the high school registrar TWO print-outs, with the students signature, authorizing the school to send the students official high school transcripts to NCAA at the end of junior year and upon graduation. Also supply the registrar two stamped, addressed envelopes.  Follow up with NCAA to be sure that the transcript and test score information they have is current.
It is extremely important that student athletes keep their grades up and complete the college prep requirements for a university (any four year college), if the athlete hopes to play at that level. Â Check the college prep requirements in College Prep section of this website or in the Husky Planner. Â NCAA continues to raise the academic requirements, which means that Division I, II and III colleges will not usually take athletes who do not qualify. Â Specifically, NCAA prohibits students from playing at NCAA colleges if the student has not met the requirements. Â Students also need to take the SAT or ACT, which is recommended in the spring of the junior year and again, in the fall of the senior year. Â Leading up to the SAT, it is suggested that students take the PSAT, the practice for the SAT, at least once in the fall of the junior year.
Do your homework about what your interests are as it relates to college: Â Academic level of college, services offered by college, majors offered matching students interests, campus life, cost, climate, location, size, distance from home, dorm living, coaching staff match to student, program strength-unproven team where athlete will play more versus strong team where athlete will ride the bench.
During junior year and particularly in senior year, student athletes should take a proactive approach to their interest in playing at the college level. Â Selecting a number of potential universities that match the interests of the athlete and contacting their coaching staff by email or mail, or online, is a good first step. Â Outline for the coach your position and playing style. Â Fill out athletic questionnaires the college might have as well.
Stay healthy, play well and be realistic:Â
These items must not be overlooked. Â If no letters from college athletic departments arrive in the students mailbox, then this means that no recruiting is taking place. Â If communication from the colleges does occur, then the athlete must respond if they are interested. Â A lack of follow through on the part of the athlete will be interpreted by the college as a lack of interest and they will focus their efforts elsewhere.
A word of warning
In a continuing effort to provide accurate information to students, a word of warning about recruiters for hire. Â As with scholarship scams where students and their parents may be asked to pay a fee in exchange for scholarship opportunities, so is the case with people posing as recruiters who, for a fee, claim they can get the athlete the exposure that will lead to an athletic scholarship. Â These kind of fees range anywhere from $500 to upwards of $1,000. Â Colleges do not work with these recruiters for hire and admonish their preying on dream-filled student athletes and their parents. Â It is strongly recommended that students and their parents stay clear of these individuals and work with the legitimate recruiters from established colleges, who will gladly show their credentials connecting them directly with the college.