10 Tips to Help with College Recruitment
The world of sports recruiting can be difficult and time consuming. Whether you started getting recruited at a young age through club or even high school, the process is a tough, but rewarding challenge. For many, college recruiting is the final step in taking an athlete to the next level, so Top Tier is providing 10 Tips to help you with the exciting and difficult college recruiting process.
Tip #1
Start Early: Sometimes an athlete may think that they should start reaching out and thinking about college sports in their junior, or even senior year. Instead, try and get on top of things as early as freshman year of high school. It is never bad to start early, and building early connections with colleges and coaches can only be beneficial.
Tip #2
Go to Different Types of College Recruiting Camps: Throughout the country colleges host camps for prospective high school athletes. Besides looking at highlight tapes, which we will talk about later, one of the main ways that colleges recruit is by you showing interest first. Heading out to a camp allows you to visit the school, meet the coaches, and showcase your talent. Although it can be nerve-racking and a bit time consuming, it is a perfect way to increase your chances of getting recruited.
Tip #3
Email Coaches: As simple as it sounds, emailing coaches is the first and most important step in getting yourself out there. Colleges recruit so many athletes every year, and you shouldn't expect a coach to be the one reaching out. Taking initiative with a short introduction can go a long way and put you on the radar of several programs.
Tip #4
Visit, Visit, Visit: Remember, you are looking at these programs as much as they are looking at you! It is important to choose the right school and the right program before blindly accepting an offer. Taking your time to visit campus and focus on things outside of sports can give you a good image of what your next 4 years will really look like. This is extremely important, because if your experience with sports doesn't turn out right, you need to be confident that the school is still a great fit for you.
Tip #5
Research What Program Needs What: It sounds simple to just email as many coaches and programs as you can, but it is impossible to email everyone. Instead, a good way to make the process quicker is to see what players are already on the roster. If a program you are looking at already has 5-10 players in the same position, maybe it isn't worth it to reach out or spend the money to go out to a camp. Look for the programs that look like you could be a good fit in and then reach out. By doing this, you will save some time and statistically get more interest.
Tip #6
Keep Your Academics Very High: It might be hard to get an athletic scholarship, but having excellent grades might give you an opportunity to go to your dream school while also receiving some money. College is expensive, and even if everything works out with sports and the school seems like a great fit, it might be out of you and your family's price plan. Good grades open the doors for so many opportunities to go to any school you want without worrying so much about the financials. Additionally, coaches love high achieving students, because it shows that they are hard workers and very disciplined.
Tip #7
Network With Current College Athletes and Take Private Lessons: The best way to understand what a program will actually be like is to reach out to current college athletes. Players can explain to you what is needed to get recruited, what a specific school culture is like, and the work that needs to be put in to be successful. Additionally, looking to take private lessons with college athletes can be an excellent way to learn how to compete at the college level while also learning about the ins and outs of a certain program. Top Tier provides high level private lessons from college athletes, in order to give rising stars the opportunity to live up to their potential.
Tip #8
Prepare: Even if you get an offer and accept, the process of college recruiting isn't over. It is actually just the beginning. Once you are admitted to the school and the program, it will feel like a moment where you can take a deep breath and start to relax. Although your individual sports recruiting process is over, you have to stay fit and mentally ready to take your game to the next level. Even if a program gives you an offer, that doesn't guarantee that you have a spot forever. You need to prove yourself, so preparing right away is the best solution.
Tip #9
Do not get Discouraged in the World of Sports Recruiting: The process of getting recruited is super competitive and it can be cut throat. As hard as it is, you have no hard feelings and move on. There will always be a new opportunity out there. Remember, the more no's you get might lead you closer and closer to your next yes.
Tip #10
Have a very good Highlight Tape and List of your Accolades: It is impossible for coaches to see every player in person, let alone go to every game and tournament throughout the country. Therefore, building a highlight tape is necessary if you want to succeed. This speeds up the process dramatically and gets your games and trainings out there for coaches to see. There are many different ways to building a good highlight tape, but the first step is to have one! Additionally, make sure you also list your accolades, contact information, and anything else that is notable for recruiting.
Conclusion
Overall, these are just a few of many different ways to get ahead on your college recruiting process. It can be hard and grueling to find the perfect college, but persevering and sticking to good strategies will get you closer and closer everyday. If you are interesting in reading some of our previous blogs be sure to check us out, and don't forget to head to our website to learn more about Top Tier Lessons !
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