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What do College Coaches Look for in Athletes?
Overview
The college application process for seniors is in full swing, for both students that are looking to play a sport in college and for students who are not. This process is daunting for anyone and its helps to get a head start on the process to make it easier and less stressful. According to GoingIvy college preparations can start as early as Freshman year of high school and that includes the recruiting process for playing a college sport. So in order to prepare for college applications and the recruiting process here are some things that college coaches look for in athletes.
Athleticism
This is a fairly obvious trait that college coach would look for in the recruiting process. This simply means that you have the skill to be able to play at the college level and meet the expectations of the coach. A good way to be able check your level of athleticism and see if a college coach would be interested is to ask your club or high school coach for feedback on your level of skill. And advice on weather they think you are ready to take the next step in your athletic career.
Commitment
Another characteristic that college coaches look for is commitment. The amount of time and dedication that is put into playing at the college level is a much higher amount then the time and energy that you spent on your sport in high school. This means that you will be having more practices and training that are more intense and rigorous then what you did in high school. So coaches are looking for athletes who will be committed to working hard, putting in the time and effort, and being successful on the playing field and in the classroom.
Work Ethic
A strong work ethic is another must that college coaches look for. A strong work ethic allows athletes to dedicate the time, effort, and commitment that is needed to be a successful college athlete. Not only is it important to have a strong work ethic in your sport, but it is also important to have a strong work ethic academically and towards your own personal growth. A way to show this to college coaches is having a log of all the workouts and training that you’ve done or getting letters from teachers, coaches, or other people that are in the community.
Academics
Not only are coaches looking for a high level of athleticism but they are also looking for athletes who have strong academics. Playing a sport in college means that you not only are an athlete but also a student. Coaches are looking for athletes who are able to juggle both sports and school work. Currently the NCAA requires that high school students complete 16 NCAA approved classes within high school and earn a GPA of 2.3 or higher in these core classes.
Competitiveness
College athletics are very competitive so coaches are looking for athletes who are also competitive and want to win. When coaches are picking high school athletes who they want on their team they are looking for people who are striving for excellence during the recruiting process. Some ways that you can show competitiveness during the recruiting process is by going through drills with focus, helping others during the game, and being completely engaged in drills and games.
Sources
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