4 easy ways to improve your scholarship opportunities

Student-athletes wanting to participate in college sports can improve their scholarship opportunities by being more aware of what they post on social media accounts, more active when researching colleges, and filling out athletic recruiting questionnaires.

DON'T WAIT AROUND!

Get involved. Don't wait around for coaches, scouts or recruiting companies to find you. As an athlete you should be used to being a go-getter and working hard for what you want. This is why being the catalyst to your own recruiting process will give you the control to do what is needed in order to gain the best college opportunities.

Depending on the sport you play and the amount of exposure that you have received, you will either have college athletic programs sending you form letters early in your high school career or not. Remember that NCAA rules and regulations are enforced and NCAA Division I and Division II coaches must abide by contacting recruits during certain time periods. Dedicated athletes need to make sure they have done all of the necessary recruiting tricks to get their name out there.

USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO YOUR ADVANTAGE

Clean-up your social media accounts. Remember to post ONLY appropriate pictures and videos on your wall. Coaches and recruiters will be trolling recruits accounts before they seriously consider athletes; don't give them reason to dismiss you before they get to know you. If you have a Twitter, Facebook or any other social media accounts make sure that the updates you send out are appropriate, meaning no foul language, no name brand endorsements and especially no smack talking any coaches or teammates (past or present). This is an instant red flag. Think about it, if coaches see that you bad mouth your current coach they will undoubtedly believe that you will cause issues with future coaches and teammates.

SEARCH OUT COLLEGE COACHES

If you have your mind set on attending a specific college, get online and check out what that school has to offer academically and athletically. Check the number of players on the team and where they hail from- it will give you a good idea of where the coaching staff recruits from. Read up on the coaching staff and accomplishments that they have made. Check into academic features the college is known for;

• Does it offer a major that you are drawn to?
• What will the typical class sizes be?
• What are the graduation rates of students that chose that major?

Knowing what colleges have to offer will help you to learn what you want and need in college.

RECRUITING QUESTIONAIRES

The simplest way to get your name on coach's radar is to fill out recruiting questionnaires. Questionnaires alert coaching staffs that you are interested in their program. Another advantage student-athletes gain by filling out questionnaires is that they will be informed of upcoming events, camps or games that will be hosted by the college as a way to gain more exposure and have more chances to meet college coaches.

What level can I play in college?

Determining the right division level to play in college depends two factors. How good are you now and how good can you be?  Despite what you think, it is not based solely on your height, weight and athleticism.

 

How good they are now – coaches are always looking for recruits who can come in and make an impact right away. They determine this by how good you are right now. Remember, you might be able to walk-on to a DI program but can come in and contribute right away at the DII or NAIA level.

 

What is their potential – this is more commonly where coaches are evaluating recruits. Coaches and scouts are very good at watching film or watching you in person and making an assessment on how good you can be. Maybe you don't get to play against elite competition, but with a year of practice at the college level, you will really improve and be a top talent.

 

• For sports like track and field and swimming finding the right division level is pretty easy. Look at the results of college meets and see if your times match up. If you look at the conference championship results for s school you are interested in and your times are comparable, then chances are good you can compete at that level.
  

 

• In sports like golf, tennis and wrestling, you want to see what tournaments the current college athletes were playing in high school. Go to the schools website and read the bio's about the athletes already on the team. Often times their high school accomplishments are listed here, if you see you have a similar ranking or similar results then that division level is right for you.
  

  
   

• The most difficult sports to determine the right division level are football, basketball, baseball, softball and volleyball. For these sports you need to not only measure up physically, but you need to know where you stack up against the other top recruits. If you go to a big club team event or a top camp and are one of the best players there, chances are good you could be a DI talent. If you are a middle of the road talent or struggling to compete, maybe you should look at the other division levels.
  

Cost of college is on the rise

A college scholarship in today's economy is now more important than ever.  A recent study conducted by LSA Portfolio Analytics took a closer look at the rising cost of college tuitions on a national average.  The findings are quite remarkable.  The inflation rate for college tuition is 6-7% each year, which means if you have an 8-year old son or daughter right now the cost for them to attend an out-of-state public college in 10 years will cost roughly $222,000 and $300,000 for a 4 year private college.  Current cost for the same out-of-state public college would cost an 18-year old roughly $124,000.  In just a decade the cost for college will increase nearly one-hundred thousand dollars.  Some more alarming statistics found by LSA were:  By the time a 2013 senior in high school graduates their cost for each college will cost:

College scholarships of any amount will help offset the staggering cost of college tuitions; therefore, it is important for athletes and parents to begin the search of scholarships at an early age.  By the time a freshman in high school graduates in the year 2016, it will cost almost $84,000 to attend a 4 year in-state college and $148,000 for a 4 year out-of-state college.  If this isn't alarming to families then I don't know what is.  Not every high school athlete will get a full-ride to play college sports, but there are many avenues for high school athletes to obtain money for college:  financial aid, academic scholarships, athletic scholarships, and others.

College recruiting budgets limit a college coach's resources

Coaches won't come to you – but they hope you'll come to them!

The pros have coaches and they have scouts.  In college, coaches and scouts are the same guys.

This highlights how little time college coaches really have to run around looking for recruits.  A top Division One school in the Big Ten – spent $27,500 on recruiting last year.

Now, that sounds like a lot – until you consider that is split between 23 different sports.  Even if your sport is getting a full third of that - how many round trips, including: hotels, meals, and plane tickets for one or two coaches will that buy?  Each recruiting trip cost about $500-$1,000 per coach.  With universities closely monitoring expenses on the balance sheet, coaches don't have the freedom to travel to every sporting event to recruit new players.  If you're one of the top recruits in the country, no sweat – you'll probably get seen because coaches want to evaluate the top talent firsthand.  What about the other 99% of recruits?  How will they get noticed, and what if a big Division One school isn't a good fit for you?  What if you're looking at a Division II school or Division III?  Some of these schools have recruiting budgets of only a few hundred dollars.

Standing in the shoes of a recruit, looking at the big world of college sports from the outside, it can seem like schools have unlimited power and resources; however, the truth is, they're stretched for time and money, too.  Coaches are looking as hard as they can for good recruits, and they can never find enough!

That's why it's so crucial for athletes to reach out to coaches.  Even the best-off, big-time college programs hardly have enough money, time, or resources to find as many athletes as they'd like or the quality they'd like.

So take the initiative and get yourself found.

Featured scholarship of the month

AXA Achievement Scholarship

This scholarship is for current high school seniors who plan to enroll full-time in an accredited two- or four-year college or university in the United States for the entire 2015-2016 school year. 

To qualify, applicants must demonstrate ambition and self-drive, as evidenced by outstanding achievement outside the classroom. They must also be US citizens or legal residents living or claiming residency in one of the 50 US states, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico. Primary consideration will be given to applicants' non-academic outstanding achievement, such as a long-term achievement, activity, or project that occurred in their school, community, or workplace. 

Only the first 10,000 applications will be considered, so early application is encouraged.

Application Deadline: December 15, 2014 at 11:59 pm EST

Award:  $10,000 - $25,000

For more information click here.

25 colleges where graduates make the highest starting salaries

Let's face it. While there are many benefits of pursing higher education, many students do it to achieve better career prospects and better pay.

Not surprisingly, research universities dominate this list of schools whose graduates make the highest starting salaries, with colleges well-known for science and engineering programs at the top.

This reflects the reality that often it is your choice of major that will dictate a higher salary, and not necessary the choice of school, although some universities produce graduates of all majors who out-earn their peers.

The top schools on the list include Colorado School of Mines where graduates make an average starting salary of $66,400, followed closely by the United States Naval Academy with recent graduates who make salaries of $64,800. MIT takes the number three spot, with grads who make an average of $60,300 upon starting their careers.

Please note that this ranking is based simply on the average starting salaries of graduates and is not meant to be a reflection of the school's overall quality (although many of these colleges also rank highly in College Factual's best colleges nationwide ranking).

The salary number is the average starting salaries of all graduates with bachelor's degrees regardless of major, and was created with data from Payscale.

Colorado School of Mines, $66,400
United States Naval Academy, $64,800
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, $60,300
California Institute of Technology, $57,200
United States Military Academy, $55,400
Worcester Polytechnic Institute, $54,300
Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, $53,900
Harvey Mudd College, $53,800
Stanford University, $53,700
Montana Tech of the University of Montana, $53,350
United States Air Force Academy, $53,150
Cornell University, $53,150
Massachusetts Maritime Academy, $53,100
University of Pennsylvania, $53,000
Missouri University of Science and Technology, $53,000
Princeton University, $52,700
Stevens Institute of Technology, $52,600
Milwaukee School of Engineering, $52,400
Columbia University in the City of New York, $51,900
Georgetown University, $51,700
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, $51,700
Polytechnic Institute of New York University, $51,600
SUNY Maritime College, $51,600
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, $51,300
Kettering University, $51,300

Dead Period, Contact Period, Quiet Period, Evaluation Period explained

Every high school athlete that is seeking an athletic scholarship should know what the NCAA recruiting periods are.  The definition for each recruiting period is below, and we encourage each recruit to look up the specific recruiting dates for their sport.  It is smart to know when a coach can and cannot be in contact with you.

Here is a link to the 2014-2015 NCAA Recruiting Calendars 

Contact:

A contact is classified as a face-to-face encounter between a college coach and the student athlete (or their legal guardians or relatives) where more than a greeting occurs. Anything beyond a hello is considered a contact. Another form of contact occurs when a college coach has any contact with you or your legal guardians at your high school, or any other location where you are competing or practicing.

Contact Period:

College coaches are allowed to have in-person contact with you or your legal guardians. This period means coaches can watch you compete anywhere, and the coach can write and make telephone calls.

Dead Period:

The college coach cannot make in-person contact with you or your legal guardians. This prevents the coach from making any evaluations of you whatsoever. However, the coach can make telephone calls to you or your legal guardians.

Evaluation:

This is the process where a coach watches you compete in a game or practice, and makes note on your athletic abilities.

Evaluation Period:

It is permissible for the college coach to evaluate your playing abilities at your high school or any other place where you are competing. During this period the coach cannot have off campus in-person contact with you or your legal guardians. The coach can still make telephone calls to you or your legal guardians, and you are allowed to make campus visits during this period.

Quiet Period:

During this time a college coach cannot watch you compete at any location. It is allowed for the college coach to make in-person contact with you or your legal guardians if it occurs on the coach's campus. The coach can still make telephone calls to you or your legal guardians, and you can make visits to college campuses during this time.

2014-2015 NCAA Softball Recruiting Calendar

NCAA Division I Softball Recruiting Calendar

August 1, 2014 through July 31, 2015

(See NCAA Division I Bylaw 13.17.7 for Softball Calendar Formula)

(a) August 1 through November 26, 2014 [except for (1) below]:* Contact Period

(1) November 10-13, 2014: Dead Period

(b) November 27, 2014 through January 1, 2015 [except for (1) below]: Quiet Period

 

(1) December 3 (12:01 a.m.) through December 7 (12:01 a.m.),

2014:**

Dead Period

(c) January 2 through July 31, 2015 [except for (1) and (2) below]: Contact Period

(1) April 13-16, 2015: Dead Period

(2) May 26 through June 3 (noon), 2015: Dead Period

(d) During high school regional and state championship competition

that does not occur during a dead period:

(e) The following state specific contact/evaluation periods are

permissible:

(1) In Hawaii, contacts and evaluations shall be permissible

between November 27, 2014, and January 1, 2015 [except for

(a) below].

(a) December 3 (12:01 a.m.) through December 7 (12:01 a.m.),

2014:**

(2) In those states that play high school softball season in the fall,

evaluations shall be permissible during those seasons, except

during dead periods.

* Each institution is limited to 50 evaluation days (August 1 through

July 31) per Bylaw 13.02.7.2, which do not include employment of

coaches in instructional camps/clinics or the observation of prospective

student-athletes participating in high school softball competition.

Evaluation Period

Dead Period

** Dates are based on the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Convention

(December 3-6, 2014, in Las Vegas, Nevada).

Here are some very interesting facts about DI college softball.

Do you know how much financial aid NCAA Division I-A schools give to players on college softball teams? Last year NCAA Division I and II schools alone awarded $2 billion in undergraduate athletic scholarships. For many student athletes, a scholarship from a NCAA Division I-A school can make the difference between getting a college degree and having to put that goal on hold.

Here are some very interesting facts about college softball.

Sports Program & Athletic Scholarship Statistics for NCAA Division I-A Women's Softball

Detailed Breakdown	NCAA Division I-A	Nationwide
Average Number of Athletes	21	18
Total Number of Athletes	2,121	29,455
Average Operating Expenses Per Player	$9,867	$2,624
Average Operating Expenses Per Team	$201,002	$48,452
Total Full Time Head Coaches	71	395
Total Part Time Head Coaches	4	514
Total Full Time Assistant Coaches	141	356
Total Part Time Assistant Coaches	40	1,428
Average Total Revenue	$441,420	$177,493
Average Total Expenses	$873,395	$206,051

Utilize the NCAA Division I-A women's softball statistics above to decide whether or not this division provides you with the best athletic scholarship opportunities. The table below shows how NCAA Division I-A schools compare with the nation's averages.

Total Number of Athletes and Average Athletes Per Team: This tells you about how many female athletes are on NCAA Division I-A women's softball teams in the United States, which helps you determine how aggressive the recruiting process is, particularly if you do a comparison of it to the national average. Currently there are 2,121 women involved in softball at NCAA Division I-A schools.

Average Operating Expenses Per Player: This represents how much a NCAA Division I-A college is paying for each player on their women's softball team for things that are essential such as equipment and uniforms. How much a NCAA Division I-A school invests in you as a player will help signify how valuable they feel that you are to the softball team and the overall sports program as well as the amount of support they give each player.

Average Operating Expenses Per Team: This is what it cost on average for a NCAA Division I-A college to run the day-to-day operations that keep the softball program functioning. This will give student athletes a good idea of the quality of women's softball programs, facilities and training personnel at NCAA Division I-A schools across the nation. The more NCAA Division I-A colleges spend the better quality you should expect.

Total Full and Part Time Coaches: Coaches are vital to helping you refine your skills and help you stay on track athletically and academically so that you can keep your softball scholarship each year. The more NCAA Division I-A women's softball coaches there are, the more likely you are to get one-on-one training and attention you need to reach your goal of graduating from a college.

Average Total Revenue: The more money NCAA Division I-A colleges can make off their women's softball programs the more likely it is that they will expand them. When women's softball programs are more profitable and popular NCAA Division I-A colleges will commit more in their existing programs and other NCAA Division I-A colleges will establish new softball teams of their very own. More NCAA Division I-A softball teams means more athletic scholarship opportunities at this type of school.

Average Total Expenses: Is there a growing interest in promoting and expanding women's softball teams at NCAA Division I-A schools? Are NCAA Division I-A colleges aggressively recruiting women's softball players? The total expenses stat includes operating and recruiting expenses. This will give you a good idea of just how much NCAA Division I-A colleges around the country are spending on women's softball programs, thus whether or not softball scholarship opportunities are likely to grow, keep pace or weaken in this division.

If you would like to be a contender for one of the many NCAA Division I-A women's softball scholarships that are available it will take persistence and lots of research and planning. See how NCAA Division I-A schools in your state compare to NCAA Division I-A schools across the country. Choose a state below to obtain detailed sports program and athletic scholarship statistics.

10 Things to do on Your Official Visit

Going on an official visit is a great opportunity to see a school, meet the team, and get a sense of what going to that school might be like. It's important you get to see not only the athletic facilities but also what life is like for a student. Here are some tips for making sure you get the most out of your official visit.

1. Eat at the Cafeteria on Campus

You get a lot of perks as a student athlete, but one of the things you will have in common with all of the students is where you eat on campus. Try the cafeteria and see if it is food you like.

2. See the on Campus and Off-Campus Housing

Most official visits include a tour of the on-campus dorms, but make sure to go and see where athletes live once they move off campus. Also, think about how you will get back and forth from school and home.

3. Go to the Library and Study Hall

You probably won't spend as much time here as the rest of the students on campus but make sure to see the academic facilities. If a program has a good tutoring area it is a good sign they support their athletes academically as well.

4. Meet the Training Staff

Be sure to take time and meet the staff in the athletic department and training rooms. These people are critical to the success of a team and a happy athletic staff is the sign of a well-run athletic program.

5. Schedule Time to Meet With an Academic Adviser

Showing the initiative and seeking to meet with an academic adviser on a visit can pay off in the long run. You may find out that the major you want to study won't actually work with your team's practice schedule. Better to find out now rather than after you have committed.

6. Just Hang Out on Campus

Take some time to just sit on campus and see how students utilize the campus. Are people out enjoying the campus, or is everyone just going to and from class? Having a campus where people enjoy spending time will make a big difference in how much fun you will have over four years.

7. Sit in On a Class

Maybe the last thing you want to do on a visit is go to class, but learning how classes are run and seeing what the classrooms are like will give you a better overall picture of what the school is like.

8. Talk to Student-Athletes From Other Teams

On visits, you get plenty of opportunities to meet the team, but be sure to talk to some athletes from other sports teams. Getting a sense of how happy other athletes are will let you know more about the athletic program as a whole.

9. Go Out With The Team Members

Take time and see what athletes do during their time off. Besides getting to know your potential teammates better, you get to see what life is like when you aren't studying, practicing, or competing.

10. Don't Be Afraid to Say No

It can be intimidating on a visit to speak up if you aren't comfortable, but remember this is your recruiting process. You don't have to go along with a team member or do something just to impress someone.

What is an Official Visit?

According to the NCAA, an official visit is when a prospective student-athlete visits a college campus paid for by the school. This includes travel/transportation to and from the school, room, meals, and entertainment expenses (three admissions to a home game). However, the school is not allowed to pay for your parents' visit too. All expenses are for the student-athlete. Prospective student-athletes are only allowed to take five official visits total to different colleges.

Official visits occur during a student-athlete's senior year. If a coach hasn't offered you an official visit, it doesn't mean that they aren't interested, but you should always discuss this with the coach before you take a trip on your own there. Some schools don't have large enough recruiting budgets to host many prospective athletes.

Strategies to Help You Get Early Scholarship Offers

Obviously top recruits go through a slightly different process than the rest of potential college prospects. Recruits of all abilities should learn the ins and outs of college recruiting, and the best  way to show you this is by telling you what you see and hear all the time and help you to apply it to your own recruitment.

Every day there are reports and articles published about top recruits including, where they plan to attend college, how they are staying on track with NCAA eligibility requirements, and which college coaches are expressing interest in them. Depending on how you look at it you may think top recruits have an easier time finding the right college because they are being bombarded with interests from top schools across the nation, but in reality they are going to have to make the same decision as you- which college should I attend?

Want to Know How They Are Making Their Decision?

Most top recruits today want to get signed as soon as possible, they want to have their senior year set aside for all the fun stuff; ending their high school season, senior days, prom and SAT's. Recruits have started making "unofficial visits" a top priority in their recruitment to help them finish the recruiting process earlier. Recruits, with the help and support from their parents are able to plan and finance trips to colleges with the purpose of finding the right one and committing when they feel their decision is made.

Want to Know Why the Nation's Top Recruits are Relying So Heavily on Unofficial Visits?

It's because the NCAA does not need to regulate unofficial visits- they do not need to keep track of the amount of unofficial visits you take and you do not need to have your NCAA eligibility information
completed before you are able to take an unofficial visit. Plus there is no time frame- you are allowed to stay as long as you want (official visits are limited to 48 hours each visit) this will allow you and your family to ask the questions and get the answers so you can make the most informed decision when it's time to choose the right college for you.

Take the Lead From the Top 150

There are many top recruits who are unofficially visiting a school up to five times to make sure they are making the right decision. You should be doing the exact same thing. Even though you may not be a top recruit, it does not mean you should not work as hard as they do; get your name out there, reach out to college coaches now, make college opportunities happen for you. You are the only link to making sure coaches know who you are and what you are capable of doing on the field.

How should I respond to a coach’s email inviting me to camp if I can’t attend?

First off, take a moment to reply back and thank them for the invite! Tell them you have a conflict and are unable to attend. If you have some interest in the program (doesn't necessarily have to be your first choice), it'd be a good idea to also include a link to your online film/highlights and a copy of your most updated Student-Athlete Profile. If they reply, and keep the conversation going, this will show you if they have a more sincere interest in you as a possible recruit.

 

Coaches host camps for two reasons—to make money and to work closer with prospects they may have early interest in. Sometimes a camp invite is for them to get you to campus for an Unofficial Visit, and to get to know you better and see your size and skills in person. Other times, they are trying to fill the camp and increase their bottom line, and they invite everyone in their database with contact info.

Explanation of the National Letter of Intent, NLI

This page explains each section of the National Letter of Intent in detail. The NLI is a legally binding contract and should not be signed until you have a full understanding of what it is. If you want to see an example of what the NLI looks like, you can see that here.

The document should be sent to you with the appropriate signing period checked. If the NLI has been sent to you before the signing period begins, you must wait until 7am of the first date of the signing period before signing it.

Provision 1 – Initial Enrollment in a Four Year University

This section simply states that you are enrolling in a four year university for the first time. For all athletes signing an NLI directly out of high school you will meet this requirement. The exceptions to this rule are made for 4-2-4 transfers and mid-year junior college transfers in football.

Provision 2 – Financial Aid Requirement

This section ensures that your NLI is accompanied by an athletic aid/athletic scholarship agreement. If you are planning on walking-on or will not be receiving a scholarship you will not need to sign an NLI. To learn more about the athletic aid agreements go here.

Provision 3 – Provisions of Letter Met

This section explains how you will meet the requirements of your NLI. In order to satisfy the terms of an NLI you will need to attend the university for one full year. For junior college athletes you need to attend the four university for one full year or have graduated from the two year college.

Provision 4 – Basic Penalty

If you sign an NLI and do not attend the school you may not go to another school and play for that school for one full year. You may receive a scholarship, but generally schools will not offer you a scholarship until you are eligible to play. In addition, you will lose one full year of eligibility in all sports. There are some cases where you can play right away with a release from the school you signed with; there is more on that process below.

Provision 5 – Early Signing Period Penalties

This section only applies to football players who are being recruited in other sports. If you want to receive a football scholarship, you are not allowed to sign an NLI for another sport during the early signing period for that sport. If you do, you will not be eligible to play your first year of football.

Provision 6 – Release Request and Appeal Process

If you have signed an NLI and would like to break that contract in order to sign with another university, it is known as asking for a 4-4 transfer.  

 

Provision 7 – Declaring Your NLI Null and Void

This is a list of reasons your NLI could be not accepted by the University you have signed with. It is important to remember, 95% of the time this will not be an issue, but just encase it is important you understand how to avoid these issues.

1. You do not gain admissions into the university – If you do not get accepted by the university, you will not be receiving your scholarship. Remember, by meeting the NCAA eligibility requirements, you are not guaranteed admission into the school you choose.
   
2. You are a NCAA non-qualifier – You will be signing your NLI before you get your final eligibility status with the NCAA. If at the end of the year you are declared a non-qualifier, you will not be receiving your athletic scholarship.
   
3. One-Year Absence – If you sign an NLI and do not attend any school for one year you would then be allowed to attend another university if you file for a release with that schools conference office. Your athletic department at the school you will be attending can help you with that process.
   
4. Joining the Military or Church Mission – If you join the military or going on a church mission for 12 months or more after signing an NLI, you will be allowed to sign with another school without penalty.
   
5. Discontinued Sport – If the school cuts the program for the sport you signed for after you have signed, you will be allowed to sign with another school without penalty.
   
6. Recruiting Rules Violations – If it is determined there were recruiting rules violations after you have signed an NLI you will have the choice to continue with your NLI or get a release once you have been reinstated. This process will be handled by the athletic department of your university.
   

Provision 8 – Recruiting Ban After Signing

Once you sign your NLI all other coaches and universities are prohibited from continuing to recruit you. This means the recruiting process is finished for you.

Provision 9 – 14-day Signing Deadline

You have 14 days from the date you received the NLI to sign it. This does not apply however if you received the NLI with less than 14 days remaining in the signing period. You can check the dates at the top of the NLI document to see if you have the full 14 days remaining to sign.

Provision 10 – Statute of Limitations

This section says the entire contract is void after four years if you do nothing. Do not worry about the section; there are several appeals, releases or penalties that can be served in order to get passed the NLI before a four year period.

Provision 11 – Coaching Changes

You are signing your NLI and athletic aid agreement with the University, not the coach. If the coach leaves, you are still required to go to that school for at least one year. There are opportunities for releases but they are generally not granted. Make sure you want to attend that school and not just play for that coach.

Provision 12 – Coaching Contact Prohibited at Time of Signing

The coach of the university you are signing for is not allowed to be present at the time of signing of your NLI and athletic aid agreement. Additionally, they are not allowed to hand deliver the NLI. The only permissible way to receive your NLI is by fax, email or facsimile.

The Final Page of the NLI

The university you are signing with must have completed the top half of the final page of the NLI. If this information is not complete, you are not signing a valid NLI and you will need to go through the process again. As a recruit you are only responsible for signing the bottom half of the last page. For all recruits under the age of 21 you will need to have your parent or legal guardian sign the document as well.

The NLI is the final step in the recruiting process. These are only sent to recruits who have been recruited and evaluated by coaches for several months or years. If you are not getting recruited you need to take steps to be proactive.

The National Letter of Intent/NLI

Commonly referred to as the NLI, this document commits an athlete to a university and signifies the end of the recruiting process. This is a legal contract that should be fully understood before you sign it. It is important to remember, the coach and university you are going to be signing with are going to be helping you through this process.

Letter of Intent Example

The university or coach will email or fax you a copy of the NLI and athletic aid agreement from that university and it should be ready for you to sign. A national letter of intent is not the scholarship agreement. That should come separately as an athletic aid agreement which will outline how much athletic aid you will be receiving. Once you receive your copy of the NLI and aid agreement, you will sign it with your parent/ legal guardian and email or fax it back to the coach/athletic department of the school you are signing with.

Here is an example of what an NLI will looks like.

It will be very clear if you will be receiving a scholarship and NLI offer from a particular university. If you are not sure if you are going to be getting a scholarship offer, which means you will not be getting an offer. If you are not in contact with a coach and getting evaluated you need to start.

National Signing Periods

The signing period for the 2013/14 school year is listed below. You will only be allowed to sign your NLI during these time periods.

Basketball

• Early Signing Period (11/14/2012 – 11/21/2012)
  
• Regular Signing Period (4/17/2013 – 5/15/2013 D1 or 8/1/2013 D2)
  

Football

• Mid Year JC Period (12/19/2012 – 1/15/2013)
  
• Regular Signing Period (2/6/2013 – 4/1/2013)
  

Soccer, Track and Field, Cross Country, Men's Water Polo, Field Hockey

• Regular Signing Period (2/6/2013 – 8/1/2013)
  

All Other Sports

• Early Signing Period (11/14/2012 – 11/21/2012)
  
• Regular Signing Period (4/17/2013 – 8/1/2013)
  

 

You Do Not Sign an NLI as a Walk-on or Recruited Walk-on

You will only be signing an NLI and an athletic aid agreement if you will be receiving a scholarship from the university. If you are planning on walking-on or are known as a recruited walk-on you will not sign an NLI.

Who Can Help with the NLI Process?

The process is not very complex, but many parents and athletes are worried about messing up and costing themselves a scholarship. If you are being offered an NLI from a school, you will not lose your scholarship because of a mistake you might make filling it out. It is important you have open communication with the coaches who will be offering you a scholarship and have contacts within the athletic department of each of the schools recruiting you. Don't count on your high school athletic department or high school coach to just take care of it for you. This process is too important for you to just leave it up to other people.

All NLI's should be accompanied by an Athletic Aid Agreement with the details of your scholarship. We will cover this in a later post.

When is the signing period?

A signing period is a time when a potential collegiate student-athlete can sign a National Letter of Intent and officially commit to a school.

A high school student-athlete can sign with an NAIA institution at any time. The most common signing time for NAIA athletes is during their senior year because coaches usually don't know what kind of financial package they will be able to offer an athlete prior to their senior year.

The NCAA's signing rules are considerably more complex. The NCAA breaks up signing dates by sport. They group certain sports together which can make it even more difficult to understand.

All sports offer an early signing period except for field hockey, soccer, track and field, cross country and men's water polo. The regular signing period for the aforementioned sports occurs from February 1 to August 12. Football's early signing period (only for junior college transfers) runs from December 21 to January 15. The early signing period for all other sports besides those listed above usually occurs in mid-November. The regular signing period for football happens between February 1 and April 1. The regular period for all sports other sports is April 11.

There are no signing dates for NCAA Division III schools because they do not offer athletic scholarships.

Signing Dates for the NCAA

Sport	Initial Signing Date	Final Signing Date
Basketball (Early Period)	Nov. 14	Nov. 21
All Other Sports Not Listed (Early Period)	Nov. 14	Nov. 21
Football (Midyear JC Transfer)	Dec. 19	Jan. 15
Football (Regular Period)	Feb. 6	April 1
Field Hockey, Soccer, Track and Field, Cross Country, Men's Water Polo	Feb. 6	Aug. 1
Basketball (Regular Period)	April 17	Division I: May 15 Division II: Aug. 1
All Other Sports Not Listed (Regular Period)	April 17	Aug. 1

What are some questions I should ask the coach while on a phone call with them?

As with most conversations between a coach and a prospective teenage recruit, the coach will seem to be the one talking the majority of the time because he or she is trying to build a bond.  If the coach doesn't talk during most of the time, then there will be a lot of dead air and awkwardness.  If you want to take control of the athletic recruiting process yourself, you should not let this happen.  Instead, what you should be doing is asking questions and trying to find out as much as you can about the school.  Find out which questions are among the best now!

When thinking about any potential college, think long and hard about what you want to know.  If a coach is calling you, there is a solid chance that they hope to have you as a student athlete at their school.  So any questions you throw their way will either be answered or researched and then responded to.  The more questions you ask, the more interested you seem in the school.  The most you are wasting is the ten or so minutes you are on the phone with the coach.

Here are some of the most important questions you should think about asking when these calls are arriving.  It is easy to think of more but these are some of the most obvious ones that should be brought up:

• How will I fit in on the team?
• Do you plan on redshirting me my first year?
• (If the team is struggling), what is the coaching staff doing to turn things around?
• (If the team is doing well), what is the coaching staff doing to continue to help the school have success?
• (If the coaching staff may be good enough to move up to a better job), what are the possibilities that the staff will be in place during my four or five years at the school?  This same question applies if the staff is doing a poor job as well.
• Where do you see the program in the next four or five years?
• How many other players are you recruiting at my position (this may receive a very interesting response)?
• How do athletes balance academics and athletics?
• Is there help in the classroom if I am struggling in a class?
• Are you able to help set up internships with former alumni in my field of study (ask this to the head coach)?
• How would you describe your coaching style?
• What are the best features of your school?
• Why should I pick your program over a conference rival that is recruiting me?
• How is the admission process handled and will any preference be given to student athletes?
• If there is a concern with the city/area, ask about it.
• Will the facilities be updated any time soon (take what they say with a grain of salt)?
• How will you help me become the best player I can be?
• What does the depth chart at my future position look like?
• Are you looking to bring in other scholarship recruits at my position?
• How well does the school/student body support the program?
• Does the team go on any unique travel opportunities during the year or the summer?
• How is the training staff at your school?
• Is there a full time strength and conditioning coach that is willing to help me become a better athlete?
• How is scholarship money handled and when do I know a final total for how much I am paying (this one obviously depends on the level you are looking at)?
• How would you describe the overall attitude of the team?

Again, there are so many others that you can add to the list.  These are just some common questions.  All should be considered but it is probably best that you only pick a few because if you have a talkative coach, you may be on the phone with them for hours.  That won't look good on that eventual cell phone bill that your parents will be paying for!

Who Pays for College Athletes Health Care?

All college athletes are required by the NCAA to have healthcare insurance. The NCAA does not mandate colleges to pay the healthcare costs for athletes. Should a player be injured, the parent's insurance is considered the primary insurance for paying for the athlete's injury costs. This shouldn't come as a surprise since the term "student-athlete" was created so that colleges wouldn't be held liable for sports related injuries.

Some may find it surprising that the organization that specifies the number of phone calls recruits can receive to whether or not athlete can accept rides to school doesn't specify college athlete's insurance requirements. The type and cost of healthcare an athlete will receive will depend on the school.

When the NCPA (National College Players Association) surveyed Division I athletics departments in 2009 to disclose specific medical policies the association was seeking, about 90 percent of the schools refused. The NCPA wants more states to pass legislation requiring public universities to provide additional transparency about how they care for injured athletes.

Why the push for more transparency? Because as reported by The Atlantic Monthly, "after an incoming student signs a letter of intent binding him or her to a university, many schools have no contractual obligation to treat injuries or strains that result from playing for that college." Furthermore, while players can't lose their scholarships because of injuries suffered while playing, the school isn't obligated to renew their scholarships for the following year.

The cases of Stanley Doughty of the University of South Carolina and Kyle Hardrick of the University of Oklahoma may be extreme, but they are examples of what happens when colleges get to decide what sort of medical coverage they provide.

Medical coverage has been improving for athletes, although some school are improving more than others. The New York Times reports

Ellen J. Staurowsky, a professor at Drexel who is studying health care policy at universities in the five wealthiest conferences, said coverage varied widely. Some universities, she said, guarantee medical care only as long as an athlete is in school, while some provide it for an extra year.

Some conferences, such as the Big 10, are including medical insurance as part of their plan to provide more benefits to student-athletes. In California, universities that generate more than $10 million in revenue from athletic programs are required cover healthcare costs of a sports-related injury for up to two years after a student leaves the university. The City of Boston is working on passing student-athlete bill of rights that would include covering long-term medical expenses. Maybe conferences will start offering more medical benefits as a way to attract recruits.

A few states are pushing colleges to disclose more information to prospects in the recruiting process. Both Connecticut and California have Student-Athletes Right to Know laws that require schools to provide recruits with information on what medical expenses are covered. However, until all colleges and universities specify their college athletes insurance coverage and medical treatment policy, it is up to student-athletes and their families to ask for the information as part of the recruiting process.

What happens during the recruiting process?

The recruiting process is about a coach evaluating you, you evaluating the school/coach and making sure you are going to meet the academic requirements. The process is not quick and it is not easy, but you are making a very important decision when selecting a college and it is important to take the time in evaluating your options.

College coaches evaluating you

College coaches are evaluating you athletically, academically and personally. Athletically they are trying to determine if you can come in a play right away and/or projecting how good you can be. Academically, they want to make sure you can get into the school, you will be academically eligible and that you will be able to maintain your eligibility while in college. The last area coaches are evaluating you is trying to determine if your personality will fit their school and program.

As a recruit, you want provide coaches with what they need to evaluate you. This means sending them video, playing in tournaments and attending camps. Once you have established contact, make sure to keep a good dialog with the coaches so they can get a better sense of what kind of person you are.

You evaluating coaches and the school

When thinking about a particular school you need to be able to answer yes to this question; would you want to attend this school even if you weren't an athlete? If the only reason you are attending a particular school is because you are getting a scholarship, you are not going to enjoy your time in college. Being an athlete is only one part (all be it a very big part) of your experience in college.

You want to consider things like what size school you want, whether you want to play right away or take time to develop, what you want to study, what kind of weather you like, what the coach is like, among several other things.

Meeting the academic requirements

Many athletes confuse the academic minimums set by the NCAA or NAIA as the requirements in order to get into a particular college. For example, just because you would meet the GPA requirement with the NCAA or 2.3, doesn't mean you would be able to get into Stanford. College coaches know what you need academically in order to get into their school and unless you can meet those minimums, there is nothing they can do about putting you on their team.

One of the first things you want to do once you establish contact with a coach is set targets for your academic qualifications. Having a clear expectation from the coach about what your GPA and SAT or ACT test scores needs to be can help in avoiding any problems in not qualifying late in the process.

What is a verbal scholarship offer?

When a college coach offers a scholarship to a potential student-athlete verbally, this is considered a verbal scholarship offer. Verbal scholarships are not binding, but more of an agreement that the student-athlete will attend their school and sign a National Letter of Intent.

A verbal scholarship offer is not a binding agreement. At any time, a student-athlete or a coach can back out of a verbal agreement if they choose too. The verbal scholarship offer is made by the coach and not the athletic department, so it is not an official agreement until financial aid papers and the contract has been drawn up.

Getting a verbal scholarship offer from a college coach is an exciting event in the recruiting process. There are two things a student-athlete can do when a verbal scholarship is offered to them. First, they can graciously accept the offer and move forward in making arrangements with the coach. Or, they can ask the coach for more time in making their decision.

College coaches understand that making this decision is a big deal, and many athletes might need some time to talk to their parents or wait to hear from other schools. If a coach allows you some time to think about it, honor their offer and make sure you get back to them by the deadline.

5 Facts about FastPitch Recruits

50 Reasons to Contact College Coaches

Being proactive in the recruiting process is a must. Coaches are trying to evaluate hundreds of athletes each year, and the easier you make it for them to recruit you, the better your chances getting a scholarship will be. If you can't think of a reason to update a coach, check out the list below. Is there something that we missed? Do you have another reason to update a coach?

 

The 50 Reasons You Should Contact College Coaches Now

 

1. Share your new highlight video or action clip with them on YouTube

2. Make sure they know your travel ball club team schedule

3. Let them know you will be attending their camp

4. When you receive all-league, all-region, all-state honors

5. When you establish a new personal best

6. When you beat a higher ranked opponent

7. When you get new ODM scores

8. When you get your SAT or ACT scores

9. The end of the semester/quarter to update coaches with your grades

10. When you are done with your season

11. When the school year is starting

12. When the school year is finishing

13. To wish them a happy holiday

14. When one of their athletes receives a prestigious honor

15. When they have a big win

16. After they win a championship

17. When you want to schedule an unofficial visit to their school

18. When you have submitted your application to their school

19. When you have decided to accept another scholarship offer

20. To let them know when another program has offered you a scholarship

21. When you have calculated how much your family will be able to pay for college

22. Letting them know how your summer time training is going

23. When you have game film from your best games of the year

24. When you have developed a new skill

25. If your team has won a championship

26. To ask for advice on what you should work on in the off season

27. When you have a new reference for them to contact

28. To thank them for their evaluation of your video

29. To establish a time you can call them

30. To find out what tournaments they will be attending in the spring and summer

31. To find out where you rank in their recruiting class

32. To ask if they are going to offer you an official visit

33. To ask if they are going to offer you a scholarship

34. To see what camps or combines they will be working at over the summer

35. To see if you can get tickets to their home game

36. When they receive an award or coaching honor

37. At the start of their season

38. At the end of their season

39. After they sign a major recruit

40. When you have signed up for the NCAA Eligibility Center

41. When you have signed up for the NAIA Eligibility Center

42. If you have narrowed down your list of potential schools

43. If there was a natural disaster near their campus

44. If the university gets a national honor

45. If a different team at the school wins a championship

46. To confirm when you will be visiting campus

47. To ask where you rank after they sign a new recruit

48. To see if they need more film on you

49. Just to say hello

50. Because you should try to always learn more about the program and university