At some point in your counseling career, you've had to deal with college athletic recruiters scouting your student-athletes. Most likely, you wondered how to help students make the best recruiting choices.
Online Resources
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has information available on its Web site on recruiting services, definitions and calendars at www1.ncaa.org/membership/membership_svcs/eligibility-recruiting/index.html .
You can also direct your students to the NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse. High school student-athletes hoping to play sports in college should register with the Clearinghouse during their junior year.
Another resource for student-athletes can be found at www.collegesportsscholarships.com . The site provides a college recruitment timeline to help student-athletes know what steps to take in high school. Students also will find tips on how to write an athletic scholarship resume and cover letter and create their own Web sites to showcase their athletic and academic achievements.
Ask Coaches to Help
High school coaches are another great resource during the recruiting process. Have students talk seriously with their current coaches about the opportunities available at the collegiate level. Coaches have an excellent eye for who can play in NCAA Division I, II or III schools. Many coaches have competed at the college level and have a strong sense of where students can play and be successful. Coaches can also advocate for the student at a particular school. Be sure to have student-athletes discuss their intentions with their coaches long before the middle of their senior year to allow their coaches plenty of time to help.
Avoid Recruiting Services
Student-athletes will likely be contacted by organizations touting themselves as a recruiting service. There are hundreds of these services. You'll want to check on their credibility, the services offered and the fees. The good recruiters explain exactly what they do and what to expect (i.e. no guarantees). Some athletic scholarship recruiting services prepare the student's athletic resume and have access to databases with names and contact information for all college coaches. These are all things that students and parents can do on their own if they have the time, desire and need to save money.
College life
In addition to stressing the importance of academics, you will want to counsel your students that through all of the hype of the recruiting process, they will ultimately want to be happy with the college they attend, not just in the sports they play.