I was a 2 sport athlete in high school and I was pretty good. Not that I was the blue chip kid all the coaches were drooling after, but I was a New York State Champion Gymnast and State runner up in Track and Field. I really did not know much of anything regarding skillful tactics in getting on the radar screen of the college coaches and quite honestly, did not begin the recruiting process until well into my senior year of high school. I’m thankful that both the Track and Field and Gymnastics coaches at Temple were paying attention late in the process and I was very fortunate to receive a full athletics scholarship.
My brief story is a valuable one and for only one reason. Don’t do what I did! What follows are suggested strategies for athletes and families who feel they might be a bit behind in the college quest.
What you shouldn’t do
If you happen to feel a little disoriented with the college search and that feeling of frustration is creeping in, don’t’ panic! When faced with any obstacle where time is a crucial factor, we tend to think firstly of everything that could go wrong in an attempt to size up the situation. This only complicates the matter further and creates a potentially negative approach to the issue.
Additionally, late starters typically react by flooding the college coaches with information and communication in an attempt to at least “connect with someone.” This will immediately be picked up by the college coaches as an act of desperation and I strongly discourage prospects from taking this approach.
Another reaction many families might feel compelled to execute is to take the first good offer that comes along. Whether it is an offer to tryout for a team or be invited as a walk-on, I will admit there is a feeling of comfort when a coach shows sincere interest in a prospect, especially late in the game.
What you should do
With every important decision we make, it is important to maintain clarity in thinking. No matter how overwhelming the current moment may appear, take the time to sit down as a family and adequately size up the situation. Do everything you can to keep negative thoughts at bay and maintain a positive approach to what may seem like a difficult journey. Remember the old saying: “Think you can, think you can’t, either way you’re right.”
Just like a good coach and a worthy team who is behind a goal or two with just a few minutes left in the game, approach your personal situation with the end game in mind and work yourself slowly back to present time. An organized and well thought out plan of action will give families and their children the best chance at success. Whether it is effective communication with coaches or planning that mid-August road trip to a half dozen schools, take a “team effort” in developing a step by step approach with targets and time-lines that will most likely be demanding, but doable.
The best laid plans are only as good as the manner in which they are executed and this is where your persistence and determination come into play. If your target for the day is to contact 5 college coaches by phone and communicate your family’s plans to make a visit to campus in 3 weeks, you have to do it. It might take 25 attempts to connect with each of the 5 college coaches, but you must remain diligent and stay the course. Like hurdles in a race, you want to clear one at a time with unyielding focus on each individual hurdle. Let the result of the race take care of itself!
Tips to jumpstart your late start
One of your first steps should be is to either create of edit your personal resume. By developing an easy to read, 1 page personal profile you not only inform the college coach to who you are and what you have accomplished; it will allow the coach in doing a quick and efficient initial evaluation. Keep this document to no longer than one page and include your academic and athletic highlights, along with any extracurricular leadership initiatives you have participated in.
On that note, you need to provide the coach with a simple, but effective way to evaluate your skill as a player. Round up your recent season game footage and pick out 5-6 minutes of your best stuff. Save it to your laptop and burn as many DVD’s necessary, to send to your consolidated list of schools… That’s next!
Streamline your list of colleges and universities that potentially fit your academic and athletic profile. I suggest a well balanced list of Division 1, 2 and 3 schools that meet your immediate needs (geographic region, size of undergraduate student body etc.). Develop a detailed contact list of the schools, coach’s names, phone numbers and e-mail addresses and save it to your recruiting folder. Add a separate list of “hard addresses” for the coaches in case they request a portfolio or when you are getting ready to ship your DVD.
Consolidate and communicate
Now that you are moving the boulder forward, it will be important to maintain the momentum you have created. Getting information in the hands of the college coaches is one thing… following up is another matter altogether! Remember, the college recruiting process is not about flooding the college coaches with information, it is about developing relationships and the best approach in this situation is to take a proactive effort in connecting with the coaches. Coaches are being bombarded with hundreds of inquiries of interest from high school prospects and do not have the time to personally respond to every athlete. YOU have to take hold of the baton and run the race and the best way to determine where you stand in the eyes of the coaches is to contact them directly.
Plan a road trip
If you reach this point in the recruiting process and I hope you do, there will be a lot of action happening and your recruiting plan will begin to get some legs. Taking a road trip should be a top priority for families and unofficial campus visits are a great way to take a look under the hood in an attempt to determine potential matches for their sons and daughters. Make every attempt not to just “show up.” Communicate with the coaches in an effort to coordinate a face to face meeting with your campus visit. Personal visits can make a big difference for certain prospects and I strongly suggest making the best of your road trip.
If you sense you are either late in executing your plans for the college recruiting process, or feel the need to jumpstart your plan of attack, avoid any negative energy that will contribute to a loss of focus in the process. Maintain a positive approach and use a team effort in reorganizing your quest with clarity and direction and you will give yourself the greatest chance at success.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Recruiting Strategies for Freshman Prospective Student-Athletes
While attending the T-99 Lacrosse Showcase in Dallas last weekend I was impressed with the interest from many parents in “tactics” high school freshman can employ in preparing for the college recruiting process. My response was “plenty” and what follows are some suggestions and tips to jumpstart the college search for freshmen.
Build Your Information Base
Information is power and I suggest freshmen athletes and their families launch their college search by building a strong information base. Whether it means becoming familiar with NCAA rules and contact and evaluation time-lines, or understanding the important role of the NCAA Eligibility Center, this effort will become a fun family project that will grow more detailed and streamlined as the sophomore year approaches. A great place to begin your search is with the NCAA. Go to www.ncaa.org and become familiar in navigating this site, especially in the areas of eligibility and recruiting.
Measure your Self Awareness
When I begin advising prospects and their families, I always begin with an initial assessment to determine what their goals and dreams are and how the prospects “tick.” I developed 10 questions that have become very helpful in defining a prospects current position, while providing me with a general idea on how he sees the college experience potentially unfolding. I include questions in areas such as geographic location, size of school, level of play and social demographics just to name a few. My goal here is simple. I want these kids to begin thinking for themselves.
Look at a Diverse Grouping of Colleges and Universities
This assignment will be both educational and fun. It will provide families and their kids with an appreciation for different levels of athletic programs, while growing an appreciation and “gut feel” that will be specific to each institution. Try choosing 15 programs that are equally spread out between Division 1, 2 and 3. Do your best to stay impartial and this exercise will help you become a comparative shopper and an educated consumer. It will help you begin to develop that “gut feel” for doing an initial evaluation of a wide range of programs.
There is no “wrong” grouping of schools in this exercise. What’s important here is to allow our kids to dream and reach for the stars in an effort to begin creating passion and enthusiasm for what will be a very important life decision.
Attend a Few College Games or Practices
This might seem like a tough task considering the college and high school seasons typically overlap, but if you can break away from a practice or two or find a couple of weekend college games to attend, do it! This not only gives our sons and daughters a chance to see college programs in action, it grows awareness about college play that will help them begin to “size up” the level of skill that college athletes bring to the table, while providing prospects with a benchmark to reach toward in the future.
The college search for high school athletes is beginning earlier and the best prepared and better informed family will increase their chances in navigating the college quest with greater success and a higher level of confidence. That being said, I believe 9th grade prospects should be encouraged to jump start the recruiting process with an informed and educational approach that will begin to build a solid foundation for the future. Remember, bringing an educated, fun and enthusiastic approach to the college recruiting process is half the battle.
Tom Kovic is a former Division I college coach and the current director of Victory Collegiate Consulting, where he provides individual advisement for families on college recruiting. Tom is the author of “Reaching for Excellence”, an educational guide for college athletics recruiting. For further information visit: www.victoryrecruiting.com.
Build Your Information Base
Information is power and I suggest freshmen athletes and their families launch their college search by building a strong information base. Whether it means becoming familiar with NCAA rules and contact and evaluation time-lines, or understanding the important role of the NCAA Eligibility Center, this effort will become a fun family project that will grow more detailed and streamlined as the sophomore year approaches. A great place to begin your search is with the NCAA. Go to www.ncaa.org and become familiar in navigating this site, especially in the areas of eligibility and recruiting.
Measure your Self Awareness
When I begin advising prospects and their families, I always begin with an initial assessment to determine what their goals and dreams are and how the prospects “tick.” I developed 10 questions that have become very helpful in defining a prospects current position, while providing me with a general idea on how he sees the college experience potentially unfolding. I include questions in areas such as geographic location, size of school, level of play and social demographics just to name a few. My goal here is simple. I want these kids to begin thinking for themselves.
Look at a Diverse Grouping of Colleges and Universities
This assignment will be both educational and fun. It will provide families and their kids with an appreciation for different levels of athletic programs, while growing an appreciation and “gut feel” that will be specific to each institution. Try choosing 15 programs that are equally spread out between Division 1, 2 and 3. Do your best to stay impartial and this exercise will help you become a comparative shopper and an educated consumer. It will help you begin to develop that “gut feel” for doing an initial evaluation of a wide range of programs.
There is no “wrong” grouping of schools in this exercise. What’s important here is to allow our kids to dream and reach for the stars in an effort to begin creating passion and enthusiasm for what will be a very important life decision.
Attend a Few College Games or Practices
This might seem like a tough task considering the college and high school seasons typically overlap, but if you can break away from a practice or two or find a couple of weekend college games to attend, do it! This not only gives our sons and daughters a chance to see college programs in action, it grows awareness about college play that will help them begin to “size up” the level of skill that college athletes bring to the table, while providing prospects with a benchmark to reach toward in the future.
The college search for high school athletes is beginning earlier and the best prepared and better informed family will increase their chances in navigating the college quest with greater success and a higher level of confidence. That being said, I believe 9th grade prospects should be encouraged to jump start the recruiting process with an informed and educational approach that will begin to build a solid foundation for the future. Remember, bringing an educated, fun and enthusiastic approach to the college recruiting process is half the battle.
Tom Kovic is a former Division I college coach and the current director of Victory Collegiate Consulting, where he provides individual advisement for families on college recruiting. Tom is the author of “Reaching for Excellence”, an educational guide for college athletics recruiting. For further information visit: www.victoryrecruiting.com.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Managing the Balancing Act in College Athletics Recruiting
Prospects are extraordinary young people and considering that today’s society is much different than it was 30 years ago when I was a prospect; student-athletes today are forced to develop personal management skills to balance their hectic schedules. Beyond the high school playing experience, there is now a multitude of private club options, along with the opportunity to participate in a variety of tournaments, showcases and combines; all designed to improve the skill level and visibility of the prospect. Add these items to the “plate” of the typical high school athlete and you potentially have a sizable pile of daily personal tasks to effectively negotiate!
Managing the load can be a balancing act and it is most notable when prospects launch their recruiting effort. What follows are suggestions to help families and their children in identifying, organizing and executing the “full plate” of daily tasks our kids have, in a effort to maximize their efforts.
Identify Your Tasks
Taking a personal inventory and identifying your “priority tasks” should be the first step to identifying your everyday responsibilities. Begin by listing your daily tasks in a simple “check list” format. This can include everything from completing your homework assignments; practice and game schedule and the dreaded SAT prep classes, to your Saturday night gatherings with your buddies.
Divide and Conquer
Once your priority task list is identified, I suggest dividing your list into specific categories (Team training, academic, social, college search, outside work etc.) and plug in your tasks into each “action heading.”
Prioritize the items in these “sub lists” into “high action” and “moderate action” tasks and identify them accordingly. Add a little creativity to the project by listing your high priority tasks in red and your moderate priority tasks in blue.
Seasonal Strategy
Now that you have identified your action tasks and you have organized them into specific categories, I suggest sitting down with your mom and dad and take a “team approach” to the next step. You have a lot on your plate and it will make sense to distribute your assignments seasonally. For instance, if you are a lacrosse player and you are planning to take the SAT and compliment this exam with a prep course, it might be wise to schedule these tasks in either the fall or winter season to avoid “overload” during your spring season.
Organize
Maintaining an organized approach to your daily routine will give you the best chances in executing your personal responsibilities with success and confidence, while maintaining your sanity!
Whether you work best with a PDA or traditional paper organizer, develop and maintain an up to date personal calendar that you have easy and regular access to. Not only should you list your action items, but input and/or program “reminders” that will keep you on target to meet your obligations.
Developing an organizing system can be very time-consuming and frustrating, especially in the beginning phases of college recruiting, but once the system is in place and the process is understood and practiced to perfection, it becomes a tremendous tool for you to use in accurately planning and executing your priorities and increasing your chances in achieving all of your goals.
Execute!
As the saying goes… “Paper doesn’t compete” and the same holds true with your organizing system and the level of commitment you place in executing your tasks. Begin by reviewing your list to be sure you have your tasks prioritized and your targets neatly mapped out in your calendar. Identify “bottlenecks” and “task clumps” and rearrange your calendar if necessary, to avoid an overload of work during particular times of the year.
Just as you make a full commitment to giving 100% on the playing field, take the same approach in maintaining an organized effort in executing your daily routine. No one should have to be there to lean on you when it comes time to execute your plans and it is important to take personal responsibility in meeting each task head on and through to completion. Not only will you successfully accomplish the long list of tasks on your action list, you will develop a strong sense of self reliance and self confidence that will be “picked up” by each of the college coaches you meet during your college search.
Tom Kovic is a former Division I college coach and the current director of Victory Collegiate Consulting, where he provides individual advisement for families on college recruiting. Tom is the author of “Reaching for Excellence”, an educational guide for college athletics recruiting. For further information visit: www.victoryrecruiting.com.
Managing the load can be a balancing act and it is most notable when prospects launch their recruiting effort. What follows are suggestions to help families and their children in identifying, organizing and executing the “full plate” of daily tasks our kids have, in a effort to maximize their efforts.
Identify Your Tasks
Taking a personal inventory and identifying your “priority tasks” should be the first step to identifying your everyday responsibilities. Begin by listing your daily tasks in a simple “check list” format. This can include everything from completing your homework assignments; practice and game schedule and the dreaded SAT prep classes, to your Saturday night gatherings with your buddies.
Divide and Conquer
Once your priority task list is identified, I suggest dividing your list into specific categories (Team training, academic, social, college search, outside work etc.) and plug in your tasks into each “action heading.”
Prioritize the items in these “sub lists” into “high action” and “moderate action” tasks and identify them accordingly. Add a little creativity to the project by listing your high priority tasks in red and your moderate priority tasks in blue.
Seasonal Strategy
Now that you have identified your action tasks and you have organized them into specific categories, I suggest sitting down with your mom and dad and take a “team approach” to the next step. You have a lot on your plate and it will make sense to distribute your assignments seasonally. For instance, if you are a lacrosse player and you are planning to take the SAT and compliment this exam with a prep course, it might be wise to schedule these tasks in either the fall or winter season to avoid “overload” during your spring season.
Organize
Maintaining an organized approach to your daily routine will give you the best chances in executing your personal responsibilities with success and confidence, while maintaining your sanity!
Whether you work best with a PDA or traditional paper organizer, develop and maintain an up to date personal calendar that you have easy and regular access to. Not only should you list your action items, but input and/or program “reminders” that will keep you on target to meet your obligations.
Developing an organizing system can be very time-consuming and frustrating, especially in the beginning phases of college recruiting, but once the system is in place and the process is understood and practiced to perfection, it becomes a tremendous tool for you to use in accurately planning and executing your priorities and increasing your chances in achieving all of your goals.
Execute!
As the saying goes… “Paper doesn’t compete” and the same holds true with your organizing system and the level of commitment you place in executing your tasks. Begin by reviewing your list to be sure you have your tasks prioritized and your targets neatly mapped out in your calendar. Identify “bottlenecks” and “task clumps” and rearrange your calendar if necessary, to avoid an overload of work during particular times of the year.
Just as you make a full commitment to giving 100% on the playing field, take the same approach in maintaining an organized effort in executing your daily routine. No one should have to be there to lean on you when it comes time to execute your plans and it is important to take personal responsibility in meeting each task head on and through to completion. Not only will you successfully accomplish the long list of tasks on your action list, you will develop a strong sense of self reliance and self confidence that will be “picked up” by each of the college coaches you meet during your college search.
Tom Kovic is a former Division I college coach and the current director of Victory Collegiate Consulting, where he provides individual advisement for families on college recruiting. Tom is the author of “Reaching for Excellence”, an educational guide for college athletics recruiting. For further information visit: www.victoryrecruiting.com.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Collegerecruiting.tv
Victory Collegiate Consulting
Founder and Director of Victory Collegiate Consulting Launches Educational Content Website for High School Student-Athletes and Families
Boothwyn, Pa. – Tom Kovic, current director of Victory Collegiate Consulting has developed a low cost, simple to navigate and educational website that will help parents and their children gain valuable information on college athletics recruiting.
Collegerecruiting.tv is loaded with published articles written by Kovic who is a former 19 year college coach at The University of Pennsylvania. In addition, the website will offer podcasts and video interviews, along with valuable links to information centers that will further inform families in the areas of financial aid, the NCAA and specific sports sites.
“As an advisor to families and prospective student-athletes throughout the country, I realized the need to develop a resource website that would assist families in building a strong base of information as they develop and implement their plans for the college search. Having written dozens of articles for many online sports magazines, while conducting several interviews, I concluded that there was a natural flow of information that could act as an effective step by step organization tool that families could productively use in preparing for an important life process.”
Kovic’s aim is to provide families and their children with unlimited access to a seamless source of college athletics information that will be easy to grasp and create a strong understanding about how the potentially complicated area of college recruiting works.
For further information on Collegerecruiting.tv visit: www.collegerecruiting.tv or contact Tom Kovic at: Kovic@victoryrecruiting.com
Founder and Director of Victory Collegiate Consulting Launches Educational Content Website for High School Student-Athletes and Families
Boothwyn, Pa. – Tom Kovic, current director of Victory Collegiate Consulting has developed a low cost, simple to navigate and educational website that will help parents and their children gain valuable information on college athletics recruiting.
Collegerecruiting.tv is loaded with published articles written by Kovic who is a former 19 year college coach at The University of Pennsylvania. In addition, the website will offer podcasts and video interviews, along with valuable links to information centers that will further inform families in the areas of financial aid, the NCAA and specific sports sites.
“As an advisor to families and prospective student-athletes throughout the country, I realized the need to develop a resource website that would assist families in building a strong base of information as they develop and implement their plans for the college search. Having written dozens of articles for many online sports magazines, while conducting several interviews, I concluded that there was a natural flow of information that could act as an effective step by step organization tool that families could productively use in preparing for an important life process.”
Kovic’s aim is to provide families and their children with unlimited access to a seamless source of college athletics information that will be easy to grasp and create a strong understanding about how the potentially complicated area of college recruiting works.
For further information on Collegerecruiting.tv visit: www.collegerecruiting.tv or contact Tom Kovic at: Kovic@victoryrecruiting.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
