Summer Checklist for the Junior Prospective Student-Athlete

There is no better time for junior prospects and their families to execute the college recruiting plan than during the summer months. It is an important time to get your “ducks in a row” as you continue to navigate a very important life process.

Think about it for a second… School is out for the summer and prospective student-athletes should have a tremendous amount of available time that can be effectively used in performing much of the “grunt work” that is necessary to remain on the radar screen of the college coaches and move up the recruit priority list. Developing a simple checklist of “things to do” will not only keep you on task, it will strongly develop your information base about college recruiting and thereby increase self confidence in moving forward.

Below is a snapshot of necessary targets I feel are necessary to “hit” during the summer months. The level that one chooses to execute their plan could make the difference between a mediocre recruiting experience and a productive effort that could help catapult the prospect to exciting levels of self-awareness and success.

Register with the Eligibility Center 

The NCAA Eligibility Centeris an organization that collaborates with the NCAA in determining initial eligibility for incoming freshmen athletes. If you are seriously considering Division 1 or 2 institutions and you plan to practice and play as part of a college team, you must register with the eligibility center. This is a simple, 2 step process that requires teamwork with your guidance counselor. First, register online at: www.ncaa.org/eligibilitycenter. The website is very user friendly and will walk you easily through the registration process. Second, schedule a meeting with your guidance counselor and determine your “core course” progress. Your counselor will be the point person in getting this information to the Eligibility Center. And don’t forget to bring her an apple!

Campus Visits 

Taking unofficial visits to as many of your top schools of interest is a great way to get a “look under the hood” to determine if the institution is a potential “match.” Don’t just hop in the car and take a road trip. The campus visit is extremely important and requires careful planning. Coaches are like hot potatoes during the summer and it can be very difficult to track them down without proactive communication. You certainly want to call the office of admissions and determine when campus tours and information sessions are offered, but you also want to make every attempt to meet with the coach as well. Contact the coaches 6-8 weeks prior to your planned trip and determine their schedule and availability to meet with you. You should be pleasantly surprised at how these campus visits will jump start your recruiting quest!

Update your Profile and Video 

Updates to the player profile and skills DVD/web streams are critical components in the evaluation process and you can get a lot done during the summer. Collect any standout performances, high level games and peak moments of your past season and begin the editing process. Once you have these changes where you want them, forward your updated recruiting portfolio to the college coaches. 

Tournaments and Camps

Playing and participating in summer camps, tournaments and showcases are becoming very popular and they provide the prospect with additional resources to improve individual skill levels and build further confidence. Additionally, these events can be used as an effective evaluation tool for college coaches and the prospect who takes the “bull by the horns” and alerts the coaches about the events he/she plans to attend, the better the chances they have in getting evaluated. Providing college coaches with initial evaluating tools (personal profile, DVD etc.) early on and following up with regular communication by phone and e-mail is essential. Remember: Developing sincere relationships with the coaches should be a high priority for the prospect before requesting an evaluation.

Admissions and Financial Aid Pre-Reads 

Admissions and Financial Aid pre-reads are available to prospects, especially those who are looking at D-3 and non-scholarship opportunities. This was a tool I used quite effectively as a coach at Penn and I strongly suggest prospects and families take full advantage of these options if they are offered at their schools of interest. Having a strong indication to weather you have the academic “goods” to be admitted and getting a ballpark figure to what college costs will be, are critical components that factor strongly into your decision to move forward. Continue to develop a solid relationship with the college coach, don’t be afraid to broach the topic and ask the coach if his institution offers these services. If pre-reads are indeed available, the coach can walk you through the process and assist you in gathering the information you are looking for.

Schedule Official Visits 

By the end of the summer, if the prospect has practiced persistence in communicating with the college coaches and he/she is strongly considering signing early, or applying early decision/action, official visits should be considered in the fall. Speak earnestly with the coaches and let them know you are interested in taking an official campus visit. Remember, these trips are permission based and the college coaches will be the point person in assisting the prospect (forwarding high school transcripts, test scores to the coaches etc.) in taking the necessary steps to line up the visits.

Summer vacation provides the prospective student-athlete with a great break from the school year and a wonderful time to “lighten the schedule.” The prospect and family who are willing to take proactive efforts to utilize this time in executing several key areas of their recruiting plan will position themselves best for great success in the college search.

TomKovic 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.