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.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
NCAA Eligibility Center
NCAA Eligibility Center
By Tom Kovic
The NCAA Eligibility Center is an organization that collaborates with the NCAA and is “charged” with the job to determine eligibility for all incoming Division I and Division II freshmen student-athletes. This is achieved through the evaluation of high school academic records and by calculating the core course GPA with standardized testing.
Each division has individual standards for entering freshmen and below is a brief description of how eligibility is determined:
IN DIVISION 1, freshmen athletes must meet minimum eligibility standards that are based on 3 factors: 1) core course grade point average, 2) standardized test score and 3) minimum academic requirement (16 core courses). The grade point average and standardized testing are calculated on a sliding scale. In addition, the grade point average must be determined by pre-approved core courses.
Division II eligibility standards work similarly to Division I, but utilize a simpler formula. All entering freshmen who wish to practice and compete must demonstrate 1) at least a 2.0 core course grade point average and 2) either a minimum SAT score of 820 (verbal and math), or a minimum score of 68 on the ACT. In addition, the grade point average must be determined by 14 pre-approved core courses.
Eligibility requirements to compete at the Division III level are determined differently and decided “internally.” Basically, once a student has been admitted to a Division III school he/she will be eligible to practice and compete.
The “core course requirement may seem a little confusing, but what the Eligibility Center is trying to accomplish is to be sure that prospects are taking the “meat and potato” high school academic coursework. Therefore, grades in courses such as art, music and physical education are NOT calculated in the core course GPA.
REGISTRATION
Registration with the Eligibility Center is a 2 step process and I encourage prospects and families to begin registration soon after junior year grades are in. The first step is painless and families can register online at www.ncaa.org/eligibilitycenter. All you need is a credit card to pay the annual fee ($50.00) and it takes about 15 minutes to fill in your contact information. Final eligibility will be determined after the senior year grades are presented to the Eligibility Center.
ADVISORS
Step 2 requires the prospect to work closely with the guidance counselor and/or college advisor in assisting the prospect through this process. The advisor will submit a form (Form 48H) to the NCAA Eligibility Center for the core course evaluation. (Only courses offered in the disciplines of English, math, social science and natural/physical science will be considered, along with additional academic courses. Final eligibility will be determined after the senior year grades are presented to the Eligibility Center.
Do not wait for your advisor to contact you to assist you with the Eligibility Center registration! Each student must complete and file an application to the NCAA EC. This application, along with current high school transcripts will be sent from the guidance office at the high school to the Eligibility Center. Show the advisor you are a willing team member and will assist in any way to facilitate the process.
Freshman eligibility is very important and should not be treated lightly. Considering the tremendous effort exerted by the prospect, family, college coach and high school administrators during this process, it would be in the best interest of the prospect to approach registration with the Eligibility Center with enthusiasm and care. The bottom line is that you cannot contribute to the team if you cannot practice and compete!
Tom Kovic is a former Division I college coach and the current director of Victory Collegiate Consulting (www.victoryrecruiting.com), where he provides individual advisement for families on college recruiting. Tom recently launched www.collegerecruiting.tv which is an educational content website that will assist families and prospects in building their plans for the college quest.
By Tom Kovic
The NCAA Eligibility Center is an organization that collaborates with the NCAA and is “charged” with the job to determine eligibility for all incoming Division I and Division II freshmen student-athletes. This is achieved through the evaluation of high school academic records and by calculating the core course GPA with standardized testing.
Each division has individual standards for entering freshmen and below is a brief description of how eligibility is determined:
IN DIVISION 1, freshmen athletes must meet minimum eligibility standards that are based on 3 factors: 1) core course grade point average, 2) standardized test score and 3) minimum academic requirement (16 core courses). The grade point average and standardized testing are calculated on a sliding scale. In addition, the grade point average must be determined by pre-approved core courses.
Division II eligibility standards work similarly to Division I, but utilize a simpler formula. All entering freshmen who wish to practice and compete must demonstrate 1) at least a 2.0 core course grade point average and 2) either a minimum SAT score of 820 (verbal and math), or a minimum score of 68 on the ACT. In addition, the grade point average must be determined by 14 pre-approved core courses.
Eligibility requirements to compete at the Division III level are determined differently and decided “internally.” Basically, once a student has been admitted to a Division III school he/she will be eligible to practice and compete.
The “core course requirement may seem a little confusing, but what the Eligibility Center is trying to accomplish is to be sure that prospects are taking the “meat and potato” high school academic coursework. Therefore, grades in courses such as art, music and physical education are NOT calculated in the core course GPA.
REGISTRATION
Registration with the Eligibility Center is a 2 step process and I encourage prospects and families to begin registration soon after junior year grades are in. The first step is painless and families can register online at www.ncaa.org/eligibilitycenter. All you need is a credit card to pay the annual fee ($50.00) and it takes about 15 minutes to fill in your contact information. Final eligibility will be determined after the senior year grades are presented to the Eligibility Center.
ADVISORS
Step 2 requires the prospect to work closely with the guidance counselor and/or college advisor in assisting the prospect through this process. The advisor will submit a form (Form 48H) to the NCAA Eligibility Center for the core course evaluation. (Only courses offered in the disciplines of English, math, social science and natural/physical science will be considered, along with additional academic courses. Final eligibility will be determined after the senior year grades are presented to the Eligibility Center.
Do not wait for your advisor to contact you to assist you with the Eligibility Center registration! Each student must complete and file an application to the NCAA EC. This application, along with current high school transcripts will be sent from the guidance office at the high school to the Eligibility Center. Show the advisor you are a willing team member and will assist in any way to facilitate the process.
Freshman eligibility is very important and should not be treated lightly. Considering the tremendous effort exerted by the prospect, family, college coach and high school administrators during this process, it would be in the best interest of the prospect to approach registration with the Eligibility Center with enthusiasm and care. The bottom line is that you cannot contribute to the team if you cannot practice and compete!
Tom Kovic is a former Division I college coach and the current director of Victory Collegiate Consulting (www.victoryrecruiting.com), where he provides individual advisement for families on college recruiting. Tom recently launched www.collegerecruiting.tv which is an educational content website that will assist families and prospects in building their plans for the college quest.
Children Activity Center
Children's Activity Center Industry
Dear Club Owner:
These are very interesting times for the Children's Activity Center Industry. I am hearing very good news from friends and customers around the country since the Olympics. Many are telling me that their enrollments are higher than any time in history. At the same time, I am seeing the devastating effects the economy is having on other industry members and their businesses. Don't you want to see the true picture and to be able to forecast based on real numbers? Don't you want to know what is really happening in the industry? If you are in agreement with me, that knowledge is key to our future success then complete this survey at once. It is in all of our interests to have a huge response to this survey this year. The survey work of Frank Sahlein and 3rd Level Consulting over the past few years has made a huge impact on our understanding of our industry. Be part of the success.
Good luck and keep flipping.
John Deary
President
DGS
Take this Survey:
2009 Children's Activity Centers - Critical Business Trends Survey
Dear Club Owner:
These are very interesting times for the Children's Activity Center Industry. I am hearing very good news from friends and customers around the country since the Olympics. Many are telling me that their enrollments are higher than any time in history. At the same time, I am seeing the devastating effects the economy is having on other industry members and their businesses. Don't you want to see the true picture and to be able to forecast based on real numbers? Don't you want to know what is really happening in the industry? If you are in agreement with me, that knowledge is key to our future success then complete this survey at once. It is in all of our interests to have a huge response to this survey this year. The survey work of Frank Sahlein and 3rd Level Consulting over the past few years has made a huge impact on our understanding of our industry. Be part of the success.
Good luck and keep flipping.
John Deary
President
DGS
Take this Survey:
2009 Children's Activity Centers - Critical Business Trends Survey
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Non-Scholarship Options for the Prospective Student-Athlete By Tom Kovic
As a former 19 year head coach at the University of Pennsylvania, I was blessed with a successful career and many fond memories. Considering the selectivity in Admissions and the high price tag of one of the nation’s premier institutions, I had strong success in recruiting and I learned some valuable lessons about prospective student-athletes and the benefits they may receive in the admissions process.
Ivy League and other select, non athletic scholarship awarding institutions can, in many cases, offer significant assistance in Admissions that can potentially lend strong support for prospective student-athletes. It is important that prospects, families and high school advisors clearly understand the role the college coach plays in this process and make every effort to develop a sincere and strong working relationship with them throughout the college search.
Admissions Pre-Reads
Early academic evaluations are an effective means of determining the potential admissibility of a candidate. Typically, coaches work with an athletic department “Admissions liaison” that can assist them in requesting “early reads” for prospects. If families have cultivated a strong relationship with the coach, this request will likely be honored and could be a real time saver by providing recruits with an accurate idea of their chances in admissions. Below are some important points to consider regarding pre-reads:
· Provides the family with a strong idea of the likelihood of admission.
· Requires current and accurate standardized test scores, updated transcripts and high school profile.
· Gives the coach a strong indication of the prospects Admissions Index and the level of potential support in Admissions.
· Coach-family collaboration develops trust and confidence.
· Shows the coach “strong interest” from family and prospect.
· Will avoid “spinning of wheels” for the family, prospect and the college coach, especially if admissions seem unlikely.
· Turnaround time is generally 2-3 weeks
Likely Letters
The likely letter is a tremendous tool typically used by Ivy League coaches that offer “near guarantees” of admissions and these letters can be sent to prospective student-athletes well before the regular population of applicants is reviewed. This becomes a tremendous bargaining chip for college coaches who are competing with scholarship institutions for the same prospect, or “overlap” prospects who are applying to other Ivy League and select academic institutions. It is fair to point out that likely letters are not abundantly available and only a certain percentage of “impact” prospects will receive them.
Likely letters will provide recruits and their families with a sense of confidence, especially when they are presented with athletic scholarship deadlines from other college coaches, or feeling pressure from non-scholarship college coaches to “move in their direction.” Likely letters are issued directly from the admissions office and will offer families with relative assurance that, barring any unusual circumstances, their children will be admitted.
Priority Applications
Priority applications are becoming more popular in the recruiting process and are typically used by Division 3 programs as a means of providing families with an early “look” from admissions well before the majority of regular applicants are read.
When you break it down, the priority application is a win-win for both the college coaches and the families. Firstly, the priority application is a simplified version of the regular application that offers the prospect with a streamlined and time saving approach to admissions and turnaround time from the office of admissions can be as early as 30 days. Likewise, college coach’s benefit by offering their top candidates with a priority admissions read that can rival both the national letter of intent, as well as many of the early decision/action admissions programs.
It is fair to say that priority applications are not offered to the majority of prospects, but are distributed to athletes who show significant interest in his program and are part of the coach’s “A” recruiting file. Either way, the priority application can provide families with early and exact information in admissions and serve as a handy tool that will assist them strongly in the decision making process.
Tips for Advisors, Parents and Prospects
Below are a few pointers that will be helpful in navigating the college quest for prospective student-athletes who are interested in applying to Ivy League and select, non athletic scholarship schools:
· Cultivate an honest and truthful relationship with the college coach.
· Provide the college coach with accurate and timely information that will assist him in making a fair and timely evaluation of both academic strength and athletic talent.
· Be honest with the college coach about the schools you are seriously considering.
· Let the college coach know where you stand with his/her school, and give the coach a chance to recruit you further.
· Avoid using the coach as a springboard in Admissions with the intent of not participating on the team. This will potentially backfire down the road for high school teammates and your sports program. Remember, you are representing yourself, your coach, your school and your family. Maintain a high level of integrity.
· Include community service and leadership activities in your personal profile. This could add some weigh that creates further support for your application by the college coach.
Especially in today’s tough economic climate, the non scholarship option for prospective student-athletes and families may seem daunting, but considering the long term benefits one can receive from such a potentially rewarding experience, makes this option very worthy. Additionally, it is fair to point out that athletes, although identified in Admissions as having a special talent, are treated as any other candidate and will be admitted only if the applicant’s academic credentials are in an acceptable range and he/she is deemed capable of succeeding. That being said, student-athletes who bring solid academic credentials to the table and have the ability to strongly impact an athletics program could bring a very strong “chip” to the game of college recruiting that could give them a leg up on the competition.
Tom Kovic is a former 19 year head coach at Penn 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 and he has lectured on the topic of college recruiting at several national and regional conventions. For additional information visit: www.victoryrecruiting.com.
Ivy League and other select, non athletic scholarship awarding institutions can, in many cases, offer significant assistance in Admissions that can potentially lend strong support for prospective student-athletes. It is important that prospects, families and high school advisors clearly understand the role the college coach plays in this process and make every effort to develop a sincere and strong working relationship with them throughout the college search.
Admissions Pre-Reads
Early academic evaluations are an effective means of determining the potential admissibility of a candidate. Typically, coaches work with an athletic department “Admissions liaison” that can assist them in requesting “early reads” for prospects. If families have cultivated a strong relationship with the coach, this request will likely be honored and could be a real time saver by providing recruits with an accurate idea of their chances in admissions. Below are some important points to consider regarding pre-reads:
· Provides the family with a strong idea of the likelihood of admission.
· Requires current and accurate standardized test scores, updated transcripts and high school profile.
· Gives the coach a strong indication of the prospects Admissions Index and the level of potential support in Admissions.
· Coach-family collaboration develops trust and confidence.
· Shows the coach “strong interest” from family and prospect.
· Will avoid “spinning of wheels” for the family, prospect and the college coach, especially if admissions seem unlikely.
· Turnaround time is generally 2-3 weeks
Likely Letters
The likely letter is a tremendous tool typically used by Ivy League coaches that offer “near guarantees” of admissions and these letters can be sent to prospective student-athletes well before the regular population of applicants is reviewed. This becomes a tremendous bargaining chip for college coaches who are competing with scholarship institutions for the same prospect, or “overlap” prospects who are applying to other Ivy League and select academic institutions. It is fair to point out that likely letters are not abundantly available and only a certain percentage of “impact” prospects will receive them.
Likely letters will provide recruits and their families with a sense of confidence, especially when they are presented with athletic scholarship deadlines from other college coaches, or feeling pressure from non-scholarship college coaches to “move in their direction.” Likely letters are issued directly from the admissions office and will offer families with relative assurance that, barring any unusual circumstances, their children will be admitted.
Priority Applications
Priority applications are becoming more popular in the recruiting process and are typically used by Division 3 programs as a means of providing families with an early “look” from admissions well before the majority of regular applicants are read.
When you break it down, the priority application is a win-win for both the college coaches and the families. Firstly, the priority application is a simplified version of the regular application that offers the prospect with a streamlined and time saving approach to admissions and turnaround time from the office of admissions can be as early as 30 days. Likewise, college coach’s benefit by offering their top candidates with a priority admissions read that can rival both the national letter of intent, as well as many of the early decision/action admissions programs.
It is fair to say that priority applications are not offered to the majority of prospects, but are distributed to athletes who show significant interest in his program and are part of the coach’s “A” recruiting file. Either way, the priority application can provide families with early and exact information in admissions and serve as a handy tool that will assist them strongly in the decision making process.
Tips for Advisors, Parents and Prospects
Below are a few pointers that will be helpful in navigating the college quest for prospective student-athletes who are interested in applying to Ivy League and select, non athletic scholarship schools:
· Cultivate an honest and truthful relationship with the college coach.
· Provide the college coach with accurate and timely information that will assist him in making a fair and timely evaluation of both academic strength and athletic talent.
· Be honest with the college coach about the schools you are seriously considering.
· Let the college coach know where you stand with his/her school, and give the coach a chance to recruit you further.
· Avoid using the coach as a springboard in Admissions with the intent of not participating on the team. This will potentially backfire down the road for high school teammates and your sports program. Remember, you are representing yourself, your coach, your school and your family. Maintain a high level of integrity.
· Include community service and leadership activities in your personal profile. This could add some weigh that creates further support for your application by the college coach.
Especially in today’s tough economic climate, the non scholarship option for prospective student-athletes and families may seem daunting, but considering the long term benefits one can receive from such a potentially rewarding experience, makes this option very worthy. Additionally, it is fair to point out that athletes, although identified in Admissions as having a special talent, are treated as any other candidate and will be admitted only if the applicant’s academic credentials are in an acceptable range and he/she is deemed capable of succeeding. That being said, student-athletes who bring solid academic credentials to the table and have the ability to strongly impact an athletics program could bring a very strong “chip” to the game of college recruiting that could give them a leg up on the competition.
Tom Kovic is a former 19 year head coach at Penn 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 and he has lectured on the topic of college recruiting at several national and regional conventions. For additional information visit: www.victoryrecruiting.com.
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