Category: News

Understanding the 3 types of Athletes that coaches are looking for:

1. The Freak

The recruiting game is heating up as some sports seasons are finishing up and others are getting started, coaches are evaluating what they need for the future. Below are some initial steps to get you in the game. For Canadian student-athletes most University options are presented by USports and NCAA.

 (New student-athlete travel pillow: part of the ultimate student athlete support package by the Recruiting Academy)

 

USPORTS Central – usportscentral.ca/StudentCentre

All recruits or prospective student-athletes should begin their registration by selecting the PROSPECTIVE STUDENT-ATHLETE tab. In the sport of football, a Prospective Student-Athlete must register with U SPORTS Central prior to making an official visit to a U SPORTS university. In all other sports, registration will be required prior to signing a Letter Of Intent or participating for that university.

• Academic requirements vary from university to university
• Note from Captain Obvious: the better your grades, the more opportunities you will have

New NCAA Division I Requirements as of August 1, 2016

You must graduate high school and meet ALL the following requirements:

• Complete 16 core courses:
  • Four years of English
  • Three years of math (Algebra 1 or higher)
  • Two years of natural/physical science (including one year of lab science if your high school offers it)
  • One additional year of English, math or natural/physical science
  • Two years of social science
  • Four additional years of English, math, natural/physical science, social science, foreign language, comparative religion or philosophy
• Complete 10 core courses, including seven in English, math or natural/physical science, before your seventh semester. Once you begin your seventh semester, you may not repeat or replace any of those 10 courses to improve your core-course GPA.
• Earn at least a 2.3 GPA in your core courses.
• Earn an SAT combined score or ACT sum score matching your core-course GPA on the Division I sliding scale, which balances your test score and core-course GPA. If you have a low test score, you need a higher core-course GPA to be eligible. If you have a low core-course GPA, you need a higher test score to be eligible.

 

It is important to know these changes and share them with coaches, counsellors and teachers if you are pursuing being a student-athlete. There is greater emphasis on the student demonstrating their academic abilities by their 7^th  semester and then not being able to repeat  or upgrade courses to improve.

NOTE: changes will be coming to Division II requirements in August, 2018

In order to be a great student-athlete prospect you need to start the habits right now while you are a high school student athlete!

It is no secret that I have been a big proponent of starting the recruiting process early. Remember you become a prospective student-athlete in Grade 9. Gathering the correct information is key to ensuring you are taking the right courses, training properly and pursuing it all with confidence.

An important area of development in student athletes is leadership. It is a valuable skill both on the field and off the field. Within the sports world, it is easy to see who the leaders are within a team. The leaders boost morale, lead by example, and are committed to the game.

Boost morale!

• Maintain a positive and winning attitude
• Recognize and celebrate your teammate’s accomplishments
• Motivate the team (regular reminders of team goals)
• Organize team building activities outside of the locker room
• Maintain a level of FUN with the use of team chants, handshakes, and celebration dances

Lead by example!

• Arrive early to practices, meetings and games
• Be organized
• Listen to your coaches
• Speak to your teammates and coaches in a respectful way
• Be honest
• No negativity or complaints (it is contagious)
• Follow instructions and pay attention

Commit to the game!

• Always seek opportunities to get better
• Apply what the coaches say and implement it into the game
• Arrive early and stay late
• Ask questions and stay interested in the process
• Study, study, study!

All of these skills can be applied in the locker room and in the class room. At the end of the day, leaders are the ones who stand out within a group of people. They exude confidence and they receive respect. It is important to work on developing leadership skills as a student athlete because it helps with the recruiting process as well as your career as an athlete.

“Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile.”

— Vince Lombardi, Head Coach Green Bay Packers (1959-67)

 

Starting is simple, begin creating the vision of what you want your student-athlete years to look like.

1. Go to University sporting events and games, watch games on TV or other media; become a University sports fan.
2. Visit University campuses, local and whenever you are travelling.