Transcript College Guidance - Thunder Soccer Club

College Action Plan
By
Coach Sam Haddad
Thunder Soccer Club has designed a College
Bound Program that will give our older
teams/players an additional edge to make it
to the collegiate level. As part of this new
program, Thunder Soccer Club is offering an
in house consultant, Coach Sam
Haddad, to help and provide one on one
consultation to college bound players.
Understanding the Process
First let’s start by introducing you to the
Seven Myths about College Sports:
Understanding the Process
Myth: College coaches will find me and contact me if
I am good enough to play on their team.
Truth: College coaches cannot possibly know about
every one of the thousands of student athletes good
enough to play college sports. There are far fewer
coaches than there are athletes. There’s not a
recruiting budget on the planet big enough for a
coach to know about every qualified athlete.
Understanding the Process
Myth: If I’m not being recruited, I should forget about a future
in college sports.
Truth: There can be a successful college sports experience in
the future of most varsity athletes. It’s up to you! Of course,
this may mean that you compromise and go to a school that is
not on your favorites list. If you are determined to play, you
can find a way. Start planning early, get a little better each
day, and you’ll be surprised at how your dreams can come
true!
Understanding the Process
Myth: Playing my sport at high school and in summer
tournaments will get me noticed by the right school for me.
Truth: Get yourself on coaches’ radar screens and recruiting
lists by sending out your information before you attend
competitions. Send a simple e-mail to coaches at colleges you
like and where you fit the profile. Make sure coaches know
your jersey number and your team’s schedule. Only a small
percentage of recruiters from any given college will be
present at the tournaments you attend. Pre-market yourself
to make sure you get noticed.
Understanding the Process
Myth: It is against NCAA rules for me to make calls to college
coaches.
Truth: You can call college coaches just about any time. It is
very difficult for a student-athlete to break the recruiting
rules unless a college coach knowingly helps you break the
rules. Why haven’t you called a coach already? Fear of
rejection? Don’t know what to say? Call and tell them who
you are, and the coach will take it from there.
Understanding the Process
Myth: I should pay a recruiting or scouting service, video
company or sports résumé company to help me get a
scholarship.
Truth: You can accomplish these tasks on your own. Often,
college coaches toss the mail from recruiting services into the
trash. Coaches prefer to receive mail directly from studentathletes. Fancy promotional materials or videos are not
necessary to attract the attention of a college coach. Your skill
is what matters. Your money is better spent paying a private
coach to increase your skills.
Understanding the Process
Myth: It is my Club coach’s/ high school coach’s job to help
me get a scholarship.
Truth: Your Club/high school coach probably does not have
the time to properly market each athlete on your team. He or
she may not know what college coaches want or how to
properly market you. Few club/high school coaches have
college contacts. Your club/high school coach’s job is to field
calls and be a solid reference if you are deserving of it.
Understanding the Process
Myth: I just received a letter from a college coach. This means
they’ll offer me a scholarship soon.
Truth: Schools send out hundreds—even thousands—of these
letters. An offer of a scholarship will nearly always follow an
offer for an official paid visit as a high school senior and an
offer of a home visit by the coach. Ask the college coach
specifically what their level of interest is in you as an athlete
for their program. Or have your club/ high school coach make
a call to find out. One letter—or even a few—is not an
indication that a scholarship is forthcoming.
Defy the myths
Defying the myths about college sports is easy. A bit of
planning and persistence can lead to success. Prepare a plan
for yourself.
The Plan
1- Believe you have what it takes. You must start with a big dream, and then
plan the steps to reach it. Your big dreams are the ones worth striving for.
2- Write a simple letter that describes your strengths, graduation year,
contact info, academic GPA and SAT or ACT score. Include your times
statistics, position, height and weight if relevant.
3- Look up college coaches’ addresses or e-mail addresses online and send
out your letter to at least 25 coaches (approximately eight coaches at
each level.)
4- Follow up with an e-mail and a phone call until you get an answer about all
of the coaches’ levels of interest in you. Keep marketing yourself until you
find a school that will be a good fit for you
5- Tell your club/high school coach your intentions. If your coach is not
supportive, find someone who will help you in your quest to take the next
step in your athletic career. Big dreams require a bit of support
 Where do I start?
 Define:
 Short and Long Term Goals
 College/University Characteristics
 Personal Goals with Parents
 Educational Requirements
 NCAA D1
 Core Curriculum of 13 Academic Courses
 With a GPA of 2.5 in core curriculum you need a combined
score on the SAT of 820 or a score of 68 on the ACT based
on the Division 1 Qualifier Index.
 Graduate from high school
 NCAA D2
 Core Curriculum of 13 Academic Courses
 GPA of 2.0 and a 1300 SAT or 18 ACT
 Graduate from high school
Educational Requirements
 NCAA D3
 Based on the eligibility requirements set forth by the member
institution and athletic conference.
 NAIA
 Minimum GPA 2.0
 SAT 1300 or ACT 18
 Top 50% High School Class
Clearinghouse Registration
 What is it?
 Division 1 & Division 2 Student Athletes
 Registration Process
 Know How the System Works
 Register on Time
COLLEGE IDENTIFICATION CRITERIA
 FIELD OF STUDY
 Major
 Example: Medical, Law, Education
 Type of Program
 Example: Innovative, Traditional
COLLEGE IDENTIFICATION CRITERIA
 COLLEGE SIZE
 Student Population
 Range of Courses
 Level of Instruction
COLLEGE IDENTIFICATION CRITERIA
 ENVIRONMENT





Religious Affiliation
Conservative or Liberal
Coed or Single-Sex
Public or Private
Social
COLLEGE IDENTIFICATION CRITERIA
 LOCATION
 Distance from home
 Rural or Urban
 Climate
COLLEGE IDENTIFICATION CRITERIA
 FINANCIAL
 Scholarship
 Example: Athletic or Academic
 State/Federal Grants
 Student Loans
COLLEGE IDENTIFICATION CRITERIA
 SOCCER PROGRAM








NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA
Conference/Schedule
Coaching
History/Direction
Facilities
Current Team
Support System
Additional Factors
Research Colleges and Universities that Match
Your Criteria




www.petersons.com
www.thesportssource.com
www.ncaa.org
www.collegesoccer.com
Eligibility Rules
 A college coach may not have off campus contact with a prospective
student athlete until after July 1 of their junior year.
 A prospective student athlete may not practice with a D1 team on a
campus visit.
 A player cannot accept payments for playing on any club team.
 A college recruit should not receive any financial rewards for
attending an institution outside of a formal scholarship.
 Recruitment must be by members of the institution’s academic or
athletic staff.
 You are allowed five official D1/D2 visits.
 All D3 visits are unofficial.
 You can receive one phone call a week from a D1 school.
Final Thoughts:
 Beginning the college identification process early during your
freshman and sophomore years in high school.
 Selecting 7-10 compatible college programs base on your needs and
ability.
 Narrowing the list to you top 3-5 choices by eliminating those
programs that are not a good fit for you academically, athletically or
financially.
 Communicating your abilities directly to college coaches through your
resume and cover letter.
 Evaluating your options as a student first and an athlete second.
 Choosing the one college or university that best fits your needs and
abilities. The right choice for you means that it fully meets your
objectives for a degree plan and athletic program, all at a cost you and
your family can afford.
For any assistance and guidance through your
college recruiting/selection process, please
contact Coach Sam Haddad at 301-518-4500
or e-mail at [email protected]
Good luck!