A Game Plan

Are You an Intercollegiate Athlete?

It's been said that a dream is nothing more than a goal without a deadline. Thousands of talented young men and women compete with vigor and passion for their respective high school athletic programs, envisioning the dream of being offered a college scholarship in their sport. All too often those dreams are muddled in the harshest of realities called recruiting. The truth is that there are a finite number of collegiate athletic scholarships available for a disproportionate number of high school athletes. Colleges and universities are limited in the number of full and partial scholarships that they can offer to potential recruits.

The most elite and highly visible high school athletes in the country are blessed with the opportunity to accept athletic scholarships from among the very best colleges and universities in the country. If you are moderately gifted athletically, prone to major injuries, or worst yet, unprepared academically for college, you may awaken to find your dreams of an athletic scholarship diminished.

The recruiting process is difficult for athletes, parents and coaches to assess because it can be full of uncertainties. The process is both selective and subjective. There is no real science to it. The one sure thing about the athletic recruiting process is that only 1 to 3 percent of high school athletes receive scholarships to play in college. Recruiting is a war that can only be controlled by winning the individual battles. You can gain leverage over the process by going on the offensive and choosing the college that is best for both academics and athletics. If your goals are to attend the college of your choice, participate in a competitive intercollegiate athletic program and graduate on time, you must set your goals to a deadline so that your dreams will become reality.

This material is intended to help the student-athlete, parent(s), coach(es) and college adviser(s) navigate through the athletic recruiting process and understand the issues as they relate to NCAA Divisions I, II and III levels. NAIA Divisions I and II will be discussed as well. It may be used as a guide as you prepare for a career as a student-athlete. The guide focuses on academic preparation versus academic eligibility, NCAA Initial- Eligibility Clearinghouse standards, scholarship and non-scholarship intercollegiate athletic programs, and concludes with tips on how to market your athletic, academic and social talents to the college of your choice.