THE STUDENT-ATHLETE IN THE PROCESS
The college application process takes on some special considerations for student-athletes. If you are a player a coach wants, the results can be very rewarding.

Realistic Assessment
The NCAA and The Clearinghouse
Presenting Yourself: Be Proactive
The Courtship
College Checklist for the Student-Athlete

REALISTIC ASSESSMENT
The first, and most important task which the student-athlete faces is to make a decision about the extent to which she/ he would like to devote himself or herself to athletics in college. Many sports in college are year-round commitments. Depending on the school, the coach, and/or the sport, much of the student-athlete's time in college will not be his own. It is important to talk with student-athletes already in college as you decide for yourself what role you would like athletics to play in your college search and, subsequently, in your life as a college student.

The next step in pursuing your field of dreams is to take a realistic assessment of your athletic talent. This must usually be done with the guidance and input of the student-athlete's coach at school or outside of the school (with a community league, for example). Are you an athlete, a player, who will be of interest to college coaches? At what level? At what schools?  Listen to the people you trust.

THE NCAA AND THE CLEARINGHOUSE
Most colleges and universities belong to the NCAA, and there are divisions of schools within the NCAA. Division I institutions are the larger sports power-houses. Division I schools usually recruit student-athletes in more than one sport and they offer athletic scholarships. Within Division I are sub-divisions for football. Division II institutions also recruit and offer scholarship money, but not nearly as much as at Division I schools. Division III institutions may or may not recruit actively, and they do not offer athletic scholarships. Note that some Division I schools, as a matter of institutional or league policy, do not offer scholarship money: the Ivy League and some Patriot League schools are examples.

The NCAA has established regulations which determine whether or not a student-athlete is eligible to play college athletics, and these regulations differ according to Division. Students who have any interest in playing at a Division I or Division II school should register with the NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse in the spring of the junior year or in the summer before senior year. The Clearinghouse is a large and frustrating bureaucracy, and many student-athletes experience problems and delays in their certification process. Start early to avoid a panic. The student-athlete must be registered and qualified before he can play in college.

Your high school guidance or athletics office should have the forms necessary for the student-athlete to register with the NCAA. Also available are the NCAA rules and regulations related to recruiting. The student-athlete and his or her parents should become familiar with these rules, as a violation would make the student-athlete ineligible to play at any NCAA member institution.

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PRESENTING YOURSELF: BE PROACTIVE
The student-athlete must actively pursue those institutions/programs/coaches in which she or he is interested. You have to let coaches know you want to play for them!  Unless you are a rare blue-chip athlete, you cannot afford to wait to have coaches find you.  

Send an introductory letter to coaches.  Most guidance offices will have resources to help you find coaches names and addresses; this is also available on many college websites.  In the letter, highlight your academic as well as athletic achievements.  College coaches want good students on their teams.  You might want to include a sports résumé with your letter.  Give your home coach's name and phone number, and ask for more information.  Many coaches will follow-up with a recruiting questionnaire.  Others may tell you that they are not looking for "new" athletes, and some may not respond at all to your letter.  

If the coach expresses interest, he or she might ask you to send a highlight video. College coaches say they find these helpful, but they should not be more than five to ten minutes in length.  The coach might offer to come watch you play in a game, meet or tournament in your community, and he or she might invite you to visit the college campus and meet team members.

You should make unofficial visits to the schools of your choice.  Be sure to get a feel for the place apart from the world of athletics.  See the section of this site on college visits.

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THE COURTING PROCESS
Depending on how interested coaches are in having you join them, senior year can be a time of excitement and confusion. The student-athlete must become familiar with the rules regarding campus visits, but at the same time, she or he must be certain to speak with student-athletes already playing at the schools in which she or he is interested.  If you are really good, you will have to keep a level head during the recruiting season.  Take phone calls judiciously, and don't let your grades or relationships suffer.

The National Letter of Intent is a document sometimes used when the coach and the student-athlete have agreed to "accept each other." The recruiting process halts when the Letter is signed, but admission to the institution could still be pending. Student-athletes must always remember that even the best-intentioned coach has only one thing on his or her mind: the success of her or his team. Usually, many potential players are juggled and recruited for a smaller number of positions to be filled. Remember that the admission office, not the coach, offers admission to a college or university!!  And remember that when you commit, you commit to the institution, not the coach!  Sometimes coaches leave their schools, and you want to select the institution which will be right for you.

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COLLEGE CHECKLIST FOR THE STUDENT-ATHLETE
Questions to AsK

	What is the level of competition at the college? Against what other colleges does it compete?
	What is the coach's philosophy toward his sport, her players, his or her school?
	How long has the coach been at the institution? Where was he before? Why did she leave?
	What is the graduation rate of all athletes? Of athletes playing your sport? (How many graduate in four years? in five years?) How do these rates compare with the entire student population?
	Do athletes have mandatory study halls?
	Is there an academic advising/counseling staff available to help with course selection and academic difficulties?
	Are tutors available for all courses?
	How much time per week is required for practice?
	What does a typical daily schedule look like?
	What is the philosophy of the coaching staff toward training?
	What training facilities are available (weightroom, etc.)?
	What type of athletic rehabilitation program does the athletic department have?
	Must athletes live together? What are the accommodations like?
	Must you have your meals with the team? All? none? some?
	Can your scholarship be affected by injury? How?
	Are all injuries covered by a team insurance policy?
	Imagine that you are unable to play. Would you feel satisfied with the college academically and socially?
	Is scholarship money based on performance?
	Has the college a history of NCAA rules violations?
	Has drug use been an issue at the school? In the athletic program?
	Do you feel you will get enough playing time in your first year or afterwards?
	What is the possibility of your being red-shirted?
	If you need a fifth year, will the school finance it?
	How many other students is the coach recruiting for your position?
	What type of traveling does the team do? Who goes? What is the policy for making up work?
	Will you have to provide any of your own equipment? How much will it cost?
	What do current team members say about the college? the team? the coach? the fans?
	Has the coach a reputation for success in his sport?
	Did the coach answer all the questions you and your parents asked?
	How does this program compare to others you are considering?
	Did the coaches say anything bad about other schools you are considering?
	Were the coaches and players honest with you? Did you feel that you could trust the coaches?
	Were the coaches interested in academics? Did they ask about your educational and career interests?