Month: November 2018

Communicating with Coaches during the Fall Season

Posted on by eliteathletesrecruiting
Often I compare the recruiting process to a roller-coaster. The speed of the cart is determined by the track. How the track is designed involves many twists and turns as well as places where the pace becomes so slow that it seems to stop. Like a roller-coaster, and depending on the sport, recruiting in the Fall can simultaneously cause both excitement and anxiety so here a few tips to as you buckle-in for the ride.
During the Fall, and after the window of the contact period closes, it is very important to know what contact period of your sport and the communication regulations that accompany them. This information is easy to locate within the NCAA and NAIA regulations on their respective websites. This information can also be accessed  in your Prepstar profile.
Now, be aware that all divisions (D1, D2, D3, etc) have similar, but different, communication rules. For example, D2 coaches have much more leniency  with communications in comparison to D1 coaches.  Additionally, in football, FBS schools (those that go to bowl games) have similar contact periods but different number of evaluation opportunities.

The key to communicating in the Fall is to be proactive! Throughout the year, and at any time, athletes are permitted to contact coaches. This means that to communicate with college coach outside of designated contact periods, student-athletes have to be the one to initiate contact. Additionally, this rule also applies to underclassmen (Freshman and Sophomores). Again, no matter what time of year and no matter the contact period, college coaches are permitted to talk with prospects as long as the prospect makes the first move to contact them.

So, I highly recommend that student-athletes take the initiative to reach out to coaches with emails, texts and voicemails.  Don’t ever wait for them to call you, instead you call them.

To wrap up, it is an understatement to say that recruiting is a year round process. There is no downtime because college coaches are always recruiting. So use the latter part of year to your advantage. For Fall sports this is a great time of year to get aquatinted with coaches, take visits and build that ever important recruiting relationship. Likewise, student-athletes that play winter or spring sports can use the Fall to as a great opportunity to get on the radar and generate interest from coaches for the upcoming seasons.

Good luck!

Coach Mike oversees the the recruiting of talented next-level athletes to develop a recruiting strategy to get seen, scouted and recruited.  As a coach with over 20 years of experience, and a as former college athlete, Mike now mentors families through the academic, athletic and financial aspects of college recruiting.  

Coach Mike – Email: mwoosley@csaprepstar.com   Office: 805-622-STAR

Signing the National Letter of Intent: What it means

Posted on by eliteathletesrecruiting
Each year I have athletes that commit and sign during the early signing period so I want to make sure to pass along some important information about the meaning of signing the National Letter of Intent (NLI). To review, early signing dates for 2019 student-athletes are November 14-21 for all sports except football and December 19-21 for football only.

Once a student signs the NLI that student is bound to a one year committment to that college. Take note, the committment is to the college, not to the coach. So keep this in mind when making your final decision.

To make this concept concrete, the NCAA uses this language within the NLI to assure the binding agreement is to the college not the coach.

“I understand I have signed this NLI with the institution and not for a particular sport or coach. If a coach leaves the institution or the sports program (e.g., not retained, resigns), I remain bound by the provisions of this NLI. I understand it is not uncommon for a coach to leave his or her coaching position.” (http://www.nationalletter.org/nliProvisions/coachingChange.html) 
Now, should a coaching change occur, or if the student-athlete has a change of heart, it will be a very difficult to get out of a binding NLI agreement. However, in very few cases the NCAA does allow students to be let out of their NLI. But the process is long and has to be reviewed by the NCAA on a case by case basis by the NLI AppealsCommittee. (http://www.nationalletter.org/nliProvisions/releaseRequest.html)

So, before committing research the coaching history and tenure of the coach. Does he/she have a history of staying with programs long term? Also, when you interviewing with a prospective coach ask about how long he/she intends to stay at the school.

Lastly, if you are uncertain, ask if its okay that you commit to the college but not sign the NLI.  Finally, don’t be afraid to ask the hard questions. After-all, the next 4 years of your life are potentially tied to the college but not necessarily the coach.

Signing the National Letter of Intent:  What it means

Posted on by eliteathletesrecruiting

Each year I have athletes that commit and sign during the early signing period so I want to make sure to pass along some important information about the meaning of signing the National Letter of Intent (NLI). To review, early signing dates for 2019 student-athletes are November 14-21 for all sports except football and December 19-21 for football only.

Once a student signs the NLI that student is bound to a one year committment to that college. Take note, the committment is to the college, not to the coach. So keep this in mind when making your final decision.

To make this concept concrete, the NCAA uses this language within the NLI to assure the binding agreement is to the college not the coach.

“I understand I have signed this NLI with the institution and not for a particular sport or coach. If a coach leaves the institution or the sports program (e.g., not retained, resigns), I remain bound by the provisions of this NLI. I understand it is not uncommon for a coach to leave his or her coaching position.” (http://www.nationalletter.org/nliProvisions/coachingChange.html) 

Now, should a coaching change occur, or if the student-athlete has a change of heart, it will be a very difficult to get out of a binding NLI agreement. However, in very few cases the NCAA does allow students to be let out of their NLI. But the process is long and has to be reviewed by the NCAA on a case by case basis by the NLI AppealsCommittee. (http://www.nationalletter.org/nliProvisions/releaseRequest.html)

So, before committing research the coaching history and tenure of the coach. Does he/she have a history of staying with programs long term? Also, when you interviewing with a prospective coach ask about how long he/she intends to stay at the school. Lastly, if you are uncertain, ask if its okay that you commit to the college but not sign the NLI.  Finally, don’t be afraid to ask the hard questions. After-all, the next 4 years of your life are potentially tied to the college but not necessarily the coach.