College Recruiting 101 Essential Information for Prospective College Soccer Players

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1 College Recruiting 101 Essential Information for Prospective College Soccer Players

2 Contents Terms to Know Recruiting Contact Timeline Div I, Div II, & Div III National Letter of Intent Verbal Commitment NCAA Eligibility Requirements Initial Requirements Core Class Requirements GPA/Test Scores Recruiting Checklist

3 Terms to Know Contact Occurs any time a college coach says more than hello during a face-to-face contact with a college-bound student-athlete (or his or her parents) off the college s campus. Contact period A college coach may have face-to-face contact with college-bound student-athletes/their parents, watch student-athletes compete, visit their high schools, and write or telephone student-athletes/their parents.

4 Terms to Know cont. Official visit vs. unofficial Any visit to a college campus by a college-bound student-athlete or his/her parents that is paid for by the college is an official visit. During an official visit the college can pay for transportation to and from the college for the prospect, lodging and three meals per day for both the prospect and the parent or guardian, as well as reasonable entertainment expenses including three tickets to a home sports event. Visits paid for by college-bound student-athletes or their parents are unofficial visits. The only expenses a college-bound student-athlete may receive from a college during an unofficial visit are three tickets to a home sports event. Evaluation A college coach may watch college-bound student-athletes compete, visit their high schools, and write or telephone student-athletes or their parents. However, a college coach may not have face-to-face contact with college-bound student-athletes or their parents off the college s campus during an evaluation period.

5 DIVISION I Recruiting Contact Timeline Method Sophomore year Junior Year Senior Year Recruiting Materials Student-Athletes can receive general brochures for camps and questionnaires Student-Athletes can receive recruiting materials-starting September Student-Athletes can receive recruiting materials Allowed evaluation/contact 7 times throughout senior year Telephone Calls Off Campus Contact Official Visits Unofficial Visits Student-Athletes can call coach at athlete s own expense Coach cannot call athlete No off campus contact Athlete can call coach Starting July 1 at conclusion of Junior year coach can call athlete 1 time per week Off campus contact allowed after July 1 Athlete can call coach Coach may call athlete once per week starting August 1. Unlimited calls the day after you sign an NLI, written offer of admission and/or financial aid; OR the day after the college receives a financial deposit from you. Off campus contact permitted 3 times throughout senior year No official campus visit No official campus visits Official visits allowed first day of classes senior year You may make an unlimited number of unofficial visits You may make an unlimited number of unofficial visits You may make only one official visit per college and up to a maximum of five official visits to Division I colleges. There is no limit to official visits to Division II colleges. You may make an unlimited number of unofficial visits

DIVISION II Method Recruiting Materials Telephone Calls Off Campus Contact Unofficial Visits Official Visits Recruiting Contact Timeline Freshman Year You may receive printed materials any time.

6 DIVISION II Method Recruiting Materials Telephone Calls Off Campus Contact Unofficial Visits Official Visits Recruiting Contact Timeline Freshman Year You may receive printed materials any time. You may make calls to the coach at your expense. You may make an unlimited number of unofficial visits any time. Sophomore Year Junior Year A coach may begin sending you printed recruiting materials June 15 before your junior year in high school No limit on number of calls by college coach beginning June 15 before your junior year. A college coach can have contact with you or your parents/legal guardians off the college s campus beginning June 15 before your junior year. No limit on number of contacts off campus. Senior Year You may make official visits starting the opening day of classes your senior year. You may make only one official visit per college. There is no limit to official visits to Division II colleges.

7 DIVISION III Recruiting Contact Timeline Method Recruiting Materials Telephone Calls Freshman Year You may receive printed materials any time You may make calls to the coach at your expense Sophomore Year Junior Year No limit on number of calls or when they can be made by the college coach (typically will not begin until junior year) Senior Year Off Campus Contact Unofficial Visits Official Visits Unofficial visits are permitted at any time A college coach may begin to have contact with you and your parents/legal guardians off the college s campus after your junior year. Official visit permitted opening day of classes Allowed one visit per university

8 National Letter of Intent Is signed by a college-bound student-athlete when the student-athlete agrees to attend a Division I or II college or university for one academic year. Participating institutions agree to provide financial aid for one academic year to the student-athlete as long as the student-athlete is admitted to the school and is eligible for financial aid under NCAA rules. Other forms of financial aid do not guarantee the student-athlete financial aid. The National Letter of Intent is voluntary and not required for a student-athlete to receive financial aid or participate in sports. Signing an National Letter of Intent ends the recruiting process since participating schools are prohibited from recruiting student-athletes who have already signed letters with other participating schools. A student-athlete who has signed a National Letter of Intent may request a release from his or her contract with the school. If a student-athlete signs a National Letter of Intent with one school but attends a different school, he or she will lose one full year of eligibility and must complete a full academic year at their new school before being eligible to compete.

9 Verbal Commitment This phrase is used to describe a college bound student-athlete's commitment to a school before he or she signs (or is able to sign) a National Letter of Intent. A college coach may or may not ask you to do this prior to signing A college bound student-athlete can announce a verbal commitment at any time. While verbal commitments have become very popular for both college-bound student-athletes and coaches, this "commitment" is NOT binding on either the college-bound student-athlete or the college or university. Only the signing of the National Letter of Intent accompanied by a financial aid agreement is binding on both parties.

10 NCAA Eligibility The NCAA membership creates rules in three separate divisions that determine an individual s eligibility to participate in intercollegiate athletics. Prospective student-athletes must meet minimum academic standards and amateurism criteria in order to play college sports. The NCAA Eligibility Center administers the process for prospects seeking initial eligibility. NCAA membership committees composed of faculty members, administrators and other higher education professionals create and apply eligibility standards.

11 NCAA Div. I & II Initial Eligibility Requirements Core Courses NCAA Division I requires 16 core courses. NCAA Division II currently requires 14 core courses. Division II will require 16 core courses for students enrolling on or after August 1, 2013 (see next slide). NCAA Division I will require 10 core courses to be completed prior to the seventh semester (seven of the 10 must be a combination of English, math or natural or physical science that meet the distribution requirements below). These 10 courses become "locked in" at the seventh semester and cannot be retaken for grade improvement. Beginning August 1, 2016, it will be possible for a Division I college-bound student-athlete to still receive athletics aid and the ability to practice with the team if he or she fails to meet the 10 course requirement, but would not be able to compete

12 High School Core Requirements Prospective college bound athletes must complete the following courses during their high school career DI Requirements 16 Core Courses 4 Years English 3 years math 2 years natural/physical science 1 additional year (math, science, English) 2 years of social science 4 years of extra core courses Meet minimums on GPA and ACT scale Current DII Requirements 14 Core Courses 3 years English 2 years math 2 years science 2 additional years 2 years social science 3 years of extra core courses Minimum 2.0 GPA DIII eligibility requirements No NCAA eligibility required. Standards set by the University admissions. DII Requirements 16 Core Courses (2013 and After) 3 years of English. 2 years of math 2 years of natural/physical 3 years of additional English, mathematics or natural/physical science. 2 years of social science. 4 years of additional courses (from any area above, foreign language or comparative religion/philosophy).

13 Grade-Point Average Be sure to look at your high school s List of NCAA Courses on the NCAA Eligibility Center's website ( Only courses that appear on your school's List of NCAA Courses will be used in the calculation of the core GPA. Use the list as a guide. Division I students enrolling full time before August 1, 2016, should use Sliding Scale A to determine eligibility to receive athletics aid, practice and competition during the first year. Division I GPA required to receive athletics aid and practice on or after August 1, 2016, is (corresponding test-score requirements are listed on Sliding Scale B see below). Division I GPA required to be eligible for competition on or after August 1, 2016, is (corresponding test-score requirements are listed on Sliding Scale B (see below) The Division II core GPA requirement is a minimum of Remember, the NCAA GPA is calculated using NCAA core courses only.

14 Test Scores Division I uses a sliding scale to match test scores and core grade-point averages (GPA). The sliding scale for those requirements is shown on Page No. 2 of this sheet. Division II requires a minimum SAT score of 820 or an ACT sum score of 68. The SAT score used for NCAA purposes includes only the critical reading and math sections. The writing section of the SAT is not used. The ACT score used for NCAA purposes is a sum of the following four sections: English, mathematics, reading and science. When you register for the SAT or ACT, use the NCAA Eligibility Center code of 9999 to ensure all SAT and ACT scores are reported directly to the NCAA Eligibility Center from the testing agency. Test scores that appear on transcripts will not be used.

15 Grade Scale A Core GPA SAT ACT

16 Grade Scale B GPA For aid and practice GPA For Competition SAT ACT Sum

17 Prospective NCAA Student-Athlete Checklist Every Year Academics Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.00 (Including senior year! First semester grades senior year are critical!) Take honors or AP level courses if possible Meet with your high school guidance counselor and inform them of your goal to play an NCAA sport. Review your course curriculum and make sure it matches with the NCAA approved core courses Seek help from a teacher or a tutor if you are struggling in any subject area Athletic Competition Ask an objective qualified third-party (such as a high school or club coach) for honest feedback about your strengths and weaknesses Demonstrate good sportsmanship after every contest/game and, win or lose, shake hands with all opposing coaches, players, and officials. Look them in the eye and say nice game. Opposing coaches will remember you, and you never know when college coaches might be at the game. Recruiting Do a spot check of social media and any social networking sites (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, etc.). Make sure you always appear mature and there is no inappropriate information on display Steer clear of situations that could jeopardize your goals. Always make responsible choices

18 Prospective NCAA Student-Athlete Checklist - Freshman Year Academics Download and print a copy of the Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete (Click here to download) Begin thinking about what field of study you would like to pursue after high school Create a list of 20 target schools to pursue (i.e. 5 DI, 5 DII, 5 DIII, 5 MCLA) Research target schools lists of majors and determine which schools offer majors you are considering Meet with your high school guidance counselor and inform them of your goal to play an NCAA sport. Review your course curriculum and make sure it matches with the NCAA approved core courses Athletic Competition Ask an objective qualified third-party (such as a high school or club coach) for honest feedback about your strengths and weaknesses Alert high school and/or club coaches of your goal to play in college Recruiting Prepare for phone conversations by role-playing with your parents or a recruiting coach. Review the questions the coach is likely to ask. Start to accumulate game or skills footage. at least 10 college coaches from your target list

19 Prospective NCAA Student-Athlete Checklist - Sophomore Year Academics Register with the NCAA eligibility center ( Schedule a meeting with your guidance counselor and determine your core course progress Look up ACT and SAT testing dates Review and update your target list of schools Take unofficial visits to as many of your top schools as possible Contact the coaches 6-8 weeks in advance of your visit to determine their schedule and availability to meet Seek help from a teacher or a tutor if you are struggling in any subject area Athletic Competition Remind high school and/or club coaches of goal to play in college and be sure to inform any new coaches. Maintain positive relationships with all coaches Recruiting Begin to create a priority list and rank your initial target list Update social media and networking sites. Update resume Contact 5-10 coaches at schools you would like to attend Create folders in inbox to organize s from college coaches. Organize folders by division, recruiting category, and college. Schedule a follow up meeting with your coaches and athletic director to discuss your recruiting process and ask if there is anything specific they think you should be doing to improve your chances of playing at the next level. Remember, it is important to keep these key people involved in your recruiting process, but they may not have all the answers. Start to create a highlight or skills video and continue to collect footage Create a profile at Keep coaches up to date on your progress through Summer Determine your Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) to familiarize yourself with the collegiate financial aid process. C0nsider attending camps and/or training opportunities to build skills, speed, and/or strength, and see how you compare with other high school athletes

20 Prospective NCAA Student-Athlete Checklist - Junior Year Academics Begin ACT/SAT preparation Meet with your high school guidance counselor to review your academic progress and core course requirements Review and update your target list of schools Take the ACT and/or SAT. Request the test scores be sent to the NCAA Eligibility Center by marking 9999 in the code box where indicated. If you haven t done so already, register with the NCAA Eligibility Center and make sure your guidance counselor sends your transcripts at the end of your junior year Begin the amateurism certification process questionnaire on the NCAA Eligibility Center s website Admissions and Financial Aid pre-reads are available to prospects, especially those who are looking at D-3 and non-scholarship opportunities. Having a strong indication to weather you have the academic goods to be admitted and getting a ballpark figure to what college costs will be, are critical components that factor strongly into your decision to move forward. Continue to develop a solid relationship with the college coach, don t be afraid to broach the topic and ask the coach if his institution offers these services. If pre-reads are indeed available, the coach can walk you through the process and assist you in gathering the information you are looking for. Athletic Competition Play at the highest level possible and look for a team that competes at major tournaments and showcases Remind high school and/or club coaches of goal to play in college and be sure to inform any new coaches. Maintain positive relationships with all coaches Recruiting Schedule game day visits if possible Update your target list. Consider how interested the coaches seem in you. Provide coaches with initial evaluation material (personal profile, DVD, etc.). Always notify coaches prior to sending video and follow up to see if they have watched it Once you know they have viewed your video, ask what they thought. Follow up with regular communication by phone and . Remember: Developing sincere relationships with the coaches should be a high priority for the prospect before requesting an evaluation. Schedule a follow up meeting with your coaches and athletic director on progress towards goals. Remember, it is important to keep these people involved in your recruiting process, but they may not have all the answers Keep all coaches up to date on your progress through Summer Schedule official visits with schools in the summer after your junior year Consider attending top showcases if possible Continue ACT/SAT prep and register to re-take test(s) if needed Get a head start on applications and write first draft of all application essays (if necessary)

21 Prospective NCAA Student-Athlete Checklist - Senior Year Academics Complete FAFSA form Re-take the ACT/SAT if necessary. Request that the scores be sent to the NCAA Eligibility Center by marking 9999 in the code box where indicated. Take the SAT II class if considering highly selective schools. Update improved test scores and grades with the NCAA Eligibility Center Meet with high school guidance counselor to review your academic progress and core course requirements. Review and update target list of schools. Finalize and submit all applications. Discuss financial aid with college coaches and fill out aid applications with direction from coaches Submit FAFSA form on January 1 st! Review Student Aid Reports (SAR) to determine best package. Consider appealing through financial aid office. At the end of the school year ask the high school guidance counselor to send a copy of your final transcript and proof of graduation to the NCAA Eligibility Center. Apply for outside scholarships Recruiting Schedule official visits if you haven t already done so. Prior to signing day, ask top coaches where you stand on their recruiting list. Revise search to include more realistic schools if necessary Begin scholarship negotiation early in senior year If interested in a specific college who did not send you recruiting information, contact the coach, introduce yourself, and fill out the questionnaire if you meet the minimum academic and athletic qualifications. Ask if they are still looking for prospects at this stage. Keep all coaches up to date on your progress through Summer Congratulations! You are now ready to prepare for your collegiate athletic career! Follow your summer workout schedule closely and meet with a trainer if you need help.

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