College Athletic Recruiting. Presented by: Anthony Russomanno CUSD College and Career Counseling

College Athletic Recruiting Presented by: Anthony Russomanno ajrussomanno@gmail.com CUSD College and Career Counseling

Game Plan 1. Objectives 2. Myths & Truths 3. Divisions & Eligibility 4. Choosing A School 5. Recruiting Process 6. Your Role 7. Q & A ANTHONY RUSSOMANNO Division I college soccer and baseball player 3 Sport HS Athlete in NJ 20 years college admissions & recruiting expert Club, High School and College Soccer Coach SAT & ACT Premier Tutor BA Psychology, UC Irvine MA Counseling, Pepperdine U. MBA Marketing, Keller GSM

A High School Career Academic Credentials Class rigor GPA HS transcript HS profile Trend Rank College credits Standardized Test Scores SAT Subject Tests SAT/ACT PLAN/PSAT Non-academic credentials Extracurriculars Interview Essay Letters of Rec College Application

Objectives 1. Earn a meaningful college degree. 2. Successful college athletic career at the highest level possible. 3. Pay substantially LESS for my education. 4. Create as many best fit college options as possible.

Athletic Advantage 1. So good 2. EC Activity I. Commitment II. Recognition III. Leadership

2 Important Questions 1. ABILITY? 2. DESIRE?

Myths vs Truths Myth There is no need to start the recruiting process until your Junior year because you can t talk to college coaches until then.

Myths vs Truths Myth There is no need to start the recruiting process until your Junior year because you can t talk to college coaches until then. Truth The recruiting process started yesterday. Start EARLY (as Freshmen and Sophomores)!

Challenges that can prevent our objectives COMPETITION to play in college & earn athletic scholarship is fierce 6.5% college chance of playing sports 8,000,000 U.S. high school varsity athletes 520,000 4-year college athletes 2.0% *Move from college to Professional sports **Of all HS athletes, earning athletic scholarships

Challenges that can prevent our objectives COMPETITION to play in college & earn athletic scholarship is fierce 5.0% a chance of playing as Freshman 2,000,000 U.S. high school varsity SENIOR athletes 100,000 Incoming Frosh roster spots 1.2% for Play their college sport all 4 years

Myths vs Truths Myth There is no need to start the recruiting process until your Junior year because you can t talk to college coaches until then. The odds are in my favor that I will play my sport in college. Truth The recruiting process started yesterday. Start EARLY (as Freshmen and Sophomores)! The probability is 5 percent. 2 million athletes for roughly 100,000 incoming freshman spots.

Myths vs Truths Myth There is no need to start the recruiting process until your Junior year because you can t talk to college coaches until then. The odds are in my favor that I will play my sport in college. Most Division I athletes are awarded full rides. Truth The recruiting process started yesterday. Start EARLY (as Freshmen and Sophomores)! The probability is 5 percent. 2 million athletes for roughly 100,000 incoming freshman spots.

Myths vs Truths Myth There is no need to start the recruiting process until your Junior year because you can t talk to college coaches until then. The odds are in my favor that I will play my sport in college. Most Division I athletes are awarded full rides. Truth The recruiting process started yesterday. Start EARLY (as Freshmen and Sophomores)! The probability is 5 percent. 2 million athletes for roughly 100,000 incoming freshman spots. No such thing, as scholarships are one-year renewable. Headcount vs Equivalency.

Head Count v Equivalency

Fast Fact

Myths vs Truths Myth There is no need to start the recruiting process until your Junior year because you can t talk to college coaches until then. The odds are in my favor that I will play my sport in college. Most Division I athletes are awarded full rides. Since Division III and NJCAA schools cannot award athletic scholarships, these opportunities are far less prestigious or rewarding. Your HS OR Club Coach is responsible for getting you recruited and controls your recruiting fate. Truth The recruiting process started yesterday. Start EARLY (as Freshmen and Sophomores)! The probability is 5 percent. 2 million athletes for roughly 100,000 incoming freshman spots. No such thing, as scholarships are one-year renewable. Headcount vs Equivalency. Aid proposals are simply packaged with nonathletic line items, such as endowments, academic scholarships, grants and loans. Big fish in a small pond. It s the athlete s responsibility to come into contact with college coaches.

Myths vs Truths Myth There is no need to start the recruiting process until your Junior year because you can t talk to college coaches until then. The odds are in my favor that I will play my sport in college. Most Division I athletes are awarded full rides. Since Division III and NJCAA schools cannot award athletic scholarships, these opportunities are far less prestigious or rewarding. Your HS OR Club Coach is responsible for getting you recruited and controls your recruiting fate. An email or letter from a college coach asking you to fill out an athlete questionnaire or inviting you to their camp means you are being recruited. Truth The recruiting process started yesterday. Start EARLY (as Freshmen and Sophomores)! The probability is 5 percent. 2 million athletes for roughly 100,000 incoming freshman spots. No such thing, as scholarships are one-year renewable. Headcount vs Equivalency. Aid proposals are simply packaged with nonathletic line items, such as endowments, academic scholarships, grants and loans. Big fish in a small pond. It s the athlete s responsibility to come into contact with college coaches.

Myths vs Truths Myth There is no need to start the recruiting process until your Junior year because you can t talk to college coaches until then. The odds are in my favor that I will play my sport in college. Most Division I athletes are awarded full rides. Since Division III and NJCAA schools cannot award athletic scholarships, these opportunities are far less prestigious or rewarding. Your HS OR Club Coach is responsible for getting you recruited and controls your recruiting fate. An email or letter from a college coach asking you to fill out an athlete questionnaire or inviting you to their camp means you are being recruited. Truth The recruiting process started yesterday. Start EARLY (as Freshmen and Sophomores)! The probability is 5 percent. 2 million athletes for roughly 100,000 incoming freshman spots. No such thing, as scholarships are one-year renewable. Headcount vs Equivalency. Aid proposals are simply packaged with nonathletic line items, such as endowments, academic scholarships, grants and loans. Big fish in a small pond. It s the athlete s responsibility to come into contact with college coaches. Form Letters and Emails (Probably Not) Camp Invites (Possibly) Personal Letters and Emails (Probably) Phone Calls from Coaches (Yes) Official Campus Visits (Absolutely!)

Myths vs Truths Myth If I m good enough, they will find me.

Myths vs Truths Myth If I m good enough, they will find me. Truth For 99%, college recruiting simply doesn t work this way. To get noticed, you must promote yourself to the coaching staff.

Myths vs Truths Myth If I m good enough, they will find me. A blue chip athlete can get into any school.

Myths vs Truths Myth If I m good enough, they will find me. A blue chip athlete can get into any school. Truth For 99%, college recruiting simply doesn t work this way. To get noticed, you must promote yourself to the coaching staff. A STUDENT-athlete must always meet requirements.

Myths vs Truths Myth If I m good enough, they will find me. A blue chip athlete can get into any school. Best athlete wins in college athletic recruiting.

What Coaches Want Talented Athletes Coachability Team Players Good Students Strong Character» Work Ethic» Confident Leaders Intellectual Strength» Grad on time» Potential for academic success» Mental toughness

Myths vs Truths Myth If I m good enough, they will find me. A blue chip athlete can get into any school. Best athlete wins in college athletic recruiting. Truth For 99%, college recruiting simply doesn t work this way. To get noticed, you must promote yourself to the coaching staff. A STUDENT-athlete must always meet requirements. Schools and coaches look at many factors (grades, leadership, character, etc).

Myths vs Truths Myth If I m good enough, they will find me. A blue chip athlete can get into any school. Best athlete wins in college athletic recruiting. Colleges will overlook poor academic performance for talented athletes. Truth For 99%, college recruiting simply doesn t work this way. To get noticed, you must promote yourself to the coaching staff. A STUDENT-athlete must always meet requirements. Schools and coaches look at many factors (grades, leadership, character, etc).

Myths vs Truths Myth If I m good enough, they will find me. A blue chip athlete can get into any school. Best athlete wins in college athletic recruiting. Colleges will overlook poor academic performance for talented athletes. Truth For 99%, college recruiting simply doesn t work this way. To get noticed, you must promote yourself to the coaching staff. A STUDENT-athlete must always meet requirements. Schools and coaches look at many factors (grades, leadership, character, etc). Poor grades can eliminate you as quickly as poor athletic performance.

Myths vs Truths Myth If I m good enough, they will find me. A blue chip athlete can get into any school. Best athlete wins in college athletic recruiting. Colleges will overlook poor academic performance for talented athletes. Your athletic ability trumps the courses you take in HS. Test scores don t matter. Truth For 99%, college recruiting simply doesn t work this way. To get noticed, you must promote yourself to the coaching staff. A STUDENT-athlete must always meet requirements. Schools and coaches look at many factors (grades, leadership, character, etc). Poor grades can eliminate you as quickly as poor athletic performance. You must meet a select number of core courses. D1 & D2 Eligibility hinges on your test scores.

Myths vs Truths Myth If I m good enough, they will find me. A blue chip athlete can get into any school. Best athlete wins in college athletic recruiting. Colleges will overlook poor academic performance for talented athletes. Your athletic ability trumps the courses you take in HS. Test scores don t matter. Truth For 99%, college recruiting simply doesn t work this way. To get noticed, you must promote yourself to the coaching staff. A STUDENT-athlete must always meet requirements. Schools and coaches look at many factors (grades, leadership, character, etc). Poor grades can eliminate you as quickly as poor athletic performance. You must meet a select number of core courses. D1 & D2 Eligibility hinges on your test scores. You cannot learn how to be recruited.

Myths vs Truths Myth If I m good enough, they will find me. A blue chip athlete can get into any school. Best athlete wins in college athletic recruiting. Colleges will overlook poor academic performance for talented athletes. Your athletic ability trumps the courses you take in HS. Test scores don t matter. You cannot learn how to be recruited. Truth For 99%, college recruiting simply doesn t work this way. To get noticed, you must promote yourself to the coaching staff. A STUDENT-athlete must always meet requirements. Schools and coaches look at many factors (grades, leadership, character, etc). Poor grades can eliminate you as quickly as poor athletic performance. You must meet a select number of core courses. D1 & D2 Eligibility hinges on your test scores. Proper coaching can make a difference.

Myths vs Truths Myth If I m good enough, they will find me. A blue chip athlete can get into any school. Best athlete wins in college athletic recruiting. Colleges will overlook poor academic performance for talented athletes. Your athletic ability trumps the courses you take in HS. Test scores don t matter. You cannot learn how to be recruited. Social media has little impact on recruiting. Truth For 99%, college recruiting simply doesn t work this way. To get noticed, you must promote yourself to the coaching staff. A STUDENT-athlete must always meet requirements. Schools and coaches look at many factors (grades, leadership, character, etc). Poor grades can eliminate you as quickly as poor athletic performance. You must meet a select number of core courses. D1 & D2 Eligibility hinges on your test scores. Proper coaching can make a difference.

Myths vs Truths Myth If I m good enough, they will find me. A blue chip athlete can get into any school. Best athlete wins in college athletic recruiting. Colleges will overlook poor academic performance for talented athletes. Your athletic ability trumps the courses you take in HS. Test scores don t matter. You cannot learn how to be recruited. Social media has little impact on recruiting. Truth For 99%, college recruiting simply doesn t work this way. To get noticed, you must promote yourself to the coaching staff. A STUDENT-athlete must always meet requirements. Schools and coaches look at many factors (grades, leadership, character, etc). Poor grades can eliminate you as quickly as poor athletic performance. You must meet a select number of core courses. D1 & D2 Eligibility hinges on your test scores. Proper coaching can make a difference. Coaching staffs will use this to get to know a prospect and/or evaluate them.

SOCIAL MEDIA I use Twitter to get familiar with recruits before meeting them, so when we are introduced I already know the kind of stuff he s into, and this makes for an easy point of conversation. ~Andrew Toole, Men s Basketball Coach Robert Morris University

Herb Hand @CoachHand Dropped another prospect this AM due to his social media presence. Actually glad I got to see the 'real' person before we offered him. ~Herb Hand Penn State

Don t let a 140-character tweet cost you a $140,000 education.

Myths vs Truths Myth If I m good enough, they will find me. A blue chip athlete can get into any school. Best athlete wins in college athletic recruiting. Colleges will overlook poor academic performance for talented athletes. Your athletic ability trumps the courses you take in HS. Test scores don t matter. You cannot learn how to be recruited. Social media has no impact on recruiting. You will be happy at a school if you re recruited & get in. Truth For 99%, college recruiting simply doesn t work this way. To get noticed, you must promote yourself to the coaching staff. A STUDENT-athlete must always meet requirements. Schools and coaches look at many factors (grades, leadership, character, etc). Poor grades can eliminate you as quickly as poor athletic performance. You must meet a select number of core courses. D1 & D2 Eligibility hinges on your test scores. Proper coaching can make a difference. Coaching staffs will use this to get to know a prospect and/or evaluate them.

Myths vs Truths Myth If I m good enough, they will find me. A blue chip athlete can get into any school. Best athlete wins in college athletic recruiting. Colleges will overlook poor academic performance for talented athletes. Your athletic ability trumps the courses you take in HS. Test scores don t matter. You cannot learn how to be recruited. Social media has no impact on recruiting. You will be happy at a school if you re recruited & get in. Truth For 99%, college recruiting simply doesn t work this way. To get noticed, you must promote yourself to the coaching staff. A STUDENT-athlete must always meet requirements. Schools and coaches look at many factors (grades, leadership, character, etc). Poor grades can eliminate you as quickly as poor athletic performance. You must meet a select number of core courses. D1 & D2 Eligibility hinges on your test scores. Proper coaching can make a difference. Coaching staffs will use this to get to know a prospect and/or evaluate them. Your happiness may depend on your school fit.

Overview of Collegiate Athletics Multiple associations NCAA (National Collegiate Athletics Association) (http://ncaa.org/ ) - Division I, II, III» Largest and oldest» 100+ years» 1100+ schools, 500,000 S-A s» 24 different sports NAIA (http://www.naia.org) - National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics 280 schools Community Colleges» NJCAA 500+ schools (www.njcaa.org)» CCC - (home.cccapply.org/)

Overview of NCAA

Overview of NCAA Division I Division II Division III UAlabama, Duke, OSU, UCLA, Stanford, UFlorida Must offer 7 sports for each gender May award athletic scholarships 53% receive some form of athletic aid Adelphi, FIT, Pace, Drury, Cal Poly Pomona, Wayne St, UCSD Must offer 5 sports for each gender May award athletic scholarships 56% receive some form of athletic aid Babson, Carnegie Mellon, Mount Union, Wisconsin- Whitewater, Emerson, Ithaca, Claremont Colleges Must offer 5 sports for each gender May not award athletic scholarships 75% receive some form of academic grant or needbased scholarship Attendance requirements N/A N/A

NCAA Eligibility Center Determine the eligibility of every college-bound student-athlete in NCAA Divisions I and II» Academic» Amateurism

NCAA Eligibility Center www.eligibilitycenter.org

Initial Eligibility Rules Qualifier: Graduate from HS Present 16 prescribed core courses Minimum GPA in 16 core courses Minimum ACT or SAT score

Core Courses

Test Scores & GPA DI SAT - R/W + Math only ACT - Sum of E, M, R, S Mix & Match/Superscore Sliding Scale to GPA Increase in minimum core GPA to 2.3 with 900 or 75. 10 core courses required end of Jr. year.» 7 of 10 must be English, math or science» 10 locked in for GPA purposes by start of Sr. year.

Test Scores & GPA DII SAT - R/W + Math only ACT - Sum of E, M, R, S Mix & Match/Superscore 2.0 GPA minimum with 820 or 68. CHANGE: Aug 1 2018 Minimum 2.2 core GPA 840 or 70 test score Effective August 1, 2018

3 Outcomes Full Qualifier.» Practice, competition and athletics aid Y1» Meets all academic requirements Academic Redshirt.» Practice and athletics aid only Y1» No competition in Y1» Lacks 10/7 and/or 2.3 GPA Nonqualifier» No practice, no competition, no athletics aid in Y1

NCAA Checklist Eligibility Center registration FR or SO year Send SAT or ACT scores by end of Jr year (code 9999 ) Check required Core Courses on track and graduate on time Ask HS Counselor to send transcript to Eligibility Center at end of Jr year Request final amateurism certificate during Senior year Apr 1 Ask HS counselor to submit final transcript with proof of graduation Be responsible regarding academics Study Hard. Play Hard.

NAIA Eligibility Center www.playnaia.org/eligibility-center

Eligibility NAIA Graduate from HS + Meet 2 of 3 Requirements

It s HARD to become a college athlete. Poor planning Misguided information Unrealistic expectations

Getting On The List 1. How important is the sport 2. How high ranked on coach s list 3. How strong academically

Fast Fact

Where do we start?

How do I get evaluated? How do I get offers?

Recruiting Lifecycle Get Noticed Identify Ops Nurture Ops Manage Ops Convert Interest Choose Fit

Being Recruited How do you maximize your exposure? Make a list of what is important to you Play on the best team you can Create a realistic targeted college list» Contact 50 100 programs» Dream» Reach» Likely» BackUps» Not I/Q

Common Mistakes College List DI or Bust Ten schools ought to do it right? Home sweet home Small school, no athletic scholarship, not for me Brandnameitis & Pride It looks good so it must be a great fit for me Target schools above your athletic ability False sense of security Parents think they can evaluate talent Procrastination Wait until its too late for something to happen Expect someone else to get you recruited Lose track of deadlines

You must communicate directly with college coaches

Being Recruited Marketing & Branding» Develop an online profile» Create a winning highlight/skills video» Communicate with Coaches Initiate and express interest o Email campaigns o Link promo tools to web o Call coaches o Respond to Q airres promptly» Appropriate social media profiles Get evaluated Build Relationships» Follow-Up - consistently ping updates» Arrange to meet coaches/visits Make it Easy On Coaches

Coach Communication Responding to Coaches» Return Emails and Phone Calls PROMPTLY» Show Genuine Interest in EVERY Opportunity! Athletic Questions to Ask a Coach» What would you like to see me work on while I am still in high school?» Where am I on your recruiting board?» What are the next steps in the process?» What can I expect for a schedule/ financial package? Academics» Can I arrange to speak with the Dean of the school offering my Major?» Is there Academic support offered? College life» What is a Typical day (schedule, practice, games)» What is offered for dorms, campus-- life, etc?

FA Facts For Student-Athletes 1. Do High School Well! Better grades = more money you can receive. 2. Know Your EFC 3. Have the Money Talk with College Coaches Earlier Rather Than Later 4. Integrate Education and Athletics from the Beginning 5. Understand How to Appeal Your Offers 6. More EC s = More Attractive

Do s & Don ts Do s Make a list of what is important to you Be honest with coaches about needs Ask a lot of questions. Talk to student-athletes about their experiences Be prepared to talk to the coaches enough times that allows you to get a feeling about him Get all offers in writing Observe how the coach talks and interacts with his current players Ask yourself whether the coach has your best interests at heart Base your final decision on facts not Fantasy Save articles and/or awards Start a filing system Visit team websites, watch games Ask a coach to write you a letter of rec Don'ts Don t Play Games Don t Be shy -- or forget to ask questions Don't be so excited that you don't listen to the answers Don't accept gifts, money or special favors Don't overestimate your value -- But don't underestimate it either Don't be afraid to say no

YOUR GAME PLAN Marketing Online Profile Web stats, videos updated, Social media Personal Email Introductions Direct contact with hundreds of coaches Follow Up Ongoing comm. to build your brand Timely Respond promptly Management Track Contact & Eligibility Monitor your progress Deadlines & Reminders Monthly to keep you on track Academics & Testing Study Hard so you can Play Hard Personal Guidance Have a support team - family, coach

Choosing Your College Best academic rep? Sports tradition, rep and services available grad rates, division, facilities) Coaching Staff? Recommendation? Most influential & well placed alumni? Most affordable? Specific program/major? Best positions me to my career? Location? Size? Best overall fit?

Choosing Your College Don t think of college admissions as a game of winners & losers. Take your time and THINK about what you want out of a school. A school that fits means a better experience and a better future.

College & Career Counseling Services FOR ALL CUSD STUDENTS Personalized Consultations & Group Workshops What support to expect: Best Fit College Search, List, & Selection College Application Assistance Essay Orientation & Brainstorming Financial Aid and Scholarship Support Academic & Testing Timeline Extracurricular Activity Strategy Student-Athlete Guidance Planning your College Visits Test Prep Planning (SAT, ACT, Subject Tests) Naviance Implementation Career Exploration Aptitude Survey Interpretation & Application WHEN Mon Fri 1:30 9pm Online Reservations Currently Not Available HOW Schedule An Appointment At Our Table Today WHERE (FOR NOW) District Office 33122 Valle Road San Juan Capistranol

THURSDAY, SEPT 29 @ 6:30 8PM COLLEGE AND CAREER COUNSELING KICK-OFF What to Expect: 6:30 PM Introduction of Counselors and Services 7:00 PM Common App Strategies: Learn the best approach to completing the Common App and the details that will help you stand out to colleges. 7:30 8:00 PM The FAFSA and CSS Profile: De-stress the process and learn what is most important about these financial aid forms. REGISTRATION REQUIRED: BIT.LY/KICKOFFREG YOUR COUNSELORS NAOMI TRAN TEGAN THACKER

Grade Level Checklists Action plans and tips to navigate the college admissions process. Available on our website SOON. Grades Activities SAT Subject Test Freshman Sophomore Prep for SAT/ACT Activities/Learning Visit schools Activities/Learning Work on college essays Edit college list Summer Junior Summer Senior Grades Activities Practice PSAT SAT Subject Tests Grades Activities PSAT SAT/ACT AP Exams SAT Subject Tests Explore colleges/list Grades Activities SAT/ACT (if needed) Applications Financial Aid Get in

Anthony Russomanno ajrussomanno@gmail.com If you would like a copy. of this deck, email me.