So You Want to Play Sports in College; Here's how.

By: Daniel Z. Kane


Do you want to compete in intercollegiate athletics? If so, here's what you need to do.

First, do a reality check. If you are good enough to play basketball in the Big East or football in the SEC, coaches from those leagues and others would be taking so much of your time that you wouldn't have the 5 minutes you need to read this. Ask your coach and other knowledgeable people (not family or friends) which colleges might be interested in your athletic talents. Do some research of your own. Then make a list of possibilities and take it to your counselor to see which colleges might be a good fit for you. And, ask if he or she can add to the list.

Consider all important factors when building a list of colleges to contact. Don't choose a college for its athletic programs alone. Academics should, in fact, be your first consideration. In addition, location, size, campus environment, co-curricular opportunities, and special programs are among the factors you need to factor in to your decision.

Ruling out colleges because you have not heard of them can be a big mistake. Do you know about Georgia Southern's football program? Do you know that the University of Louisiana at Lafayette has a perennial top ten softball program and has been to the College World Series in baseball? These are just two examples of schools you may know nothing about that have great programs.

There are many kinds of scholarships and financial aid other than athletic scholarships. And, there are lots of good colleges with excellent athletic programs at levels other than NCAA Division I.

Keep in mind that the primary benefit of college is education. And, know that there are some coaches out there who care more about athletic performance than what you do in the classroom. If you encounter one, avoid him or her at all costs.

Make sure you read up on the operative regulations governing recruiting and consult with your high school coach if you have questions or concerns. Strict adherence to all (NCAA, NAIA, and/or NJCAA) regulations is critical.

Coaches aren't the only people who can help you learn about colleges. Communicate with admissions counselors too. They will often provide you with far more information than you can get from coaches.

Don't worry to much about listed college costs. What it will actually cost you may be far less.

Of course, some coaches are deluged with email and snail mail from high school athletes, so you may not get a quick response when you contact them. Give them a month, and then try again. You may never hear from some of them. Don't take it personally...it just means they are already talking to the folks they want and that they could use a lesson in etiquette.

Remember, even if a coach swamps you with emails, letters, or brochures, he or she may only be doing so to be polite or may be stringing you along as a possible alternative to the student-athletes he or she really wants. Knowing that, your smartest plan is to continue communicating with any coach who seems to be interested in you until you have accepted a firm offer. Don't close any doors early.

When you do accept a final offer, send a "thank you" note to all the coaches who showed interest in you...it's just good manners. And, you never know; you might want to transfer from the first college in which you enroll.

Article Source: http://www.articleyard.com


Information about the Author:

Daniel Z. Kane, now a university dean, is a former high school coach. You can find lots of helpful information on his websites about college how to get an athletic scholarship , and online colleges .
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