Welcome College Athletic and Academic Scholarship Education Program

Dreams

Who Am I? 1) Coaches know first-hand! 2) College athletics made all the difference in my life.

You Are About to Learn 1) The benefits of becoming a college athlete. 2) What coaches & professors want in recruits. 3) Benefits of Good Grades! 4) The truth about the recruiting process. 5) How to find the right college to meet your academic and athletic needs.

Benefits of Being a Student-Athlete Better access to a college education. 2) More successful (86% NCAA grad rate) 3) Access to academic support services. 4) Experience (travel) 5) Networking (friends)

Benefits of Being a Student-Athlete 6) LIFE LESSONS: Winning & Losing with class B) Work ethic C) Teamwork and Unselfishness D) Competition and Production

Benefits of Being a Student-Athlete “Sports can encourage development of important values such as loyalty, perseverance, friendship, and solidarity.” – K.J. Wojtyla “Sports can give you an added advantage when you apply the lessons you learn to your professional life.” – Cliff Spinner

Benefits of Good Grades 1) Good grades greatly increase your chances of a college coach recruiting you. 2) Good study habits continue on to college. (Graduate Degree??) 3) NCAA Standards DEMAND it. 4) Much $$$$$$$ in unused academic scholarships.

It is a Challenge and a Privilege 7 mil + HS athletes/600,000 spots 800 contacts for 10 spots HOWEVER!!! Now > 50,000 college athletes than in 2005 CHANCES HAVE INCREASED!!

THESE NUMBERS ARE MUCH TOO SMALL!!!! It is a Challenge and a Privilege NCAA PROBABILITY OF COMPETING: MBkb = 3.1% BASE = 6.4% WBkb = 3.4% Hockey = 10.9% FB = 5.8% MSoc = 5.5% THESE NUMBERS ARE MUCH TOO SMALL!!!!

Athletic Scholarships Who is permitted to give? NAIA - yes JUCO – yes NCAA Division I – yes NCAA Division II – yes NCAA Division III – no

Athletic Scholarships … But not ALL can … Some D-III schools and other divisions can give much academic $$$ SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF POSSIBILITIES!!!

Other Types of Aid Go to Fast Web (www.fastweb.com) Institutional Academic Federal Outside (H.S., other) Go to Fast Web (www.fastweb.com)

Why So Many High School Athletes Get LEFT OUT 1) They did not understand the BUSINESS of recruiting; AND 2) They were not PROACTIVE and did not pursue their dreams!

The Recruiting BUSINESS TWO KEYS: 1) Providing Goods and Services (giving the customers, i.e. colleges-professors-coaches, what they want); 2) Marketing your goods and services (work ethic, brains and athleticism) to the right customers.

GOODS: What College Instructors Want 1) Responsibility 2) Integrity (Academic Honesty & Respect) 3) Reliability (Attendance!) 4) Communication 5) Interest (Preparation)

GOODS: What College Coaches Want 1) Good People - Respectful A. Appearance B. Respectful C. Classy not Trashy (FB, Cell, Tweets) D. Punctual!!!!! E. Community Involvement (TEAM-me) F. Accountability – Return all contacts!

GOODS: What College Coaches Want 2) Good Students A. Core GPA B. Decided area of interest (eligibility) C. ACT, SAT = as many times as possible

GOODS: What College Coaches Want 3) Good Athletes A. Great Work Ethic – EXTRA WORK! B. Well rounded (other sports) – OSU C. Team players (Trent and Bill)

MARKETING: Ready to Do Business 1) Honestly 2) Promptly – 60 seconds make up mind! 3) Professionally – don’t ask about campus trees or laundromats 4) Character Counts

MARKETING CAMPS 1) Attendance at them is a necessary evil. 2) Go to schools in which you are interested and have legitimate interest from coaches. 3) Organizational Showcases 4) Cannot go to all camps.

MARKETING TOOLS 1) Resume (profile) 2) Videos – skills and game 3) References (people to make calls) 4) National Directory of College Athletics

Can Your High School Coach Help? SURE!! After he or she is finished with: Doing lesson plans, teaching classes, attending faculty meetings, calling opposing coaches, meeting with own coaches, writing practice plans, contacting officials, scouting, attending clinics, running camps, fundraising, handling media, managing field/court, ordering equipment, and spending time with her/his family … When??? How????!!!!!!

THEN TAKE RESPONSIBILITY and D.I.Y.!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh… I Forgot About That THEN TAKE RESPONSIBILITY and D.I.Y.!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Steps to the Process of Finding a College 1) Get your grades up! Even if you don’t play!! 2) Ask yourself on a scale of 1-10 how badly you want to play a sport in college. 3) See www.eligibilitycenter.org and meet with your guidance counselor. 4) Have yourself evaluated athletically by a coach with the highest qualifications possible in your sport (unbiased).

Steps to the Process of Finding a College 5) Make a profile A. Short Intro about your goals B. All contact info C. All grades (core) and CORE GPA D. Test Scores E. References – 3 sport and 3 character F. Extra Curricular Activities G. Stats (not perfect; update periodically) H. Video

Steps to the Process of Finding a College 6) Access College Coach Contact Info: A. National Directory of College Athletics 7) Contact college coaches. Send them your information. 8) Set-up UNOFFICIAL visits to campus. 9) Attend 3-6 college sport-specific camps. 10) Narrow decision to three schools and pray, think, and debate hard about the best school for the next 50 years of your life.

Steps to the Process of Finding a College

Recruiting Services Honest? $3,500 and $57,400 Coaches involved? How much $$ are you willing to spend? You will spend time with them, anyway!

REVIEW Benefits of becoming S/A What coaches and professors want in S/A Benefits of good grades Successful navigation of recruiting

Finally… Do it now! YOU can do this! Never too early and it’s rarely too late! Advice: From a COLLEGE coach College athletics will enhance your life! Dream BIG!!

Brightway Center is… • A youth leadership and educational development organization based on Christian values and centered around athletics; • Brightway Center is located on a 220 acre campus in Smithfield, Ohio; • The mission of founder Kara Bright was to host and suitcase diverse programs and activities to sharpen minds, strengthen bodies, and foster spirit though character development and ethical leadership.

THANK YOU Mike Florak, Brightway Center Founder, C.A.A.S.E. Program mflorak@brightwaycenter.org 330.550.6069