Initial Eligibility & Beyond: The Other Rules of the Game Doreen C. Kelly February 12, 2011

Key Questions? How do you know if your son/daughter is being recruited? What can I do to help my son/daughter be prepared academically? The NCAA Eligibility Center Decision Making/Finding the Right Fit: Questions to ask, Factors to Consider

You Are Being Recruited If… A) If a college coach calls you at home twice, you are being recruited. Once is not enough. It must be twice. Why? B) If a college coach comes to your home field, court or course to specifically see you play, you are being evaluated and/or recruited. Time is precious for coaches and budgets are tight. When they spend time and money to see you play in person, they are interested in evaluating you in person and learning more about you as an athlete and person. C) If a college coach invites you on an official visit, you are being recruited. Official visits are not handed out like candy to everyone who walks by. Not to be confused with unofficial visits, when a coach invites you to spend time with the coaching staff and the team, you have made it to the final evaluation stage. Make the most of it because this is serious stuff.

You Are Not Being Recruited If… A) If you have received information about a college from that institution’s admissions office, you are not being recruited to play athletics. You are being enticed through a highly effective direct marketing program to consider attending that college your freshman year. B) If you have received a letter from a college coach asking for information about you in the form of an introductory letter and questionnaire, you are not being recruited. The good news, however, is that you are in the first stage of the evaluation process. Getting on the radar screen is the initial and most crucial stage of the process. The number of questionnaires you have tells you how many coaches know about you. Period.

You Are Not Being Recruited If (Cont.)… C) If a college coach sees you at a tournament, a travel or club team event or meet, you are not being recruited. While it is rare for college coaches to discover talent at these events (they usually enter the gates with a list of players they have already evaluated on paper and on tape). D) If you receive a letter from a coach saying that he or she will keep up with you during your senior year, you are not being recruited. Coaches have a long list of prospects and they will keep all their options open until they decide on the top few athletes they will decide to invite to their campus for official visits. E) If a college coach calls your high school or travel team coach to ask for information, you are not being recruited. Again, the good news is that if a coach has gotten to the stage of calling others about your abilities, you are at the very least on their list of players to seriously consider.

What can I do to help my child be prepared academically? The Sliding Scale – Core GPA and SAT/ACT Sample Sheetwww.ncaa.org 4 years of English 3 years of Math(Alg1 or higher) 2 years of natural /physical science (one must be a lab science) One additional year of English, math or science Two years of social science Four years of additional core courses such as foreign language, religion (non- doctrinal) and philosophy

Decision Making/Finding the Right Fit: Questions to ask, Factors to Consider

Personnel How long has the head coach been there? How long have the assistant coaches been there? Is the head coach secure, or is his/her status shaky? Is the head coach likely to move on during the athlete’s career? Is this position only a stepping-stone for the coach? Is the coach likely to retire before the athlete graduates? How long has the athletic director been there? Do the athletic director and head coach have a good relationship?

Program Will the school honor the scholarship if a career-ending injury occurs? Are freshmen typically red-shirted? What is the team’s style of play? Is it compatible with the athlete’s preferences and experience? Will the athlete have to change positions in college? What has been the transfer rate on the team? Is the program in good standing—is it under investigation? Are any sanctions looming? What types of players are being recruited? Have there been lots of one-year wonders that come and go?

Academic Aspects of the Program Are there majors that are discouraged? Does the coach limit majors because they are more time consuming, interfere with practices, or run a greater risk of ineligibility? Is the concern with maintaining eligibility or with helping student-athletes earn a meaningful degree? What are the most popular majors on the team? What have players majored in? Specific concentration? Why? What has been the graduation rate over the last five years? 10 years? What careers and and/or further education have players pursued over the last five years? 10 years? What types of career counseling programs are available?

Additional Thoughts… The Broken-Leg Test Basketball outside the ACC Recruited Walk-ons