1. Grades Matter! Poor grades will limit the number of schools that will accept you academically, so it is very important to keep your grades up. Don’t limit your athletic recruiting options and miss out on a great school because you didn’t work hard in the classroom. Work on your Sport, but work on your grades more! It doesn't matter how much talent or skill you have; a college coach will not offer you a scholarship if he/she feels that you will not be eligible academically. Why should they waste a scholarship or a spot on their team with a recruit that will never earn any playing time because of academic ineligibility? It is in your best interest to prove, during high school, that you can take care of your academics as well as athletics. Taking care of business in the classroom helps open up more opportunities during the recruiting process. All else being equal, having better academics than another recruit just may be the factor that sets you apart from other student-athletes. Grades are the most important. Don’t slack in the classroom.
2. Test Early If you plan to attend a school that has SAT/ACT requirements, try to take these tests during your junior year of high school (if not earlier). The colleges will take your best scores from each section of each test. Most students see a 5% or more increase in their score when taking the test again. Often times college coaches will offer scholarships in the fall of a recruit’s senior year in high school, sometimes even sooner. If you have fulfilled your testing requirements and they know you will be able to be accepted by their school, it is that much easier for them to decide that you are a recruit they want.
3. Attitude Counts! If you think attitude goes unnoticed by college coaches during the recruiting process, think again. Just one player with a bad attitude can infect the entire team. Most coaches would rather have a team full of decent players who work hard, who play together as a team, and know how to pull together when it counts than a team full of all-stars incapable of playing together. You need to demonstrate your ability to work hard, support your teammates, be a leader, and most of all be coachable!
4. Contact College Coaches Do not be afraid to contact college coaches! You can call or meet with a coach at any point in your high school career. That’s right; you can call a coach whenever you want. The key here is that you are the one initiating contact with the coach and not the other way around. If you want to call a coach or visit a campus and set up a meeting with the coach, you may do so as often as you wish. If you’re a junior or a senior who has not yet heard from enough college coaches, it is imperative that you begin taking positive steps towards getting in contact with coaches as soon as possible. In other words, now!
5. Ask questions When you contact a college coach be sure to ask questions and show the coach that you are really interested in their school and sports program. No coach will respond to a message that only says "Hi Coach, you should check me out". Send Information! Too many student-athletes mistakenly think “If I’m good, someone will find me”. Don’t make this mistake! Guess What? College coaches can’t recruit you if they don’t know you exist. Put together a video, if possible, and send it to programs of your choice along with an athletic “resume” highlighting your achievements. Include stats, awards, high school transcripts, information on SAT/ACT scores, and letters of recommendation from coaches and teachers. Don’t forget your contact information.