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Recruiting - The Basics! The basic recruiting process has changed over the last 10 years, and most parents and/or players are not "up to speed" on these very important changes. As a parent, you need to understand the basics of the recruiting process prior to getting started. Not knowing these basics can cause "road blocks" (which wastes the players time, and the parents money). Players need to understand that it takes a lot of hard work and determination to play college basketball. A FEW MYTHS PERTAINING TO COLLEGE RECRUITING MYTH #1 - College coaches are going to show up at high school games and offer scholarships.
Although this was certainly the case many years ago, this has changed. College coaches from time to time may show up at a high school game, but mostly to see that one "superstar" player (or 6ft player) that is making all the headlines. Colleges located fairly close to a high school may visit frequently? Or not? These days, college coaches have a new venue to see high school players, and its called the "Showcase."
Think about this: Are most college coaches going to make a 4-5 hour trip (during their season) to see 1 player play in their high school game, or make a 4-5 hour trip to see 100 players play at a showcase? Times have changed, and now parents and players must change the way they prepare themselves for the challenge of landing a college basketball scholarship.
MYTH #2 - My High School coach did not get me a basketball scholarship, its all the coaches fault!
Wrong - High school coaches may not have access to information regarding college showcases, and even if they did, there is also the chance that a coach may not feel that they have any players that are capable of playing basketball at the college level...
* Always stay in communication with your High School and AAU coaches - keep them up to speed on your basketball goals and intentions. Discuss how they can assist with helping you to get an athletic scholarship. High School coaches are obligated to assist talented players with moving on to the next level (If this is not happening, you should have a discussion with your schools athletic director and ask them about it).
Players should not leave their basketball dreams in the hands of a coach that does not believe in them! Understand that there are many high school coaches that will work very hard to assist their players to the fullest, but also be aware that there are some that may not?
The bottom line: It is the players responsibility to discipline themselves to work extremely hard at becoming the best basketball player that they can be, and the parents responsibility must be to support the player - both financially and physically (help catch rebounds, drive them to workouts, etc). Having the information to assist you with a basic understanding of how the recruiting process works will only help players reach their goals quicker (or at least allow players to give it their best shot). Check out the AVCSS Sports Club publication "Guide to College Recruiting - The Basics" and get the information you need to get started in the right direction (See our Basketball Store for additional information).
DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU NEED TO BE AT THIS POINT?
Answer these questions: * How old are you? ________________
* What grade are you in? ___________
* Have you attended any college showcases? Yes or No?
* Do you know what a college showcase is? Yes or No?
* Are you a starter on your High School or AAU team? Yes or No?
* How many letters have you mailed to colleges? ____________
* Do you know the purpose of the NCAA Eligibility Center? Yes or No? |
Now, click on the link below to the file "When to Start - Checklist" to give yourself an idea of where you need to be and when you need to be there!
When to Start - Checklist - CLICK HERE!
WHAT SHOULD I BE DOING AT THIS POINT?
Click on the link below to the file "Checklist - Do this now" to evaluate exactly where you should be at this point in the recruiting process, and what you you need to do to get on track!
Checklist - Do This ASAP - CLICK HERE!
EVALUATIONS:
One of the most important steps that a player can take is to get a professional evaluation. Yes, there are plenty of ex-College / NBA / WNBA players that evaluate prospective basketball players for a living; they are called "Personal Trainers." It is very important for players to get a "professional" opinion from a "professional" player. Why? The sooner a player understands what they need to work on to become a better basketball player, the faster they can reach their goals of playing at the college level. Personal trainers are becoming more and more important to players trying to make it to the college level - Check out the "Personal Trainers" Menu on the home page for additional information about this subject.
HOW DO COACHES FIND PLAYERS? HOW DO PLAYERS FIND COACHES?
How do coaches find players? How do players put themselves in a position for coaches to find them?
How Coaches find the players they need:
It's called recruiting! Recruiting is the "heart and soul" of a college basketball program. Coaches have to make recruiting a high priority and work hard to get the best players into their programs.
How do players put themselves in a position for coaches to find them?
It's called promoting / marketing yourself! Players must let coaches know that they are out there. Players that take control of their own destiny increase their chances of landing a college scholarship (or at least are giving it everything they have). Sitting back and waiting for college coaches to find you while other players are contacting coaches may put you at a disadvantage.
Here is some additional information on how scholarships work that is available from the NCAA Website - "How Do Scholarships Work? - CLICK HERE! THE RECRUITING CALENDAR:The link below will take you to the page where you can select either the Men's Division I Recruiting calendar or the Women's Division I Recruiting calendar - Go to the NCAA website at CLICK HERE FOR THE NCAA RECRUITING CALENDAR PAGE to find updated recruiting information. Once you get to the NCAA recruiting calendar page, click on either D1 or D2 (Men's or Women's) Basketball. It is important to know and understand why, when, and where college coaches can contact and evaluate players, this information will help you.
* Quiet Period: Coaches may not have any in-person contact (other than on campus visits by players) or cannot watch the player play or visit a high school game during this time, but can call or write players).
* Evaluation Period: An evaluation is where coaches watch players practice or compete (this can include a high school game or showcase events), but no in-person or off campus contact is permitted.
* Contact Period: Coaches may have face to face contact with players away from the college (at the player's high school or showcase events, etc.).
* Dead Period: Coaches may not have any in-person contact with a player, but the coach may call or write the player during this period (no official or unofficial campus visits are permitted).
HERE ARE SOME FILES THAT WILL ASSIST YOU...
Men's DI Recruiting Guide - CLICK HERE!Men's DI Recruiting Calendar - CLICK HERE!Men's DII Recruiting Calendar - CLICK HERE!DII Recruiting Guide (Men's and Women's) - CLICK HERE!Women's DI Recruiting Guide - CLICK HERE!Women's DI Recruiting Calendar - CLICK HERE!Women's DII Recruiting Calendar - CLICK HERE!
THE COLLEGE SHOWCASE:
The #1 thing that you need to concentrate on and prepare for are College Showcases!
* Players must work hard all year round to ensure they are in basketball shape and their skills are sharp! Why pay all that money to attend a showcase and show up unprepared? The most important part of the showcase is the game, and how a player performs. Any player can sign up for a showcase, but if they are not prepared when they show up, it will be a waste of time. Players must do something in the game to catch the attention of the coaches. It could be defense, post moves, speed, or shooting? It just has to be something that a coach is looking for (and every coach is looking for something different).
Dates / How to find them?
There are only certain months of the year that there will be showcases - Usually during the months of March, July, and September. And then team related showcases during April and May. Depending on what part of the country you live in will depend on how to find them.
For more information on showcases go to the Show Cases menu on the home page!
To locate more information regarding showcases - CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE SHOWCASE SECTION and also to the Links Page (College Showcases). Other Helpful Guides / Files Related to Recruiting… * NCAA - Guide to College Bound Athlete 2010-2011 - CLICK HERE! * NLI Guide (National Letter of Intent) Guide - CLICK HERE! * Transcript Release Form - CLICK HERE! Courtesy of the NCAA Website!
AVCSS Sports Club has the basic information to get you started in the right direction - "You need the basics, these are the basics." Check out these two very important publications available from AVCSS Sports Club!
"Guide to College Recruiting - The Basics" 2nd Edition
 Includes Common mistakes made, Myths and Realities, Checklists, Evaluations, Eligibility, Academics, The Recruiting Calendar, Stats, Showcases and Camps, The video, Sample letters to send out, Phone calls and questions to ask coaches, FAFSA info, Useful files and forms. All information is simplified, and easy to read and understand, lets you know where you are and where you need to be! CD-ROM includes ready to use forms. (36 pgs). Check the Basketball Store for more Information. Only $19.95 for Booklet and CD-ROM (can't beat this price for this much information). CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION!and
"Summer Workout for High School Players  The Off-season and Summer months are the most important times of the basketball season, and critical to the skill development of players hoping to play at the college level some day. There is too much competition out there, and to make it, you must work hard! This Booklet and CD-ROM has a designed program that will get players going in the right direction. CD-ROM is packed with video clips of drills, and ready to use forms. (12 pgs). Only $8.95 for Booklet and CD-ROM (can't beat this price for this much Information). CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION!
Both of these booklets provide basic guidelines and information needed to get both the parents and players started in the right direction. Why waste time and money finding out basic recruiting information on your own when it's already available to you? I have experience and personally used the information and the process shown in the "Guide to College Recruiting - The Basics" publication to assist my daughters with landing their basketball scholarships (2 for 2 - not bad). Additionally, both my daughters used the program in "Summer Workout for High School Players" during the off-season months. Check it out! It works!
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Recruiting 
