89. LM Josh Frazier 6-4, 330, 5.10 Springdale-Har-Ber, AR

Here’s another ball player that I believe could be better served on the
offensive line, although he has played DT in high school. A Buddhalike
DT with good initial burst, terrifi c balance, and superior strength.
Not much of a pass rusher but he stuffs the run as well as any DT in
the country. He’s also a standout in track and in basketball.

88. LB Dwight Williams 6-2, 230, 4.65 Gardena-Junipero Serra, CA

I had seen Dwight’s fi lm last season but did not meet him in person
until this past April and came away very impressed. He already has the
build of a college LB to go with the tenacity, aggressiveness, instincts,
and speed to the ball needed to become an impact backer in college.

87. LM Demetrius Knox 6-5, 285, 5.3 Fort Worth All Saints, TX

The #1 DT prospect in the state of Texas has proven to be very diffi
cult to move out of the way. I watched his junior fi lm after meeting
Demetrius last December and came away with the thought that he
might be better served at the LT position, but he prefers DT. What I’ve
seen on the offensive side of the ball is an All-American in waiting
with the agility, flexibility, and motor the college scouts love to see. He
could wind up playing either tackle or guard in college. Committed to
TEXAS.

86. DL Demarcus Christmas 6-4, 290, 4.9 Bradenton Manatee, FL

It looks to be a very good year for NG/DT prospects and one of the
very best is #90 Mr. Christmas. It’s not Christmas for the opposition
when Demarcus is on his game. A bull rusher, he recorded 75 tackles
and 9 sacks as a junior. He loves to mix it up in the trenches and shows
good change of direction. He plays the game on his feet and dominates
the point of attack. Committed to FLORIDA STATE.

85.  DL Andrew Williams 6-4, 245, 4.7 McDonough-Eagle’s Landing, GA

Here’s another Peach State standout whose stats cannot be denied. He
recorded 65 tackles, 18 QB sacks, and 3 caused fumbles as a junior
on his way to earning All-State mention. He helped lead his team to
a state championship. Has the frame to weigh 270 and the burst to
become a successful pass rusher.

84. LB Korie Rogers 6-2, 213, 4.2 Buford, GA

The think that separates Korie from the rest of the top LB prospects
in the state of Georgia is his blazing speed. As quick as a cat, he can
get to the ball in a hurry, does a great job of discarding blockers, and
hammering ball carriers. He has totaled over 100 tackles, picked off
7 passes, and was credited with 12 QB sacks as a junior on his way to
earning 1st Team All-State honors.

83. OL Mason Cole 6-5, 280, 5.1 Tarpon Springs-East Lake, FL

I sat down with Mason, his teammates, and his coach at East Lake
High School back in January. After watching him on film and talking
to him in person, I believe he has what it takes to become the next
big thing, as far as offensive linemen are concerned, at the University
of Michigan. He’s athletic, nasty, smart, and technically superior to
just about any other offensive linemen in the south. Committed to
MICHIGAN.

82. WR Trey Quinn 6-1, 196, 4.39 Lake Charles Barbe, LA

Let’s face it, although Trey has decent height at 6-1 and blazing speed
at 4.39, it’s his stats that can’t be denied. Caught passes good for
2,094 yds and 22 TDs averaging 18 yds per catch as a junior. A go-to
guy, he catches everything within reach and has the work ethic to
exceed big-time at the next level. The scouts are also impressed with
his 35″ VJ and his 21.9 200 meter time. He should become an instant
impact player as a true freshman.

81. OL Quenton Nelson 6-5, 290, 5.1 Red Bank Catholic, NJ

The top OL prospect in the east, he comes off the ball with strength,
quickness, desire, and aggressiveness. Very difficult to handle one one-
one, he can split the double-team and can play either tackle or
guard. He seems effortless moving back into pass protection and
really knows how to use his hands.

80.  DL Derrick Nnadi 6-3, 300, 5.0 Virginia Beach Ocean Lakes, VA

We took out summer magazine front cover picture at this high school
in March, but I had already known about Mr. Nnadi. On film #65
dominates the point of attack and is super strong with exceptionally
quick feet, balance, and drive. He recorded 14 QB sacks as a junior
on his way to earning All-Tidewater honors.

79. DL Dylan Thompson 6-5, 275, 4.8 Lombard Montini, IL

I first watched Dylan play last season and came away very impressed.
He’s big, strong, and quick. His junior fi lm is as good as any defensive
linemen in the Midwest. Has the potential to dominate. Committed
to OHIO STATE.

The post Tom Lemming’s Top 100 Rising Seniors:89-79 appeared first on NCSA Athletic Recruiting Blog.

Academics play a big role in recruiting, and that’s why being able to show a solid academic resume is as important as having a great skills video or impressive stats. Coaches evaluate recruits based on more than just athletic talent. The academic ability of recruits is extremely important to college coaches. With summer approaching, stay focused these last few weeks and keep those grades up. Remember, it’s a lot easier to drop your GPA than it is to increase it.

Be sure to know your academic requirements

Academic requirements for athletic eligibility vary slightly depending upon which level of college you attend. Every school has academic standards, and you need to be prepared to meet them.

NCAA Division I

• Sliding scale that matches ACT and SAT scores with your core grade-point average
• A minimum GPA of 2.0 in required core courses

NCAA Division II

• Minimum ACT sum score of 68 or an SAT score of 820
• A minimum GPA of 2.0 in required core courses

NCAA Division III

• Academic standards for athletes are not determined by the NCAA Eligibility Center. Athletes in Division III are required to meet the same overall academic standards required by the university or college for all students.

NAIA (Student-athletes must meet two of these three.)

• Minimum score of 18 on the ACT or 860 on the SAT
• Minimum overall high school grade point average of 2.0
• Graduate in the top half your high school class

Given the new college rules, an athlete can no longer get by with low grades, nor can the student retain scholarship. Bad grades can be very expensive. College is not easy, even for students who are able to devote the bulk of their time to classes and studying. For a student who is also spending a great deal of time playing sports, good study habits and a committed work ethic are non-negotiable.

Make sure you’re working just as hard in the classroom as you are on the field. Map out your recruiting game plan and start seeking out scholarship opportunities by  Clicking here, or call 866-579-6272 to speak to a recruiting expert.

The post Finish Your Academic Year Strong appeared first on NCSA Athletic Recruiting Blog.

For information on the recruiting process call 866-495-7727  or click here to create a free recruiting profile and start connecting with over 1700 colleges.

The post How Do you Get on A Coaches Recruiting List appeared first on NCSA Athletic Recruiting Blog.

# 100:  ATH Kalen Ballage 6-2, 221, 4.37 Falcon, CO

The #1 prospect in the state of Colorado already looks like he’s ready
for the pros. A big, muscular two-way player, he averaged over 10
yds per carry on offense catching 17 passes for 520 yds. He totaled
55 tackles at OLB. A rising star and a potential All-American.

#99: RB Adam Choice 5-9, 195, 4.56 Thomasville-Thomas County Central, GA

I spent several hours with Adam and his coach down in south Georgia
this past January and was impressed with Adam at the QB position.
He threw for over 600 yds and rushed for 1,658 yds and 23 TDs
showing great running instincts. Will play RB in college. Despite a
lack of height, he’s a load to bring down and very strong in the leg
showing good balance and burst. He’s the cousin of Tashard Choice
and Joe Burns.

#98:  OL Alex Bars 6-6, 275, 4.9 Nashville-Montgomery Bell Academy, TN

I interviewed Alex’s dad, Joe Bars, back in 1984 before Joe signed
with Notre Dame. He has had two other sons, one signed with Michigan
and one signed with Penn State. And now, along come Alex, the
most heavily recruited of the family and for good reason. I saw Alex
play last October in Nashville and was impressed with his quickness
off the ball, ability to slide outside to cut off edge rushers, he moves
effortlessly, and is quick enough to effectively block out on the second
level. Runs very well for a 275 pounder.

#97: WR Noah Brown 6-2, 220, 4.6 Sparta Pope John Paul XXIII

Listed as a future All-American in last summer’s magazine and has
done nothing to disprove that. He’s a big, physical receiver with deceptive
speed and super strong hands. He has what it takes to become
a dominating receiver in college.

#96:  LB Vincent Jackson 6-3, 237, 4.6 Tampa Jesuit, FL
Another good-sized, quick to the ball, and very productive LB, he
can play either inside or outside at the next level. Shows great overall
strength, awareness, and instincts to the ball. Recorded 70 tackles and
13 sacks in 2012.

#95: DB Ronnie Clark 6-3, 212, 4.59 Calera, AL

He could wind up playing FS, SS, or OLB in college. He has played
SS most of his prep career. The scouts are impressed with his hardhitting
style of play. He loves to mix it up showing great range, football
instincts, and is a sure tackler. He’s also a standout in basketball
and comes from a very athletic family. His brother, Laguerhin Allen,
played at Grambling; he had a cousin in the Canadian League; and
also another cousin who played at Alabama.

#94:DL Andrew Trumbetti 6-5, 251, 4.6 Demarest Northern Valley, NJ

A big, muscular pass rushing DE who is as physical as they come. He
loves to mix it up, shows a quick burst, and is excellent in pursuit.
Committed to NOTRE DAME.

93:OL Derick Roberson 6-4, 230, 4.6 San Antonio Brennan, TX

Speed, quickness, and strength are three words to describe #94, he’s
another good edge rusher who totaled 12 sacks and 25 QB hurries as
a junior to go with 33 tackle for losses. Committed to TEXAS.

92: OL Jamarco Jones 6-5, 285, 5.2 Chicago-De La Salle, IL

Not yet the dominating player he should become in college, but did
improve by leaps and bounds between his sophomore and junior year.
He plays in the heralded Chicago Catholic League and impressed
everyone with his run blocking ability. Blessed with long arms and
quick feet.

91: WR Demarre Kitt 6-1, 200, 4.6 Tyrone-Sandy Creek, GA

The state’s most prolific pass catcher in 2012, he caught 74 passes for
1,231 yds and 11 TDs on his way to earning 1st Team All-State honors.
Not super big, but has excellent quickness, runs precise routes, and can
catch everything within reach.

90: DL Qualen Cunningham 6-3, 235, 4.6 Chandler Hamilton, AZ

I went to this school to check out Casey Tucker, but head coach Steve
Belles brought out five other top prospects including #2 Mr. Cunningham.
His fi lm shows a super quick 235 pounder who comes off
the edge like no one’s business, uses his hands well, and shows good
closing speed. He could weigh 270 in college.

For information on the recruiting process call 866-495-7727  or click here to create a free recruiting profile and start connecting with over 1700 colleges.

The post Tom Lemming’s Top 100 Rising Seniors : 100-90 appeared first on NCSA Athletic Recruiting Blog.

1)    

No matter what season your sport is summer is a great time to get in shape. Unless you are playing a club sport you are most likely not in season during the summer, with no school and no practice this give you ample time to work out. Improve your cardio, strength, flexibility and balance. Even if you are playing a club sport throughout the summer, you should be spending an ample amount of time improving your overall endurance. The biggest difference between high school athletics and college athletics is speed and endurance. Many top high school athletes are blown away by the intensity and speed of their sport at the next level. The more in shape you can get in high school the better recruit you will look to college coaches and the more prepared you will be when you get to the next level.

2)     Study

But its summer? Summer is not an excuse to blow of your academics. Sophomores and juniors this is especially critical for you. ACT/SAT prep should be on the brain, start practicing and studying for those tests. Look into Kaplan’s test prep services; start taking free practice test online. A great tip is to have your parent’s time you just like the real test, that way you’ll be more prepared for the strict time constraints. Junior’s summer is also a great time to start registering for these tests, and seniors register for more testing times improving your score by 1 or 2 points can mean the difference between thousands of dollars of scholarship dollars.

3)     Take Visits

If you’re an underclassman start taking unofficial visits this summer.  Look at schools nearby to avoid excessive cost, on each visit make sure to take note of what you like and what you don’t. Upper classman start taking unofficial visits that you are seriously interested in attending, this will help you narrow down which schools you are more serious about and what schools you want to take official visits too. Do prior research about the coaching staff, the current players and the academic program. This way, you’ll impress the college coaches with your knowledge of their team and their school.

4)     Camps and Combines

Camps are a great time to improve your skills. Whether it’s a one day camp or several days long, you can learn a lot from coaches who don’t see you play every day like your high school or club coach. Camps are also a chance to go up against some tough competition especially if you play in a smaller division. However

there’s a myth out there that camps are a way to get “discovered” by college coaches – that’s just not true. When a coach goes to a camp, he or she is going there to check out athletes they know about and have been in touch with. Before the event, make sure you reach out to college coaches who are running or attending the event. Introduce yourself, tell them you will be attending, and show them your athletic profile with highlight film. This will put you on the coaches’ radar and if they are interested, they’ll be paying closer attention to you as a prospect during the event. You have to remember that recruits don’t get discovered at camps or combines; only athletes with a prior relationship with the college coach will be evaluated.

Bonus Tip: NCSA recommends going to several one day camps instead of one or two three day camps. One day camps allow you to experience other coaching styles, see campuses and learn a lot from a great coach. There is less diversity at 3 day camps. Ask coaches or hosts about prorating a 3 day camp for 1 day, most are willing to accommodate.

5)     Work on your recruiting

Summer is a great time to start putting a lot of effort into your recruiting. Reach out to coaches, update your profile and be as proactive as possible. Coaches will take a small break during summer but most will continue to build recruiting lists, and actively look for athletes to fill their open roster spots with. Just make sure your on one of those lists.

6)     Relax

Between practicing, working out and working on your recruiting remember to relax a little bit. Both your body and mind need some time to regenerate after a long school year and season. Play your sport with some friends and remember exactly why you fell in love with it, take a vacation with your family and get lots of sleep! You will only go through high school one time, it’s important to have some fun and enjoy it!

For more information on the recruiting process call 866-495-7727  or click here to create a free recruiting profile and start connecting with over 1700 colleges.

The post Schools Out! 6 Steps To Take This Summer to Improve Your Scholarship Chances appeared first on NCSA Athletic Recruiting Blog.

1)    

No matter what season your sport is summer is a great time to get in shape. Unless you are playing a club sport you are most likely not in season during the summer, with no school and no practice this give you ample time to work out. Improve your cardio, strength, flexibility and balance. Even if you are playing a club sport throughout the summer, you should be spending an ample amount of time improving your overall endurance. The biggest difference between high school athletics and college athletics is speed and endurance. Many top high school athletes are blown away by the intensity and speed of their sport at the next level. The more in shape you can get in high school the better recruit you will look to college coaches and the more prepared you will be when you get to the next level.

2)     Study

But its summer? Summer is not an excuse to blow of your academics. Sophomores and juniors this is especially critical for you. ACT/SAT prep should be on the brain, start practicing and studying for those tests. Look into Kaplan’s test prep services; start taking free practice test online. A great tip is to have your parent’s time you just like the real test, that way you’ll be more prepared for the strict time constraints. Junior’s summer is also a great time to start registering for these tests, and seniors register for more testing times improving your score by 1 or 2 points can mean the difference between thousands of dollars of scholarship dollars.

3)     Take Visits

If you’re an underclassman start taking unofficial visits this summer.  Look at schools nearby to avoid excessive cost, on each visit make sure to take note of what you like and what you don’t. Upper classman start taking unofficial visits that you are seriously interested in attending, this will help you narrow down which schools you are more serious about and what schools you want to take official visits too. Do prior research about the coaching staff, the current players and the academic program. This way, you’ll impress the college coaches with your knowledge of their team and their school.

4)     Camps and Combines

Camps are a great time to improve your skills. Whether it’s a one day camp or several days long, you can learn a lot from coaches who don’t see you play every day like your high school or club coach. Camps are also a chance to go up against some tough competition especially if you play in a smaller division. However

there’s a myth out there that camps are a way to get “discovered” by college coaches – that’s just not true. When a coach goes to a camp, he or she is going there to check out athletes they know about and have been in touch with. Before the event, make sure you reach out to college coaches who are running or attending the event. Introduce yourself, tell them you will be attending, and show them your athletic profile with highlight film. This will put you on the coaches’ radar and if they are interested, they’ll be paying closer attention to you as a prospect during the event. You have to remember that recruits don’t get discovered at camps or combines; only athletes with a prior relationship with the college coach will be evaluated.

Bonus Tip: NCSA recommends going to several one day camps instead of one or two three day camps. One day camps allow you to experience other coaching styles, see campuses and learn a lot from a great coach. There is less diversity at 3 day camps. Ask coaches or hosts about prorating a 3 day camp for 1 day, most are willing to accommodate.

5)     Work on your recruiting

Summer is a great time to start putting a lot of effort into your recruiting. Reach out to coaches, update your profile and be as proactive as possible. Coaches will take a small break during summer but most will continue to build recruiting lists, and actively look for athletes to fill their open roster spots with. Just make sure your on one of those lists.

6)     Relax

Between practicing, working out and working on your recruiting remember to relax a little bit. Both your body and mind need some time to regenerate after a long school year and season. Play your sport with some friends and remember exactly why you fell in love with it, take a vacation with your family and get lots of sleep! You will only go through high school one time, it’s important to have some fun and enjoy it!

For more information on the recruiting process call 866-495-7727  or click here to create a free recruiting profile and start connecting with over 1700 colleges.

The post Schools Out! 6 Steps To Take This Summer to Improve Your Scholarship Chances appeared first on NCSA Athletic Recruiting Blog.

Brad Dancer, the head men’s tennis coach at the University of Illinois, had some valuable things to share with families.

On how unofficial visits have become more important: “My first year here at Illinois was nine years ago and we had 3 or 4 unofficial visits. This year we had over 30 unofficial visits, including 5 or 6 from sophomores and 2 or 3 from freshmen.”

On how unofficial visits have become more like official visits: “We try to make them similar to official visits. We have the recruit visit with academic staff, look at the facilities, meet with the strength and conditioning coach and if it is a big name recruit we try to arrange a meeting with our athletic director. We have a tour of campus but the most important thing is their time with our student-athletes.”

On recruiting: “The world I like to use is ‘dynamic’ because there is so much going on. The recruits are searching. The college coaches are also searching. It is an always changing dynamic. We could put an offer out and then a week later another recruit accepts our earlier offer so that changes the other offer. Then there is the unexpected addition and subtraction of losing a player to grades or injuries, so it is always changing.”

Angela Wilson, head women’s tennis coach at the University of Cincinnati, was on the panel with us and shared these observations:

On academics: “Can a recruit cope academically? Our team GPA at Cincinnati is 3.4 so your academics needs to be strong. No one on my team is going to play pro tennis. It is about getting a great education.”

Advice to  families going through recruiting: “When you are taking visits, ask yourself if you could spend 5 hours in a van with them going to a road contest. Spend a lot of time getting to know the players because you all will be around each other a lot. At Cincinnati, we have morning practice, so it is tennis in the morning, classes in the afternoon, studying in the evening and then you get up and do it all again. It’s hard but the good news is you have a bunch of like-minded girls beside you doing the same thing, and when the experience is over you look back on it as a great experience. It prepares you for life.”

Maria Cercone was on the panel. A former D1 tennis player at Pittsburgh, she has a daughter playing tennis at Florida and another daughter who played at Seton Hall and then Florida State. Maria is a tennis coach in the Tampa area.

On recruiting: “The most important thing I say to families and recruits is get educated right away on the recruiting process. I tell my tennis players to give me 20 schools and then I start helping them narrow them down, with what’s realistic and not based on their tennis abilities. Character and how you act are so important. College coaches ask me about that and I have to be honest or I will lose their trust. If they ask me if a player has a good work ethic, I have to be straight with them. If they don’t have a good work ethic, I tell the college coach.”

On her college athletics experience and her daughters: “My youngest was the number 2 ranked recruit in the country. She is now at Florida. My oldest was in the top 100 in Florida, but that is a lot different than number 2 in the nation. She signed with Seton Hall. You have to be evaluated to know what kind of schools you an realistically target. My youngest got a full ride at Seton Hall but when she got there the coach got fired and she did not like the new coach. That is why it is important to love the school because your coach could change. She struggled to stay and transferred to Florida State. Don’t go to a school just because of the coach. It happened to me at Pitt. The coach that recruited me got fired.”

David Benjamin, executive director of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, had these observations from his panel position:

“To parents, as one that besides coaching at Princeton for many years has also studied American Civilization, I do think we as a country are developing a real problem with a sense of entitlement. There isn’t anything in our Constitution that says if you as a parent take your child to lessons and travel tournaments that in return you will get a tennis scholarship. Very few will play at Wimbledon. Hopefully they will focus on their college education.”

Mark Bey, a highly regarded tennis player development coach in Chicago, had contributions such as these:

“Be a great doubles player. If you can’t play doubles, your singles have to be that much better to get scholarships. Another thing is if you have a 21-2 record or something like that in matches that go the distance, have a way of letting the college coaches know that because then they will realize you perform under pressure.”

Everyone on the panel talked about the importance of getting an honest appraisal of where you are in recruiting now. It is important to be educated by credible 3rd party sources to find out what level your son or daughter best fits at academically and athletically. You can talk to a NCSA National Scout to get evaluated and receive the assistance and education that all student-athletes should have while trying to get to the next level. Call a scout now at 866-495-7727 or click here to start the process.

Charlie Adams is a motivational speaker and the author of 4 books on peak performance and the power of attitude, including 2013′s How to Build a Positive Attitude and KEEP the Darn Thing! (Corby Books, Notre Dame). As a sports anchor for a quarter of a century, he covered the recruiting process closely and often speaks on the subject for NCSA. As a speaker, he constantly has corporate leaders tell him they look to hire former college athletes because of their ability to manage time, their competitive spirits, team play, and leadership abilities. For more information on his motivational programs you can go to StokeTheFireWithin.com.

The post Things you need to know about unofficial visits, finding the right fit and more! appeared first on NCSA Athletic Recruiting Blog.

The men’s and Women’s Basketball Rules Committee held their annual meetings recently and has proposed the following rule changes:

• Men’s Basketball:
  • Block/Charge Call – A defensive player is not permitted to move into the path of an offensive player once he has started his upward motion with the ball to attempt a field goal or pass. If the defensive player is not in legal guarding position by the time, it is a blocking foul.
• Women’s Basketball:
  • 10- Second backcourt rule – Teams will now only have 10 seconds to cross the mid-court line.
  • NCAA women’s basketball is the only level in the sport throughout the world that does not have a backcourt rule in place

All proposed rule changes by the committee must be approved by the Playing Rules Oversight Panel on June 18^th before becoming effective for the 2013-2014 season.

Committee on Women’s Athletics asks to add triathlon as an emerging sport – Up and coming Sport!

• The CWA is asking all three NCAA divisions to submit proposals in the 2013-2014 legislative cycle to add triathlon as an emerging sport for women.
• To achieve championship-sport status, emerging sports must gain at least 40 varsity NCAA programs for individual and team sports within 10 years or show steady progress toward that goal.
• Institutions are allowed to use emerging sports to help meet minimum sports-sponsorship and financial aid requirements.
• Women’s ice hockey, bowling, water polo and rowing all successfully achieved championship status after starting as an emerging sport.

NAIA Approves New Member Institutions and a New Conference

• Dalton State College in Georgia and Presentation College in South Dakota have been approved as active members, while University of Antelope Valley in California is a new associate member seeking accreditation.
• The North Star Athletic Association was approved as a new conference and includes five members for 2013-2014 located in North and South Dakota.

NAIA: Mid-State Football Association Welcomes New Members – NEW FOOTBALL MEMBERS!

• Missouri Baptist University and Lindenwood University-Belleville will become members of the MSFA’s Midwest League in 2015-2016.
• Missouri Baptist has yet to being intercollegiate football but is in the process of recruiting its first class of prospective football student athletes for the 2014-2015 season, while Lindenwood completed their first full season of intercollegiate football in 2012.

NAIA: Legislative Services Enhanced

Go to NAIA.org/legislative for legislative briefs regarding:

• Official/Policy Handbook
• Topics for coaches
• Convention legislation
• Violation reports, forfeits and NAIA governance

Update: Florida Bill

• The Proposal that would have changed the Florida High School Athletic Association and eased rules on student transfers died in the State Senate.

The post The latest from the NCAA, NAIA and High School athletics. New rules, new sports and new member institutions! appeared first on NCSA Athletic Recruiting Blog.

What is the difference between unofficial and official visits?

An unofficial visit is any visit to a college or university campus that is not funded by the institution. An official visit is when an institution pays for the visit. This includes travel, meals, etc.

What will happen during my official visit?

Every official visit is different but usually coaches will match recruits with team members who will host them around campus. The hosts will take them to any sporting events, walk them around campus and take them to social events. But remember the hosts are always evaluating the student athletes and whether or not they will fit in with the team and be a positive asset. So be on your best behavior, be courteous and respectful but most of all be yourself you should be evaluating the team and whether or not you would fit in yourself.

When do they start?

Official visits are allowed beginning the first day of your senior year.

What Should I wear?

How many official visits can I take?’

You may take only 1 official visit per college. For Division I schools, you are allowed 5 total official visits at 5 separate institutions. For Division II and III, there is no limit on the number of official visits you can take, but still only one per school.

What does an official visit mean?

If a college coach asks you to come for an official visit that means you are a top prospect. Official visits are only given to student-athletes who are very high on the coach’s recruiting list.

Coach Taylor’s Tip on Official Visits

Student athletes should make the most of official visits. Athletes should walk around campus and get a feel for the atmosphere. Do the students seem friendly? Is this a place they can imagine living for the next four years? Student- athletes might also want to try to meet the team, sit in a class, or watch a practice. They need to be sure this is a school they would want to attend if athletics were not part of the picture. This might also be time for student-athletes to arrange an interview with a department head or academic advisor.

Generally, coaches offer official visits only to their top recruits. The number of official visits a college offers varies by division, sport, and the school’s budget.

If a coach offers an athlete an official visit, the student is most likely very high on the coach’s list.

 For more information on the recruiting process call 866-495-7727  or click here to create a free recruiting profile and start connecting with over 1700 colleges.

The post Official Visits 101 appeared first on NCSA Athletic Recruiting Blog.

Back in Fiji, I was never a track thrower or involved in any track and field events, I’ve always played rugby, soccer and basketball. I never knew anything about hammer throwing until November, 2011. I was a student athlete at San Jose City College, a great school. A track coach, David Flynn always saw me training a lot at the track and saw my potential of becoming a thrower. He asked me if I could throw, I started laughing and told him that I have never thrown before in my life. The he said “I can teach you how to throw”. I agreed. I started throwing shot-put, javelin and discus. Last year, 2012 I started throwing hammer, taught by my coach and his close friend, Army commander in the Air Force, Michael Mai, Olympian.

It was quite hard and scary at first because of its techniques but I had to get used to it. So I started throwing from 40 feet to 120-130 feet for just three months of practicing. Not forgetting that I was also the only girl thrower last year, quite a challenge but it was fun for me because I got to lift, throw and hang out with the guys and it makes me feel tough. Seeing my team mates lifting, I wanted to lift too and show them that I am strong. It makes me feel good too because by knowing this, I get better every day. I got excited knowing that this could be my passion. As the season started, I did well in track but to be honest, when it came half way into the season around April, 2012, I was going through some obstacles, training and trying to make it to class early. Sometimes I would sleep in class, sometimes I couldn’t make it because I was sick, but I never gave up.

Early January I moved to Texas an enrolled in at Collin College, located at McKinney, Texas. They had no track team but I knew that there was going to be a way for me, I didn’t even care whether they had one or not, as long as I could practice. I could practice at University Of North Texas is a good school. They had a great throwing coach. Even though he wanted to train me, he couldn’t because that would be against the NCAA rules. He allowed me to use their hammer ring to throw whenever I wanted. That’s when I knew that this is what I really love. Hammer throwing is my passion now.  As long as I can throw hammer, go to classes trying to get my degree, I know I’m on the right track. I prayed every day, hoping that someday soon I’ll get a scholarship for track and field. My family was very supportive but we couldn’t do anything about it, I just had to keep practicing because I know that something good will happen, I know there’s something there. My mom from California was kept thinking about me and my career. She knew how dedicated I am to this, she also know it’s my passion. She was just desperate about me getting scholarships so she cried asking God for wisdom to show her what she can do to help me get a scholarship. She was sad and hurt hoping that I would get a breakthrough. It came to her heart to search for scholarships help on Google and the first site that popped up was the NCSA Sports website. She then put her faith in gear and applied even though she did not know who they were or what they do. After she applied, the NCSA called her for the first time to set up our conference. After their conversation, mom did a research on them; the NCSA Sports website is known worldwide to be the National Collegiate Scouting Association, she found out that this is great recruiting website for all athletes that are willing to take their sport events to the next level, which is from high school to college. NCSA has helped so many young athletes get scholarships to colleges from all divisions in all different states. She finally knew that this was a blessing that God heard her anguish and gave us NCSA.

That whole time, I did not know what was going on because I was in school. I came home few hours later and saw my dad getting excited but being quiet about this whole thing that was going on. He told me that my mom was going to call me with good news, then I received her call few minutes later, she told me about the NCSA. They told her that they will help me get a scholarship, it doesn’t matter where I stand or where I live, and they will help me get to wherever I want to go to with my career in sports and education. I got so excited because even though my mom told me she had been praying for me, I was also on my knees every night praying to God. Sometimes I would pray aggressively to Him because I believed that what I was doing is at least right. I believe I could go far with this. I even asked God for someone who knows hammer throw to just see me throw because I love this sport event for it is my passion.

As times passed by, I became to enjoy talking to the NCSA recruiters. They took me throughout the site exploring what it is like to actually get scholarships. They said that it is just like getting paid to throw. They taught me everything, from updating my profile, to uploading my videos. to attending classes online with other athletes through this great athletes recruiting site and they even sent me sample letters on how I could talk to coaches. They allowed me to take as many recruiting classes as I can, they were available for longer hours and they helped me update my recruiting profile step by step before submitting them to colleges all over the United States. After updating my profile they then sent it to different college. So from there, I started praying with my family hoping that this would really work. I logged in after, seeing all this schools viewing my biography, 70-120 views from different colleges. From then I couldn’t believe that my mark was that important that more than 50 schools would view my profile every day. Few days later, I started receiving emails from different schools. I’m talking about different divisions from 1-3 including the National Athletic Intercollegiate Association Divisions. I can’t imagine the amount of text messages and calls I get from coaches. All I can say is that I felt like an important athlete. For the first time in my life, I never felt respected and appreciated. I thought it was not going to be real but it was. I knew that at least what I was doing is right. I knew I was really on the right track this time. This was a turning point for me. The NCSA has helped me and my family a lot. They really did put me out there. I believed that my hard work has been paid off now. All the schools that emailed me are all the good schools but I had to come up with only one. I chose a school that I communicate a lot with. A good Christian school, a school that had great facilities and great degree programs for their students. I just love it when coaches call me; it makes me feel special and important.

As a student athlete, I suggest you join the NCSA as well, this site is not just for me, it’s for you as well, I’m not the only important athlete here, you’re important too. I want you to take a look at their site, take your time and read what’s on that site. I’m one of the athletes the NCSA helped secured a scholarship. The good thing about them is that when you join, you will be an official member for life. This is an opportunity for you. Doors will be opened if only you read this. I just hope that when you join, BE PREPARED FOR THAT JOURNEY TOWARDS SUCCESS. Make your family proud, make your parents proud. Leave a mark for everyone to remember you so that wherever you go, you will always be remembered. As of Friday 19th April 2013 I declared and signed the Official Letter Of Intent. I’m officially offered a scholarship with the NCCAA Division 1 member- The Trinity Lutheran College, State of Washington. I will be joining Trinity in the fall of this year doing my Bachelor’s degree majoring in Sports Psychology.

If you’re not juggling offers it’s time to start connecting with college coaches, click here to create a free recruiting profile and start connecting with over 1700 college coaches or call 866-579-6272 for a free evaluation with an NCSA Collegiate Scout.

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