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Athlete Stretching Legs

Recruitment & Eligibility 

Recruitment & Eligibility 

This program provides our college student-athletes with the support and guidance necessary to meet their individual educational/career goals and to graduate and be prepared to gain employment in the work force. The purpose of our College Exposure programing  is to allow our students, many of whom have never left the region or come from low-to-moderate income or first-generation college families, to see first-hand the possibilities for their future and practice the life skills they’ve learned throughout the program year.

1. Recruited and receive an athletic scholarship: These student-athletes may sign a National Letter of Intent agreeing to attend the college for one year in exchange for a written promise of athletic scholarship for the entire academic year. By signing, you end the recruiting process, a recruiting ban goes into effect, and you may no longer be recruited by another college

2. Recruited walk-on: These student-athletes do not receive an athletic scholarship, but the coach               may assist the student in the admissions department.

3. Walk-on: These student-athletes apply to colleges and get accepted on their own  merit with no assistance from the coach. Most teams hold 'open tryouts' and the student-athlete can try out for the team before the season starts.

AM I BEING RECRUITED? Depending on your sport and your gender, the recruiting cycle may happen at any time during high school. For example, highly recruited female soccer players often receive verbal scholarship offers as early as freshman or sophomore year in high school whereas male football players often receive verbal offers during their senior year. College coaches send out form letters to hundreds (thousands for football) of potential student-athletes every year. If you receive one of these letters, you may be on the coach’s radar. However, this list of student-athletes is quickly cut to those student-athletes with serious recruiting potential. (For example, if a coach sends 5,000 letters to football players in the spring, that list narrows down to 250 players by the fall. By the end of the fall season, the coach has 25 players he is very seriously pursuing and trying to commit for athletic scholarships.)

  • YES! - If a college coach is pursuing you aggressively, you will know it. Coaches and recruiters may not be allowed to talk with you directly depending on your grade in school, but they find ways to let you know you are in high demand by communicating with your coaches. If you are lucky enough to be one of these student-athletes, you will still need to follow most of the steps in this guide.

  • MAYBE? - If you receive an initial form letter, but no further communication from college coaches, don’t worry. Even if you did not receive a letter from a college coach, you will need to step into the driver’s seat and take charge of your recruiting efforts.

  • NOT YET? - You will need to pursue college coaches and market yourself towards the schools and athletic programs that are the best fit for you as a student and an athlete.

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