So You Want to Play Sports in College; Here's how.

If you've always dreamed about competing in college athletics, your dream may be within reach. But, you need more than athletic talent...you need to know how to "connect" with appropriate colleges.

First, be sure you "get real". Most high school student-athletes don't have the talent to play basketball in the ACC or football in the Big Ten. And, most coaches in those leagues already know which high school players they want to recruit. So, instead of spinning your wheels contacting the universities which are on TV every week, have a frank conversation with your coach and other well-informed folks and compile a list of colleges whose coaches might want to pursue you. Then, ask your counselor which of the listed colleges makes sense from his or her perspective, and if there are others you should add to your list.

Whatever you do, don't weigh athletics too heavily. Academics should always come first...always. Size, location, campus environment, special programs, and other factors should be considered as well. Try to find the "ideal" college for you, not just a place where you can compete in athletics.

Ruling out colleges because you have not heard of them can be a big mistake. Do you know about Georgia Southern's football program? Do you know that the University of Louisiana at Lafayette has a perennial top ten softball program and has been to the College World Series in baseball? These are just two examples of schools you may know nothing about that have great programs.

There are many kinds of scholarships and financial aid other than athletic scholarships. And, there are lots of good colleges with excellent athletic programs at levels other than NCAA Division I.

Don't forget, even for a minute, that achieving your athletic goals is not nearly as important as leaving college with a good education and a degree. And, leaving college with a degree will not mean you have gotten a good education if you have selected courses only to remain eligible for athletics. Sadly, there are coaches (including some well known names) who appear to be more interested in wins and losses than the welfare of the student-athletes on their teams. Be on the alert for them.

Make sure you read up on the operative regulations governing recruiting and consult with your high school coach if you have questions or concerns. Strict adherence to all (NCAA, NAIA, and/or NJCAA) regulations is critical.

Coaches aren't the only people who can help you learn about colleges. Communicate with admissions counselors too. They will often provide you with far more information than you can get from coaches.

Don't worry to much about listed college costs. What it will actually cost you may be far less.

Coaches receive lots of inquiries, so you may not receive an immediate reply to your letter or email. Thus, don't be too impatient. However, if you've not heard from a coach you contacted within a month, try again. Be aware that some coaches will not be interested in you and may therefore never respond.

Even if a coach does respond to you, it does not mean his/her level of interest in you is high. Some coaches (or their secretaries) put everybody who contacts them on a list to receive communication in the interest of being polite or because they feel they have nothing to lose. Many coaches even have a list of student-athletes that are second third, and lower choices; students to be recruited only until those higher on their lists sign a letter of intent. With that in mind, your best bet is to keep all options open by communicating with every coach who may be interested in you until you have a firm, final offer.

After you do commit to a college or university, be sure you contact and sincerely express your gratitude to the coaches who have been communicating with you. It's the right thing to do, and it might help a coach remember you if you later decide to transfer from the first college you attend.

Article Source: http://www.a1-articledirectory.com

Daniel Z. Kane, now a university dean, is a former high school coach. You can find lots of helpful information on his websites about how to get an athletic scholarship , and online colleges .
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