THREE BASICS FOR COLLEGE RECRUITS

College football coaches are a fickle bunch but can you argue with their disposition when the weight of an entire program rests on your shoulders? Who do you pass up and how much effort and time do you expend to sign a ‘blue chip’ prospect? Do you go with the kid who shows potential or do you bank on the kid who has proven himself on the field but has a reputation of being naughty off the field?

According to Bountiful (Utah) High School Coach Alema Te’o, in his experience, there are a multitude of variables that college coaches must consider before offering a young man a scholarship.

Te’o, who has experienced the stress and pressure of coaching on the collegiate level, now runs one of the most successful football camps in the nation. All Poly Sports takes high school juniors and seniors (and a few exceptional sophomores) to assess their football knowledge, skill and academic standing. Coaches from the PAC-10, WAC, MWC, SEC and more come here to help young men understand the rigors of the college game.

Thousands of hours are spent watching film, critiquing, evaluating and visiting with young prospects from around the country to determine if they have what it takes to play in their respective college sport. But when all the cards are on the table, no matter what sport you play, it still comes down to three very basic criteria:

1. Academics – This is by far the most difficult criteria of them all. Anyone who follows college sports knows that if you don’t have the grades, you don’t play. College sports are highly competitive and athletes live in a pressure cooker trying to balance academics, practices, games and social life. But those who have been there before can tell you that when you can’t maintain at least the minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) established by the NCAA you will not be allowed to take the field or court. Coaches are putting their trust in you in both the classroom and on the field. So if you are a high school student who wants to play in college, make sure that you are a student-athlete and not just an athlete. And at the very least, if you don’t make it to the WNBA, NFL or MLB, you will have walked away from campus with a college degree and more opportunities to succeed in your professional career.

2. Character – Te’o listed the criteria in this order for a reason. If you have good, solid character, the other two things on the list will fall into place. If you can stay out of ‘trap’ on the basketball court but you can’t stay out of trouble at a frat party, coaches may second guess whether or not you will fit into their program. Coaches don’t necessarily need ‘Yes-Men’ but they do need guys who are honest and honorable. There are thousands of young men and women who have lost scholarship opportunities because they have disregarded university rules and standards. You’ll hear it every time coaches speak to young athletes – Integrity is the mark of a true champion. That carries over into life.

3. Athletic Ability – There’s no doubt why this fell into the final spot. The other two items on the list may seem complimentary to this one trait, but Te’o believes that coaches start with those two and let this last come naturally. By the time you’re a junior in high school, coaches already know who you are and what you can do on the field. It’s what you do in the classroom and in life that will really accelerate your opportunities athletically.

If you need more advice on how to improve your chances to secure an athletic scholarship, keep these three things in mind and work double time to improve in any of these three areas. Speak to your high school coaches for advice and direction and if you can, attend as many clinics and camps for your sport as possible but before you do, make sure to check their references and ask about the quality of the material and skills they use by asking others who have attended the clinic or camp in the past.