Understanding the College Recruiting Process

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Understanding the College Recruiting Process

• Tina McDavitt
• Tufts University

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Topics covered

• When to begin
• How to begin
• Academics
• Information needed (transcript, video)
• Visiting schools
• Meeting the coach

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Topics covered continued

• Tips for players
• Tips for parents
• Athletic Scholarships
• Q A

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When to begin

• Freshman year is too early, senior year is too
  late
• Contact should begin at the middle/end of your
  sophomore year or beginning of your junior year
• The higher the level the earlier you should start

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Contacting the Coach

• Via either regular mail or email (email preferred
  at Tufts)
• Send a letter of inquiry
• Include resume

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Sample Email/Letter 1

• Dear Coach McDavitt,
• My name is Lauren Chenervert and I am a
  junior year at Shrewsbury High School. I am very
  interested in Tufts University and your field
  hockey program. Academically, I am in the top 5
  of my class and currently have a 3.9 GPA.
• I have been a two year starter for the
  varsity team and we made it to the State
  Championship game this season. I was named
  league all-star and finished the year with 20
  goals and 10 assists. I would appreciate any
  information you could send me on Tufts and your
  field hockey program. Congratulations on your
  successful season and on making it to the NCAAs!
  
• Sincerely,
• Lauren Chenervert
• 123 Field Hockey Rd
• Shrewsbury, MA 01606
• laurenchenervert_at_aol.com

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Sample Email/Letter 2

• Coach,
• Whats up? I am writing to see if you
  will send me information on your program. I just
  wanted to update you on High School Academy Field
  Hockey. This field hockey season has been even
  more challenging as we had a new coach and a very
  young team. We graduated seven starters. I am
  happy to say that with hard work and team work,
  we are playing in the Local County Finals on
  Tuesday November 6th at Local University at 10am
  against the Tigers. We had a really big game
  yesterday against Bears in the Semi-Finals. We
  ended the first half 0-0, and finished the game
  with a score of 3-0. In the beginning we did not
  play smart at all and everyone stepped it up in
  the end. I scored the first goal and assisted
  the other two. Almost our entire school was
  there supporting us! I really hope we can beat
  the Tigers on Tuesday!! We are the defending
  County Champs!! In the past five years we have
  won four County and three Local championships
  (with three State tournament final fours') and
  hopefully this year we will be back there.
• My brother and sister both played sports in
  college so I really want to too. I have been
  really busy at school this year. We have our
  winter dance next week and I am on the dance
  committee so things have been very busy around
  here. How did your season go?
  
• Bye,
• Jennie
  
  

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Who will I respond to first?

• Dear Coach McDavitt, (Professional and knows my
  name)
• My name is Lauren Chenervert and I am a
  junior year at Shrewsbury High School. (Full
  name and what year you are in school)
• I am very interested in Tufts University and
  your field hockey program. Academically, I am in
  the top 5 of my class and currently have a 3.9
  GPA. (Quick academic background)
• I have been a two year starter for the
  varsity team and we made it to the State
  Championship game this season. I was named
  league all-star and finished the year with 20
  goals and 10 assists.
• (Plays on a successful team and has done well
  individually)

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Email continued

• I would appreciate any information you could
  send me on Tufts and your field hockey program.
  (Polite)
• Congratulations on your successful season and on
  making it to the NCAAs! (Knows what happened
  with our season)
• Sincerely, (includes mailing address, email and
  phone number)
• Lauren Chenervert
• 123 Field Hockey Rd
• Shrewsbury, MA 01606
• laurenchenervert_at_aol.com
• 508-555-8080

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Letter/Email 2

• Way too long
• Doesnt include my name so I wonder how many
  other coaches received the same email
• Too much information about what I dont need to
  know and not enough about what I do

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Letter/Email 2

• Informal
• Asks how we are doing instead of taking time to
  look it up
• Did not add address so I have to do more work
  emailing her to get it, etc.

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Academics

• Doing well in school opens many more doors
• Give yourself the opportunity to tell a coach you
  are not interested in her school, not the other
  way around
• Maintain a B average or higher in all classes

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Academics Continued

• Take AP and Honors classes if you can
• Take the SATs during your junior year
• Take the ACT during your junior year
• Take the SAT II right after you take the class
• If you are unhappy with your scores, take a SAT
  prep class between junior senior year

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Information Needed

• At the end of your junior year before school lets
  out, request a copy of your transcript and a
  school profile
• Send of copy of your transcript, all test scores
  you have, and your profile to each school you are
  interested in

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DVD/Highlight Tape

• DO NOT send a full game tape unless the coach
  requests one
• Tape yourself doing individual skills (passing,
  receiving, dribbling, shooting)
• GKs (saves, clears, shots, footwork)
• All should be done on a flat surface - turf,
  tennis court, gym, etc.

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DVD/Highlight Tape continued

• Should be no more than eight minutes in length
  (five is plenty)
• Players name, uniform number, and year of
  graduation should be written on the DVD
• Make sure the coach can identify you on the DVD
• Have flow to the clips

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Visiting Schools

• You are lucky you live in New England
• Take a trip to five completely different schools
  in the area
• Get a notebook and write down what you liked and
  did not like about each school
• Take a campus tour and attend an information
  session

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Meeting the Coach

• Before you set up a meeting be sure to send her a
  letter of introduction and request information on
  the program
• Email the coach ahead of time to set up a day and
  time to meet
• Be on time
• Dress nicely (no jeans)
• Bring an updated resume with you

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Meeting the Coach continued

• Do your research on the school
• Research the field hockey program
• Have a few questions to ask
• Smile and make eye contact
• Bring a parent with you but make sure you are
  doing the majority of the talking

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Tips for Players

• Maintain contact with the coach at least once a
  month
• Keep the coach updated on your academic and
  athletic accomplishments
• Go watch a game
• Ask around and find out as much as you can about
  the program

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Tips for Players continued

• Always be polite
• Be upfront and honest, if you decide you dont
  like the school let the coach know
• Ask the coach to be upfront with you as well and
  let you know if she doesnt think it is a fit

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Tips for Parents

• Help your daughter but dont do it for her
• Go online and compare your daughters academic
  profile with that of the school
• Help her compile a list of school and be
  realistic
• Find out what she wants

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Tips for Parents continued

• Start a notebook and write down thoughts on
  schools that you visit
• Help her make a DVD
• Help her get cleared through the NCAA
• Talk about finances before she applies to schools
• Keep comments brief when meeting with the coach

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Scholarships

• Nearly all Division I schools offer athletic
  scholarships
• Division II schools offer athletic scholarships
• Division III schools offer only academic
  scholarships (and not all do)
• Wait for the coach to bring up the subject to you
• If money is a concern ask about financial aid

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Scholarships continued

• On Ncaa.org you can go under sports sponsorship
  to see all of the colleges that have field hockey
• Depending on the school having a scholarship is
  equal to a full-time job
• You will receive a letter of intent - basically a
  one year contract

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College Field Hockey

• 78 Division I schools
• 25 Division II Schools
• 159 Division III Schools
• Dont worry! There is a place for you and you
  will find it.
• Good Luck!