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The following recruiting blog is sponsored by National Scouting Report.
RECRUITING BLOG: WHAT ARE COLLEGE COACHES LOOKING FOR?
By Gary Silvers
Do you have what it takes to be a college athlete?
Do you know what college coaches are looking for in high school athletes?
You may be surprised.
Obviously, it all starts with talent. However, we’re not just talking about athletic talent. We’re also talking about academic talent.
But those talents alone aren’t enough to earn you a spot on a college roster. You also must possess good character, attitude and other personal characteristics.
While athletic talent may create interest among college coaches, they won’t remain interested if you can’t complement that with academic talent.
The better you perform in the classroom and the better you score on college entrance exams (SAT or ACT), the better your chances are of playing college sports.
In other words, hit the books.
If you boast a 4.0 grade-point average, 2000 (out of 2400) on the SAT and 30 (out of 36) on the ACT, you could qualify academically for virtually every college in the country. Conversely, if you have a 3.0 GPA, 1500 on the SAT and 25 on the ACT, you won’t meet the entrance requirements of most of the top academic schools.
Sure, there are still plenty of college coaches who would recruit you, but not nearly as many as there might have been had you shown more academic achievement.
Every tenth of a point on your GPA, every 10 points on your SAT and every point on your ACT are critical to your future. Not only are you trying to meet the entrance requirements of as many universities as possible, but you also are trying to compete against other college prospects for roster spots.
Let’s say a college softball coach is comparing two high school pitchers with equal athletic ability. One pitcher sports a 3.5 GPA and 1800 on the SAT and the other has a 3.2 GPA and 1600 on the SAT. Which prospect is most likely to get the offer?
However, athletic and academic talent only will take you so far in the recruiting process. Character, attitude and other personal characteristics will seal the deal.
College coaches must decide whether a prospect will fit in with the team. You may be one of the most talented athletes in your conference, state or region, but you could be trouble off the field. You could cause more problems in practice and the locker room than you’re worth athletically.
First impressions are extremely important to college coaches. However, last impressions are lasting impressions.
You can make a good first impression by responding immediately to coaches’ emails. Show genuine interest in their teams and their schools. Ask lots of questions.
Do the same when coaches start calling you. That’s when you know they have genuine interest in you.
If you have an interest in a particular school, you don’t have to wait to hear from the coach. You can email or call the coach at any time.
Finally, if/when you’re invited for an official visit to campus, make a great last impression. That’s when a coach will know for sure if you’re the type of prospect who will fit in with the team.
The better you are -- athletically, academically and personally -- the better your chances of being recruited, creating competition among college coaches and, ultimately, receiving the most scholarship offers.
Do you have what it takes?
Gary Silvers, Area Director of College Scouting for National Scouting Report, writes a weekly recruiting blog for SuburbanOneSports.com. He can be reached at (215) 480-8764 or gsilvers@nsr-inc.com.