Athletic Scholarships For Dummies

by Britz, Pat; Powe Allred, Alexandra

• ISBN13: 9780764598043
• ISBN10: 076459804X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-12-19
• Publisher: For Dummies

Summary

Get insider tips on navigating the recruitment process Find the right school, the right program, the right coach, and the most money You're prepared for challenges on the athletic field. But are you prepared for the challenges of winning an athletic scholarship? Let this friendly guide be your coach. It explains what kind of scholarships are out there, how to promote yourself and deal with recruiters, and how to survive possible snags after you've won your scholarship. Discover how to * Get yourself noticed and recruited * Make the most of college visits * Negotiate a contract and make a commitment * Understand redshirting * Know when and how to transfer schools

Author Biography

Patrick Britz: Pat Britz began his athletic career at a young age, playing youth league soccer. He continued to play soccer and earned a partial athletic scholarship to attend the University of North Carolina at Asheville. While there, he was a four-year starter and ended his playing career as the second all-time leading scorer in school history and the leading goal scorer since UNC Asheville went to Division I (1986). Britz has worked in the world of intercollegiate athletics for over 14 years, the majority of which he has been involved in NCAA rules and regulations. He began his professional career as the Assistant Commissioner for Championships and Compliance for the Southern Conference and then moved to East Tennessee State University as the Assistant Athletics Director for Compliance and Student Services. Britz spent five years working for the NCAA national office (1996–2001) and was primarily involved in the initialeligibility and recruiting process. From there he went on to Texas Tech University, where he was the Senior Associate Athletics Director for Compliance and Administration. In August 2005, he followed his heart and never-ending passion for the game of soccer and accepted a position with the National Soccer Coaches Association of America as the Director of Division I Intercollegiate Programs. Although this is his first book, he has seen the need for Athletic Scholarships For Dummies throughout his professional career. Today, Britz lives in Lubbock, Texas, with his newlywed wife, Kim, their dog, Josie, and their cat, Shortstop. Even though age and lack of talent forced him to quit playing soccer, Britz is an avid golfer and sports a handicap of 10.

Alexandra Allred: Alex Allred earned two karate black belts and was honored Athlete of the Year by the United States Olympic Committee in 1994 when she was named to the first ever women’s bobsled team. She went on to become a sports/adventure writer. Over the years, Allred has had a variety of unusual writing assignments. She test-drove and wrote about Volvo’s Gravity Car, played as a professional female football player for Sports Illustrated, competed as a fighter (kickboxing), and took a rigorous firefighter physical — all for a good story. But when coaches began talking to Allred about her own daughter’s soccer abilities, she began looking into athletic scholarships. As the author of over a dozen how-to and sports books, Allred saw the need for Athletic Scholarships For Dummies. Today, Allred lives in Midlothian, Texas, with her husband, Robb, their three children, and a variety of animals. Together, they try to balance soccer practices and games, horseback riding, tennis camps, karate, running, and volleyball.

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(6)
About This Book	2	(1)
Conventions Used in This Book	2	(1)
What You're Not to Read	2	(1)
Foolish Assumptions	3	(1)
How This Book Is Organized	3	(2)
Part I: The World of College Sports	3	(1)
Part II: Getting Recruited	4	(1)
Part III: Making College Visits	4	(1)
Part IV: Committing to a School	4	(1)
Part V: When You're in the Big Leagues: For Existing College Students	4	(1)
Part VI: The Part of Tens	5	(1)
Icons Used in This Book	5	(1)
Where to Go from Here	5	(2)
Part I: The World of College Sports	7	(64)
Chapter 1: Getting the Basics: Athletic Scholarships 101	9	(10)
Sorting Through Scholarship Opportunities	10	(1)
Finding the Right Program	10	(2)
Taking the Clearinghouse Seriously	12	(1)
Going Through the Recruiting Process	13	(1)
Making College Visits	14	(2)
Committing to a School	16	(1)
Staying Eligible After You're in College	17	(1)
Transferring	17	(2)
Chapter 2: Defining a College Athletic Scholarship	19	(16)
Understanding the True Value of a Scholarship	20	(6)
Show me the money!	20	(1)
What it looks like on paper	21	(5)
Asking the Big Question: What's a Full Scholarship?	26	(3)
The full ride	26	(1)
The numbers count	27	(2)
Riding the Full Four Years	29	(3)
How to keep your scholarship	29	(1)
Who decides if you get to keep your scholarship?	30	(2)
Defining the Term Half-and-Half: The Academic and Athletic Scholarship	32	(3)
Chapter 3: College Alphabet Soup: NCAA, NJCAA, NAIA	35	(12)
Understanding the NCAA	35	(6)
Understanding the rules and who makes them	36	(1)
Grappling with the divisions	37	(4)
Jumping In with the NJCAA	41	(2)
What is the NJCAA?	41	(1)
Playing a sport in a two-year school	42	(1)
Being eligible to play later in the NCAA	43	(1)
Running with the NAIA	43	(4)
What is the NAIA?	43	(1)
Defining how the NAIA serves athletes	44	(3)
Chapter 4: Clearing the Clearinghouse	47	(24)
Discovering the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse	48	(5)
Facts and figures	49	(1)
Cost and contract information	50	(3)
Becoming a Division I Qualifier	53	(6)
Core course requirements	54	(2)
GPA and test-score requirements	56	(3)
Division II and III Requirements	59	(2)
NAIA and NJCAA Requirements	61	(1)
Reviewing Unusual Student Situations and Making Sure You're Still Eligible	62	(11)
International student-athletes	63	(3)
Home-schooled athletes	66	(1)
The learning-disabled student athlete	67	(4)
Part II: Getting Recruited	71	(78)
Chapter 5: Knowing What Colleges Are Looking For	73	(10)
Blue-Chippers Come in All Types and Sizes	74	(2)
Analyzing the Three Kinds of Students	76	(2)
The ones who get recruited	76	(1)
The ones who recruit themselves	77	(1)
The ones who don't fit either category	78	(1)
Keeping Score: Academics Do Count	78	(3)
Analyzing the Athlete off the Field: Looking at the Whole Athlete	81	(2)
Chapter 6: The Game Begins: Getting Noticed	83	(22)
Discovering the New Kid on the Block	84	(6)
Playing club ball	84	(2)
Choosing sports camps	86	(2)
Working with the coach	88	(2)
Working with Your Parents	90	(2)
Maximizing Your Exposure	92	(7)
Thinking outside the box or beyond the game	93	(1)
Picking up the phone: Don't be afraid to do PR	94	(2)
Creating your own portfolio	96	(1)
Corresponding with coaches	97	(2)
Appreciating the Role of the Media	99	(2)
Maximizing your 15 minutes of fame	100	(1)
Getting what you want printed	100	(1)
Working Mom and Dad as Your Public Relations Firm	101	(4)
Choosing what's on the agenda	101	(1)
How to help, not hinder	102	(1)
Working as a team	102	(3)
Chapter 7: The Full-Court Press: Calls, Letters, and E-Mails from Coaches	105	(20)
Vying for the Sophomore	106	(4)
Letters of promise: What they really mean	107	(1)
Enjoy the ride: Keep on pedaling	108	(2)
Tracking the Junior and Senior Rush	110	(9)
The phone is ringing off the hook	110	(7)
What the recruiter really wants	117	(1)
In-home visits	118	(1)
Understanding the Misunderstandings	119	(2)
Negative recruiting	119	(1)
Who to talk to	120	(1)
Ensuring the Best Results	121	(2)
Toeing the line	121	(1)
The role parents can play	122	(1)
What Recruiters Wish You Understood	123	(2)
Chapter 8: What to Do If You Don't Get Noticed	125	(14)
Playing without an Athletic Scholarship	125	(4)
Understanding the benefits	126	(1)
Taking that first step	127	(2)
Walking On	129	(3)
Prep work	130	(1)
The tryout	131	(1)
The promise: Talk of a future scholarship	131	(1)
Using the Recruiting Service	132	(7)
What a recruiting service can do for you	132	(2)
Researching their records	134	(1)
What questions to ask	135	(1)
Show them the money!	136	(1)
What not to do	136	(3)
Chapter 9: Recognizing College Recruiting Violations	139	(10)
Defining Infractions	139	(5)
Major versus secondary infractions	140	(1)
The most common infractions	141	(1)
Paying the penalties	142	(2)
Playing (or Not) with an Infraction	144	(2)
When the coach violates recruiting rules	145	(1)
When the college makes a mistake	145	(1)
Discovering the Wonders (and Horrors) of Boosters	146	(5)
Defining the booster	146	(1)
How boosters are involved in the recruiting process	147	(2)
Part III: Making College Visits	149	(46)
Chapter 10: The Play-by-Play of College Visits	151	(20)
Visiting the Campus	151	(7)
Taking official visits	152	(1)
Opting for unofficial visits	153	(1)
How many visits can you make?	153	(1)
When can you visit?	154	(1)
How long can you stay?	155	(1)
Who will be with you on an official tour?	155	(1)
Who pays for entertainment?	155	(2)
Where do you stay?	157	(1)
Deciding Whether Your Parents Should Make the Trip	158	(1)
Wooing your parents	158	(1)
Leaving them behind	158	(1)
Looking at a Typical Visit	159	(8)
Walking the campus	160	(1)
Sitting in on a class	161	(1)
Touring the athletic facilities	162	(1)
Passing the physical exam	162	(2)
Playing with the team	164	(1)
Looking at dorms and apartments	165	(2)
Being Watched: Putting Your Best Foot Forward	167	(4)
Pre-interviewing	167	(1)
Selling yourself	168	(3)
Chapter 11: Taking Your Turn to Recruit	171	(14)
Research, Research, Research	172	(1)
Checking Up on Your Favorite Programs	173	(5)
Calling References: Don't Be Afraid to Ask	178	(4)
Talk to students	179	(1)
Talk to faculty	180	(2)
Looking at Graduation Rates and Academic Successes	182	(3)
Paying attention to athletic success and coaching changes	183	(1)
Probing colleges on probation	184	(1)
Chapter 12: Preparing for and Evaluating Each Visit	185	(10)
Getting Ready for the Interview	185	(2)
Asking the Important Questions	187	(2)
Giving Intelligent Answers to the Questions You're Asked	189	(1)
Nailing the Interview	190	(2)
After Your Interview	192	(3)
Part IV: Committing to a School	195	(34)
Chapter 13: Negotiating a Financial-Aid Agreement	197	(12)
Reading the Agreement	197	(4)
Reading between the lines	198	(1)
Understanding what you're signing	198	(2)
Knowing what kinds of scholarships are typically offered	200	(1)
Understanding the Rules of Negotiating	201	(3)
Honing a poker face	201	(1)
Separating fact from fiction	202	(1)
Mentioning what other schools are offering	203	(1)
Resisting the Pressure	204	(5)
When the coach pressures you to sign	204	(2)
If you don't commit, will someone else get your slot?	206	(3)
Chapter 14: Making the Verbal Commitment	209	(10)
The Big Decision: Making Your Choice	209	(6)
Getting advice	211	(1)
Reviewing your notes	212	(1)
Recognizing that not all that glitters is gold	213	(1)
Going with your gut	214	(1)
The Tough Calls: Phoning Your Second and Third Choices	215	(1)
Your Last Call: Making the Verbal Commitment	216	(1)
Planning the Next Steps	217	(2)
Chapter 15: Understanding the National Letter of Intent	219	(10)
What Is a National Letter of Intent?	219	(5)
Understanding the fine print	220	(2)
Knowing what you're committing to	222	(2)
Knowing When and Where to Sign	224	(7)
Deciding whether to sign early	224	(1)
Knowing the signing date for your sport	225	(1)
Setting up a signing location	226	(2)
Knowing who needs to be present at the signing	228	(1)
Part V: When You're in the Big Leagues: For Existing College Students	229	(42)
Chapter 16: Maintaining Your Eligibility	231	(18)
Keeping Your Scholarship	231	(9)
Maintaining your academic eligibility	232	(3)
Maintaining your amateur status	235	(5)
Injury or Pregnancy?	240	(7)
The rights of the student-athlete	241	(3)
The rights of the college	244	(3)
Fighting for Your Rights	247	(2)
Chapter 17: Redshirting	249	(10)
Is My Shirt Really "Red"?	249	(1)
Why Redshirt?	250	(2)
Talking about the Timeline	252	(4)
The five-year rule	252	(1)
The 21-year-old rule	253	(2)
Timing the playtime	255	(1)
Changing the game plan and playing instead	255	(1)
Redshirting history among coaches	256	(1)
Graduation and Redshirting: How One Affects the Other	256	(3)
Chapter 18: Transferring	259	(12)
Looking at the Rules	260	(5)
Transferring from a two-year college to a four-year	260	(3)
Transferring from a four-year college to a four-year college	263	(1)
Moving from a four-year college to a two-year college and back again	264	(1)
Looking at Reasons to Move On	265	(3)
Your second choice doesn't cut it	266	(1)
You're not getting enough playing time	266	(1)
You don't have enough money, or you're not happy with the scholarship	266	(2)
The school is too challenging academically or not challenging enough	268	(1)
You have personal or social reasons for transferring	268	(1)
Talking to Coaches	268	(1)
Seeking a Release from Your Scholarship	269	(1)
Starting the Recruiting Process Over Again	269	(2)
Part VI: The Part at Tens	271	(16)
Chapter 19: Ten Things Not to Do during the Recruiting Process	273	(6)
Don't Overestimate Your Ability	273	(1)
Don't Underestimate Your Ability	274	(1)
Don't Count On Receiving a Scholarship	274	(1)
Don't Think You're Being Recruited Just Because You Get a Letter	275	(1)
Don't Downplay the Importance of Academics	275	(1)
Don't Devalue a Partial Scholarship	276	(1)
Don't Believe Everything You Hear	276	(1)
Don't Ignore Your Gut Instinct	277	(1)
Don't Be Afraid to Ask Questions	277	(1)
Don't Trust a Cheater	277	(2)
Chapter 20: Ten Considerations When Choosing a School	279	(8)
Is the School Right for You Academically?	279	(1)
Is the School Right for You Socially?	280	(1)
Is the School Right for You Athletically?	280	(1)
Is the Coach the Best One for You?	281	(1)
How Much Time Will You Spend in School versus Playing Your Sport?	282	(1)
What Kind of Academic Services Are Offered to Student-Athletes?	282	(1)
What Is the Graduation Rate of Student-Athletes at the School?	283	(1)
How Many of the School's Athletes Have Transferred Recently?	283	(1)
What Kind of Medical Treatment Will You Have if You're Injured?	284	(1)
What's the Game and Practice Schedule during the Holidays?	285	(2)
Appendix A: College Scholarship Web Sites and Resources	287	(4)
Free $ For College For Dummies	287	(1)
Free Application for Federal Student Aid	287	(1)
Scholarships.com	288	(1)
College Connection	288	(1)
FreeGovMoney.net	288	(1)
ScholarshipCoach.com	288	(1)
GuaranteedScholarships.com	289	(1)
CollegeBoard.org	289	(2)
Appendix B: Resources for College Recruiting and Selecting Colleges and Coaches	291	(8)
Index	299