COLLEGE AND RECRUITING:

Scouting Alternatives
Only a small percentage of all college athletes are the product of scouting. It is the elite athlete that is lucky enough to have colleges vying for their skills. You may be more than qualified to play collegiate athletics, but scouts aren’t seeking you out. But, there is more than one way to get the right people to see you play.

Summer Camp
Attending a sports camp is an excellent way to perfect your skills and techniques. The intense play and one on one instruction from professional coaches and players can improve your game immensely.

Summer camps can also be a good place to show off the skills you have. Many sports camps take place on college campuses because of their excellent facilities. There are even camps that are taught by college coaches and players. Look at the availability of these camps at schools you would like to attend. You will be playing right under the nose of potential coaches.

Many coaches check out the players at these camps, whether their department is running the camp or not. They see it as a useful tool to pick out up and coming high school athletes. Your athletic skills will be highlighted, but your ability to be a team player, follow instruction, and react to criticism will also be on display.

The environment of a summer camp is a great place for coaches to see a cross section of your abilities. You will be able to show all of your strengths, from skill to willingness to work hard, all in a coach’s backyard.

Scouting Websites
There are many services offered by websites for student athletes. These sites can act as a scouting tool or a virtual agent. Some sites offer free services, such as posting stats or bulletin boards that can be viewed by players, coaches, or scouts. They may provide information to contact coaches or other off-line scouting services.

But, as with any online service, you must beware. Some websites will try to use your information in a way you wouldn’t approve of. Always have a coach or parent check out any website you want to post information about yourself. Make sure a company with a good reputation runs the web site, or you know someone who used the site successfully.

Plan B
You should always have a “Plan B” in case your efforts do not pay off as expected. Don’t give up entirely if you are dedicated to your sport, but you may need to take an alternate route. Make yourself available to Division II or III schools. At these levels, you may not get a scholarship, but you will get more playing time. If you start at a lower division, you can perfect your game and make a name for yourself. This can get the attention of Division I coaches. Just because you start at a lower level, doesn’t mean you have to stay there if you don’t want to. An outstanding player that works hard and has solid grades is just as attractive to the top schools as a top caliber high school athlete.