This is something I thought of while watching the season finale of Shark Tank.  On the show there were a couple of guys  who said they want to change the way college recruiting is done and help athletes take control of their college recruiting process.  Well, unfortunately, they have a lot of work to do on their business in order to achieve
that because, from what they described on the show, all they have is an online database that coaches can search.

When I heard that…this is what I wanted to say to them right through the tv…

Adding your name to an online database that coaches can search is NOT “taking control” of your college recruiting process.

There I said it.

Adding your name to an online database is NOT “taking control” of your college recruiting process.  Neither is adding videos to YouTube or going to a recruiting camp.

I’m not saying those things are useless or that you shouldn’t do them, but there’s so much more you can do.  Those things in and of themselves are just a small sliver of what you should be doing if you really want to take control of your college recruiting journey!

“Taking control” involves doing your homework.  It means:

• Knowing where you have to be academically
• Knowing what the NCAA requires of you to be eligible
• Knowing what different program require in the level(s) of play you are interested in (not always the same as what the NCAA requires)
• Knowing what type of school is a good fit for you
• Knowing what to ask college coaches
• Knowing what to ask yourself so you can find the right fit
• Knowing what you need to get done by when
• Knowing what you CAN do and when
• Making sure YOU are in contact with coaches before they are even allowed to get in touch with you
• Knowing whether or not it’s better for you or your parents to be corresponding with a college coach
• Having the information college coaches need about you in order to make a decision readily available
• Getting prepared for college entrance exams
• Having a strategy!!!
• …and so much more

Putting your name “out there” in public places and hoping to be found is not going to cut it.  That will not give you the best opportunities possible by the time your college recruiting journey come to an end. Remember – there are no re-dos. Get educated. Get informed. And if you need help, some of the best in the business are ready to walk you through it all at NCSA.

If you’re serious about playing at the college level and have been taking care of business on and off the field, you can have someone from NCSA personally give you a call by filling out the form at HERE.

And yes, for student-athletes who use that link and become part of the NCSA family, NCSA does make donations back to AAF.  However, if you do not wish for them to do that, you can also visit them at their main company link at

http://www.ncsasports.org/

Whatever your choice, you can have a real person talk with you about your options plus get a username and password to set up your own athletic resume web page with no risk and no money required by going HERE and filling out your contact information.

Wishing you the best,

Stacie Mahoe