Help a guidance counselor-recruiting and advice

BaseballmomandCEP ought to be a good resource for your effort.

Sounds like a great idea!

For recruiting the only issue for us was ensuring that transcripts sent timely to schools and NCAA Eligibility Center.  However, guidance counselors can help kids understand that academics should nor be traded for short-term baseball opportunities. 

Good to see you are being pro active. Our sons school didn't even know what it's NCAA # was....

James G,

The two most important sites IMHO is the Eligibility Center and the NCAA Resource Guide for the College Bound Athlete.  It is updated every year, and can be downloaded in PDF format. 

http://web1.ncaa.org/ECWR2/NCAA_EMS/NCAA.jsp -> Eligibility Center

http://www.ncaapublications.co...ctdownloads/CBSA.pdf - NCAA Recruited Athlete Guide

My two cents......In addition, I would advise every athlete to request their "letters of recommendation" early.   It takes teachers and administrators a lot of time and energy to write specific letters of recommendation for every student that requests them.  For Early Decision applicants, I would request them at least a month in advance to ensure you get them when you need them. 

Thank for your the replies everyone.  Fenway, you are right about those 2 resources.  Definitely incorporating them into my project.  I talk about the Eligibility Center at the start of every year to all our classes.

And boy, the recommendation letter tip is crucial too.  All too often we get kids coming in requesting a letter that is due in 2 days.  For me personally, I like my kids to fill out a packet first (basically they list accomplishments, personal traits, anything they think I should know personally) before I write a letter.  It helps to have some time to really put effort and heart into a quality letter.  Not that letters of rec can solely make or break a case, but you never know. 

The link below is from a local school that does a pretty good job all around.  You will obviously need to learn a lot more than you will find directly on the link, but it could serve as a format for what you develop.  Good job and good luck.

http://www.montgomerybell.edu/...efault.aspx?t=166971

Because there is so much to know, AND things change, I would avoid supplying student athletes with specific information.  Instead, give them the NCAA links etc.  Giving them the places to go for the latest official rules and guidelines should be enough and will keep you out of trouble.

That said, what is often lacking is advice on how to stand out.  Everything from writing a letter to the coach to staying on top of grades.  Go to the front pages of this site.  Lots of good advice there!

James G -

If you send me your email in a private dialogue, I am happy to share some info.

This HSBBW board, while baseball specific, has terrific guidance that is applicable to most any sport, I believe. 

Off the top of my head, here is a laundry list of thoughts about guidance counselors working with a prospective student athlete.  Many high schools do a great job with all the athletic process, but some less experienced counselors don't think of all of these things.

- the PSA (prospective Student Athlete) needs to start earlier than the regular kids, in terms of visiting schools, and also testing prep/ test taking.  While in general is it appropriate to tell students to start visiting colleges as juniors, I think PSAs and their families should get a heads up that earlier visits will help their students get a feel for what campus environments fell comfortable to them, and they will be better prepared  for the 'athletic visits' (both official and unofficial) where they are interacting with coaches.

-the GCs should be responsive to the needs of the recruit who suddenly needs an official transcript and letters of rec at a time when guidance is not really geared up for it. (kids getting early commits, kids doing unofficial visits in the summer when guidance isn't around)

- also many PSAs will need to get their entire apps done ASAP when a  coach asks for it,often summer prior to or very early in September of senior year

- be familiar to some extent with how different conferences / levels operate (ie, NESCACs using ED to get commits; the Likely Letter process, etc)

- they students REALLY need to get a handle on academic and social fit in their college choices before putting on the blinders and only seeing the colleges that are a fit for their sport; to the extent that counselors can convey that message it is very helpful

- they need to be sure they are fishing in the right pond as an athlete (Fenway's great phrase)

- obviously they need to take care of business in the classroom and on testing

- Students need to be told to register for Initial Eligibility in junior year and keeping everything up to date. Sometimes there are glitches if the senior year classes aren't updated in a timely way. It is up to the student to be following up.

- A tip to give to students.  Create a unique email address for all athletic correspondence, including the NCAA clearinghouse.  Check that email daily.

- on the HS side, I have seen surprises and glitches when kids did not realize a course would not be NCAA approved, so communicating this to the parents from 8th grade is critical.  (Film as Lit, or Journalism, or Satire are some English classes that are not approved in one of my local schools; kids took them not knowing of the possible obstacle.)

- the list of "classes that are NOT approved by the NCAA" should be posted everywhere and handed out to any prospective student athlete

- I am sure you have a compliance expert in your department, and this is basic info, but if your school ever changes course numbers or levels or adds a class be sure to follow NCAA procedures. I know of one HS that adjusted their course levels (for good reasons), adding a level, and found the next year that the entire level of CP classes was rendered ineligible the next year by the NCAA.  Caught them by surprise.

- If all of your GCs can have SOME training on working with athletes it would be great.  A local university might be willing to do a mini 'in-service' training program, or at least provide great hand outs.  (Our HS AD has handouts he gets from our state u athletics department that are very helpful. General topics about recruiting process, compliance, odds of playing, etc.) 

- tell those students to NOT write their college essay about their big game!! College essays are read by admissions folks, not coaches. Sports as a metaphor for life is not the most compelling college essay

- Coaches don't admit students, admissions does. Repeat that mantra constantly

If you are a member of NACAC they have good resources of course, and sometimes the regional ACACs will have workshops on athletics in admissions that can be helpful.

Good luck!

great information in this thread. i would like to add one thing we are learning from experience. Most high academic schools require a student to take the SAT subject tests (SAT 2),on the science side of things my son is more proficient in chemistry but was being led down the Biology path by his counselor. turns out he really did not know too much about these required tests. 

i believe he is adding this info into his booklet this coming year, although my son is only a sophomore, decisions being made now affect Junior and senior year and all the testing to come.  too many kids wait until its too late

i found this while searching for info, looks pretty good. http://www.peddie.org/ftpimage...legeboundathlete.pdf

BaseballMomandCEP,

That is priceless guidance BaseballMomandCEP.  Well done.  Every parent and student should read that and create a checklist.