D3baseball.com Daily Dose

Non-Scholarship Options for the Prospective Student-Athlete
By Tom Kovic

As a former 19 year head coach at the University of Pennsylvania, I was blessed with a successful career and many fond memories. Considering the selectivity in Admissions and the high price tag of one of the nation’s premier institutions, I had strong success in recruiting and I learned some valuable lessons about prospective student-athletes and the benefits they may receive in the admissions process.

Ivy League and other select, non athletic scholarship awarding institutions can, in many cases, offer significant assistance in Admissions that can potentially lend strong support for prospective student-athletes. It is important that prospects, families and high school advisors clearly understand the role the college coach plays in this process and make every effort to develop a sincere and strong working relationship with them throughout the college search.

Admissions Pre-Reads
Early academic evaluations are an effective means of determining the potential admissibility of a candidate. Typically, coaches work with an athletic department “Admissions liaison” that can assist them in requesting “early reads” for prospects. If families have cultivated a strong relationship with the coach, this request will likely be honored and could be a real time saver by providing recruits with an accurate idea of their chances in admissions. Below are some important points to consider regarding pre-reads:

• Provides the family with a strong idea of the likelihood of admission.
• Requires current and accurate standardized test scores, updated transcripts and high school profile.
• Gives the coach a strong indication of the prospects Admissions Index and the level of potential support in Admissions.
• Coach-family collaboration develops trust and confidence.
• Shows the coach “strong interest” from family and prospect.
• Will avoid “spinning of wheels” for the family, prospect and the college coach, especially if admissions seem unlikely.
• Turnaround time is generally 2-3 weeks

Likely Letters
The likely letter is a tremendous tool typically used by Ivy League coaches that offer “near guarantees” of admissions and these letters can be sent to prospective student-athletes well before the regular population of applicants is reviewed. This becomes a tremendous bargaining chip for college coaches who are competing with scholarship institutions for the same prospect, or “overlap” prospects who are applying to other Ivy League and select academic institutions. It is fair to point out that likely letters are not abundantly available and only a certain percentage of “impact” prospects will receive them.

Likely letters will provide recruits and their families with a sense of confidence, especially when they are presented with athletic scholarship deadlines from other college coaches, or feeling pressure from non-scholarship college coaches to “move in their direction.” Likely letters are issued directly from the admissions office and will offer families with relative assurance that, barring any unusual circumstances, their children will be admitted.

Priority Applications
Priority applications are becoming more popular in the recruiting process and are typically used by Division 3 programs as a means of providing families with an early “look” from admissions well before the majority of regular applicants are read.

When you break it down, the priority application is a win-win for both the college coaches and the families. Firstly, the priority application is a simplified version of the regular application that offers the prospect with a streamlined and time saving approach to admissions and turnaround time from the office of admissions can be as early as 30 days. Likewise, college coach’s benefit by offering their top candidates with a priority admissions read that can rival both the national letter of intent, as well as many of the early decision/action admissions programs.

It is fair to say that priority applications are not offered to the majority of prospects, but are distributed to athletes who show significant interest in his program and are part of the coach’s “A” recruiting file. Either way, the priority application can provide families with early and exact information in admissions and serve as a handy tool that will assist them strongly in the decision making process.

Tips for Advisors, Parents and Prospects
Below are a few pointers that will be helpful in navigating the college quest for prospective student-athletes who are interested in applying to Ivy League and select, non athletic scholarship schools:

• Cultivate an honest and truthful relationship with the college coach.
• Provide the college coach with accurate and timely information that will assist him in making a fair and timely evaluation of both academic strength and athletic talent.
• Be honest with the college coach about the schools you are seriously considering.
• Let the college coach know where you stand with his/her school, and give the coach a chance to recruit you further.
• Avoid using the coach as a springboard in Admissions with the intent of not participating on the team. This will potentially backfire down the road for high school teammates and your sports program. Remember, you are representing yourself, your coach, your school and your family. Maintain a high level of integrity.
• Include community service and leadership activities in your personal profile. This could add some weigh that creates further support for your application by the college coach.

Especially in today’s tough economic climate, the non scholarship option for prospective student-athletes and families may seem daunting, but considering the long term benefits one can receive from such a potentially rewarding experience, makes this option very worthy. Additionally, it is fair to point out that athletes, although identified in Admissions as having a special talent, are treated as any other candidate and will be admitted only if the applicant’s academic credentials are in an acceptable range and he/she is deemed capable of succeeding. That being said, student-athletes who bring solid academic credentials to the table and have the ability to strongly impact an athletics program could bring a very strong “chip” to the game of college recruiting that could give them a leg up on the competition.

Tom Kovic is a former 19 year head coach at Penn and the current director of Victory Collegiate Consulting, where he provides individual advisement for families on college recruiting. Tom is the author of “Reaching for Excellence, an educational guide for college athletics recruiting and he has lectured on the topic of college recruiting at several national and regional conventions. For additional information visit: www.victoryrecruiting.com.

For the first time in a number of years, the handbook with all the playoff information is available before the start of the season. Two things should be highlighted: (1) the number of bids in the three pools and (2) the change in the championship bracket.

The 54 bids awarded will be awarded in the following manner:
Pool A bids: 35
Pool B bids: 5
Pool C bids: 14

The Championship bracket is changed this year, reverting to the format used between 1993 and 2004. The winner of the winners bracket game will not get a bye on the fourth day of the competition. More details on how this change came about will appear shortly as an article on d3baseball.com.

Read the hand book for more information. It is available in pdf form at:
http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/champ_handbooks/baseball/2009/3_baseball_handbook.pdf

College Athletics Recruiting: “Getting Out Of The Gates”

By Tom Kovic

Parents, prospects and coaches often ask me to identify the ideal time a prospect should launch his or her college quest. Although each prospect initiates their recruiting plans at different times, I would say a good date to “get out of the gates” is January 1 of the junior year. But before you hit the pavement running, let’s run through a simple checklist of pre-launch tasks that will assist you in organizing for an important life decision.

Organization

Creating a user friendly organizing system for the college recruiting process will serve as a helpful tool, especially when information begins to pile in from different college coaches. Not only will this system assist you in keeping track of the steady stream of paper and e-traffic, it will act as a great resource for future contacts and important coach-prospect communications. Trust me, coaches will be requesting information (transcripts, high school profile, standardize test results, tax information for financial pre-reads etc.) at about the same time, and the family who develops an efficient access system to this information will navigate the process with more success and with greater confidence.

Create a filing system that provides you with easy access to pertinent information. I suggest storing the following information in your individual college program folders:

• Updated contact information for coach, assistant coach, financial aid representative etc. Include name, address, e-mail, phone number etc.).
• Materials the coach has sent (brochures, articles, etc.).
• Team competition schedule. You should add important events to your calendar and stay updated on the team’s accomplishments, especially before any correspondence with the coach.
• College catalogs, applications and/or other marketing materials.
• Updated notes from your phone conversations and meetings with representatives from the school.
• A list of pertinent questions or follow-up items you need to address for the program. Set aside regular time to review outstanding tasks you have for each college program and list these items on your calendar.
• Copies of all the information you have provided to the school – your application, the data sheet you may have to fill out for the coach, the last resume you provided etc. By keeping these copies handy, you can easily reproduce them if they are misplaced.

The aim in this stage of college recruiting is to develop a well organized and efficient system that you understand and can work effectively. “Lift off” is the most demanding part of any worthy project and requires the most energy. Prepare well here by developing solid plans and executing them with vigor and you will be well positioned and confident moving forward. Beware of the flip side of the coin!

Executing the Plan

OK. Your plans are complete, well constructed and clearly spelled out in a language everyone understands. Your calendar is updated and you are proud that you have listed everything from the next round of SAT’s to the fall homecoming dance! Now it’s time to take the plunge.

You can have the best organized and most highly detailed approach to the college quest, but it won’t amount to a hill of beans if you lack confidence and the desire and the ability to “execute the plan.” If your strategy is to wait by the phone for the coach to call, in most cases, it’s going to be a long wait. Top prospects will get their fair share of attention, but the majority of athletes will increase their chances in getting on the radar screen of the college coaches by taking a proactive stance and initiating communication with college coaches.

College coaches are strictly bound by a myriad of NCAA contact and evaluation rules that limit them in initiating contact with prospective student-athletes and their families. What few families realize is that although college coaches may have their “hands tied” to some degree, prospects may initiate contact with the college coaches, early on and with very few exceptions.

Effective communication between the family and the college coach can be critical to the level of support the prospect will receive in the recruiting process. It can make or break a coach’s decision to offer an athletic scholarship or provide that extra “push” in the admission process. If your mission is clear, communication becomes the vehicle to move with definite purpose in your chosen direction. On the other hand, ill-prepared communication can cause confusion and misdirection. Your ship moves, but with a weak rudder.

The college recruiting process is both exciting and potentially overwhelming. It requires a disciplined and yet flexible approach, especially when timelines get tight and situations become challenging. Developing and executing recruiting plans are crucial to success and no different from preparing for a championship game! Communication with coaches is vital and a proactive effort will only get you on the radar screen faster and more effectively. That being said, the family that approaches the college recruiting process with an organized and proactive effort, will have the best chances in building mutually strong and respectful relationships with college coaches and position themselves best as they navigate the college search.

Tom Kovic is a former Division I college coach and the current director of Victory Collegiate Consulting, where he provides individual advisement for families on college recruiting. Tom is the author of “Reaching for Excellence” An educational guide for college athletics recruiting. For further information visit: www.victoryrecruiting.com.

Navigating College Recruiting: Confidence is Half the Battle

by Tom Kovic

As prospects navigate the college athletics recruiting process, the level of their “command of confidence” will not only assist them in developing a positive and effective approach to recruiting, it will be “picked up” by the college coaches and assist the prospect in standing out above the rest of the pack. Self confidence doesn’t just “appear” it is a skill that is developed naturally and with experience and can offer student-athletes with an effective tool that can be skillfully used in navigating the college recruiting process.

Contacts/Return Contacts

I believe many prospects are under the assumption that the college coaches will routinely contact them by phone or by e-mail in an attempt to recruit them. This may be true for some prospects, but for the majority of athletes who are waiting for the phone to ring, it could be a long and frustrating wait. Coaches are recruiting hundreds of prospects and need to utilize a filtering system to organize their list into a manageable and functional grouping. Coaches are bound by very strict contact rules and it is in the best interest of the prospects to initiate contact with the college coaches and with persistence!

If you feel a particular college coach has sincere interest in you as a prospect, you want to develop consistent communication with him and I suggest taking the lead in making future contacts. For instance, you may be discussing a future campus visit and trying to nail down a specific date. Don’t feel nervous in taking the initiative and letting the coach know you will be contacting him in the near future to confirm the visit. This approach is respectful and all you are trying to do is assist the coach, who will appreciate your effort.

Initiating phone calls to the coach

I think one of the toughest challenges prospects face in the recruiting process is initiating that first phone call to the college coach and for good reason. They are scared! Somehow, many young athletes envision an unapproachable coach on the other end of the line and view the task of calling the coach with fear. Coaches are former athletes who went through the same process. More importantly, they are educators who “know the stakes” and the importance of the 4 year college experience. Sure, they are competitive and want to attract the best and the brightest, but for the most part, they want prospects in general, to arrive at a comfortable college choice and one that is the right match. They typically see their role as being a “resource,” with a sincere obligation to provide family’s with valuable information and to answers their questions. They want to assist the prospect reach his “comfort level” in an effort to begin developing a collaborative relationship.

I would not encourage a prospect to pick up the phone and make a “cold call” without preparation. Calls not only give you the opportunity to exchange information with the coaches, it provides you with a vehicle to begin opening up your personality to them and provide the college coach with a “look under the hood.” A lot can be learned about a person in a 5 minute phone call, so make it count! Put together a general list of items you would like to discuss and then trim it down to a bullet list of specific questions you need answers to. Keep your list informative, but short. There is a good chance the coach will cover a lot of ground with his specific questions!

Presenting yourself (visits and by phone)

You can present yourself in a number of different ways to college coaches and the manner in which you display your personality will directly reflect the level of investment you have made in the college recruiting process.

Whether your communication is by phone, email or face to face, “preparation” is the operative word. When you are well prepared to communicate with the college coaches, your level of self confidence increases and the coaches sense this. Remember, coaches are certainly looking to attract the best student-athletes, but just as important, they are looking for self aware individuals who bring potential leadership skills to the table.

Here’s a quick tip: Say you are preparing to make that initial phone call to the coach. Instead of just picking up the phone, take time to go through mock phone conversations with your mom, dad or high school coach in an effort to develop skills in communication. Just like the effort you place in improving yourself as an athlete, your commitment to training your communication skills will pay big dividends down the road.

When you are face to face with a coach, dress sharp for the occasion and create a pleasing outward appearance. Your appearance will be the first thing the college coach sees before he shakes your hand and first impressions are important and long remembered. Additionally, maintain consistent eye contact with the coach. The eyes are the “windows to your soul” and speaks volumes about your level of self-confidence.

Dealing with rejection

Not every college coach will roll out the red carpet for you and it is important to prepare yourself for the possibility of rejection. It is going to happen and you should not take it personally. Whether rejection is a result of not meeting admissions standards or not having the “stuff” to be considered as an impact player for a particular team, do not waiver from “reaching” toward select academic and athletic programs. One of many quotes I used with my teams was “Far better to reach for excellence and fall, than to settle for mediocrity.” The same holds true in the college search, but prepare mentally and emotionally for potential negative news. You might not appreciate the initial “shock” but by keeping your head held high and accepting the hand you are dealt, will only make you stronger and more persistent in the future.

The level of confidence prospects project as he/she navigates college recruiting, will be directly proportional to the potential success of the plan. Like impeccable preparation for a championship game, the best prepared individuals will have the greatest chance at success if their recruiting plans are sound and they execute with confidence and persistence. “Think you can, think you can’t, either way you are right.” Bringing a positive and organized approach to college recruiting will help you navigate a potentially daunting task with confidence and success.

Tom Kovic is a former Division I college coach and the current director of Victory Collegiate Consulting, where he provides individual advisement for families on college recruiting. Tom is the author of “Reaching for Excellence”, an educational guide for college athletics recruiting. For further information visit: www.victoryrecruiting.com.

The NCAA Division III Baseball Committee recommended a return to a championship bracket format that was discontinued in 2004.

Effective next spring, the tournament’s last undefeated team will play a semifinal game against an opponent with one loss, rather than advancing directly to the championship final. The purpose is to require teams to play a more comparable number of games to reach the final.

I have opposed giving the winner of the winners bracket a day off while the remaining teams fight it out and applaud the NCAA’s decision. This is a big step forward to improving the competition in the Championship round.

The advantages that the winners bracket winner had was overwhelming They had a day off to rest their regular players. They had their number one starter available on four days rest playing a team that played two more days. And they always came out the winner of the tournament.

Next year the team that comes out of the winners bracket will still have a spot in the Championship game but they will not have that day off to rest their team and will play the same number of games headed to the last day. The only downside is that the bracket is harder to read but D3baseball.com will be there to make the complicated simple.

Our guest blogger is Jeff Taylor and he has this to say:

Much has been made on message boards about the new rules for Division I baseball schools that went into effect, primarily the roster limits and the elimination of the one-time transfer rule, where in previous years, players could transfer to a D-I school and play immediately. The rationale for these rule changes, in short, were to address the relatively low graduation rate (APR) in D-I baseball that was affected by all the team jumping in past years.

What remains to be seen is how these changes will trickle down and affect D-III baseball, in particular, what will happen at the D-I schools in the fall. With the new roster limits, will coaches still bring in large recruiting classes, in part to insure that, after the draft and other issues, that the team will be able to have the max (35) roster? That would mean, for example, if a coach brings in 40 players (with returners and recruits) in the fall, that after the rosters are set, 5 of those young men will be looking for places to play after the fall.

The logical trickle down affect would be on the D-II, D-III, and NAIA schools, where the players could transfer without having to sit.

Ultimately, we could see an increased influx of D-I players transferring mid-year to D-III schools. Does that mean that perhaps D-III schools will start cultivating relationships with the D-I coaches, meaning that D-I actually becomes a bit of a feeder program to D-III? That would certainly be a karma-like switch from past years where you would see a D-III player maybe perform well in a summer league and be “encouraged” (some coaches would call it “raiding”) to transfer to a D-I school.

Speaking purely from the baseball perspective, there could be an increase in the overall quality of players at D-III schools, and perhaps over the next 2-3 years, increase the numbers of players drafted from the D-III ranks. Ethically this could also create a bit of a dilemma for some D-III coaches and schools. Will they see schools in their conferences bulking up rosters at mid-year resulting in a “keep up with the Joneses?” What about the players who performed well in the fall and come back in January and suddenly find themselves down on the depth chart behind a D-I
transfer? Either way, it is going to be interesting to see the effects of D-I legislation on D-III programs.

College Athletics Recruiting and The Gap Year: A Worthy Consideration

by Tom Kovic

Whenever I begin a presentation on college recruiting, I always start with the following quote:

“These are four of the most important years in the lives of our children in that it will help shape their personal character and provide them with professional direction for the rest of their lives.”

I use it to grab attention of the audience, but I strongly believe in the purpose of the message. Depending on the amount of information families have gathered and the level of organization they have developed on college recruiting, will determine their “comfort level” as they navigate the college search. The college decision is a major life choice and preparing well for this opportunity will only increase the prospect’s chances in ultimately finding the right college match.

Utilizing a “Gap Year” is slowly becoming a more popular option for student-athletes who are either not sure if they are ready to attend college, need a little maturing, or require an additional year in order to bolster their self confidence. It gives these young men and women some extra time to step back, re-evaluate their current situation and develop a unique plan that will assist them best once they step on campus. Simply stated, most kids considering a gap year just need time to explore their interests or maybe just better determine who they are and what they want to accomplish from the general college experience.

Communication

Prospects considering a gap year will apply to their colleges and university’s of choice as any other student-athlete. The only difference would be that the gap year candidate would defer a year before beginning his undergraduate experience while his buddies would be a year ahead. If the gap year is a viable consideration, I would strongly advise communicating this with the college coaches early in the recruiting process. Each coach is different and their reaction to your intended plan will vary, so it is a good idea to come in prepared to clearly explain your reasons for deciding to take a “year to grow.” Taking a year off to simply think about what you want to do with your life will most likely not cut it with college coaches, but deferring a year to become involved in a humanitarian effort, take some additional classes, or become involved in a community action group will provide some “grip” in your decision and garner respect and stronger potential support from the college coaches.

Andrew is a current senior in high school and a talented soccer goalie from the Midwest, who also demonstrates outstanding academic achievement in the classroom. I think his dad sums up the gap year option for Andrew beautifully:

“The major complicating factor is related to his goal of pursuing soccer in college, since the coaches will not be recruiting him to play right out of high school, but rather following the gap year. Nevertheless, Andrew is fully committed to pursuing the gap year and has been honest and up-front with the soccer coaches at the schools to which he is applying. He has clearly communicated his plan to continue to train as a goalkeeper at the highest level even during this gap year, while engaging in several humanitarian projects in India. It is encouraging that the coaches have generally responded in a favorable manner.” John G. (Beachwood, Ohio).

Let the coaches know that you are planning to maintain and exceed your current athletic schedule and skill level through regular training and competition with club teams as part of your commitment in creating clarity to your future. The gap year is certainly focused on developing further confidence in the prospect, but there is an unwritten agreement of trust that needs to be honored with the coaches.

While the traditional admission route may be right for some students, some might question whether student-athletes are taking enough time to select colleges that align best with their academic interests, athletic goals, and personal aspirations. Some prospects are applying to schools that might meet some of their needs, without considering which colleges might be the right fit for them beyond the athletic experience. College coaches are certainly looking for strong students and excellent athletes, but these days, coaches are looking further out and for self aware individuals who have a “finger on the pulse” of their personal destiny.

The gap year is not for everyone, but it can be a viable option for the student-athlete that feels a bit anxious about “taking the plunge,” or they are not quite ready to embrace the college experience with confidence. What is important is that the students who choose this option have to do “something.” They can’t just hang at home or work. It has to be a transformative experience, one that will help them grow. The gap year can become a solid option for some student-athletes to consider, but developing a clear sense of purpose, sound judgment in your decision and effectively communicating this to the college coaches early on in the recruiting process will create stronger potential support, while positioning the prospect best for success

Tom Kovic is a former Division I college coach and the current director of Victory Collegiate Consulting, where he provides individual advisement for families on college recruiting. Tom is the author of “Reaching for Excellence”, an educational guide for college athletics recruiting. For further information visit: www.victoryrecruiting.com.

College Athletics, Official Visits and the Early Decision Period

By Tom Kovic

The official visit is a great way to narrow down your college choices by spending quality time with the coaching staff, current student-athletes and college administrators. These visits differ from the unofficial visit in cost, time limitations and the total number permitted by the prospect and the number of visits to each individual institution. That being said, making the effort to work with college coaches to arrange the official visit will provide the prospect and family with a “good look under the hood” as you potentially head down the homestretch in the college search.

As the summer comes to a close, rising senior prospects who have effectively cultivated strong relationships with college coaches through consistent communication and by provided coaches with tangible means of evaluating both their academic and athletic skill should be well positioned to narrow down their college list to a more manageable number. If a prospect is considering the early signing period for athletics scholarship, or wishes to apply early decision to the school of their choice, I highly recommended you arrange your official visits to campus before the start of the new school year. Remember, the official visit is permission based and you will need to provide the college coaches with a copy of your high school transcripts and standardized test scores before the visit can be offered. Work closely with the college coach… He will be your point person!

Communication

As prospects begin to “get their ducks in a row” during the final stages of the college search, communication skills should be sharpened and effectively exercised on a regular basis. I encourage prospects to fine tune their approach and prioritize the “A” list of potential college choices. College coaches are taking similar steps in preparing their recruiting strategies and will look strongly at those prospects that are focused, organized and committed, as compared to those prospects that seem to be lagging behind.

Remember, coaches are bound by strict NCAA rules regarding direct communication, but prospects and their families have tremendous laterality when initiating contact with the coaches, especially by phone or face to face. Don’t hesitate to call coaches directly if an important question arises, or you require additional information or clarification about timelines and expectations. The college coach will appreciate the effort.

Restrictions

Rising senior prospects who are interested in Division 1 or Division 2 programs are permitted to take a total of (5) official visits to college campuses, with no more than (1) visit to any particular institution. Prospects who are interested in Division 3 institutions, may take an unlimited number of official visits, with no more than one visit to any particular institution. Official visits to Division 3 schools are also permission based and the athlete will need to follow the same (Division 1 and 2) procedures in securing a written invitation to visit campus.

Prospects are permitted to begin taking official visits starting the first day of classes at the beginning of the senior year in high school and if a fall visit is a strong possibility, the family that takes a proactive effort in arranging the trip will have a better chance in organizing a manageable travel schedule. Please note: An official visit is one that is paid in part or in full by the university and it would serve the family well to determine what portion of the trip, if any, the family will be responsible for covering financially as part of the visit.

Information

In preparation for your visit, provide the coach with information regarding your intended major. This will assist the coach in developing your itinerary, determining your host and selecting the classes you will be attending. Create a list of questions for the coach about his program and his expectations for his student-athletes. You can develop a similar list for current team members as well. The level that you communicate your knowledge of the program with coaches and student-athletes will directly reflect your level of interest you have in the school.

I strongly suggest that you arrive “armed” with information about the school, the athletics program and how it potentially matches with your abilities and aspirations. Don’t take a “cocky” approach about your knowledge of the institution, but rather come in as an educated consumer who shows confidence, self awareness and initiative in preparing for an important campus visit. Trust me… The coaches will take notice.

The official visit is typically the “clincher” when a prospect and family are narrowing down their final choices. These visits are typically taken while school is in session, and will provide the family with an opportunity to witness first-hand, how the entire process (social interaction with team, team practice, attending classes, living in the dormitories etc.) from a “production” standpoint operates. The prospect who proactively prepares for this visit will have the best chance in making a positive impression on the coach, the team and members of the administration. Remember, you only get one “whack” at taking an official visit to a particular college… Make it count!

Tom Kovic is a former Division I college coach and the current director of Victory Collegiate Consulting, where he provides individual advisement for families on college recruiting. Tom is the author of “Reaching for Excellence” An educational guide for college athletics recruiting. For further information visit: www.victoryrecruiting.com.

Ever wonder where your team stood in the NCAA Rankings?  Sure you can go and see if your team is near or at the top of a statistical category, but where do they rank in caparison to NCAA averages?  The following set of useless interesting numbers should answer all your questions for you.  So check out the stats below and see how your team stacks up.

Basic Team Averages
.307 Batting Average
.420 On Base Percentage
.429 Slugging Percentage
.850 On Base Percentage
5.85 ERA
1.71 WHIP

More Team Averages
38.5 Games Played
259 Runs
381 Hits
70 Doubles
10.4 Triples
20.3 Home Runs
54.2 Stolen Bases
69 Stolen Base Attempts
142.2 Walks
207.6 Strike Outs
6.9 Complete Games
4.9 Saves
2 Shutouts

Division III Wide Totals

6,817 Games
439, 898 At Bats
91,713 Runs Scored
134,875 Hits
24,790 Doubles
3,675 Triples
7,186 Home Runs
19,181 Stolen Bases
50,335 Walks
73,501 Strike Outs
2,429 Complete Games
1,728 Saves
723 Shutouts

Other Tidbits
78.5% of would be base stealers were safe
14 teams walked more times than they struck out
14 teams had a team ERA over 10
3 teams had a team ERA under 3

**Note these stats are taken from the NCAA website, I did not attend and personally score every game.  Also, some provisional D3 members may be included

COLLEGE ATHLETICS RECRUITING AND NAVIGATING FINANCIAL AID

by Tom Kovic

Financial aid is an important component for many families to consider as they move forward in the college athletics recruiting process. College costs continue to increase and the family that makes a concerted effort in developing financial aid planning as part of their overall recruiting plan will have a greater chance in gaining a manageable package.

Financial aid is readily available for families who qualify, based on need, and for the most part, packaging is not based on merit or athletic ability. For those institutions that do not offer athletic scholarships, or where athletics aid is exhausted, there are cases where college coaches can assist families in getting a financial aid “pre-read.” These early evaluations can be very helpful in providing families with a strong indication to what their family contribution will be in the first academic year of attendance.

The college coach is your “point person” here and he/she can act as an indirect conduit to the office of financial aid in an effort to assist the family in a very important area of recruiting.

PRE-READS

Financial aid pre-reads are in many cases an effective tool that many college coaches use as a means of providing prospects and their families with a “ballpark” figure as to what the family can expect to pay for a college education in the first year of attendance. It is important that the family request a pre-read early in the recruiting process, but not before sincere interest in the coach’s program has been developed. The family should first determine the individual institution’s policy on providing financial aid pre-reads through direct communication with the college coach.

For a family to receive a timely and accurate financial aid pre-read, the following information is typically required from the financial aid office:

• Prior year income/business taxes with all W-2 forms.
• Divorced/separated paperwork if applicable.
• Completed budget worksheet (provided by the coach)
• Admissions data (standardized test scores, class rank etc.)

Turn around time in completing the pre-read is about 2 weeks and this information should give parents a close estimate to what the family financial aid breakdown will be for the coming cycle. Note: financial aid packages can change from year to year based on changes to personal family finances.

MATCHING PACKAGES

Some institutions will attempt to “come in line” with financial aid offers from other institutions. Matching typically occurs with schools from the same conference, or similarly “select” schools. It is good to make a comparison, but out of respect for the college coaches, I encourage families to compare financial aid packages with those schools that are serious potential choices. Remember, the college coach is your “go to guy” in this process and clear and timely communication will facilitate the process!

INTERNAL SCHOLARSHIPS

Most institutions offer “internal scholarships” where student-athletes could be looked at favorably. Research the colleges on your radar for all institutionally related scholarships (academic, community etc.), especially leadership grants, which seem to be gaining popularity. These awards are typically selective and reward the “cream of the crop,” special interest prospects and those with strong financial need. Communicate your financial aid concerns with the college coach, who may recommend potential candidates for consideration of these awards.

It is important that the family share with the coach any outside offers or completed financial aid pre-reads from other institutions, and determine where your child ranks in the coach’s recruiting priority. If your child is considered a “blue chip” athlete and the school of interest does not offer athletic scholarships, carefully probe the coach’s feeling about asking the office of financial aid to take a hard look at the family’s request to determine if there are any options to possibly “sweeten the pot.”

The four year college experience is a tremendous investment in our children’s future. That being said, the premiums for a quality college education are seemingly heading “north” and I strongly suggest that families begin preparing for this important component of college recruiting early and with enthusiasm.

Tom Kovic is a former Division I college coach and the current director of Victory Collegiate Consulting, where he provides individual advisement for families on college recruiting. Tom is the author of “Reaching for Excellence”, an educational guide for college athletics recruiting. For further information visit: www.victoryrecruiting.com.