8 Simple Rules for Getting Recruited to College

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Would you like to play football in college? Each year the coaching staff spends countless hours working to help student athletes achieve this goal. The coaching staff does their part BUT ... THE STUDENT-ATHLETE AND HIS/HER PARENTS MUST FIRST DO THEIR PART. 

Preparing for college begins a lot sooner than many student athletes think! 

The following guidelines will greatly enhance your opportunity to play college football. 

1. Pass the FCAT (Florida Comprehensive Achievement Test).
http://www.firn.edu/doe/sas/fcat.htm

2. Complete all high school graduation requirements. (Meet with your guidance counselor about this).

3. GPA: Your Grade Point Average is very important, especially in "core classes".  See your guidance counselor or Coach Meadows for more information about what constitutes "core classes".  You need a minimum of 2.0 GPA, but 2.5 or higher is recommended.  Remember, you are competing with other high school graduates across the nation for a position on a college team.

The GPA is doubly important. College recruiters look at your GPA (and automatically eliminate some potential recruits due to a poor GPA). Also, your GPA affects how high your SAT/ACT score has to be to qualify.  The higher the GPA, the less you have to score on the SAT/ACT.  You may consider summer courses to improve your core GPA.  If you do not take the initiative with your GPA in high school, what would a college recruiter think you will do in college. They cannot afford to waste their scholarships.

4. Pass the S.A.T. (Scholastic Aptitude Test) and/or the A.C.T. (American College Test).  You must have an SAT/ACT score or you won't be considered.  You should take these test during your junior year.  Some athletes have found that a scholarship has been given to someone else because they procrastinated in taking the test and were still waiting on their SAT score.  This is all up to you.  Take the test early. It is usually a good idea to take the test more than once.

Check out these links.  There is a lot of information here.
www.act.org
collegeboard.com

5. Complete and submit the F.A.F.S.A. Form (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) by January of your Senior year.
www.fafsa.ed.gov  This is the Federal Government web site. 

6. Complete and submit the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearing House form by the start of your Senior year.
www. ncaaclearinghouse.net
www.ncaa.org  The NCAA site has a lot of useful information.

7. Establish yourself as a football athlete (preferably by your junior year). This starts with following the advice and instructions of your coaching staff.

8. Stay out of trouble (both in and out of school).  THINK BEFORE YOU ACT. Colleges are not looking for "problems" in their program. Establish yourself as a model citizen. Well mannered student-athletes with a good GPA/SAT score and football skills impress college recruiters. 

Information provided on this site is provided for your convenience and is believed to have been accurate at  the time the files were created. Requirements change.   It is the student-athlete's (and his parent's) responsibility to verify this information.  Talk to the head coach and your guidance counselor. Also, check out the web sites listed on the various pages for updated info.  Check with the colleges you are interested in for information regarding their institution rules and regulations.

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