Saturday, January 31, 2009

Concerning Athletic Scholarships and College Sports

Countless high school students, possessing athletic skill and talent, are looking forward to a college education with the support of an athletic scholarship. In order to attain these grants, there are a few things students need to remember.

It should go without saying that grades are very important in availing (and maintaining) an athletic scholarship. A player has more opportunities open to him in college sports , the better his grades are. Schools are more inclined to give sports grants and scholarships to students who show that they can perform academically as well as athletically. Poor grades in turn may lessen a player's chances of getting student athlete scholarships.

Coaches appreciate applicants who make the effort to call. It is important to contact the coaches of prospective colleges and determine what they are looking for in a student athlete. Waiting on them to call would be a mistake, given the vast number of hopefuls in other schools. Initiating contact can accelerate the recruiting process and let an applicant know what coaches are interested in.

All emails and letters from schools should be considered, even if they are not an Ivy League college. Coaches who don't receive any response from letters will naturally assume the student is not interested. Do not leave out any possibility unless the decision has been made and finalized. A so-called second or even last choice may prove to be only one.

It imperative that an applicant should be professional in the process of trying out for college sports. There are no second chances when making first impressions with college coaches and administrators. Immaturity and irresponsibility will easily turn away and discourage a potential coach. The applicant should maintain respect for all involved as much as possible. The influence other people can have to coaches in regards to assessing student's character should not be underestimated as well.

Fortunately, the Internet has proved to be a useful venue for both athletes and coaches participating in college sports. There are many websites and online forums wherein students and scouts can come together and interact about athletic scholarships and other important information. D1Athletes is an online community wherein athletes and coaches alike can share and exchange information they need. D1Athletes offers them a place to build an online presence and gain important public exposure.