1. What type of college experience are you looking for as a student-athlete?

2. What are your key college decision factors?

Here’s the link to Part I in case you missed it.

In Part II you will take steps to realistically evaluate yourself as a student-athlete.

Student-athletes:

Have you ever asked yourself what level of athletics is right for you?

Parents:

Have you ever wondered what level of athletics would be the right fit for your son or daughter? Have you said to yourself “my son / daughter is definitely a DI or DII / DIII athlete?”

Here are some simple ACTION ITEMS you can execute to get a realistic idea of what level of athletics and academics is appropriate for you or your student-athlete.

3. Student-athlete evaluation

A. Talk to your coaches: As a student-athlete, you need to talk to your high school and/or club team coach to express a desire to play college sports and also ask them for an HONEST evaluation of your potential to play at the college level. Also ask what areas need improvement to reach your full potential on and off the field.

B. Talk to your academic counselor: Ask them for an HONEST evaluation of your academic standing and make sure you are on track to play college sports. Also go over the academic guidelines that different colleges are looking for including GPA, SAT and ACT scores.

C. Get tested / evaluated: Attend a combine, camp, showcase or training facility where you will be objectively tested so you can compare your athletic ability and skill level with other athletes and get a clear understanding and measure of your current ability.

D. Get a highlight video: College coaches don’t have the time or budget to travel to many games and evaluate athletes in person. If you provide college coaches a 3 – 5 minute highlight video and resume with all of your athletic and academic information, they can evaluate you quickly and easily. We recommend getting your video and resume online so you can easily email coaches.

Visit the SportsForce website (www.sportsforceonline.com) to view some online profile and highlight video examples from more than 10 different sports including:

football, basketball, softball, baseball, lacrosse, soccer, water polo, field hockey and more.

E. Evaluate & research college athletes / teams: Watch college athletes and teams compete in person, on TV, over the Internet. See first-hand what the caliber of play is at the DI, D2, D3, NAIA and junior college level. Visit college sports websites to see the biographies of the athletes and their high school sports statistics, awards and achievements (ex. High School statistics, height / weight, All-State, All-League, All-County).

F. Evaluate and compare yourself to other athletes: Try to realistically evaluate and compare yourself to other student-athletes who are older than you or your same grade level who are getting actively recruited by college recruiters or signed with a college. Ask yourself if you are as good as they are right now athletically and academically? If not, do I have the same potential to reach their ability?

GOAL = To get clear on where you are and what you should focus on to reach your college sports goals.

To accelerate your education on the college sports preparation and recruiting process I recommend signing up for our FREE SportsForce College Sports Recruiting Guide.

* FREE Sign up click HERE

To get access to more advanced college recruiting tips, strategies and advice visit our website and RESOURCES section.

The SportsForce team, which is comprised of former college and professional athletes and coaches, is relentlessly committed to providing an ongoing education to help you best navigate your journey as a student-athlete, parent or coach to reach your potential.

Article courtesy of SportsForce, Home for professional and affordable College Sports Recruiting Tools, Tips, Online Profiles, Highlight Videos and Premium Services.

www.sportsforceonline.com

info@sportsforceonline.com

858.350.5889

Here are some of the most common college sports recruiting questions our staff receives:

When do college coaches start recruiting?

What are college coaches looking for?

How can we maximize exposure to college recruiters?

What do we need to do and when do we need to do it?

What about the SAT, ACT, financial aid, NCAA Eligibility Center, etc…

Here are two simple and proven ACTION STEPS you can use today to begin taking control of your sports career and college sports goals.

Step 1: Student-athlete assessment

ACTION ITEMS:

1. Ask yourself “What type of college experience am I looking for?”

Attention student-athletes:

You need to reflect on what type of experience you are looking for. Write your thoughts down in a casual format (bullet points are fine) and be able to verbalize what type of college experience you are looking for.

Attention parents:

We recommend parents asking this question and letting your son or daughter answer this question with no undue pressure. See if your student-athlete can describe the type of experience they are looking for.

GOAL = To get a clear idea of what college experience you want as a student-athlete.

2. What are your key college decision factors?

Create a list of all of the key decision factors and give 1 to 5 points for each decision factor (5 being an extremely important decision factor).  We recommend doing this on a spreadsheet and then ranking the potential colleges you are interested in by using this system to create an overall point total for each school.

Potential decision factors including: Academics (Majors offered, career development, alumni), Athletics (level of competition, W/L record, tradition), Social environment, Size of school, Public vs. Private, Cost, Location, Coaching Staff, Intuition (gut feeling, emotional connection)

GOAL = To have a proven ranking and college decision making system to know what potential colleges you are really interested in.

To accelerate your education on the college sports preparation and recruiting process I recommend signing up for our FREE SportsForce College Sports Recruiting Guide.

* FREE Sign up click HERE

To get access to more advanced college recruiting tips, strategies and advice visit our website and RESOURCES section.

The SportsForce team, which is comprised of former college and professional athletes and coaches, is relentlessly committed to providing an ongoing education to help you best navigate your journey as a student-athlete, parent or coach.

Article courtesy of SportsForce, Home for professional and affordable College Sports Recruiting Tools, Tips, Online Profiles, Highlight Videos and Premium Services.

www.sportsforceonline.com

info@sportsforceonline.com

858.350.5889

According to John, “The very first TKS Radio Show was a great success. Andrew Beinbrink stopped by and talked about recruiting. We got some great feedback and provided a ton of information. We also talked abut the seven points of success on becoming a kicker.”  Visit the following link to hear the show at anytime. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/kickingsystem/2010/04/20/football-kicking-punting-recruiting-news-workouts

During the show, Andrew and John discussed the Seven Points of Success to become a successful kickers or punter. You can find them below.

• Academics – You must study and achieve the highest grades possible
• Technique Work – Kicking 2-3x per week working on your skill
• Physical Conditioning – Working out, specific for kicking (Yoga, functional training, etc)
• Mental Toughness – Preparing yourself to handle pressure situations, staying calm
• Nutrition – Having the right fuel in your body to produce the best results
• Attitude – Connections with your head coach, staff, family is huge when people want to hire you
• Commitment – Beginning with setting your goals and staying focused on them

You can also visit http://www.blogtalkradio.com/kickingsystem for all past TKS radio shows.

The tournament showcased top talent from across the country and gave players a chance to show off  their skills in highly competitive games in front of top college coaches, scouts, as well as media. Check out the highlight video below.

To visit the SportsForce Boys Basketball Home page click here.

When someone goes on a job interview, they often buy new clothes, get a haircut, and maybe even shed a few pounds, in hopes of making a good first impression to a potential future boss.

The idea of making a good first impression also holds true for the approximately 330 college football players who were invited to workout at the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis from Feb. 24-Mar. 2. Each athlete undergoes extensive mental and physical evaluations by the personnel of all 32 NFL teams, which serves as their job interview for the 2010 NFL Draft on April 22-24.

In an effort to get into optimal physical and mental condition for the Combine, most athletes go through a pre-Combine training program, which is geared toward improving their draft position. The difference in getting selected in the first round versus the second round is literally millions of dollars. For other athletes, a good showing at the Combine can mean the difference between being selected on the first day of the Draft instead of the second day or being drafted at all.

Most pre-Combine programs have a similar goal of providing comprehensive physical and mental training specifically geared toward the numerous drills conducted at the Combine. Standard amenities generally include strength and speed training, learning position-specific skills, usually from former NFL coaches and players, as well as access to a nutritionist, massage and physical therapists and more.

Where the programs vary is the path a facility takes to achieve this shared goal. Selecting the proper training program has become an important part of the NFL pre-draft process and numerous Valley-based facilities rank among the elite.

Command Performance
No Valley-based facility has made more of an impact on the NFL Draft than Athlete’s Performance Institute, which began offering Combine training in 2001. Their clientele list reads like a who’s who of NFL players, as founder Mark Verstegen and his crew have trained 257 draft picks, including 53 first rounders and the last four number one overall picks.

API offers 28 specialists that focus on speed, strength, nutrition, position specific, chiropractic, physical therapy and on-site meal preparation by a culinary team. They also provide a specialist for the Wonderlic Exam, the 50-question aptitude test given to all NFL draft prospects, and a media specialist, who works with the athletes on improving their interview skills and dealing with the media.

API has four facilities nationwide. In 2009, its Arizona facility relocated from Tempe to its current luxurious location in North Phoenix. This facility is as high end as they come and offer too many amenities to list in their entirety.

This year’s class of 22 NFL hopefuls include former Sun Devils Chris McGaha and Dexter Davis as well as Notre Dame wide receiver Golden Tate and Oklahoma defensive tackle Gerald McCoy.

A Combine pioneer
Warren Anderson, executive director of the Phoenix-based Make Plays.com Center for Human Performance is considered a pioneer of Combine training when he began his program in 1985 at the urging of Bruce Allen, now the Washington Redskins general manager.

“We worked together in the USFL,” Anderson recalled. “Then Bruce went into the agent business and I was just starting up in the training business. He told me I should consider doing Combine training for his athletes, so he could offer them a competitive advantage.”

Anderson has nearly 30 years experience and, along with his team of former NFL coaches and players, work toward improving football skills through the Makeplays Combine Training Program where athletes train twice a day, 5 – 6 days a week. Since launching combine training, Anderson has worked with more than 500 players that were drafted in the NFL, including 41 first-round draft picks.

No Doubt
Another major player in pre-Combine training is Brett Fischer of Phoenix-based Fischer Sports Physical Therapy and Conditioning. The facility is well known for its work with baseball players but for more than 10 years, Fischer has partnered with Will Sullivan to train an average of 10-15 players per year through his No Doubt! Football, NFL Combine Training Camp.

While Fischer has trained five first-round picks and six-second-round picks, he has established his reputation for training many unheralded players and turning them into higher than expected picks.

“These are the kind of guys I like working on,” said Fischer, who has more than 20 years of sports conditioning and rehabilitation experience. “I’m not downplaying the importance of also working with the first-round picks but it’s also important to find the guys that no one projected very high that go and do well.”

Fischer also prides himself on 40-yard dash training as many athletes he worked with went on to set Combine records.

Diamonds in the rough
Other NFL Combine training options include Triple Threat Performance in Tempe, which will train more than 20 athletes this year and is growing its reputation in this area. Triple Threat boasts former Olympian Dan O-Brien on its coaching staff.

The IKEI Performance NFL Draft Preparation Program is limited to 10 players each year. Founder Chad Ikei has more than 20 years of experience and a background in strength and power sports. IKEI Performance has locations in Scottsdale and Chandler.

Speed specialists know about Mo Streety, who has worked with athletes for 11 years. Players he has worked with include Darrelle Revis, Roddy White and Terrell Suggs.

Coach Gary Zauner was an NFL special teams coach for 13 years including with the Arizona Cardinals. He has carved out a niche for working with punters, kickers and long snappers and holds annual camps in Scottsdale to prepare prospects for the NFL Draft.

With millions of dollars potentially at stake, making a great impression at the NFL Combine and ensuing Pro Day workouts have taken on greater importance. Leading up the NFL Draft, many players will climb up the rankings of prospects, as they gain favor in the eyes of those who have scrutinized their very move. And once the names are called on April 22, smiles will come across the faces of many Valley-based sports performance professionals knowing they played an important role in prepping members of the Class of 2010 for their chance at a career in the NFL.

Note: This story originally ran in the February issue of MVP Magazine, the first ever interactive digital sports magazine. Read the current of MVP Magazine at www.mvptoday.com

The college recruiting process is often misunderstood by many parents, student-athletes, coaches and fans. Are you a sports parent or a high school student-athlete who is asking yourself “How do I maximize my recruiting exposure to college coaches?” If so, you are not alone. This is a very common issue across the country that we often help student-athletes and families proactively address at SportsForce.

In this article you will learn more on how to introduce yourself to a college coach, what type of recruiting events to consider and gain an understanding of how video and the Internet are radically changing the recruiting process. At the end of this article you will have an opportunity to sign up for our complimentary SportsForce College Recruiting Guide to learn more keys to college recruiting success. See link at the end of the article.

Step 4: Get Evaluation in person: Target Key Recruiting Events

• Identify key recruiting tournaments that some of your target colleges will attend
• Email coaches your online profile link, team name, schedule and jersey # before the showcase to make sure you  are evaluated
• Potentially attend a few college camps for specific exposure to that program

Step 5: Get quality video, online profile & share

• Video is key, college coaches don’t have the time to see every player
• Create a custom highlight video to showcase your skills (3 – 5 min. long)
• Create an online profile to add your athletic, academic and recruiting information

Some example SportsForce profiles below:

• Girls Lacrosse: http://www.sportsforceonline.com/athletes/jmills
• Softball: http://www.sportsforceonline.com/athletes/mbradvica
• Soccer: http://www.sportsforceonline.com/athletes/kdick

Here is an example profile and highlight video of one of our senior clients Nick Melka that recently committed to Columbia University to play football.  Nick and his family were proactive in the process and were able to maximize his exposure and generate significant interest from many of his top college choices.

Here’s a link to Nick’s profile –http:/www.sportsforceonlone.com/nmelka

To get more advanced recruiting tips, strategies and advice visit our website and sign up for our complimentary SportsForce College Recruiting Guide and updates below.

FREE sign up for SportsForce College Recruiting Guide:

http://www.sportsforceonline.com/resources/resources_recruiting_recruiting_guide.html

Article courtesy of SportsForce, Home for professional College Sports Recruiting Profiles, Highlight Videos, Tips and Tools – www.sportsforceonline.com

1.    How would you describe Alex on the field (strengths, playing style, etc.)?

Alex hustles and his game translates well to full field situations.  He can break down a defense and get his hands free for a shot or to get the offense moving.  He plays great team defense on and off the ball.  And he is great in transition where his speed really shows.
2.    How would you describe Alex off the field (academics, leadership, etc.)?

Well mannered and easy going.  Has a lot of friends and surrounds himself with good people who know their academics are the key to their future.

3.    How do you think Alex will help a team at the college level (what should a college coach expect)?

Alex brings a strong work ethic, an infectious good attitude, and he wants to get better.  He is very coachable.
4.    How do you think Alex will develop over the next few years as a lacrosse player?

He has enormous potential.  He will be one of the best players on his team and demand respect.  Speed, team play, and the intangibles translate well to the next level.

5.    Any final thoughts about Alex?
Pleasure to coach a kid who wants to be better every day.

See Alex’s Full SportsForce Profile at: http://www.sportsforceonline.com/athletes/apardieu

1. What do you enjoy about playing baseball? Baseball is my escape.  All my troubles are gone the instant I step foot on that field.  Once on the field, it’s me and my team against you.  I love the sound the glove makes when the ball strikes that sweet spot and I love that slow walk around the left side of the mound when I strike someone out.  And nothing beats the sound of a bat screaming when it launches the ball over the center field fence!  Most of all, I love facing my next opponent as he walks to the plate and I get ready to unleash all I have at him.
2. When did you begin pitching? When I was about 13 years old in Pony League, after Little League.  I played first base in Little League.
3. How would you describe yourself as a pitcher? A bull dog!  I’m not willing to let go and I fight for the strike until the very end.
4. What other sports did you play growing up? A little soccer and the occasional football game in the neighborhood.  Baseball has always been my favorite sport.
5. What type of college experience are you looking for (athletically,
   academically, socially)? Most importantly, I want to get my college degree.  But it’s just as important to me to excel in athletics all four years.  I can’t wait to see how much better I get with some great coaching and physical training.  I am also looking forward to making some long lasting friendships with my teammates and the students at Friends University.  The dorms should be a unique experience and I also look forward to some great relationships with the professors, which I think is very possible at a smaller sized school like Friends.
6. How do you decide to sign with Friends University? When my family and I flew out to Wichita, we were impressed with the campus and facilities.  Everyone we met there was very nice and the coaches were so enthusiastic about having me. They had a new field this year and we met other team members.  I decided that having a more personal relationship with the professors and coaches would be ideal for me.  It just felt right.  I know I’m going to have to work hard for school and baseball, but I know I’m going to have a great experience!
7. How did it feel to go out to Kansas and sign with the coaching staff? It was very exciting.  We explored Wichita and the campus and the coaches both made me feel so welcome and I could talk with them.  I know they’ll work me hard, but they were really great.
8. What are you looking forward to most about being a college baseball player? I’m looking forward to the whole college experience and I’m really proud to be a college student-athlete at Friends.  It feels good to know that I’ve accomplished my goal despite the fact that there have been many people who have tried to discourage me.  But it’s ok, because it made me want success even more, it made me work harder and try harder, and I learned some valuable lessons for my life.  I AM A COLLEGE BASEBALL PLAYER!
9. What other colleges actively recruited you? Doane College, Washburn University, Rollins College, and Harding University to name a few.
10. What other schools did you seriously consider and why? Doane and Washburn were at the top of my list because of their campuses and science programs.
11. What college recruiting trips did you take and how were they? I only went to Western Oregon University once and the coaches weren’t very accepting and it seemed like I just wouldn’t have fun there.
12. What was the craziest thing that happened during the recruiting process? When I got my video done on SportsForce, it surprised me how many colleges responded within the very first week!
13. What helped you maximize your exposure to colleges?  The online profile video and DVD video was perfect.  It was sent with college applications and/or an email indicating my interest in their school.  It really gave the coaches an idea of how I throw, even if they were out of state and couldn’t see me in person.
14. What advice would you give to a high school athlete looking to play college sports? NEVER GIVE UP. That’s something I’ve learned.  There will always be people who encourage you and people who discourage you.  Take in the encouragement, and sift through the criticism for any useful information, but keep working at it if it’s something you love.
15. How did your family helped in the college selection and recruiting process? I couldn’t have done it without them. Dad looked at all the colleges on a sports level and Mom made sure the colleges offered science programs that she knew I wanted to pursue.  SportsForce helped me get the video produced so we could distribute it.
16. What is your intended college major? I plan to major in chemistry or pre-pharmacy.
17. What is your long term career ambition? Hopefully to become a pharmaceutical chemist.
18. What are your baseball goals over the next few years?  To raise my velocity and gain more control of my split-finger.  I also want to contribute to taking this team to a new level.  I wouldn’t mind setting some new records too.
19. What do you do to prepare to be a successful student-athlete
    (training, practice, film review, etc.)?  Practice is where the sweat and the hard work are put in.  And I have regular regimen for weight training 3 times a week.  And I have a protein drink routine I follow for building strength and trimming down. Then the games are just pure fun!
20. What hobbies or interest do you have outside of sports? I love to sing and play guitar, draw, play video games, hacky-sack, and snowboard.  And I love animals.