Unfortunately, the college recruiting process is not a predictable one as many coaches use their own criteria to fill the needs of their team. So, while you may try your best to get your name and abilities out there for the coaches to see, the final decision will rest with them on who they choose to provide scholarships.

For parents and their children looking for the right college or university, it pays to look at the big picture, then narrow down the options over time. Too many will start with a shortsighted perspective and try to expand from there, which normally works against getting a scholarship when the original choices are gone. Putting all your eggs in one basket works against your interests primarily because of the unpredictability of recruiting.

The Unpredictability of Recruiting

Recruiting for colleges is a fluid, ever-changing process that often changes the perspective of how a high school athlete is viewed over the course of two to three years. In addition, coaching changes at universities are frequent as well. This means that an athlete who was highly prized may be forgotten as the new coach takes over.

Another issue is the opinions of those who may be a part of the recruiting process who may advise you and your child that the chances of getting a scholarship are not worth much until the offer is presented. You should never put much faith in what anyone tells you until the scholarship has been offered. Plus, focusing on what one coach says may cause you to miss out on other opportunities that may work out better in the long run.

The unpredictability increases with the lack of knowledge parents and their children have about the colleges and universities themselves. All schools that are worth serious consideration should be thoroughly researched so that their recruiting strategies are understood. For example, a coach will recruit athletes that best fit the system they have created. If your talents are not normally part of that system, then your chances are diminished in terms of getting a scholarship.

How SportsForce Helps You

You can avoid putting all your eggs in one basket by getting SportsForce on your side. We provide the resources you need to help your child get recruited by colleges and universities around the country. In a nutshell we maximize the chances of your son or daughter getting a college scholarship that pays for their higher education.

We help you see the big picture with all the possibilities to consider then narrow down in the right manner. The knowledge, experience, and talents that SportsForce brings to the table means that your child stands the best chance of getting selected by the appropriate college or university.

SportsForce offers a complete line of services designed to get the attention of college coaches so that your child will have their name, abilities, and potential placed front and center for consideration. While there are no guarantees in getting your child a sports scholarship, having SportsForce on your side increases the chances far above the normal recruiting channels that are available. Get a free evaluation from an expert HERE.

While the basic approach college coaches and scouts use to recruit high school athletes have remained the same, one of the more notable changes is the use of social media. Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are just a few of the social media sites that allow people to stay connected and enhance the recruiting process.

Combined with the advent of the smartphone, social media has changed the way people stay in touch and has become a method for high school athletes to reach out to colleges and universities.

With colleges reaching out to their fan bases using social media, it’s no surprise that coaches also use it as part of their recruiting efforts. This has created both positive and negative aspects for athletes in terms of how it can affect their chances at being recruited. In fact, there are several cases in which a promising high school talent cost themselves a chance for a scholarship because of their misuse of social media.

How You Can Use Social Media to Your Advantage

For high school students who are looking to get scholarship opportunities from colleges, here are a few tips that will help improve your chances.

Presentation: How you are portrayed on social media is how people like college coaches and recruiters will see you. So, while your friends and family may know one side of you, those who are considering you for their team do not unless that is portrayed on your social media. Keep in mind that this does not mean staying away from subjects like racism, sexual orientation, or political points of view. Rather, it is the use of coarse language, unsettling photos, and vulgarity that will have a negative effect.

Photographs: All it takes is one image of something controversial such as weapons, nudity, or drugs to pull you from consideration. You can use your privacy settings to ensure that your photos are protected and to ensure that you are not tagged in a photo by someone else that is controversial in nature.

Language: If you post something that will have your mother or grandmother disapproving, then you shouldn’t post it. This is mostly about keeping your language in check because the use of profanity is the most eye-catching of all ways to have college coaches lose interest in recruiting you for their team. Go over your posts and tweets over the past several months and remove or at least clean-up those that have profanity.

Keep in mind that your social media presence should still represent who you are, but it needs to be presentable to anyone who views it.

Why SportsForce is the Ultimate Solution

To make the most of your efforts in getting recruited, SportsForce provides proven solutions to help in the preparation and marketing of your abilities. In addition to the many services SportsForce provides, one of them is to advise you on your social media accounts so they are more presentable to college coaches.

This does not mean changing who you are, but simply presenting yourself on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media accounts as your best self. Let SportsForce show you how to reach college coaches to help achieve your goals. Sign up for a free evaluation Here.

We would like to congratulate Delanie Sheehan on her commitment to UCLA! Here are Delanie’s recruiting story and interview after her commitment. Good luck as a Bruin!

1. Share your recruiting story and status

The process of getting recruited was really stressful and overwhelming for me. I felt lost, especially at first when I didn’t have professionals helping me. However, into my junior year, my options started opening up and I became more excited than stressed! It was fun to learn about all the different programs and hear their philosophies and learn about the schools. I ended up signing May of my junior year.

2. What school are you going to, and why did you choose them?

I will be attending UCLA in the fall of 2017. UCLA has been my dream school for as long as I can remember, so when they contacted me back it was like a dream come true and I was determined to play there, no matter what! I wasn’t going to let this opportunity slip away from me. Their amazing soccer program, along with the academics, has always been what I dreamed of when considering what college I wanted to attend. I want to be pushed in every aspect of my life and this is the perfect fit for it. I feel UCLA will not only help me academically and athletically, but it will help me grow as a person as well. The school’s standards and beliefs are inspiring to me.

3. How did SportsForce help in the process?

SportsForce was a huge help in this process. Schools get hundreds of emails every week and sometimes don’t even open them. SportsForce helps you stand out from the rest and give you a professional look. It allowed me to focus more on choosing a school, rather than getting in contact with the school. I would tell them which schools I was interested in and they would find a way to make it happen. I wouldn’t have had the opportunities I had without it.

4. What advice would you give to other players and parents with the recruiting process?

I would say it’s never too early to start. I started really focusing on the recruiting process at the beginning of my junior year, and even this was late. Top programs are ahead of the game and you must be aware of that. Also, highlight videos are important. I caught UCLA’s attention with my highlight video and then they came out to watch me play. When contacting coaches you need something to separate yourself from the rest and a video usually does the trick. My last piece of advice would be not to be scared to contact the coaches. I struggled with this and was always nervous to call, but all the coaches I met were awesome and always willing to give me the time of day.

5. How excited are you for your future in college?

I am so excited to attend UCLA; it feels unreal to me sometimes! I’m proud to say I accomplished my goal of attending my dream school and can’t wait to be repping the Bruins on and off the field!!

6. How much money do you anticipate your family saving in college expenses because of you being recruited?

I anticipate my family saving about half the cost of college because of me being recruited.

7. Would you recommend SportsForce to any other student-athletes?

Yes, I would recommend SportsForce to other student-athletes because for most families the recruiting process is new and confusing. It is important to have professionals who know what they are doing on your side. You may miss out on opportunities that you could’ve had. SportsForce gives you an organized plan of action and is willing to help you reach your goals.

Over the last five years, SportsForce has helped over 1,000 student-athletes and families successfully navigate the college recruiting and athletic scholarship process while saving families on average $50,000 in college expenses.

We would like to congratulate Caroline Goudy on her commitment to Elon University! Here are Caroline’s recruiting story and interview after her commitment. Good luck as a Phoenix!

1. Share your recruiting story and status

I started my recruiting process the summer going into my junior year of high school. Truthfully, the process was pretty stressful, but with the help from the SportsForce team, the burden of emails and profile/video links was lifted. Once I found the right fit for me the process was pretty easy. I committed in March of my junior year and am looking forward to signing next year!

2. What school are you going to, and why did you choose them?

I will be attending Elon University in the fall of 2017. I chose this university because of the great academics, close relationships between the teachers and students, small classes, Division I athletics, and the beautiful campus.

3. How did SportsForce help in the process?

SportsForce helped me narrow down my options and pick the schools that fit my needs as a student-athlete. After zoning in on a handful of schools, the SportsForce team assisted me with emailing coaches before games, tournaments, ID Camps, etc., configuring my recruiting profile, and forming a video with a medley of game film highlights.

4. What advice would you give to other players and parents with the recruiting process?

I would advise any player looking to be recruited to definitely start as early as you can by going to ID camps, sending out emails, and configuring recruiting profiles and game film videos. The highlight video that was located on my profile was very helpful for coaches who were viewing my profile. The coaches were able to view my video and decide whether or not I would be a good fit for their program. Lastly, I would advise players to keep sending college coaches emails with their most recent schedules or just to say hello and update them on your game. Try to build relationships with the coaches and make them know you for your consistency and persistence.

5. How excited are you for your future in college?

I am very excited to further my academic and athletic journey at Elon University. I cannot wait to continue playing the game I love at a college that I love! I am also excited to get involved in clubs, Greek life, and form bonds with new friends, coaches, and teachers.

6. Would you recommend SportsForce to any other student-athletes? Why?

Yes, I would definitely recommend SportsForce to any student-athletes who are looking to be recruited by colleges! This team helps you narrow down your options, assists you with emails, profiles, video highlights, and guides you on how to speak with coaches personally to help promote you as a player and student.

Over the last five years, SportsForce has helped over 1,000 student-athletes and families successfully navigate the college recruiting and athletic scholarship process while saving families on average $50,000 in college expenses.

As I’ve been watching the group play of the 2015 Women’s World Cup, I can’t help but think about how much hard work, grit, and dedication it took me to make it to the top collegiate level. I think, wow, these women participating in the World Cup took that to a whole new level. Whenever I thought I did everything I could that day to better myself as a player, these women did 3 times more. However, what is even more impressive is that most of these women achieved this by being full-time moms, full-time students or holding full-time jobs, no excuses made. There is no other world stage where the athletes competing in it wear as many hats as these women whilst being elite athletes. I don’t think I will ever forget Joy Fawcett in all of her World Cups, bringing her kids along, or playing in the Olympics weeks after giving birth. These women are true heroes and warriors!

So how did they get to where they are? Well, how does anyone that is the top 1% in their field get to where they are at? It’s simple:

1.) While the world sleeps they work

2.) When life presents an opportunity they seize it, no hesitation

3.) They create routine and hold themselves accountable

4.) They fill their bodies with proper nutrients and a lot of it

So let’s start with the first one. How many times do you catch yourself saying “I just ran out of time today,” making an excuse for why you didn’t go to the gym or go for a run? I know I have. Well here is your solution… Get up early, 5:00/6:00 am, and get it done first. I promise you all Fortune 500 CEO’s and Olympic athletes don’t sleep in or watch 4+ hours of TV a day, or waste hours on social media.

Think about it, do you want to be someone who reads about other people’s greatness or does you want to be someone that others read about your greatness? You decide. I think you will find that the morning calm before the world wakes up is a magical and spiritual time, and there is no greater feeling in the world than heading off to school, or your work day, knowing that you have already achieved something great… a long run, gym, or yoga class.

Opportunity, we all know what that means– “a set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something.” I am sure you all are recognizing the big opportunities– an invitation to ODP camp, ID camp participation, etc. But let’s really break it down and focus on the little opportunities that you may be overlooking that have the greatest impact. The opportunity to practice once a week with your older age group, the opportunity to play kick around with your brother or older sibling’s team, the opportunity to hit the gym with your parents or friends, the opportunity to play indoor, the opportunity to reach out to a local collegiate player to train with them, the opportunity to stay late after practice and help a teammate or yourself work on your kicks, or fitness, or touch.

It is these little opportunities that will raise your game most profusely. Remember, “If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude.” (Colin Powell.) What he means by this is that if you are going to succeed on the grander scale you need to first succeed on a smaller scale. I always say, start your day with making your bed. It is a little achievement but it is nonetheless an achievement and a start.

We all know routine is important, but we all can get a calendar and map out our week and think, wow, I am going to get so much done this week. But what I want you to do is get to the END of your week and say, “wow, I GOT so much done this week!”

Look back and see how many actions you were able to cross off. This is accountability, and I promise you there is no one in your life that is going to force you to do anything. Your parents are great advocates of yours, along with your friends and teammates, but at the end of the day, the only person that can make you get up and run farther, or faster, or do a third set of squats IS YOU. This is a true testament to how bad do you want to be great? I guarantee all those women you are watching on TV never had to be told to run harder, run farther or lift more. They do it because they want to be great!

Fuel, cars need it to run, some machines need it to run, and we ABSOLUTELY need it to run. But you have to remember that it needs to be the right fuel. If you just went to the gym and worked out hard, then reward yourself with a healthy snack and some hydration. Don’t ruin everything you have achieved in the gym by getting drive through after. That is being counterproductive.

Remember that you are an elite athlete and may look a little different than your non-athlete friends. I am here to tell you that more is OK! You are strong, fit, and beautiful, and your body needs more because you are burning more. So don’t feel bad about finishing your whole sandwich, yogurt, apple and peanut butter, Cliff bar, banana, and huge water. You needed it! Because at the end of the day, if you thrive at the first three–getting up early, seizing the opportunity, and being accountable, then you will never reach your potential if your body cannot keep up. Eat healthy, eat often and hydrate all the time! Be that person in the class that always has a water bottle with them.

So now that you have been given the recipe for success and ultimately a road map on how to make the World Cup team, what are you going to do with it?

Will I be watching you on TV in 4 years, maybe 8 years? I hope so, and I believe so 🙂

1. Why did you decide to sign with Hesston College?

They actually found me–and it was a blessing! The soccer coach found me on berecruited.com. I decided to sign my letter of intent with Hesston College for many reasons. I wanted to attend a small college–most of my friends were going to OSU or U of O, both sporting over 25,000 students. Hesston only has 450 students enrolled. I wanted the lifetime experience of attending a school in a different state, a different geographical location, and I wanted to experience something that I have never experienced before. Hesston had everything I wanted all wrapped up in a bow.

2. Describe the excitement you feel about becoming a college student-athlete?

Excitement, are you kidding? It was beyond excitement, beyond words. I wish everyone could experience the thrill that I had when I heard that I received not only a soccer scholarship, but an opportunity grant on top of it. I was delighted. My dream was not only to attend college, but to also play soccer. This is a huge dream come true for me!

3. What advice would you give to other athletes looking to get recruited?

Don’t give up. Start early with having your parents videotape your games. If possible take only about 10 minutes of total video and some still shots and add some stats and facts about yourself. Don’t let anyone take your dream away from you and if one coach doesn’t think you have the skills or the speed, don’t let them discourage you. Sometimes their judgment of your abilities could be wrong, so keep practicing, training, stay clean and keep up your schoolwork. Eventually your hard work will pay off.

4. Who has been the biggest influence in your sports career and why?

Probably my parents–they went to every single game and practice, washed my practice gear, and made sure I had every opportunity to achieve my dream goal of playing college soccer.

5. What would you like to accomplish during your college sports career?

I would love to be picked up by a 4-year school. Currently, I will be playing for Hesston College in Kansas, which is only a 2-year private school. I would love to play for a D-3 or D-2 school; because of my height I doubt that I will be able to play D-1. But for now I am good, and am happy that I’m playing!

Over the last five years SportsForce Recruiting has helped over 1,000 student-athletes and families successfully navigate the college recruiting and athletic scholarship process while saving families on average $50,000 in college expenses.

Learn How We Help Families

1. Why did you decide to sign with Tennessee Wesleyan College?

I loved the campus and location. They have the degree I am pursuing: Exercise Science. I really liked the soccer Coach (Naomi) and the girls I met on the team were awesome. I could also play starting my freshman year and that’s huge. Overall I could see myself really happy there for 4 years.

2. Describe the excitement you feel about becoming a college student-athlete?

I have had dreams of progressing in my game of soccer and this is another step on my ladder. I am so proud that all my hard work has paid off and I want to keep working hard the next four years in developing further, and I hope maybe to continue playing after college. Who knows? National team, Olympic team, play abroad professionally or in the US – anything is possible.

3. What advice would you give to other athletes looking to get recruited?

I would make sure you are on the right club team to get noticed. You need to market yourself. Reach out to colleges that interest you and don’t give up. Keep working hard in the classroom and on the pitch.

4. Who has been the biggest influence in your sports career and why?

There are a lot of influences but I love Abbey Wambach. She is so awesome, not only as a dominant soccer player but as a role model for young women and a great leader on the US team.

5. What would you like to accomplish during your college sports career?

I want to earn a starting spot and I would like to be a person that is there for my teammates. I would like to win championships, of course, and improve my game to earn the opportunity to take my game to the next level after college.

Over the last five years SportsForce Recruiting has helped over 1,000 student-athletes and families successfully navigate the college recruiting and athletic scholarship process while saving families on average $50,000 in college expenses.

Learn How We Help Families

1. Why did you decide to sign with East Texas Baptist University?

I chose this school not only because it is a great opportunity to play college soccer, but I can get a good education as well. Playing soccer and having a passion for Christ made it hard to find a school that satisfied my desire for a religion major and the chance to play at the next level…ETBU has provided that.

2. Describe the excitement you feel about becoming a college student-athlete?

It’s every young soccer players dream to just be able to say that they are a collegiate athlete, and to be able to say that they have competed at the next level. Just getting the opportunity to be able to say that is a blessing. I am just excited to hit the pitch and help my new teammates out in whatever way I can and in whatever position I can.

3. What advice would you give to other athletes looking to get recruited?

To other athletes that are looking to be recruited, I would say that you have to put yourself out there. Annoy the coaches until they almost have to come watch you play a game just so that you will shut up, make them know that you’re not just interested in playing college ball, but that you’re interested in the school. One more piece of advice is to always work hard. There are coaches out there watching, if you’re good enough and you are working your butt o ff, they will find you.

4. Who has been the biggest influence in your sports career and why?

The most influential person in my sports career would have to be my club coach. He’s the one that always believed in me and gave me the chance to show people that I could play. He allowed me to grow, not only as a soccer player, but as a person as well. Not only did he teach me the game, he taught me life too.

5. What would you like to accomplish during your college sports career?

There’s no amount of accolades or specific things that I am looking to accomplish for myself. Yes, I want to help my team win, and yes, we’ll be looking for that conference championship, but more than that, I want to accomplish in bringing glory to God on and off the pitch. If I do that, everything else will fall into place naturally.

Over the last five years SportsForce Recruiting has helped over 1,000 student-athletes and families successfully navigate the college recruiting and athletic scholarship process while saving families on average $50,000 in college expenses.

Learn How We Help Families

1. Why did you decide to sign with Brookhaven?

Because it was their second year of starting up the program again, and I wanted to be able to help start something new. I knew it would be a great experience and a great opportunity to play with a great college and with an awesome coach!

2. Describe the excitement you feel about becoming a college student-athlete?

I feel very excited! It’s a crazy feeling knowing you’re part of showing what your college is made of, and what great players and teams you have. I’m excited to show what the soccer players of Brookhaven can do.

3. What advice would you give to other athletes looking to get recruited?

To look and try hard. If the school you want to go to doesn’t want you, keep on trying because you’ll find something better and you won’t even regret it. Always keep your head up, because if coaches don’t come to you, then you GO to them. There’s something out there for everyone. You just have to work for it.

4. Who has been the biggest influence in your sports career and why?

The biggest influence in my life would have to be my family. They’ve always supported me. When coaches or teammates didn’t think I was good enough, they were always there to back me up and make me remember, WHO CARES what people think, as long as I know I’m good then I’ll keep doing what I love to do: Play soccer. If it wasn’t for them I would have given up when I had the chance. But just look at me now, I’m a COLLEGIATE ATHLETE!

5. What would you like to accomplish during your college sports career?

I want to play harder than I have ever played. I want new comers to know who I am once I’m done playing for Brookhaven. I want people, kids, girls, whoever to look up to me and be like “She never gave-up, even when she was so weak she came back up to the top.” I don’t want people to be just like me, I just want them to not give up because if they don’t they could become WAY better then me. I’m willing to make a change and believe in those soccer players who don’t have anyone to tell them “to keep going,” because I know how that feels. I wouldn’t want anyone to go through what I did, because no one deserves to be put down from reaching their dreams.

Over the last five years SportsForce Recruiting has helped over 1,000 student-athletes and families successfully navigate the college recruiting and athletic scholarship process while saving families on average $50,000 in college expenses.

1. Why did you decide to sign with SUNY Cortland?

I live in Alaska, but I have high family morals. So I decided to live near my extended family in New York over other, more glamorous places, like Washington State. Cortland’s soccer program is not the best in the area, but they have my major. I will try out and try to achieve my dreams of playing collegiate soccer.

2. Describe the excitement you feel about becoming a college student-athlete?

I can’t wait to try out for the team. I have always been the best player on my team because there are not very many soccer players in Alaska. In Seward, I had to spend my entire senior season practicing indoors because there was too much snow on the field to play outside. Here in Cortland, I will be able to play an entire season outdoors, which is how the game should be played. Being around people that genuinely love the game will only enhance my drive and competitiveness.

3. What advice would you give to other athletes looking to get recruited?

Talk to the coaches wherever you want to go. Make sure you have a positive attitude. If they see that you really want to be a part of their team, they will embrace you and recruit you because of your character. Skill will get you on their radar, but character is what makes them want you. Coaches don’t want someone who will always be a distraction.

4. Who has been the biggest influence in your sports career and why?

My father was my soccer coach when I was young and he has always been there for me. This year he drove hours out of his way and missed work just to see me play. Even when it was obvious our team was going to get stomped, he found ways to find the positives. He is why I keep my head up. I couldn’t imagine a better father figure.

5. What would you like to accomplish during your college sports career?

I would like to prove to everybody that small school players can play too. My team the last three years had only ten players and I helped bring them to relevance. My coach said I scored the most goals in Seward history. I want to make that kind of impact here. Seeing that my teammates will be better, I want to be known more as more of a playmaker. Most importantly, I want to say that I helped SUNY Cortland’s soccer program, since they’re not known as a major soccer school.

Over the last five years SportsForce Recruiting has helped over 1,000 student-athletes and families successfully navigate the college recruiting and athletic scholarship process while saving families on average $50,000 in college expenses.

Learn How We Help Families