STEP # 1 – Talk to Your Coach

The first thing we recommend is talking to your high school and/or club team coach. Most often, these coaches have been involved in this process for a long time and have coached student-athletes that have been through the recruiting process before. Their experience will give them a good idea of what potential level you could play at in the future.

Parents and student-athletes need to ask their high school or club team coach what level they should look at for playing beyond high school. Often, the coach will give you an idea of your skill set and abilities athletically and academically. You must use your high school and club team coach as a resource to get an assessment, advice and then a recommendation. Remember, they’ve often already been through this same process with other athletes, and can be a good evaluator of your skill level because they have seen many other teams and players compete.

STEP # 2 – Watch

The next step in picking the right collegiate level of play is watching. Look at colleges from all levels of play (Division 1,2,3, or Junior College) and try to figure out when they’re going to be playing in your local area. If you can, go to a game and watch them in person. Try and scout college freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors to see how they’re playing and what their skill set is like physically. This will give you a good idea of where you fit in best. SportsForce recommends that student-athletes and parents attend a few local games to get an idea of their caliber of play.

If you can’t physically attend a local game you can also watch a number of games over the Internet. Again, it is important that you evaluate the caliber of play for each collegiate level. For example, if you’re watching a Division I football game, you can get a solid idea of how good the quarterback is at USC or how good the running back is at University of Alabama. Once you understand this you can ask yourself if you stack up with that level of size and athletic ability.

STEP # 3 – Research

It is also essential that you visit the websites of your potential colleges and look at their team roster. For example, go to a number of Division 1, 2, and 3 team websites and look at the size and background of their players. What do they look like physically? What kind of academic or athletic awards did they receive in high school? Try to match your physical traits and athletic and academic success with the right collegiate level of play.

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For more College Recruiting Tips and specific details on our proven Step-by-Step College Recruiting and Athletic Scholarship system contact one of our college recruiting experts at 858.350.5889 or visit www.sportsforceonline.com

In an article written by Doug Hix of Youth Fitness Magazine, we come to see that being a successful athlete doesn’t mean making it big time. In all reality being a successful athlete is setting personal goals and pushing yourself to your full ability to reach them. Read on to find out more about this:

1. Set Goals

“Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.” -Henry Ford

Over the past 12 years, I have trained some of the greatest athletes in the world. Men that have won Super Bowls, gone to the Pro Bowl, starred in Major League Baseball, reached the Olympics, won the Heisman Trophy and so on. Each of these great athletes had one quality in common: they had a vision for the greatness they were working to achieve.

There is scripture that says without vision the people are unrestrained. Setting goals helps establish the vision that one is hoping to attain. During tough times, this vision helps one overcome the obstacles that can potentially derail goals. For example, if one truly wants to become an elite athlete, training is a major component and in order to train the hardest every single day, you must fuel your body properly. Sleep is also a critical aspect to recovery, so don’t let your friends keep you out late at night. Goals will give you the discipline needed to achieve a vision of greatness.

2. Work a System

“First we make our habits, then our habits make us.”
-Charles C. Noble

Too many young athletes place their hopes and futures in the hands of inconsistency. Many have no real game plan on how to reach their full potential. Numerous athletes set goals, yet lack a fundamental plan or system to achieve them. At the youth level, this burden shouldn’t fall on the athlete since they have yet to receive the knowledge.

A system is defined as a comprehensive assemblage of facts, principles and doctrines. The system I have developed over the past 12 years training athletes is built on hard facts and principles that relate directly to athletic success. I am tired of seeing young athletes not fulfill their potential by refusing to apply a system to their athletic development. My professional athletes are successful and achieve stardom because they have a year-round game plan—a system that they follow daily, weekly, monthly and even yearly.

3. Stay Motivated

“People say motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.”
-Zig Ziglar

There are over 7 million athletes competing nationwide for 75,000 annual scholarships. That’s a pretty daunting task with plenty of external forces to battle against. It’s important to surround yourself with positive people that believe your goals can be reached.

You may find some motivation from the team of professional athletes we have assembled to answer your questions online. Each has practical experience and has had to overcome some tough odds. Hearing about the obstacles these athletes have overcome will help inspire you to never give up.

Youth Fitness Magazine

Youth Fitness Magazine was created by SKLZ Team Member Doug Hix, with one mission in mind: to educate parents with knowledge and training tools that will help them make the best decisions for their children’s sporting/fitness routine. To get the latest tips in training and nutrition, information on sports injuries and sports specific techniques, sign up at www.youthfitnessmag.com.