Helping High School Athletes Find Scholarships

[SLCBengal]

The Ogden Standard-Examiner has a great article in today's paper regarding an individual, Paul Putnam, who is trying to educate high school student-athletes about the process of earning athletic scholarships. I found it interesting, especially since it's been discussed in another thread...

*"...Hannah Smith, a junior soccer player and golfer, learned one of the things Putnam hopes most to get across to the student-athletes. "I learned I need to do the work myself."

*Putnam urges athletes to be realistic about their athletic ability. "Don't get caught up in 'The Name Game,' of only wanting to play at the USCs, BYUs, Utahs and other big schools. If you are not one of the top one or two players at your position in the state, you are probably not a Division I player."

*Putnam tells athletes, "Small schools do not have the recruiting budget to come find you. You have to let them know you exist. And if you are good enough, they will come crawling to sign you."

*Putnam urges all high school athletes to be a part of their recruiting process, to take charge of their education, to call coaches and find schools willing to offer a scholarship.

Standard.net: Ogden resident offers athletes course on finding scholarship opportunities

 

[isusuperfan]

Nice post here. Hopefully this reaches Idaho athletes and lets them know they need to be realistic about their standing in the order of recruiting.

 

[boisebengal]

Regarding recruiting, I've always found the subject matter to be very fascinating. And I just read a very good book about recruiting entitled, "Meat Market," by Bruce Feldman -- which elaborates about one year's worth of recruiting under the Ed Orgeron regime, while he was at Ole Miss. Orgeron had helped build championship football teams while he was at Miami and USC, prior to coming to Oxford in 2005. However, the recent Sporting News says that 'recruiting became such a big priority for Orgeron that other areas suffered, and the Rebels' record reflected that.' But now it seems, though, that former BSU and Arkansas Coach Houston Nutt is doing a great job in turning around the Rebels' program, and they could very well compete for the SEC championship next year.

 

[spazdog1]

Too often, quality kids get left out of continuing their dreams of playing collegiate athletics. I was talking about this very subject a week or so ago to a junior at Capital High School here in Boise. He's an extremely quick kid wanting to play collegiate football. But his size is an issue. I explained to him that there are DII, DIII programs in the NCAA and countless NAIA schools that have opportunities. Don't forget the JC opportunities, too. The problem as I see it is there is little push by high school coaches. They seem to help their best athlete(s) while giving the cold shoulder to other talented kids (Okay, that may be a bit harsh, but you get my point).

Kids need to know how to market themselves, and include other qualities that compliment their athletic abilities. A kid without exceptional athletic ability can enhance his/her chances of playing in a collegiate program by including such things as their grades, student and community involvment. Endorsements from friends, teachers, coaches, and individuals within their community can elevate a kid's chances, too. The point here is that they need to take charge of getting their name out.

It would be nice to have a high school class or after school workshop offered to help kids market themselves. Maybe they exist, I don't know. But, I haven't heard of anything like it offered around here.

 

[tigerpaws]

Too often, quality kids get left out of continuing their dreams of playing collegiate athletics. I was talking about this very subject a week or so ago to a junior at Capital High School here in Boise. He's an extremely quick kid wanting to play collegiate football. But his size is an issue. I explained to him that there are DII, DIII programs in the NCAA and countless NAIA schools that have opportunities. Don't forget the JC opportunities, too. The problem as I see it is there is little push by high school coaches. They seem to help their best athlete(s) while giving the cold shoulder to other talented kids (Okay, that may be a bit harsh, but you get my point).

Kids need to know how to market themselves, and include other qualities that compliment their athletic abilities. A kid without exceptional athletic ability can enhance his/her chances of playing in a collegiate program by including such things as their grades, student and community involvment. Endorsements from friends, teachers, coaches, and individuals within their community can elevate a kid's chances, too. The point here is that they need to take charge of getting their name out.

It would be nice to have a high school class or after school workshop offered to help kids market themselves. Maybe they exist, I don't know. But, I haven't heard of anything like it offered around here.

"The problem as I see it is there is little push by high school coaches. They seem to help their best athlete(s) while giving the cold shoulder to other talented kids (Okay, that may be a bit harsh, but you get my point)."

Absolutely true, in my experience. And it sucks.

 

[edge]

Here is an opportunity for high school football players to show their skills to college coaches. We would love to have more Idaho kids there. You know we love the Bengals. Go #35!! Please go to http://gottheedge.com/combine09.html Don't forget to check out the combine video.

 

[spazdog1]

Perhaps ISU athletics can assist in helping these athletes. Maybe the various ISU coaches can put together workshops or clinics that assist high school athletes in marketing themselves to schools, including ISU. Charge a nominal fee to a high school athlete, say a sophomore or junior, and show them what catches their eye when they evaluate or scout recruits. Give the kids pointers on things such as speed, size, strength, etc. I'm not sure if the NCAA would allow it, but it certainly will give ISU a second look at those kids participating in the workshop or clinics.