Talking Recruiting . . . With Julie Lanzillo Return to TedSilary.com Home Page   Through numerous business ventures, Julie Lanzillo has worked with countless athletes in achieving their goal of “getting to the next level.”  Whether her clients are attempting to find a professional contract playing soccer or basketball, or navigating the confusing maze of college athletics recruiting, Lanzillo’s primary objective is to educate every athlete on the process before them. Also a college sports management professor, Lanzillo believes in education as a foundation to help avoid pitfalls and enable athletes to reach their greatest potential, in college or beyond. She will be contributing articles on the college athletic recruiting process and is available to answer all of your questions on the topic at Julie@winwaysinc.com.

DEC. 14
GIVE YOUR COACH A BREAK!
  One of the many recruiting myths that student athletes have and one of the top mistakes that parents often make is expecting the high school coach to get the student athlete a college scholarship.  While the high school coach can play a pivotal role, in terms of mentoring, providing assistance and references, it is not their ultimate responsibility.  For student athletes that are being heavily recruited, the high school coach will often be a point person for colleges to contact. However, for the more than 90% of high school student athletes that are not being overwhelmed by contact from college coaches, the responsibility lies first and foremost with the student athlete.
  Consider, if you will, what a high school coach has on their plate. In addition to coaching one, or maybe two sports, they normally have a full-time job at the high school, or elsewhere which requires the majority of their time. Many have families and children that also absorb much of their time and energy. If they are in-season, they are busy with practice and game preparation as well as keeping their current student-athletes eligible and trying to recruit new ones.  While intentions are certainly there in most cases, rarely is it the top priority of a high school coach to get any of their players a college scholarship.  In addition, it should be no surprise that coaches may have favorites, or players that they think are the best potential recruits, and that is where most of their assistance is dedicated.
  When college coaches contact high school coaches for information on potential recruits, the colleges are only getting one opinion on that student athlete. In other words, what if your coach does not tell the colleges that you are a potential college student athlete? What if they are basing that decision solely on the type of program THAT college coach has? What if their opinion is the lone factor in putting YOUR name in front of college coaches? Do you want to take that risk? Did you know there are over 2,400 colleges and universities that offer college athletics in the United States? While your high school coach may have contacts at 10 or even 20 colleges in your sport, what about the other 99.2% of colleges that might be interested in you, that they know nothing about?
  Give your coach a break. If your goal is to play your sport at the collegiate level, then take charge of that process. Stay on top of your academics, practice and play hard, devote time to marketing yourself to college coaches, make time to research ALL of the potential college programs that fit your academic and athletic skill level and aspirations and ask for help when needed.

NOV. 26
GETTING TO THE NEXT LEVEL
  You've cheered at countless games for years, participated in the booster club, paid for uniforms, shoes and every other related expense for your son or daughter's athletic pursuits.  Now, they are in high school and the thought of competing at the college level has entered your mind.  Your experience with the college recruiting process is that you know all of the college athletes on television are going to school for free, saving their parents tens of thousands of dollars in educational expense. How can you get in on that action for your daughter or son?
  Most parents, out of no fault of their own, have a very uninformed perspective on the college recruiting process, and as a result, lack of a clear understanding can create lost opportunities for their child that may want to become a collegiate student athlete.
  Fast Fact #1: Less than 2% of all collegiate student athletes have 100% of their tuition, room and board, books and other expenses paid through scholarships.  The players on television, the newspaper front page and magazine covers represent a slight fraction of all college student athletes.
  Fast Fact #2: Less than 10% of all college student athletes compete at the elite NCAA Division I level.  With over 2,400 colleges and universities in the USA, many student athletes fail to realize the enormous potential that exists for playing opportunities at schools outside of this top level of competition.   In fact, over 50% of all college and universities in the USA are classified NCAA Division III, and these schools do not offer athletic scholarships.  They do, however, offer academic scholarships and other types of funding that can be available to student athletes, so grades and standardized test scores really do matter, no matter how good junior can throw a fast ball or swing a racquet.
  Most parents think their child is a superstar. And they should. That is their job as parents, to sit in the stands at every game, cheer the loudest, and do everything to support their daughter or son's interest in sports.  One of the best things you can do for your college-bound student athlete is to be realistic when it comes time to explore those possibilities. If they are not North Carolina Tar Heel basketball material, there is no shame in recognizing the opportunities that can exist at any other university or college. In fact, there is nothing negative associated with a student athletes, at any level, making the commitment to further their education and demonstrate the discipline necessary to be a college-level student athlete. By having a real-world view of their child's ability, both on the playing surface and in the classroom, Mom and Dad will be much more helpful on the home team, when it comes time to marketing yourself to college coaches.
  That's right, marketing yourself to college coaches. Another misconception is that parents think the college coaches and recruiters are at the games, or that if they do not hear from one, then their son or daughter must not be good enough to compete at the collegiate level. Wrong. Outside of the elite NCAA Division I level, 90% of all college recruiting occurs when the student athlete contacts the college coach, not the other way around.  That means the student athlete must make a similar commitment to the pursuit of playing at the college level as they have throughout their entire career to this point. The student athlete must be proactive in the process, and the parents can help.  Coaches want to hear from high school students that have a strong record of academic and athletic achievement, and who have taken the initiative to research their school and request more information.  Parents need to support their sons and daughters in this initiative, but not do it for them. Coaches do not want to hear from parents during the initial recruiting process, because that only means to them they will hear from you two years later if they sign the kid and he does not get enough playing time.
  Do not put the responsibility on the high school coach either.  Once again, they can assist, but it is not their job to do the work. The student athlete needs to be the driving force in the process.
  Have a college recuiring question? Need more information? Not sure where to turn?
  Please check out: http://www.infosportinc.com/aq.htm or email Julie Lanzillo your questions at jdlanzillo@infosportinc.com.