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Only five percent of all male and females who participate in high school interscholastic sports will go on to compete in college at some level. And of that figure, only eight-tenths of 1 percent will receive fully funded scholarships. Have you gone on official visits, received a few hundred recruiting letters by your junior year? Have you contacted college coaches or are you waiting for them to call you? Where do you fit in the recruiting picture?

Players in the recruiting game, especially high school athletes, can never start too early, nor get too much help. However, most students don’t know NCAA rules, how to contact coaches, or how to get matched with the best college for them. Anyone in the recruiting business will attest that changes in NCAA rules and technology have changed the collegiate recruiting world, and made it increasingly complex.

The National Collegiate Scouting Association (NCSA), Cal South's "Official Scouting Organization and Provider of Recruiting Education," is proud to provide you with information on college recruiting via the Recruiting Corner. The Recruiting Corner will provide you with articles on recruiting, tips to assist you with your recruiting process and details on upcoming recruiting workshops.

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Now that the State Cup is over and the National Cup is coming to a close, soccer players around the country should start to think about summer plans. Summer means a little time off from organized soccer, but it does not mean that we put the ball down all together. The majority of athletes will have been receiving camp brochures for the last few months. It is strongly recommended that all high school-level athletes consider a soccer camp, which can be very beneficial as long as you are aware of a few key points.

Most camps are used to help raise funds for the organization, whether that be a private company, club team or college team. Coaches and clubs bring in a lot of income through this method. Beware of overpriced camps as they do not necessarily indicate the best training or coaching. Another common misconception is that you will be “discovered” at a camp. Coaches do not normally scout for players at camps. However, if you are attending a college camp, it is best to notify the college coach of your intension to attend the camp and your interest in attending that school for your college career.

After considering the two biggest misconceptions of college camps, you can move on to the factors that really matter. High level training is an obvious benefit to a college run camp. There are few other opportunities for a high school athlete to work with a college level coach. You will run new drills, learn new techniques and get some needed repetition with each skill. Hopefully, you will take away an honest evaluation of your abilities as well because many camps give you a written evaluation form. The college coach will help you see your game from a different perspective – in addition to your high school or club coach. Lastly, camps keep you in shape during the off-season.

There are essentially two ways you may receive camp information. One, you are someone the coach is recruiting. Two (and much more likely), you are in some type of database or list and the coach has absolutely no idea who you are or your talent level. So, based on that information, you will either attend a camp for training purposes or evaluation purposes to assist with your recruiting.

Before you attend a camp for training purposes always do some research on the coaching staff. How much experience do they have? How successful have these coaches been? Do they have a reputation for producing great soccer players? Consider how they actually run the camp as well. Are you with girls or boys your age and ability level? Do they run at a fast pace? Are you getting personal attention? You may want to talk to someone who has attended the camp before signing up.

Alternatively, many college coaches use camps as an opportunity to evaluate your soccer abilities in person. For this reason, you could also choose to go to camp at a college or university where the coach is recruiting you. Find out where you are on the recruiting list and how interested are they in you. Is it a realistic fit? You are not likely the only recruit they are inviting to the camp. Be sure that you KNOW this coach is interested before investing your time and money to go.

Parents and athletes: take the next few months and begin your research. Make an informed and well-thought out decision before you decide on a college camp. Consider the misconceptions, benefits, and reasons for attending your camp of choice. Good luck!

If you are very interested in going to a specific college camp but have not received information, do not worry! You can always log onto that college's or university's soccer website and submit a camp form via the website.

Archive of Recruiting Tips

The National Collegiate Scouting Association (NCSA) provides ”College Recruiting 101” for high schools, camps and combines throughout the country each year. “College Recruiting 101” has been praised by athletic directors and high school coaches nationally and is a must-attend for those looking to compete at the collegiate level.

NCSA Educational Speakers will guide parents and student-athletes through the importance of establishing athletic and academic goals, setting realistic expectations and seeking opportunities at all college levels. Attendees will learn valuable tips on finding the best college based on their student-athletes’ academic and athletic abilities. Most importantly, “College Recruiting 101” will reiterate that the most valuable goal anyone should strive for isn’t scoring in the game but scoring a college education.

NCSA is the premier source and one of the most trusted names for educating student-athletes and their families on the college recruiting process. For more information on how NCSA is Redefining Collegiate Recruiting with education and technology everyday, and to view clips from previous “College Recruiting 101” presentations, visit www.ncsasports.org.

To schedule a "College Recruiting 101" presentation please contact the Speaking Event Coordinator, Julie Thayer at 888.333.6846 extension 7439 or jthayer@ncsasports.org.

NCSA, the Official Scouting Organization and Provider of Recruiting Education for Cal South, is the premier source for matching high school scholar–athletes with colleges and universities across the country. NCSA is the "Eyes & Ears" of more than 35,000 college coaches, who rely on NCSA's experienced scouting team and instant response capabilities to provide them with quality prospective recruits. 96% of students enrolled with NCSA participate in sports at the collegiate level and receive more than $15,000 per year of college.

By utilizing advanced technology, NCSA delivers the right talent to coaches and makes sure every qualified student-athlete is prepared to maximize this opportunity. NCSA prides itself in educating high school student-athletes and their families about the college recruiting process. Please visit www.ncsasports.org for more information about NCSA.