|
No Guarantees of
Paradise at the Division One Level
As some student-athletes find out, its not always a bed of roses at
the Division I level. Take this e-mail we received from a
Division I athlete who was recruited out of high school to
play tennis. We’ll call him “Andy” (not his real name). He wrote:
“I was recently recruited to a Division I university. Since I
arrived here it has been a disappointment. The clothes we receive
are used, the racket bags are used, we train with tennis balls that
don’t bounce. We only play against non-ranked teams, there is no
budget for anything (like playing on an indoor court when it
rains…we can’t because it costs $25 per hour), we don’t get fed
when we play away from home. Being a Division I school, I
expected there would be a minimum level of quality that would
be automatic. I would like to know if there are any minimum
requirements and obligations towards players at the D-1 level. Thank you!”
For all you recruits out there, this should be a wake up call.
The fact is that there are no requirements for any school – Division
I or NAIA – to provide certain playing conditions or amenities.
When it comes to food when playing away, there are no requirements.
Balls that don’t bounce? Live with it. No budget? Too bad.
The reality is, it’s the prospect’s job to research that prior to
signing with a school. Granted, that’s not easy. Sometimes a
college coach will approach a recruit, do a great sales job on the
athlete and the family, and lure the athlete into the program.
However, the athlete is the one who has to live with the decision
that they make in regards to the school they go to. Andy, in this
instance, found out the hard way that promises made by the coach and
recruiters aren’t always promises kept.
Here are some tips for doing some homework on a particular school
that is recruiting you:
· Look Realistically at Division I Schools.
Don’t get starry-eyed over the fact that a school that contacts you
is a big time D-1 program. So what? That doesn’t make them
automatically the better choice over other schools, large and
small. Look at Andy’s situation at the D-1 school he chose. Learn
from that.
· Ask Tough Questions.
“Coach, what is your budget?” “Who is on your schedule for next
year?” “Can I talk to another player on the team and ask them about
your program?” These are just some of the questions you should be
asking a college coach who is recruiting you. It’s your
responsibility, and you need to make sure the tough questions get
asked.
· Visit the School.
If at all possible, go to the campus before you commit to the
program. Talk to the players, watch the coach in practice, attend a
game. Try to get a feel for what the atmosphere is at the
university, and see if it’s a good match for your personality.
Remember, you are the buyer here. The coach and college is the
seller. You have to make sure that what you are buying is right for
you.
Just doing those three things will do wonders for you. You’ll find
out more about the school that’s recruiting you, and see if it’s a
good fit for you athletically and academically.
Take
responsibility for yourself and your future by being proactive,
asking tough questions, and (this is important!) don’t assume that a
Division I school is going to be a little slice of heaven just
because it is Division I. |
