| When Jane English, a highly regarded soccer player in | | | | According to Hastings and Caven, "Kids don't have to |
| her rural high school in Illinois, began looking at colleges | | | | be superstars. They need to be above-average |
| and collegiate soccer programs, her parents called the | | | | athletes and students and willing to bring themselves to |
| head soccer coaches at each of the schools she was | | | | the attention of college coaches. Once they jump-start |
| interested in. They extolled her virtues and told the | | | | the recruiting process, coaches will respond." |
| coaches why they would be lucky to have her on their | | | | The authors wrote How To Win A Sports Scholarship |
| team. Jane didn't call the coaches herself; Jane also | | | | after their own successful experience. Caven was a |
| didn't get recruited. | | | | junior in high school when he began to look for colleges |
| College coaches are often put off by over | | | | and hoping he could continue to play soccer at that |
| enthusiastic, too forward parents. They say they want | | | | level. He and his mom, co-author Penny Hastings, put |
| the student-athlete to make the contact instead. | | | | together a 'game plan' whereby he contacted college |
| Chris Bates, head men's lacrosse coach at Drexel | | | | coaches by mail and indicated an interest in their |
| University in Pennsylvania, was quoted by authors | | | | school. |
| Penny Hastings and Todd Caven in their book, How | | | | "It was amazing," says Caven. "While my friends, other |
| To Win A Sports Scholarship (Redwood Creek | | | | really talented high school athletes, weren't getting |
| Publishing, 2007, $24.95, "I can appreciate parents | | | | noticed by a single coach, I was getting letters, phone |
| wanting the best for their child, but sometimes they are | | | | calls and e-mails from the coaches I contacted." |
| overbearing and don't realize that they're putting their | | | | Caven was offered four scholarships and chose |
| son or daughter at a disadvantage." | | | | Stanford University, where he played varsity soccer |
| Bates continues, "I want to hear that young man | | | | for four years, graduating with a degree in economics. |
| stammer through an introduction. I want him to | | | | His soccer coach, Sam Koch, who is now the head |
| advocate for himself. That's the young man I want to | | | | soccer coach at University of Massachusetts, told |
| deal with." | | | | Caven that he stood out from the crowded field of |
| John Ross, women's basketball coach at Calvin | | | | applicants because he not only made first contact, but |
| College, Michigan, agrees. "The student, not the parents, | | | | he kept in touch with Koch, reiterating his interest. |
| needs to take the initiative." | | | | "That's key," says Koch. He appreciates the initiative |
| With college costs growing annually at a rate of 6.5% | | | | student-athletes show when they contact him. He |
| (a student starting in the fall of 2007 can expect to | | | | encourages parents to stay in the background during |
| pay as much as $69,700 for a four-year degree at a | | | | this time and let him get to know the student-athlete. |
| public university; at private institutions this amount could | | | | He warns that pushy parents can subvert the process |
| easily climb to $142,000), parents are looking for ways | | | | and cause coaches to reject their kids. When parents |
| to help pay these daunting expenses. No wonder they | | | | take the lead, coaches suspect they are more |
| want their athletic kids to get a sports scholarship. | | | | interested than their students. |
| Sports and other kinds of scholarships are free | | | | Here's some advice to parents by college coaches: |
| money. They don't have to be repaid. That's why they | | | | "The student-athlete, not the parent, should contact and |
| are the best form of financial aid. But, sports | | | | correspond with the coach," says Calvin College's |
| scholarships are unlike need-based scholarships, given | | | | women's basketball coach John Ross. |
| to the families with the greatest financial need. Sports | | | | "I want to get a feel for the parents. It gives you a |
| scholarships are talent-based and are awarded by the | | | | better idea about the kids. Sometimes the parents can |
| individual schools' athletic departments, rather than the | | | | be a deal-breaker for me," says Shellie Onstead, field |
| colleges, organizations, associations or government | | | | hockey coach, University of California at Berkeley. |
| agencies. They are used to recruit the best athletes | | | | "Don't have your dad do a 'voice-over' on the video," |
| for their school teams. | | | | advises Stan Morrison, Athletic Director, University of |
| Talented high school (and 2-year college) athletes | | | | California at Riverside. |
| should begin researching colleges and the sports | | | | Koch says, "Make sure you carry your own suitcase |
| programs they might fit into early in their high school | | | | and sports bag when you come for a campus visit. I'm |
| years. According to How To Win A Sports | | | | really put off if I see your parents carrying them for |
| Scholarship, the student-athlete should be the team | | | | you!" |
| leader, while parents can provide backup support. | | | | Bates continues, "I want to hear that young man |
| They can help guide their athletic child through thinking | | | | stammer through an introduction. I want him to |
| about the type of school that interests them, looking at | | | | advocate for himself. That's the young man I want to |
| the competitive the level of the sports program at | | | | deal with." |
| those schools and encouraging them to contact | | | | John Ross, women's basketball coach at Calvin |
| coaches---by letter, e-mail or phone call--at the schools | | | | College, Michigan, agrees. "The student, not the parents, |
| they identify as possibilities. | | | | needs to take the initiative. |