Entries Tagged as 'Uncategorized'
Make a plan then work the plan…You have to enjoy your training program or you probably won’t stick with it long enough to see results. Rather than picking a generic program or doing what your friends do, adjust your workout time and intensity so it fits your lifestyle, and your current fitness level and allows you push yourself as needed. Most importantly, find a workout routine that meets your personal goals. If you don’t know where to begin, working with a personal trainer is highly recommended, but it’s also a great way to fine tune your fitness plan if you are more advanced.
1. Simplify: Training is largely about consistency and focus. While a technical training program of heart rates, charts and graphs works for the most dedicated athletes, it may not be necessary for you. If you are feeling overwhelmed, simplify your training to hard and easy or long and short workouts and practice skills needed in your sport. Beyond that, try to enjoy your workouts and listen to your body.
2. Avoid Overtraining: Allowing your body to rest is as important as building strength and endurance. You don’t get stronger by constantly training hard. You’ll build fitness by alternating workouts with recovery. The best way to avoid overtraining is to listen to your body. If your heart rate remains elevated after a night’s rest, if your legs feel heavy, and your motivation fades, you may need more rest. For those who train year-round, it’s wise to take a week off every three months. This is also the time to change up your routine.
3. Variation: Vary your workouts, pace and intensity to enjoy a well-rounded fitness routine that is less likely to result in burn-out or plateaus. Alternate training intensity and time from day to day. No matter what your pace or goal, your training program should include a mix of training days. Even the best training programs will gradually lose efficiency if you don’t vary your routine. This may be fine for those who simply want to maintain fitness or keep healthy, but if you want to improve, you need variation. Ideally, workouts should be modified every month. Cross Training is another great way to vary your routine and improve you fitness.
4. Be Flexible: If you have to miss a training day, don’t worry, just continue on your training plan. It’s the consistency or your training, rather than one particular workout that is important
5. Set Realistic Goals: You may want to set a personal best in every race you enter, but it’s probably not realistic. Be honest about your current fitness and you potential. You may want to run a marathon next year, but if you don’t have time to train more than an hour three times per week, that goal is not realistic. It’s important to find a balance between what you want and what you’re able to do. If your new to a sport or fitness routine, be conservative in your estimates until you know what you can accomplish, otherwise you are more prone to injury.
6. Be Patient: It takes time and consistency to build up fitness and performance, so avoid falling into the more is always better mindset. You’ll only end up injured, or frustrated.
7. Be Consistent: Even if you’re starting with very short workouts, it’s important to do them on a regular basis, several days a week. Avoid falling victim to the weekend warrior syndrome of working out long and hard only weekends and doing nothing for during the week. Injuries are much more common for those who are inconsistent with exercise.
8. Nutrition is Critical: Eating well and hydrating goes a long way to improve your ability to exercise and train. If you are on a regular exercise routine, it’s a good time to reassess your eating habits and learn nutritious ways eating. Complex carbohydrates provide the best source of energy for sustained exercise.
9. Use Proper Equipment: No matter what sport or exercise routine you do, you need to make sure your equipment and footwear fits properly. Running in worn-out shoes increases injuries, as does riding an ill-fitting bicycle. Pads, helmets, mouth guards are made to help protect athletes and all appropriate sports safety equipment should be worn and fit you well.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT COLLEGE RECRUITING IN GENERAL, WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
hssportsrecruiting@yahoo.com
Tags: Uncategorized
Be ready for a tough workout… You have one shot at making a great initial impression on a college coach. One. Blow that chance and a perfectly good opportunity may go out the window. When shooting skill footage tapes, keep this important point in mind – college coaches will be evaluating your every move. It is all there for the coach to see, so take heed of the following advice when going through a skill footage video session:
• Preparation: Warm up thoroughly prior to taping – approach this workout as if fifteen college coaches were in the bleachers watching you prepare and perform
• Mindset: Get in the mindset that you are going to work hard during the shooting – anything less is cheating yourself out of an opportunity
• Appearance: You should look your very best. Be sure to wear a clean uniform. A uniform is preferred over workout gear, but if that is all you have to wear, make sure it is clean and sharp. No wrinkled, holey shorts or shirts, or cut off T-shirts.
• Attitude: Stay positive. Don’t let mistakes or body language sabotage you on film. Stay positive and energetic at all times.
• Pace: The quicker your pace, the better results you will get. Remember: coaches are watching EVERYTHING you are doing on this tape. Hustle every step.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT COLLEGE RECRUITING IN GENERAL, WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
hssportsrecruiting@yahoo.com
Tags: Uncategorized
NCAA Division I and II Recruiting
Are you one of the more elite, highly recruited high school athletes in the country? If so, you will likely have several scholarship offers to ponder from colleges and universities all over the country.
If your talent is a little less than elite, then perhaps college recruiters will acknowledge your talent with personal letters, an occasional phone call, or extend an invitation for you to attend a home athletic contest. Unfortunately, this scenario does not always translate into a sure scholarship offer from a Division I or II school.
The odds of receiving an NCAA Division I or II scholarship are somewhat overwhelming. In the sport of Football, consider that 98 percent of all scholarship offers are complete by Christmas. Yet there remain hundreds of high school seniors who maintain the slim hope of a scholarship offer through the signing date in early February.
To better understand the complexity of athletic scholarships, look closely at the following table:
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NCAA Division I Football
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85
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Scholarships allowed by NCAA per school
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110
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Certified NCAA Division I schools
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9,350
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Total scholarship players nationally
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7,150
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Approximate number of returning players each year
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2,220
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Scholarships available each year for approximately one million high school seniors
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NCAA Division I Basketball
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13
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Scholarships allowed by NCAA per school
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298
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Certified NCAA Division I schools
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3,874
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Total scholarship players, nationally
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1,788
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Approximate number of returning players each year
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2,086
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Approximate number of new scholarships for 500,000 seniors
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The Division I and II recruiting process has intensified for all sports over the years as budget constraints and Title IX have impacted the scholarship scene. Some athletic programs such as women’s basketball, soccer and softball have prospered under Title IX. Today, more colleges and universities have started new soccer programs, offering more new scholarship opportunities for female athletes. Other programs, such as football and wrestling, have been adversely affected through the loss of scholarships or discontinuing the program altogether.
Coaching points …
- Have your academic credentials in order (grades, test scores,class rank, etc.).
- Keep your parent(s) and/or guardian involved and informed.
- Be responsible for your actions and develop a strong, moral character.
- Ask tough questions in the recruiting process.
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Division I and II recruited athletes now experience more intense scrutiny as coaches make final decisions on scholarship offers. When a scholarship offer is extended to an athlete, it occurs only after a thorough review of the athlete’s ability (academic and athletic) and personal character is determined.
Scrutiny is, however, a two-way street. In other words, you must recruit the college as hard as the college is recruiting you. What is the best way to do this? Be prepared.
Throughout the recruiting process, there will be times when your scholarship status is unclear. To help clarify exactly where you stand with a coach, ask hard questions of the person(s) recruiting you. For example:
- How many players are you recruiting at my position?
- If I decide to visit, are you asking me to commit right away?
- How long do I have to accept or decline your scholarship offer?
- Are you offering the same scholarship to other players?
- Are you offering me an official campus visit?
- Where am I on your priority list?
- If you offer one scholarship to me and to others, will it go the the first player who commits?
- What percentage of all students graduate in four years? What percentage of all athletes graduate in four to five years? What percentage of athletes from your team graduate in four to five years?
- What are the placement rates of your athletes into graduate school? Professional schools (i.e., medical school, law school, etc.)? and/or professional jobs?
- Of the athletes who do not turn pro, what are their outcomes after graduation? What post-graduate successes have they experienced?
You are entitled to ask the questions you deem necessary to help you and your parents understand the recruiting process better. It does not ensure that you will always get straight-forward answers. It is imperative that you and your parents understand how to communicate with college recruiters. College recruiters are masterful at evaluating your athletic ability; you must be equally as masterful at evaluating their professional ability and integrity.
NCAA Division II Athletic Recruiting
If the odds of earning a Division I scholarship are slight, imagine the difficulty of earning a full Division II scholarship. Just as there are qualifiers and partial qualifiers for Division I and II, there are full scholarships and partial scholarships. Unfortunately, a majority of scholarships in Division II are partial scholarships.
There are student-athletes who earn full scholarships in Division II, but in no way to they compare with the number of full scholarships in Division I.
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Division II Baseball
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11.7
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Total scholarships allowed by NCAA per year
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$7,000
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Total cost of tuition, room and board, books
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$81,000
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Total dollars in scholarship pool
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25
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Total team roster
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15
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Total of senior players and transfers to replace
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The head baseball coach in the above scenario has to manage a pool of $81,000 and distribute scholarship money accordingly. Some of his incoming players might receive full scholarships. The coach obviously can not afford to give full scholarships to all 15 incoming players. Some of his incoming players might be transferring in from junior college programs and will need two to three years of scholarship assistance. The coach will have to decide whether that player will receive a full or partial scholarship.
Often, the coach will base his decisions on the ability of the player to secure federal and/or state financial aid. If the difference between the cost of the school and the financial aid offer is moderate, a coach might decide to make up the difference with athletic scholarship money. Look at the following example:
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Theoretical Baseball University
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Tuition
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$5,000
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Financial Aid
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$5,000
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Room & Board
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$2,000
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Baseball Scholarship
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$2,500
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Fees
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$500
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Total cost
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$7,500
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Total Award
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$7,500
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Of course, a coach has the sole authority to make decisions on the amount of athletic scholarship money to award strictly on the basis of athletic ability.
NCAA Division III Athletic Recruiting
There is a myth in Division III athletics that athletes do not receive scholarships. In fact, many athletes in Division III do receive numerous undergraduate and post-graduate scholarships, though they do not receive them as a result of their athletic talent. Their scholarships are primarily based upon financial need, leadership and/or academic merit.
And while rivalries and intense competition thrive in Division III, the athletes at this level compromise nothing. If they suffer unfortunate career-ending injuries or simply lose their passion for the sport, they do not lose their scholarship(s) and/or financial aid. Division III is perhaps the last domain for true, amateur athletic competition where the student-athlete competes for the genuine love of the sport.
In general, Division III can be as, if not more, intense than Division I or II. Numerous visits from college coaches at the recruit’s high school, phone calls from coaches, letters from the colleges and recruiting visits to college campuses are exhaustive, time consuming and expensive. This is fast becoming the norm in Division III recruiting, yet there will never be an offer of an athletic scholarship. A majority of families have no choice but to wait on the financial aid package before deciding on which school to attend. Unfortunately, choices are often made on the size of the financial aid package without regard to the quality of a school. Schools fortunate enough to complete a competitive financial aid package ahead of the competition usually have the upper hand in the recruiting wars.
NAIA Division I and II
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is not affiliated whatsoever with the National Collegiate Athletic Association. NAIA Member Schools are divided into Divisions I and II. The total number of NAIA member schools pale in comparison to the NCAA. There are approximately 200 in Division I and 200 in Division II. Although NAIA schools offer athletic scholarships in Divisions I and II like their counterparts in the NCAA, there are very few schools offering full scholarships to athletes. Most NAIA scholarships are a combination of partial athletic scholarships and financial aid.
The NAIA does not require its student-athletes to be certified academically, and schools within the association come in all shapes and sizes. Yet, each school may offer a unique experience to your career as a student-athlete. Consider the coaching points to the right about an NAIA school:
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Here are some tips on handling the Division III recruiting process:
Coaching points …
- The NCAA’s Clearinghouse does not apply to non-scholarship schools.
- Be sure to have academic credentials that match those of the school recruiting you.
- Follow up on all admission and financial aid deadlines and time lines.
- Visit the campus admission office … meet with an admission counselor, financial aid counselor and coach.
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Thinking of Turning Pro?
The odds of turning professional as an athlete from any level of the NCAA or NAIA are not encouraging. If you have your heart set on going to college with the intention of turning professional, consider the following statistics:
- Out of approximately one million high school varsity football players in the country, approximately 150 will make an NFL roster: 6,000 to 1 odds.
- Out of 500,000 high school basketball players, approximately 50 will make NBA rosters: 10,000 to 1 odds.
- For every 1,223 high school senior football players, 44 will become “major college” players. Just one will make an NFL roster.
- Fewer than 30 percent of all NBA players graduate from college. Less than one percent graduate after turning professional early.
Final Thoughts
Perhaps now, it is clear that it is important to have distinct goals and a game plan for the future. A college degree should figure prominently in your educational plans regardless of whether you are a scholarship athlete, future pro prospect or just an amateur. Choosing the right college is the most difficult part of the recruiting process. It is a process that has evolved into a science rather than an art these days.
Even if you are fortunate enough to receive an athletic scholarship, there is no guarantee that the school offering the scholarship will be a good fit for you. In the long term, it is imperative that you choose a college that will benefit you in all phases of your undergraduate and post-graduate plans.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT COLLEGE RECRUITING IN GENERAL, WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
hssportsrecruiting@yahoo.com
Tags: Uncategorized
Each sport ebbs and flows…We occasionally hear from parents and prospects that they have not heard from any coaches for awhile. There is reason for this worth noting. Each sport has what we can call a Recruiting Cycle. The cycle for your particular sport depends on several variables such as recruiting rules, when college teams participate in their seasons and the preferences as well as organizational skills of individual head coaches. Coaches are more active in reaching out to prospects immediately following their seasons and during or directly after club or travel team seasons. They are also typically very proactive at the start of the college academic year. They are less likely to reach out to prospects during pre-season practice time frames, during the first several weeks of their teams’ seasons and at the start of summer vacations. In the first too cases, they are just too busy getting their team prepared for the season. As to the latter, many coaches, especially from smaller colleges, are on nine- or ten-month contracts, so the summertime is when they spend time with family, take personal vacations, operate their camps or are instructors at camps on other college campuses. And, some coaches are simply more or less organized than others, stay ahead or lag behind in the recruiting process and are more assertive or passive in their recruiting activities according to their experience and personality. Keep these things in mind when wondering why coaches are not contacting you as much as you thought they might. Regardless, clearly your role is to keep your profile up-to-date so that when coaches are in their Recruiting Cycle, they can quickly evaluate you based on current info.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT COLLEGE RECRUITING IN GENERAL, WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
hssportsrecruiting@yahoo.com
Tags: Uncategorized
Is Your Bank Account in the Gutter?
Bowling can truly be defined as a pure intercollegiate sport. Regardless of division, region, or athletic association, bowling has become fiercely competitive. Non-scholarship, Div III teams are often able to compete side-by-side with some of the top NCAA bowling teams in the country.
NCAA Scholarships for Women
The NCAA is the largest athletic association in the U.S. If you are good enough to bowl for a Division I or Division II school you may be able to squeeze some scholarship dollars out of the programs. There are 43 member schools that offer Div 1 or Div 2 Women’s Bowling and only 2 schools that offer scholarship bowling for Men, but there are plenty of men’s college bowling teams.
NJCAA
The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) represents collegiate competition in the junior and two-year college sector. There are some very competitive athletic programs in this association, so do not miss your possible options here.
NAIA
Bowling is unrecognized as a “championship sport” by the NAIA. In spite of that a number of very good bowling programs exist, including favorites Pikeville College, Lindenwood University, and Lindsey Wilson College. You will see these otherwise unknown colleges delivering enviable showings in competition.
The Appeal of Div III Athletics
Here’s the deal: there are 24 NJCAA schools that have bowling teams, all Division III (NJCAA Division III is not to be confused with NCAA Div III) and Div III schools do not award athletic scholarships. There are 6 NCAA Div III schools that offer women’s bowling, again—non-scholarship. That’s quite a bit of good collegiate bowling competition. Just because they are Div III schools does not mean they don’t make plenty of scholarship money available through merit and need based scholarships to good bowlers/students.
Many smaller off-scholarship schools attract talented athletes with academic money and state of the art facilities. If this appeals to you, combine it with the fact that at this level of play there is almost none of the same kind of performance pressure you’d find for a scholarship athlete at a Div 1 or Div 2 school.
Top Bowling Schools
The race for championship hardware is anyone’s bet in any given year, but a few of the really solid bowling programs include:
· Wichita State University
· University of Nebraska
· New Jersey City University
· Vanderbilt University
Best resources for bowling scholarships, other than colleges and universities:
· Community bowling leagues
· Regional and state bowling associations
Our List of Bowling Scholarships
See if any of these scholarships work for you. Or use this list as a brainstorming kick-start. Remember, pure bowling scholarships are few and far between. Search smarter. Here are some hands down winning scholarships that may help you optimize your search.
Elmira Youth Bowling League
Elmira Youth Bowling Scholarships are open to student bowlers in the Elmira, New York youth bowling league. Applicants must be under 21 and enrolled in a post-secondary educational program. Awards are $500 each.
Wisconsin Dells Family Bowling Scholarship Team Tournament
The Wisconsin Dells Family Bowling Scholarship Team Tournament invites family teams consisting of two junior bowlers and two adult bowlers to compete for student scholarships. USBA rules apply and winners receive scholarship money when they have actually enrolled in a post-secondary college or university.
United States Bowling Congress Scholarships
The USBC is a virtual clearinghouse for bowling scholarships. Check these out:
· Pepsi USBC Youth Championships is an annual United States Bowling Congress-Pepsi Sponsored international youth bowling competition at which over 300,000 scholarship dollars are offered at the state/zone level.
· The USBC Junior Gold Championships compete for more than $70,000 in college scholarships. Enrollment in an undergraduate program at an accredited college/university is required. High School students are not eligible. You may also contact the youth director at your local bowling center to get current information regarding how to enter the Pepsi USBC Youth Championships.
· Gift for Life Scholarships honor the heroes of September 11, 2001 and all who regularly risk danger to save the lives of others. Scholarship amount is $1,000 and applicants must be USBC high school students with a GPA of at least 2.0. Two of the twelve awards are set aside each year for a son and a daughter of police, fire and emergency rescue personnel. Selection is also based on financial need.
· Who’s Who Sports Edition All Academic Bowling Team is an honorary team comprised of USBC youth selected to receive a $1,000 scholarship award based on community service and academic achievement. USBC members published in the Who’s Who Among American High School Students – Sports Edition are eligible to compete.
· The Earl Anthony Memorial Scholarships recognize 5 USBC youth members based on academic achievement, community service and financial need. This award is for $5,000.
· Chuck Hall Star of Tomorrow Scholarship is annually presented to a male high school senior or undergraduate student who competes in the sport of bowling. Selection criteria include academic achievement, community involvement and distinguished bowling performances on the local, state and national levels. Award is for $1500 renewable for up to 3 years. Applicant must be a USBC member in good standing and have a GPA of 2.5.
Colleges/Universities Offering Bowling Scholarships
This is only a partial list of scholarship bowling:
Wichita State University – Wichita, Kansas
Any entering freshman, transfer student or currently enrolled WSU student may apply for the bowling scholarships. Bowling scholarships at Wichita State are given to the best student bowlers who have demonstrated elite student skills such as teamwork, loyalty, work ethic and commitment and willingness to learn and improve as well as overall bowling skills. Scholarships are typically $650 for in-state recipients and up to $2800 for out-of-state recipients. There are also 3 memorial/honorary scholarships given to outstanding bowlers.
University of Florida
Gator Bowling Scholarships are awarded to full-time student bowlers. Candidates must maintain 2.0 GPAs, apply for renewals each semester and commit completely to the demands of the UFL varsity bowling team.
Vincennes University – Vincennes, Indiana
Top notch bowlers may be offered scholarship money to bowl for Vincennes University. The school recruits both men and women for its bowling programs. Scholarships vary based on athletic and academic merit.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT COLLEGE RECRUITING IN GENERAL, WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
hssportsrecruiting@yahoo.com
Tags: Uncategorized
SOFT DRINKS HAVE TAKEN a definitive place in our lives. Over the past two decades there has been a great increase in the consumption of these beverages. The market has been flooded with a number of brands targeted at various age groups. In addition, soft drinks are easily available at highly affordable rates. In many places soft drinks have taken the place of water to quench thirst. The sizes of the bottles have also grown thus again increasing their intake.
SOFT DRINKS HAVE TAKEN a definitive place in our lives. Over the past two decades there has been a great increase in the consumption of these beverages. The market has been flooded with a number of brands targeted at various age groups. In addition, soft drinks are easily available at highly affordable rates. In many places soft drinks have taken the place of water to quench thirst. The sizes of the bottles have also grown thus again increasing their intake.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT COLLEGE RECRUITING IN GENERAL, WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
hssportsrecruiting@yahoo.com
Tags: Sports Nutrition · Uncategorized
Ony about 20 percent of all prospects sign their letters of intent early, so the rush to get your name on the dotted line is sometimes overrated. The most important thing is that you find the right college situation for you. “Fit” is the term we use. Like a pair of new shoes, they may look great on the wall of the store and they may feel okay walking back and forth in front of a mirror, but it’s how they respond to your feet and you to them in the first week or so that really matters. So, signing with a college early for the sake of saying you signed early can lead to a hasty decision.
Your responsibility to yourself is to find the college that is right for you in the following ways:
• Academically
• Athletically
• Financially
• Geographically
• Socially
Instinctively, you will probably know which college is right for you. It just feels right when you walk around campus, when you talk to the coach and when you intermingle with the team members. The dorm rooms look and feel comfortable. The classrooms suit you, too. It’s affordable for your parents. And, it’s within the range from home that you were searching for. To find all these things in a college takes time and patience and you have to be willing to do the things necessary to discover the best things for you by visiting as many campuses as possible, communicating with coaches and developing relationships with them, exploring colleges in terms of their philosophy, educational offerings and ability as well as history for keeping students safe.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT COLLEGE RECRUITING IN GENERAL, WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
hssportsrecruiting@yahoo.com
Tags: Uncategorized
SENIORS, COMMIT AND SIGN WHEN YOU ARE READY…AND NOT BEFORE. In the end, the time for you to commit and then sign is when you know it is the right situation for you. Consider everything when making this life changing decision. Academically, does the college offer the course work you need to secure the degree you want to earn? Athletically, which program will allow you the best chance to compete for a position as early as possible and which coach best complements your style of play?
Geographically, which campus is best positioned for you to enjoy. Philosophically, which school most resembles how you look at life? Socially, what institution offers you the environment you want to live the next four or five years? And, financially, which offer fits your family’s budget? When you can answer these questions with as little emotion attached as possible, only then will you know which choice is best for you.
JUNIORS, YOUR GPA MUST BE AS HIGH AS POSSIBLE. You have heard NSR say this time and again. Believe it. The higher your core course GPA, the more college doors that will open for you. If you are lazy in the classroom, your grades will show it and count on this – you will not attract the attention from as many colleges as you should. Starting now, regardless of your current academic status, resolve to reach your academic potential. Talk to your teachers. Share your dream, not the dream of playing college sports, but of achieving academic excellence. Take your books home. Turn off the television, your cell phone and computer. Buckle down. Read. Study. Focus. Take control of your academic future today.
SOPHOMORES, FIND AN ACADEMIC MENTOR. It is natural to have a mentor in sports – someone you look up to, someone you go to when you are in a slump or when things don’t seem to be going your way. Do the same in your academic endeavors. Find a teacher, a person in your community, a relative or even a classmate who you admire for their intelligence and for the way they approach all things related to academics. Approach this person and let them know that you want to excel in the classroom over the next three years. Ask if you can meet with them once a week or once every two weeks to discuss how you are approaching school work, your study habits, distractions you face with peers at home and at school. If you apply this strategy, you will find someone who is more than willing to become your sounding board. You will see a difference, gain confidence and attain results.
FRESHMEN, TAKE PRACTICE SERIOUSLY. A famous NFL football coach, Vince Lombardi, once said, “Practice does not make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect.” Practice to far too many freshmen is a time to socialize and have fun with friends in between drills and speeches by the coach. If you have that attitude, you will face the consequences of poor game, match or meet performance. Practice is like study time for a hard class. If you put in the hard work, effort and focus, you will get good grades. When you put on your practice uniform, get serious. This is the very best time to improve in every aspect of your sport. Forget about social hour. Lock onto what is happening. Listen intently to your coaches. Execute each drill with a high degree of effort. You will get better faster and as you grow in your sport and you will have these days of learning and practicing the fundamentals to thank for it.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT IS BEING DISCUSSED IN THIS POST PLEASE CONTACT US AT hssportsrecruiting@yahoo.com
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The ACT is a widely used college admission standardized test. It has four mandatory subject tests: English, Reading, Mathematics, and Science. There is also an optional Writing test which some colleges require. Knowing how to take this key test can mean earning significantly more academic awards when applying to colleges. Read the following tips to improve your chances of gaining added points. But, be sure to get plenty or rest the night prior to the test, get up an extra hour early, eat a relaxed, healthy breakfast, and arrive at least 20 minutes before test time. You will find all these suggestions will result in a better outcome.
General Tips
Answer the questions you find easiest first. Come back to the others later.
Don’t spend more than a minute or two on any question.
As you work on a section, keep track of how much time remains. (It’s a good idea to bring a reliable watch.)
Answer every question. There is no penalty for guessing.
Be careful to mark only one answer choice per question.
Write in the test book in any way that will help you.
Consider all answer choices before you choose one. Use the process of elimination to narrow your choices.
English Section Tips
Consider the writing style used for each section. The correct answer choice will be the one that works best with the writing style used.
When asked a question about something that is underlined, consider how the underlined portion fits with the rest of the section.
Examine each answer choice to see how it differs from the others.
For items that include “No Change” as an answer choice, choose this as your answer only if you are sure none of the other answer choices are correct.
Reread the underlined portion with your answer choice to be sure it is correct.
Reading Section Tips
Read the passage carefully before you read the questions.
Focus on the main ideas in the passage. Underline these. Don’t get lost in the details.
Try to identify how ideas in the passage are connected.
Refer back to the passage as you answer each question.
Mathematics Section Tips
Work out the problem before looking at the answer choices. When done, choose the answer choice that matches your answer. If none match, redo the problem.
Don’t overly rely on your calculator. Some problems are best worked out manually. Some don’t even require calculation.
The questions focus much more on reasoning than on calculation. If you find yourself doing complicated calculations, you’re probably on the wrong track.
Make sure your answer choice makes sense. A calculation error can lead you to a wrong answer choice.
Check your work.
Science Section Tips
Given the complexity of the passages, it may help to make some simple notes as you read them.
Cross out irrelevant information.
Don’t be overly concerned with any technical terminology. Technical terms usually have little to do with the correct answer choice.
Be watchful for conflicting viewpoints in some of the passages.
Writing Section Tips
Organization of your response is very important. Use a five-paragraph essay that includes an introduction, supporting paragraphs, and a conclusion.
Plan your response before you begin to write it.
Stay with the topic throughout your response
Vary your sentence structure and word choices.
Use specific examples wherever possible.
Write legibly.
If you have time, check your grammar, usage, punctuation, and spelling.
These tips can help you get the most out your knowledge, skills, and abilities when you take the ACT.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT TAKING THE ACT/SAT OR COLLEGE RECRUITING IN GENERAL, WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
hssportsrecruiting@yahoo.com
Tags: Academic Information: ACT/SAT, Grades and Eligibility Needs · Uncategorized
Division I
Division I member institutions have to sponsor at least seven sports for men and seven for women (or six for men and eight for women) with two team sports for each gender. Each playing season has to be represented by each gender as well. There are contest and participant minimums for each sport, as well as scheduling criteria. For sports other than football and basketball, Division I schools must play 100 percent of the minimum number of contests against Division I opponents — anything over the minimum number of games has to be 50 percent Division I. Men’s and women’s basketball teams have to play all but two games against Division I teams; for men, they must play one-third of all their contests in the home arena. Schools that have football are classified as Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) or NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA). Football Bowl Subdivision schools are usually fairly elaborate programs. Football Bowl Subdivision teams have to meet minimum attendance requirements (average 15,000 people in actual or paid attendance per home game), which must be met once in a rolling two-year period. NCAA Football Championship Subdivision teams do not need to meet minimum attendance requirements. Division I schools must meet minimum financial aid awards for their athletics program, and there are maximum financial aid awards for each sport that a Division I school cannot exceed.
Division II
Division II institutions have to sponsor at least five sports for men and five for women, (or four for men and six for women), with two team sports for each gender, and each playing season represented by each gender. There are contest and participant minimums for each sport, as well as scheduling criteria — football and men’s and women’s basketball teams must play at least 50 percent of their games against Division II or Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) or Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) opponents. For sports other than football and basketball there are no scheduling requirements. There are not attendance requirements for football, or arena game requirements for basketball. There are maximum financial aid awards for each sport that a Division II school must not exceed. Division II teams usually feature a number of local or in-state student-athletes. Many Division II student-athletes pay for school through a combination of scholarship money, grants, student loans and employment earnings. Division II athletics programs are financed in the institution’s budget like other academic departments on campus. Traditional rivalries with regional institutions dominate schedules of many Division II athletics programs.
Division III
Division III institutions have to sponsor at least five sports for men and five for women, with two team sports for each gender, and each playing season represented by each gender. There are minimum contest and participant minimums for each sport. Division III athletics features student-athletes who receive no financial aid related to their athletic ability and athletic departments are staffed and funded like any other department in the university. Division III athletics departments place special importance on the impact of athletics on the participants rather than on the spectators. The student-athlete’s experience is of paramount concern. Division III athletics encourages participation by maximizing the number and variety of athletics opportunities available to students, placing primary emphasis on regional in-season and conference competition.
IF YOU THINK YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER IS A CANDIDATE FOR COLLEGE SPORTS THEN IT IS UP TO YOU TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP. PLEASE VISIT THE BLOGROLL LINK IN THE LIST TO THE RIGHT TITLED A. YOUR FIRST STEP TO PLAYING COLLEGE SPORTS TO START THE PROCESS
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