Do SA's actively recruit for sports?

Mom4224inSD

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Just curious - do the Service Academies actively recruit for some sports - like from NCAA eligibility lists? Or do they just recruit from among those who demonstrate interest in a SA by applying?
 
Great Question!!! I would like to know this too.... But what is an NCAA Elgibility List??
 
Yes, although it likely depends on the coach. I know a girl who swims who didn't hear about WP until January of her junior year, when she was contacted by the swim coach. I also know of a few other cases like that. She will be there on R-day, btw.
 
Great Question!!! I would like to know this too.... But what is an NCAA Elgibility List??


High school athletes interested in being recruited register with the NCAA, and they are put on a list available online of athletes looking to be recruited. They get their own profile page that they can control on the NCAA website for coaches to look at, I think. They post stats, videos, etc. Generally, it's recruits who are "on the bubble" that do this, since blue-chippers get found by coaches, they don't need to seek the coaches out themselves.
 
Great Question!!! I would like to know this too.... But what is an NCAA Elgibility List??

Well, I'm not an expert - but my general understanding is that if you want to play a varsity sport in college you have to be NCAA eligible. I'm GUESSING it's a combination of minimum high school GPA and demonstrated ability in that particular sport. Then I think once you are on the list, college coaches/recruiters can contact you and try to woo you to their school/team. Some schools and teams put big money into recruiting for their marquee sports -- obviously football and some others -- so I was just wondering if the service academies do that too. I mean Navy has to keep beating Army, right???:thumb: So do the SA's just hope that some great football talent will apply, or do they actively go looking? Like I said - just curious - my son doesn't play one of those sports. (Also known as "trying to think oabout other stuff while waiting for the mail:wink:
 
High school athletes interested in being recruited register with the NCAA, and they are put on a list available online of athletes looking to be recruited. They get their own profile page that they can control on the NCAA website for coaches to look at, I think. They post stats, videos, etc. Generally, it's recruits who are "on the bubble" that do this, since blue-chippers get found by coaches, they don't need to seek the coaches out themselves.

As far as I know, I am not sure this is the case. In order to play college athletics, an athlete must register with the NCAA Clearinghouse. The purpose of the Clearinghouse is strictly to maintain the integrity of the recruiting process, i.e. only 5 "Official" visits per athlete (schools must advise the Clearinghouse when an athlete comes on an official visit), as well as make sure each athlete meets the minimum requirements coming out of high school - which keeps the 'eligible" to play college sports (ie, GPA, Core Courses, etc...). As far as I know the NCAA, the organization, does not have any place for an athlete to post profiles, etc.. I could be wrong, but I have never encountered it.

The best way to get the ball rolling at any college is strike first. Each school, in the Athletics portion of the website, usually has some type of athletic info form. Fill it out and send it in. Then follow-up with an e-mail to the coaches after a few days. Our experience has been that when you fill one out you will here back from the athletic department soon thereafter. Coaching at the college level is a full time job. Unless you are a superb athlete (nationally ranked, state champion, etc.. ) there is no way a coach can "find you". That being said, coaches do go back to where they have been successful in the past. Be proactive about it and you will not be disappointed
 
The big-time sports at the SAs (M/W basketball and football at the D1 level) are actively and heavily recruited.

Army, Navy, and Air Force are competing with the civilian schools for some of the exact same big-time impact players.

For the most part, they must follow the same recruiting rules, however they are allowed to contact an athlete earlier due to the nomination requirement.

These D1 sports generate millions of dollars for the SAs. They are not about to risk big dollar TV contracts and/or the revenue generated by Bowl Games by not acquiring top talent.

Whether or not they compromise their admissions standards to "qualify" some athletes, as well as special accommodations while they attend, is a lively subject being debated all the time.
 
What grade do you register for NCAA???

The middle - end of Junior year is fine. Athletes can't go on official recuting visits until after Sept 1 (pretty sure thats the date) of their senior year anyway (not sure about some sports that recruit early, soccer, hockey, etc.. - but I am prettty sure its the same - no officials till after Sept 1 of senior year). What defines an official visit is that the school pays for the recruits expenses (travel, food, etc..). The recruit can only be on campus for 48 hours. Athletes can go on unofficials anytime they want.
 
High school athletes interested in being recruited register with the NCAA, and they are put on a list available online of athletes looking to be recruited. They get their own profile page that they can control on the NCAA website for coaches to look at, I think. They post stats, videos, etc. Generally, it's recruits who are "on the bubble" that do this, since blue-chippers get found by coaches, they don't need to seek the coaches out themselves.

I believe I found the site where you can register: http://eligibilitycenter.org

Thanks for the info....I learn so much from these sites!!
Suzie
 
Luigi59 is right. SA's can make contact earlier because of the nominations and length of application process. Non SA schools can not initiate contact , via phone or in person, an athlete before July 1 (again, not exactly sure of that date, but its around there) of the recruits junior year. However, if the athlete calls the office and the coach picks up, fair game. Different sports do have some different rules. I am not sure if that impacts visits though, I think the Sept rule still applies. The rules of NCAA are for Div I schools, but most Div II and Div III schools adhere to them as well.
 
I was recruited and having a contact at the Academy has helped a lot with the application process. Some coaches, not all, will check on you application and make sure you have everything in. They can also write letters to the MOCs just as an extra letter of support. Coaches can not initiate phone calls until after July 1, but SAs can call earlier as stated earlier. The Sept. 1 date for official visits is correct as well.
 
Since every athlete at a Service Academy is a "scholarship" athlete the NCAA gives some leeway to the Service Academy programs. That's why they have so many taxi squads for football. Other than the team "scolarship" numbers all NCAA contact rules apply with provisions specific to the Academys.
 
Another way for a youngster to make contact with the Naval Academy coaches is via the several sports camps held at USNA each summer. For an athlete attending a sports camp might trump participating in the summer seminar (NASS) in getting an offer of appointment.
Otherwise, the NAVY also does use the NCAA eligibility list and suggestions from alums to find its varsity prospects.

As many of you have guessed, we don't count on attracting the typical D1 quality athlete primarily because of the service requirements placed upon our grads. Also, we do have academic standards that are expected to be met. Over the last few years NAVY's athletes have placed at the very top of the lists of percentage graduating.
 
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