Which Sports actually have "influence/input" on the selection process ?

Experience always helps and provides a huge leg up. Navy traditionally had a huge turn out of plebes each year. The numbers slowly dwindle as Plebes realize the time commitment, it's just not fun for them, they lose interest or realize they aren't good. Plebe summer you get a chance to sign up for a sport. If your crew is your thing sign up and let the cards fall where they may.
 
So are potential candidates recruited from their preliminary sports application or do they need to contact coaches directly during their USNA application process. That prelim app asked specifics - in my son's case they asked for all his best swim times.
 
My son was a walk on for crew last year. He ended up as one of the top heavyweight plebe coxes. There were 2 recruited rowers in the heavies last year out of 40. A girl on my daughters track team was recruited for 2019 class. Got an LOA early on. That seems to be the way in for the athletes.
 
Y'all ignored the most obvious sport: FENCING. duh.

Actually had a guy in my medical school class leave medical school for 2 or 3 years (can't remember) to fence in the World Class Athlete Program in the Army. He then came back and finished med school and I think (I lost track of him) is now finishing his residency.

As to the OP's question: if you are a big time athlete in a big time sport you will have a leg up on admissions. It also happens to a lesser extent in the lesser sports. I had a kid I went to high school with who was a national pool level player in our sport. USNA wanted him and it was so. I don't think he actually did anything more than sign his name for the application process :) (Granted he may have put in more effort than he led on, but given his overall ethos I'd doubt it). He ended up leaving during plebe year.
 
Best advice for any prospective student-athlete--who wanted to continue his/her sport at any college-- would be to email the Head Coach and Assistant Coach(es) directly, then see what kind of response you receive. Have your son ask directly if his times in his best events are what they are looking for. Do this over and above filling out the recruiting questionnaire and the form with Admissions. Extra personal contact is always a good idea. Team's needs change every season. For example, if they just graduated their best distance freestylers, they may be looking for someone who swims the 500 Free or 1650 Free.
 
You really should fill out the NavySports recruiting questionnaire first and wait for a response. If after a reasonable amount of time has passed with no response, then you should email the coach.
 
Actually the first thing someone should do while at the Navy Sports site is really look at the current team and players. Look at their results, times, etc. If you think you measure up, fill out the questionaire. Trust me if the coaches have interest and think you could potentially add to a team, they will get ahold of you.
 
Remember also that you might get a different interest level from each service academy. In some cases one of the academies is more dominant in a sport (i.e. Navy and Swimming), so it's possible to have times that would be of interest to the West Point or Air Force coach, but not the Navy coach.
 
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