Recruited athlete question

navy2022VA

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I am a female recruited athlete to USNA for track and field. This is a non-revenue generating sport, so “blue chips” aren’t picked out until the end when they are used more so to help an athlete at a disadvantage, rather than a top pick athlete. For track, they typically recruit an athlete who may not be top-notch, but is very good in the sport AND academics and therefore could make it in the academy otherwise. This said, I was given an official visit last month and they said they wanted us all badly and would try to ensure LOAs to all but they hadn’t picked their blue chips yet. Bottom line, for this sport blue chips seem to not be a big deal. My question is, when people say a recruited athlete is almost guaranteed appointment once nominated and 3Q’d, do they mean just blue chips or do they mean athletes offered a visit as well? I know there are ‘levels’ of recruitment (blue chip/LOA, official visitors, guarantee to NAPSters, preferred walk ons, and those likely to make a team but won’t get the budge at the board), and I was told I was one of the top picks, but now I am playing the waiting game and am curious as to if I am as likely to appointed as people say.
 
I have no first hand knowledge...but have seen enough here to know that no one really knows who the "blue chip" is and coaches often change who their preferred draft pick is. With a sport like Track, I would expect the coaching staff watches to see how the Admissions process works out, and then uses the precious chip to help that person who didn't get in with the normal process. Bottom line, get your application in ...and let the chips fall as they be.
 
and I was told I was one of the top picks.....

I am sure coaches say similar things to many of the h.s. athletes they talk with.

Lots of older threads about being recruited for sports on here. Being recruited is no guarantee of an appointment and someone who is the top pick today might move down the priority list if a more desirable athlete comes along. Coaches may also imply things about gaining an appointment that turn out to not be totally accurate. Since no one pays tuition at an SA, the main reason for being 'recruited' is a lot different then at a civilian universities (i.e. free tuition/room/board). Even if recruited, you are under no obligation to continue with that sport once you start at USNA. You don't 'lose' anything by dropping a sport if things don't work out. I would continue to pursue your Plan B options along with USNA and as mentioned above, see how things turnout.
 
As a former blue chip (didn’t know this at the time) in basketball, I agree with others. I spent some time working in the basketball office and got a lot of the inner workings of how it goes. Coaches will say a lot of things. Listen to what they say, but protect yourself also. In reality the chances of you knowing where you will fall out in the recruiting scheme of being a top recruit or a blue chip are probably none to very little. If this is what you want, go for it.
 
Do they ever offer someone an official visit and then deny them at the board? Assuming the recruit is 3Q and nominated
 
I am sure coaches say similar things to many of the h.s. athletes they talk with.

Lots of older threads about being recruited for sports on here. Being recruited is no guarantee of an appointment and someone who is the top pick today might move down the priority list if a more desirable athlete comes along. Coaches may also imply things about gaining an appointment that turn out to not be totally accurate. Since no one pays tuition at an SA, the main reason for being 'recruited' is a lot different then at a civilian universities (i.e. free tuition/room/board). Even if recruited, you are under no obligation to continue with that sport once you start at USNA. You don't 'lose' anything by dropping a sport if things don't work out. I would continue to pursue your Plan B options along with USNA and as mentioned above, see how things turnout.

Yeah- in my 1 on 1 with the coach in July, she said in track there really is no such thing as a blue chip.. just a budge at the board. However this statement was contradicted on my visit.. perhaps to excite the recruits that weren’t likely to pursue USNA.
 
In answer to your last question, an official visit for the Track team does not guarantee acceptance
 
There are NO guarantees where recruiting is concerned, anywhere. Even at regular schools your support can change (for better or worse) based on performance. Lots of official visits happen that do not pan out for any number of reasons.
My understanding (which is pretty much limited to my plebes experience) is that coaches that don't have "blue chip" spots can still help the process, BUT you have to be qualified academically, dodmerb, CFA. The nomination is one area they probably can offer the most assistance. The only thing you can do is your best. Keep communication going with the coaches and enjoy your senior year. Good luck!
 
Does it raise my chances at all?

I have no direct knowledge, but I would suspect it raises your chances in the sense that it’s something that contributes positively to you as a candidate. If the coaches like you and are interested in you they can put their endorsement on your application. So that’s good. Track is a try-out sport, you make the cut at try-outs or you don’t (as explained to my DS). So even if the coach endorses you, doesn’t mean you will be on the team. I don’t think it’s something to count on as far as getting an appointment, but certainly doesn’t hurt. And that’s a good thing!! GOOD LUCK (and run fast, turn left [emoji51])!!
 
I have no direct knowledge, but I would suspect it raises your chances in the sense that it’s something that contributes positively to you as a candidate. If the coaches like you and are interested in you they can put their endorsement on your application. So that’s good. Track is a try-out sport, you make the cut at try-outs or you don’t (as explained to my DS). So even if the coach endorses you, doesn’t mean you will be on the team. I don’t think it’s something to count on as far as getting an appointment, but certainly doesn’t hurt. And that’s a good thing!! GOOD LUCK (and run fast, turn left [emoji51])!!

Ahh! Thank you for this, but in regards to your final sentence... I am a jumper[emoji6]!!
 
Ahh! Thank you for this, but in regards to your final sentence... I am a jumper[emoji6]!!

Long, or high? My husband is a high school and club jumps Coach [emoji106]. DS Has an offer of appointment, will be running track for USNA! We are for sure a track-fam. Routing for ‘ya!!
 
Long, or high? My husband is a high school and club jumps Coach [emoji106]. DS Has an offer of appointment, will be running track for USNA! We are for sure a track-fam. Routing for ‘ya!!

Wow congrats, hope I will be saying the same sentence soon. I compete long, triple, and high but am mainly being recruited by usna for high.
 
I see from your posts that you are very interested being on Navy's Track & Field team, but have you thought about being a Navy officer? The team at the academy is for 4 years but there's a 5 year minimum commitment after. Have you thought about that? Just found it interesting that you seem to post about athletics only.
 
I see from your posts that you are very interested being on Navy's Track & Field team, but have you thought about being a Navy officer? The team at the academy is for 4 years but there's a 5 year minimum commitment after. Have you thought about that? Just found it interesting that you seem to post about athletics only.

Trust me, track comes last. The reason I only post about it is because it is the one thing about USNA I am unsure of. I also started my account a few days ago.
 
I see from your posts that you are very interested being on Navy's Track & Field team, but have you thought about being a Navy officer? The team at the academy is for 4 years but there's a 5 year minimum commitment after. Have you thought about that? Just found it interesting that you seem to post about athletics only.

Instead of taking jabs at my intentions, I would advise you to contribute your efforts into helping others on this forum. I intend to serve in the Navy for life, thank you.
 
Only intention I read was to join the team. Did I miss something? First I read about Navy so I don't see any jab, just a question which you've now answered. Good luck.
 
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Keep in mind how the overall admission process works. The board does not meet and vote "yes" or "no" on an appointment. They basically say qualified and move to the next step in the process based on your WCS. Being a recruited athlete will help your WCS as you should do very well in the athletic component and you probably get a few extra points if the coach checks the "recruited" box on your application.

You have to be 3Q and have a place to be "charged" to. There are no unlimited slots and while the "Blue Chip" is a mystery you can make some safe assumptions that these individuals are slotted as additional appointees if they do not win their nomination slate. Many different interest are competing for these last few slots and they are rationed based on the perceived importance to the academy. Football or under-represented diversity candidates probably have more weight than the track coach.

All coaches would like a team of 5 Star recruits at the beginning of each recruiting season but as the process moves along, they start balancing what they can get into the program. I have a daughter who has been a preferred walked on at two different Division I track programs in the last two years. She is not one of these 5 Star recruits but when the coaches do not get these super stars they still need to fill the team. While she may never make the NCAA Finals, she has helped her team compete and done well for herself.

To answer your final question, there are no guarantees till you have an appointment as there are many different things that influence the process.
 
Keep in mind how the overall admission process works. The board does not meet and vote "yes" or "no" on an appointment. They basically say qualified and move to the next step in the process based on your WCS. Being a recruited athlete will help your WCS as you should do very well in the athletic component and you probably get a few extra points if the coach checks the "recruited" box on your application.

You have to be 3Q and have a place to be "charged" to. There are no unlimited slots and while the "Blue Chip" is a mystery you can make some safe assumptions that these individuals are slotted as additional appointees if they do not win their nomination slate. Many different interest are competing for these last few slots and they are rationed based on the perceived importance to the academy. Football or under-represented diversity candidates probably have more weight than the track coach.

All coaches would like a team of 5 Star recruits at the beginning of each recruiting season but as the process moves along, they start balancing what they can get into the program. I have a daughter who has been a preferred walked on at two different Division I track programs in the last two years. She is not one of these 5 Star recruits but when the coaches do not get these super stars they still need to fill the team. While she may never make the NCAA Finals, she has helped her team compete and done well for herself.

To answer your final question, there are no guarantees till you have an appointment as there are many different things that influence the process.

That completely answers my question, thank you so much!
 
Only intention I read was to join the team. Did I miss something? First I read about Navy so I don't see any jab, just a question which you've now answered. Good luck.

My bad- sometimes it’s hard to differentiate condescension from sincere curiosity over social media. Thank you for the good luck, I’m gonna need it!
 
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