Athlete nominations

[coolfredw]

I was curious how recruited athletes get their nominations when going to USAFA. I was trying to be one last year but didn't get in for it. They recommend going through the process of getting a congressional nomination, but if they don't get one, how do they get in? I assume the superintendent gives them one? Thanks

 

[Capt MJ]

I was curious how recruited athletes get their nominations when going to USAFA. I was trying to be one last year but didn't get in for it. They recommend going through the process of getting a congressional nomination, but if they don't get one, how do they get in? I assume the superintendent gives them one? Thanks

All candidates are expected to apply for all nominations for which they are eligible, which usually means, at a minimum, 2 Senators, 1 Representative and VP, plus any service-connected noms they are eligible for.

USAFA has a small number of discretionary noms they control, which they MAY choose to use.

If the candidate is sent to USAFAPS, they have enlisted status there, which makes them eligible for a prior enlisted service Secretary nom.

If they fail to obtain a nomination from any source, no appointment.

 

[time2]

^^ I agree. Some on here seem to imply that being a recruited athlete is a 'jump to the front of the line' method of getting an appointment. As the OP indicated, that didn't happen for them. No one pays any tuition/room/board at an SA, so the real benefit of being 'recruited' at a civilian college is a lot different. Every SA applicant needs to be 3Q & have a NOM to be in the RUNNING for an appointment.

Even if recruited and you get an appointment to an SA, you may find out there are far more who are as good as you (or better) in your chosen sport. Rather than being a bench warmer, many choose to drop their sport and better utilize their time keeping up with all of the other demands on their time. Unlike a civilian college where if you drop your sport you lose the perks of paid tuition/room/board, that isn't the case at an SA.

 

[Small Team Bacsi]

^^ I agree. Some on here seem to imply that being a recruited athlete is a 'jump to the front of the line' method of getting an appointment. As the OP indicated, that didn't happen for them. No one pays any tuition/room/board at an SA, so the real benefit of being 'recruited' at a civilian college is a lot different. Every SA applicant needs to be 3Q & have a NOM to be in the RUNNING for an appointment.

Even if recruited and you get an appointment to an SA, you may find out there are far more who are as good as you (or better) in your chosen sport. Rather than being a bench warmer, many choose to drop their sport and better utilize their time keeping up with all of the other demands on their time. Unlike a civilian college where if you drop your sport you lose the perks of paid tuition/room/board, that isn't the case at an SA.

If the OP had been a recruited athlete, as in An offer made by the SA coach and accepted by the OP , then they would have been able to jump to the head of the line and the coaches would have helped talk them thru the nominating process.

The real advantage to being recruited is being admitted. And in this the recruited sports types have a real advantage. As you point out it’s not the free room and board etc or the NIL.

Recruited sports types that do not get a nomination on their own, and many or most will, a nomination can be found for them.

 

[Small Team Bacsi]

Now here is where it can get confusing as far as whether someone has been recruited to play at a SA.

If the coach says that they look forward to seeing you at tryouts and good luck on that application and nomination you are not really being recruited.

If the coach says——I want you to forgo other college offers and come here to this SA and play for me—as a direct admit or at prep school followed by the SA —that is someone who has been recruited. And will receive a lot of help and assistance all along the process.

And I doubt in the history of SA sports recruiting anyone has received an offer like this , said yes, then was not admitted because of the lack of a nomination.

 

[NavyUMO]

I don't know all of the particulars but I know at the SAs there is an additional category of athletes that are considered "blue chip" and those are typically the ones for whom the Academy typically uses their discretionary appointments. They also tend to fall into sports such as football, basketball, and some of the more highly "visible" sports.

 

[USAFAparent27']

Our 27' cadet was a "Blue Chip" athlete and to some extent I feel this might have played a role in getting in. With that being said their application was completed before they were "blue chip" and met all the standard for anyone applying. 4.3 GPA, 32 on ACT, leadership position in HC, team captain on multiple sport, etc... So they were right there as many others are to be qualified for an appointment. But being "blue chip" can play a role in getting highly qualified candidates. Just my thoughts. USAFA is a D1 athletic school and they want to be competitive in the athletic space.

 

[A1Janitor]

But being "blue chip" can play a role in getting highly qualified candidates to the top of the list.

What do you mean by “top of the list?”

Does admissions appoint them over someone with a higher WCS/WPS on the same slate?

Or do they use other discretionary means to get them in?

 

[USAFAparent27']

What do you mean by “top of the list?”

Does admissions appoint them over someone with a higher WCS/WPS on the same slate?

Or do they use other discretionary means to get them in?

Poor choice of wording to say "top of the List" The highly qualified "blue chip" athlete in my opinion might be placed in a different groups. Not saying this gets them in. They still have to be a highly competitive candidate and can meet the academic rigors of USAFA and secure a nomination.

 

[justdoit19]

Recruited sports types that do not get a nomination on their own, and many or most will, a nomination can be found for them.

As we see often here on the board, often a student isn’t clear that they are being recruited.

We went through this. Didn’t know he was a ‘high level’ recruit. Assistant coach was who he worked with. Maybe someone could say ‘obviously he was recruited’ bc he had an official visit. But we were all green newbies to the recruiting game. They contacted our son, who didn’t have other D1 offers swarming about. So the recruiting process was not something that was clear. Nor did my son (we) know what we didn’t know, nor what assumptions/clarifications/questions to ask.

Son proceeded with his application normally. Recuritement didn’t matter as he secured 3 state noms (one principal) on his own merits. Plus an NROTC principal. So nothing further as far as ‘finding a nom’ for him was required.

My point, is that we really didn’t know or understand what was happening as far as recruitment. Looking back, and also our experience with younger son, who was a “low level recruit” he was a higher level obviously. But we didn’t know. So don’t ASSUME they will find you a nom. Apply for all of them. Work on getting your own.

I know you are a coach, and recruit parent, so this all makes sense to you. From our perspective, first time around, we had no idea what was going on. And combine it with the SA nuances, and it was clear as mud.

 

[flieger83]

What do you mean by “top of the list?”

Does admissions appoint them over someone with a higher WCS/WPS on the same slate?

Or do they use other discretionary means to get them in?

I'm not sure of the OPs wording...

What a "blue chip" identified athlete/candidate means to me as an ALO is this: IF this candidate is 3Q, they will be going to USAFA, either direct entry or to the prep school. "Blue Chip" is requested by the coach and granted by USAFA/RR. It can also be "removed" and I've seen that happen too.

Does a "blue chip" athlete move to the "head/top of the list?" In a manner of speaking, I suppose they do. I have never in my career seen a BC athlete/candidate that was 3Q "not" either gotten to the prep school or direct entry. It's the "Wonka Bar" golden ticket in a way. But...realize...BC is not unlimited...one coach I spoke with called it his "golden BB." He had VERY few he could use and he guarded them closely.

Steve
USAFA ALO

 

[Small Team Bacsi]

As we see often here on the board, often a student isn’t clear that they are being recruited.

We went through this. Didn’t know he was a ‘high level’ recruit. Assistant coach was who he worked with. Maybe someone could say ‘obviously he was recruited’ bc he had an official visit. But we were all green newbies to the recruiting game. They contacted our son, who didn’t have other D1 offers swarming about. So the recruiting process was not something that was clear. Nor did my son (we) know what we didn’t know, nor what assumptions/clarifications/questions to ask.

Son proceeded with his application normally. Recuritement didn’t matter as he secured 3 state noms (one principal) on his own merits. Plus an NROTC principal. So nothing further as far as ‘finding a nom’ for him was required.

My point, is that we really didn’t know or understand what was happening as far as recruitment. Looking back, and also our experience with younger son, who was a “low level recruit” he was a higher level obviously. But we didn’t know. So don’t ASSUME they will find you a nom. Apply for all of them. Work on getting your own.

I know you are a coach, and recruit parent, so this all makes sense to you. From our perspective, first time around, we had no idea what was going on. And combine it with the SA nuances, and it was clear as mud.

Believe me I agree with you. I may understand it better than some but it’s still confusing And a very stressful process . And a lot does come down to trusting the coach

Maybe the biggest thing that comes out of this discussion is to make sure the player and parent understand exactly what is being offered. Especially if they are being recruited by or considering other schools. And if in doubt call the coaching office and ask.



Maybe the player has such outstanding gpa and test scores etc the coach may not feel a need to use one of their limited blue chip slots. But if the coach is going to use one of those few slots on a kid they usually make that crystal clear.

 

[T-37IP]

The biggest "thing" to remember, you are NOT going to USAFA to play a sport, you are going to USAFA to be commissioned into the United States Air Force, your sport is a distant 3rd behind academics and leadership. That is easy to overlook but should be at the forefront of your decision-making process.

 

[coolfredw]

The biggest "thing" to remember, you are NOT going to USAFA to play a sport, you are going to USAFA to be commissioned into the United States Air Force, your sport is a distant 3rd behind academics and leadership. That is easy to overlook but should be at the forefront of your decision-making process.

You can go play at USAFA then afterwards play in the NFL, so its kind of a split pathway. I get what your saying though.

 

[NavyMom2027]

Our DD was recruited by USNA for her sport. She got an official visit, and I believe the coach used the term blue chip. The coach expedited DODMERB that normally would not have been triggered by USNA until DD's entire application was completed, which was helpful since we could get that out of the way early. DD was an overall strong candidate in terms of her academics and ECAs. The coach told her to apply for all MOC nomination sources and to try to get a nomination on her own, but that if she could not get one on her own, then USNA would find a nom for her; but USNA has a limited number of nominations available, so they prefer not to use them if you can get a nom on your own. The coach did not require DD to commit to USNA, and DD continued talking to other coaches. DD was primarily interested in USNA and USAFA, but while she had been communicating with the USAFA coach, USAFA was not officially recruiting her. DD got an LOA from USNA, conditional on her obtaining a nomination, and then got MOC nominations for both USNA and USAFA (she communicated to the MOC that she had an LOA from USNA). She then got appointments to USNA and USAFA, at which point the USAFA coach told her that she would be on the team. So DD got to see the process of being officially recruited by a SA versus getting an appointment on her own and then being offered a spot on the team. The USNA coach asked DD for her decision in early spring, and she ended up committing to USNA soon after.

 

[T-37IP]

You can go play at USAFA then afterwards play in the NFL, so its kind of a split pathway. I get what your saying though.

Almost zero chance (it has happened but so rare, it is effectively zero), and if the NFL is the focus, USAFA should not be in the mix. Commissioned officer should never be the "backup plan". Service Before Self is a Core Value.

 

[OldRetSWO]

Service Before Self is a Core Value.

Yet USAFA again has some 5th year cadets playing football. Just because the NCAA is allowing it does
not mean that the SERVICE ACADEMIES have to allow our Cadets/Mids to do it.
That pretty much spits in the face of service before self.

 

[T-37IP]

Yet USAFA again has some 5th year cadets playing football. Just because the NCAA is allowing it does
not mean that the SERVICE ACADEMIES have to allow our Cadets/Mids to do it.
That pretty much spits in the face of service before self.

Just wait until they open up the transfer portal, grrrr.....

 

[A1Janitor]

Just wait until they open up the transfer portal, grrrr.....

I can’t believe that would be an issue.

People transfer to get a better playing opportunity/chance at NFL. SAs have two in NFL right now that I am aware of.

And the whole service thing that @OldRetSWO mentioned. It wouldn’t be a good look.

 

[OldRetSWO]

I can’t believe that would be an issue.

People transfer to get a better playing opportunity/chance at NFL. SAs have two in NFL right now that I am aware of.

And the whole service thing that @OldRetSWO mentioned. It wouldn’t be a good look.

I believe that USAFA has 3 this year which I think is terrible but its a lot less than they had last year.

USNA has zero and has not allowed any "COVID 5 year plan" shenanigans.