How To: Create a Winning Student-Athlete Profile

Your student-athlete profile is a great tool for getting your name out to college coaches. Because if they don’t know you, how can they recruit you, right?

Building a student-athlete profile is one of the first steps in the recruiting process, and it is essential that all student-athletes interested in playing at the next level have one. So to make this important step more user-friendly, we’ve designed a highly functional dashboard where you’ll be able to update your profile, upload photos, order student-athlete cards and more…We call it “My Locker Room.”

With My Locker Room, you’ll be able to easily create, edit and update your profile. So, by section, here are our tips for putting together a winning profile:

• Profile Picture: Your profile picture is the first thing college coaches will see when viewing your profile. Make sure it is a good one, where your face is clearly visible, like in a headshot. Next to your picture will be important initial information for college coaches, such as your sport, position and graduating class. You’ll also be able to add a hyperlink to your high school’s home page and list NCAA Eligibility Center ID Number.
• Photo Album: You’ll be able to upload up to five photos of yourself in action. The best pictures to include are ones of you competing or making a great play. Others could be practice pictures, pictures improving and building your strength in the weight room, pictures of you serving your community during a fundraiser or an event. It’s your opportunity to show coaches who you are.
• Academic Information: Out of all the section of your profile, this is the tab that will be viewed the most. Your strength, size and speed won’t matter if you don’t have the grades. There is nothing a coaches loves more than a student-athlete who makes school a priority as well. When it comes down to choosing between two student-athletes with the same athletic ability, the one with the grades always gets the scholarship.
• Personal Information: This tab gives college coaches a chance to get to know a little more about you outside of school and sports. It’s a great chance to share something coaches wouldn’t know, like extra-curricular activities or volunteer work.
• Student-Athlete Interview: To give college coaches a better insight into you and your goals, we’ve included the Student-Athlete Interview tab. Coaches love student-athletes that are driven and goal-oriented. Be sure to answer each of these five important questions thoroughly. Really take time in answering each of these questions with complete and detailed responses. And, of course, be sure to double-check your spelling and grammar. Here’s a great example: What is one of your classroom goals? Poor answer: Make straight A’s. Good answer: I am taking a lot of difficult classes this semester, but with hard work and determination, my goal is to make straight A’s!
• References: The References tab will give you the opportunity to highlight what others have to say about you, and it’s another great way for college coaches to learn more about you. You’ll have the ability to add up to three references, which can be changed or updated at any time. Reach out to your head coach, teacher, or someone in the community who knows you outside of sports who can provide a character reference. Although this section is optional, it’s another way to stand out to college coaches.
• Sport Specific Skills Tape: Having a Sport Specific Skills Tape is essential for all student-athletes looking to play at the next level. With a Sport Specific Skills Tape, you’ll have validated measurables, which will give college coaches an accurate method to evaluate you and your ability. Plus, it’ll give a college coach a chance to see you in action for themselves. A Sport Specific Skills Tape is filmed at one of our trusted training facilities located in the U.S. and Europe. You will be put through a series of sport specific testing and drills, using fully automatic timing devices (lasers) to ensure your times are accurate. We will capture your Sport Specific Skills Tape with high-definition cameras and have access to other pro-style amenities to make sure you have first class film to send off to college coaches.
• Embedded Video: The embedded video feature is a tool allowing you to showcase a highlight reel, game film or even a personal workout. College coaches watch film to rank and recruit student-athletes, and, in order to have a complete profile, it is strongly recommended that one be included.

To learn more about My Locker Room, click here.

How To: Prepare for the Recruitment Process – The Top 5 Things You Must Know

Whether you’re new to the recruitment process, or you’ve already begun, as you probably already know, the recruitment process is a long one. And before all of the many important steps you’ll take and decisions you’ll make, one of the biggest keys to success is in your approach and preparation.

So, here are our top 5 tips on how to prepare for recruitment success:

1. Be pro-active & Be committed. This one tops the list because this mentality is simply a must. The road to getting recruited is long, and you’ll have to work hard all throughout the journey. And, ultimately, it’s up to you to actively contact and connect with college coaches, get their attention and gain exposure.  So, no matter where you are in the process, be sure to stay committed from start to finish.
2. Start early, Start now. This goes hand in hand with being pro-active. Although college visits typically won’t begin until your junior year, there are still lots of steps to take in the years beforehand. It’s never too early to start working towards your dreams. In fact, several college athletes get ahead by beginning as early as junior high. In the end, you only go through the process once, so use any time left to your advantage and make the most out of it.
3. Do your research & Learn the rules of the game. The NCAA enforces several rules and regulations that you must follow to become and remain eligible. Be sure to study up!
4. Continue your development on the field. Learn where your strengths and weaknesses lie, then use that knowledge to improve and build on your skills and abilities. Another great way to build your skills is by going to camps and combines. By going, you’ll get evaluated and receive direct coaching from the staff. Plus, they’ll also be great resources for helping you understand your strengths and weaknesses, and you’ll know what areas you need to  work on when you head back home.
5. Focus on the student-side of being a student-athlete. It’s critical to work just as hard off the field as you do on it. Develop good study habits, time management and organizational skills as early as possible. College-bound student-athletes must be academically certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center to compete for Division I and II programs. However, college and university admissions requirements are usually more restrictive. It’s important to do your best all throughout high school, and it’s never too late to improve your grades. Plus, earning a high GPA and scoring well on the SAT/ACT will open doors to more colleges and to academic scholarships too. Your diligence, dedication and determination will show through too.

So, to put it simply, by taking a pro-active approach by starting early, doing your research and working to better yourself as both a student and as an athlete, you’ve learned the most important keys to recruitment prep and success.

Get started today with The Athlete Watch. And for more information, feel free to call us at 972.439.5829 or email us at info@theathletewatch.com.

You need all A’s for an Athletic Scholarship:

✓ Academics – Grades to get into college and your desire to earn a degree.
✓ Athletic ability – Necessary skills along with your hard work.
✓ Ability to market yourself – Get your name in front of college coaches.