Yes, there is a little book the NCAA puts out for future recruits on the rules of recruiting and requirements for students.

http://www.ncaapublications.com/productdownloads/CBSA.pdf

Anonymous wrote:What does your son think about all this? Does he have a preference? My freshman son is in a similar situation regarding track/XC, but not yet willing to give up soccer and basketball. My feeling is this has to play itself out. Maybe I'm naïve, but seems like what he does or doesn't do freshman year shouldn't matter if he's really as good as the coaches think he is. Glad you asked this question because I'm interested to hear what others who've been down this road think.

Track recruiting is relatively easy as it's entirely based on times. Each school has a form on their website and you submit your times to the coach. Some schools post their minimum recruiting times by event. You can do club track/Junior Olympics (summer only) if you think it will improve times. But it's not really a recruiting tool. There are summer track camps but i don't think they are critical. Most track recruiting is based on Junior year times, especially for boys. Many sprinters do other sports in the fall, most distance runners do XC in the fall. Basketball may be tough if you are giving up indoor track (not all schools have indoor). It can work if he cross trains for track and can start the spring season at a high level.

What does your son think about all this? Does he have a preference? My freshman son is in a similar situation regarding track/XC, but not yet willing to give up soccer and basketball. My feeling is this has to play itself out. Maybe I'm naïve, but seems like what he does or doesn't do freshman year shouldn't matter if he's really as good as the coaches think he is. Glad you asked this question because I'm interested to hear what others who've been down this road think.

Anonymous wrote:OP,

If this is soccer, identify the D-1 summer camps where he wants to apply, and have him go. Don't worry, you'll learn as you go!

He's recruit material for all three?

I will do that. I think the coach picks the summer camps for LAX.

Up until recently I have been in denial that he was going to be recruitable. I sort of thought he would burn out or grow out of it or his peers will eventually exceed his ability once he was in more competitive leagues/situations. But he is still top of his peer group. So yes, for all 3 but I don't think that wrestling is going to be the one. He does not enjoy it as much as the other 2 though he is good. I secretly think he pins kids fast because he hates it so much and he wants it to end as fast. (But he likes it because he spends time with his dad and has lots of bonding time doing it.) It also makes him strong for the other 2.

OP,

If this is soccer, identify the D-1 summer camps where he wants to apply, and have him go. Don't worry, you'll learn as you go!

He's recruit material for all three?

Anonymous wrote:For D1 it's pretty unlikely to play 3 or even 2 sports in college. Most require a year round commitment. So you should pick one and focus on that.

Next you need to decide how important sports are, and wether you are aiming for an admissions bump or scholarships. My DC was recruit able but not by the level of college he wanted to attend based on his academics (with a couple of exceptions but not first choices). And scholarships weren't likely or important for us so recruiting dropped down in priority. You also need to be willing to commit to a college pretty early, which not all kids are willing to do.

I'd talk to the counselors at your school as a starting point.

I don't expect him to play all the sports in college. He loves sports and I suspect they will be a part of his life for a long time. I guess I did not know that I would really have to make this decision Freshman year and some Junior year parents are encouraging me to "start early". Start what? I don't want to seem clueless.

It seems like lacrosse starts the earliest and it is really hard to say lacrosse is the sport when we have not even played 1 year at the HS level.

I suspect wrestling will not be his college sport but it was his father's college sport so we don't want to drop it either or completely say no since it is just at the beginning of his 1st year at the HS level. (and he and his father spend tons of quality time together with this sport)

I don't know what is important right now because he is just a freshman. A scholarship would be nice but not going to drive our decision. I don't really care as much about the "bump" as most lacrosse family's do, I just want him to go to a college that he will be successful (not looking for top Ivy or anything like that).

A junior year parent gave me a write up on their child that looks like a resume and told me to start there. So I create this resume thing and give it to whom?

We only did sports because he loved it and now he looks at me like... do you think I can play in college? I think, ummm, your coaches think so . I feel it is my responsibility to handle this but have no clue where to start. I feel like I am going to be one of the junior year parents saying I should have started this process earlier.

For D1 it's pretty unlikely to play 3 or even 2 sports in college. Most require a year round commitment. So you should pick one and focus on that.

Next you need to decide how important sports are, and wether you are aiming for an admissions bump or scholarships. My DC was recruit able but not by the level of college he wanted to attend based on his academics (with a couple of exceptions but not first choices). And scholarships weren't likely or important for us so recruiting dropped down in priority. You also need to be willing to commit to a college pretty early, which not all kids are willing to do.

I'd talk to the counselors at your school as a starting point.

Anonymous wrote:For soccer, club is much more important than high school. If your club coach isn't talking to you about this, he likely doesn't view D1 as likely. In terms of year, junior is probably the most important for soccer.

Thanks. His club coach is talking about recruiting but it is so casual. Like when he is recruited, blah, blah, blah. This is a good tournament/league/etc so when they (more than one kid on the team) get recruited, etc. But it is so foreign to me. Clubs also seem to be in such flux right now with all the changes to the academy that I feel something could happen and all of a sudden the club does not have the resources for the recruiting.

For soccer, club is much more important than high school. If your club coach isn't talking to you about this, he likely doesn't view D1 as likely. In terms of year, junior is probably the most important for soccer.

Is there a guide for dummies because I am feeling like one.

For lacrosse, I guess I am supposed to sign him up for rising sophmore camps. Not that I really understand which ones. I think the coach is going to "recommend" him for these camps. The coach said don't worry about it, I have it covered but I don't know what that means. He signs him up, then I receive an invitation and then I pay?

It seems like lacrosse happens sophomore year.

For the soccer and wrestling, there are tournaments that I guess coaches attend. What year is important for these 2 sports. Do I have the club handle this stuff or his HS coach or do I have to do this.

His dad seems to understand the wrestling part but we are separated (amicably) but I am not sure he is going to continue with wrestling other than because it is time spent with this dad.

Sorry, the stomach flu hit my little one at 10:30 last night, I am tired.

Yes, recruiting ages, seasons, rules, etc vary by sport. Each has it's own bylaws on the NCAA.org website detailing the rules.

Does it matter which sport? Are the rules different for each sport?

Soccer, wrestling, lacrosse

What sport? Very different cultures between football, basketball, soccer, etc. the NCAA has a parent guide I believe.

Apparently my son has a high probability of being recruited by a Division 1 college. This was told to me by his coach, he said it in a matter of fact way, like I knew this. I was not completely taken by surprise but he is getting closer to actually being old enough to be recruited and it is totally foreign and confusing to me.

Is there a book you can recommend that I can read so I can understand the lingo, process, etc.

Thanks for any help.