Jason Black Head Coach
Brecksville Broadview Hts High School
6380 Mill Road Broadview Hts, OH 44147

RECRUITING GUIDELINES
If you think you may want to be a college athlete, below are some guidelines for each year of high school. Most high school football player's dream of being a Division I scholarship athlete, playing for Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame, etc. The reality is that most high school athletes will not be a DI athlete (about 1%) but there are 100's of opportunities to play college football including (NAIA, DIII, DII, DIAA, DIA) and I believe that most high school football players can play college football at one of these institutions if they have the desire and determination.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

FRESHMEN YEAR
This is the time to set the tone for your high school career. You will not have a second chance to start high school. Your grades are very important to your success. Many freshmen make a mistake by not working hard enough their first year of high school and end up with a low GPA that they spend the next three years trying to raise.

Take seven classes each semester.
Establish good study habits and time management habits right away.
Participate in multiple sports.
Get involved in a school club or activity besides sports. This will be very important when you are a senior, applying for scholarships and filling out college applications. Not to mention the fact that it helps make you a leader.
Train year round. Out-of-season athletes should lift 3x per week and in-season athletes should lift at least 2x per week.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SOPHOMORE YEAR
This is the season to build on what you started your freshmen year. Some things to consider in addition to building on your freshmen year:
Familiarize yourself with the different divisions of college football.
Pay attention to where the best athletes on your team attend.
Attend a summer camp at a school you think you like.
Take-on leadership responsibilities for your club or activity.
Develop your strength, speed, and agility to their fullest.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

JUNIOR YEAR:
Hopefully your academics are in good order!
Continue to take 7 courses per semester.
Continue to develop your athletic potential.
Help your team win.
Sit down with your coach and talk with him about your potential and where he sees you fitting as a college athlete.
After your junior season, if you are not already being recruited, create a highlight tape and a resume (with an action photo and a still photo). Send these to schools you may be interested in attending.
Attend junior days if you are invited.
Plan to attend camp at schools you are interested or that are interested in you. Understand that smaller schools (DIII-DIA) often attend bigger schools camps i.e. Ohio State and Michigan.
Make unofficial visits to schools you cannot attend camps at. Understand that most football programs go on vacation in July, so it is wise to visit in June so that you can visit with coaches to get a look at the football program.
Work with your coach on what you should be doing to attain your goal.
Focus on your team's success.
Keep track of the mail you receive and return all questionnaires. UNDERSTAND though that form mail does not make you a college recruit. It means you are in a database at that college. There are several different types of communication from college football coaches.

Form Letter: you are in a database, literally, 1000's of high school-to-be seniors receive the same letter from the same institution.

Hand written note/letter: shows true interest from a prospective college. 100's of to-be-seniors receive these notes. It means there is some genuine interest.

Phone Calls: Coaches are able to call you in your senior year and not before. Go to www.ncaa.org to become knowledgeable about recruiting rules. If you are getting called on the phone the school is interested in you.

Text messages and email count as written communication and can be done as often as a college coach chooses. Take advantage of this form of communication.

DON'T FORGET TO MAINTAIN YOUR GRADES.
Take the ACT in the spring of your junior year or at the first test date in June. DO NOT WAIT until football season to begin. If you think your 40 time is important, your test score is the academic equivalent.
Are you a DIVISION IA ATHLETE?
Have you been receiving hand written notes?
Have you been invited to senior only camp at a school?
Have you been asked to visit in the summer?
Is the recruiting coach emailing you? Text message?
Have you received an official offer? In writing?
If you answered no to any or all of these questions it is time look at other options besides division I

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SENIOR YEAR
Besides keeping up with your academics and helping your team reach its full potential, you should do the following.
Visit schools in the fall to see a game. You will need to make-up your Saturday workout though so communicate with your coach.
Keep a legal pad by the phone to record all phone calls that you receive.
Create a list of five questions to ask a coach that calls so when he asks you, "Do you have any questions?" you will have some.
Answer yes/no questions with "YES SIR or NO SIR."

ARE YOU WORKING OUT? "Yes Sir"

HOW ARE YOUR GRADES? "Good Sir, I have a 3.3 GPA."

HAVE YOU TAKEN THE TEST? "Yes sir, but I don't have my score yet."

Send out game film to schools you are interested in or that are interested in you. Do this after week 3 or 4 of the season. Send two games. If you are creating highlights, put those on the front of the film.

Coaches will only watch a whole game if they really like what they see.

Cut-ups are a good way to get their attention.

Send an updated resume with your film and keep your resume up to date.

If you still don't know if you are a Division I recruit yet, answer this question? Have any

Division I schools called me at home or come to see my coach at school?

The hardest thing about senior recruiting is realizing that you are not going to get that DIA scholarship. The sooner you recognize all the other opportunities you have and all the great schools and programs that are out there, the sooner you will find the right fit for you.

DIVISION I recruiting is a business and business can be ugly at times. It can be very rewarding for a small few and very frustrating for the masses.

FIND THE SCHOOL THAT BEST FITS YOUR NEEDS AND THAT YOU CAN SEE YOURSELF AT FOR 4-5 YEARS, WITH OR WITHOUT FOOTBALL.

Work with your counselor to begin college applications and FAFSA forms.
THIS IS YOUR FUTURE. DO NOT SIT BACK AND WAIT FOR IT TO ARRIVE.

MAKE GOALS. PLAN and PREPARE.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------