ZOOM & BEYOND: RECRUITING 101

Providing ZOOM Athletes Tips & Tools To Successfully Navigate the

Recruiting Landscape
 TONIGHT’S TOPICS
▪ Introduction ▪ How is an “Offer” earned?
– Communication
▪ What are Colleges Looking For ? – Self-Promotion
– Education – ZOOM’s Role
– Athletics
– Standards- Let’s Talk Facts Breakdown ▪ Know Thyself
– Know your wants/needs
▪ What IS an Athletic “Offer”? – Location: It Matters (to some)
– How is it Structured – Finances Matter
– Academics Matter – Make a List-Check it Twist
– Facts on Full Rides
▪ Homework Assignments
– Recruiting Profiles
– Begin Research
– Start your Lists
We Are Here to Help
 What Are Colleges After REALLY?

Academics Academics
Solid Grades
Challenging Classes

Test Scores
Prepare Early
The Free Resources Available
Work Ethic Test
& Attitude Ideal Scores
Athletics
Recruit Fast Times
Versatility Matters

Work Ethic & Attitude

Driven
Athletics
Coachable
 Academic Requirements

▪ To even be considered for admissions, all athletes must have 16 core

courses, including:

Social
English Math Science GPA
Science 2.3
4 Years 3 Years Two Years 2 Years unweighted
or BETTER

Must
Algebra 1 or
include one
higher
lab
Test Scores
Work Ethic & Attitude
Work ethic : It is more
than what you do at
practice and in a meet. It’s
how you approach your
sport before & after
practice which truly
defines an athlete’s work
ethic.
Recruiting Standards

• Bad News First- Those standards?!

WHEEWW 🤯🤯

• Good News- There is a program for

(most) every athlete! Remain patient,
keep your options open, and most
importantly KEEP WORKING!

• Now, remember this slide. We’ll talk

about it again shortly…..
What’s An Offer ANYWAY?!
• An ‘offer’ consists of a
program offering your
athlete a roster spot with
some financial incentive.

• Track is an
EQUIVALENCY SPORT!

• Coaches have a certain

dollar amount that can be
split among multiple
athletes in any proportion
they choose.
What’s an ‘Offer’ Anyways- continued

• Offer? Equivalency sport?!

What does this actually
mean?

• It means a full-ride
scholarship is rare in T&F!

• Remember that slide I

asked you all to remember?
What Goes Into An Offer?

Academic
Scholarships

Federal Aid

School
Scholarship

Outside
Scholarship
 Why Academics Matter

• Your athlete controls their

attractiveness to potential colleges.

• Better academics = More Interest

• High GPA’s and good SAT/ACT

scores will often provide more
money than athletic scholarships.

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

 Facts on Full Rides

• Full Ride Offers are not common in T&F

• Programs will divide scholarships up to make the most impact for the
program, by signing as many good to great athletes as possible.

• DON’T get caught up in how large an athletic scholarship is offered.

• DON’T get caught up in the details of the financial aid package: the
athletic scholarship and other scholarships or aid a school is handing
out.

• DO focus on the BOTTOM LINE: The final out of pocket expense for
your athlete’s education is the bottom line.
 How to Earn a Scholarship Offer

• Communication is KEY!

• Just SOME of the tools at your disposal:

✓ Email
✓ Phone Calls
✓ Clinics/Camps/Major Meets
✓ Social Media (COACHES use Twitter; KIDS
use Instagram)
Self Promotion & ZOOM’s Role
Self-Promotion Tips
▪ Athletes MUST be prepared to
market themselves!
▪ Coaches are looking for
dedicated, driven athletes.
Does your social media reflect
that?
▪ Race highlights, Workout Clips,
Meet Photos, etc.
▪ AVOID: Bad Grammar, Cursing,
Controversial Topics
ZOOM’S Role
▪ Our Role: To Provide support,
guidance and references along
the way.
▪ Often times, programs will
contact us for fact-check
discussion on an athlete
▪ Be honest with us & keep us in
the loop regarding your
recruitment
 Know Thyself- The Student

Is your What is What’s the

Is
DREAM my TRUE student
DISTANCE
School a bottom life on
a Factor?
FIT? line? campus?

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

Know Thyself- The Athlete

▪ What Level of Recruit are YOU? • DID YOU KNOW: Only 2% of HS

– Division I athletes receive athletic
scholarships.
– Division II
– Division III • The REASON: Student-athletes &
their families who may have their
– NAIA heart set on running for a DI
program and won’t consider other
programs.

• Smaller programs (non-TV schools)

often offer 50% MORE than
traditional powers!

COACH WENDELL’S #1 RECRUITING TIP:

Love the School that loves you BACK!
 Begin Your Homework NOW

Things to Consider Things to Do

✓ Academics ✓ Do Make a List of Interested
Colleges
✓ Financial Aid & Costs
✓ Visit School Websites & Explore
✓ Program: Are you a FIT?
✓ Jot Down Things of Note
✓ Student Life
✓ Complete Recruiting
✓ Campus Life & Safety Questionnaires
✓ Begin Updating Social Media
Accounts
Recruiting HW Assignment

▪ Complete the Recruiting Profiles found here: ZOOM Recruiting Questionnaire

▪ Parents & Athletes should work together to complete the profile- BE HONEST!
▪ Periodically, we will communicate recruiting notes, upcoming camps/Junior Day
Events of note, and other useful info.
▪ Begin exploring your college options: Big Future & Niche
▪ Recruiting Website Update- Check it Out!
▪ RECRUITING PROFILES ARE DUE by May 2nd !
 So Let’s Get To It

▪ Remember, this is a PARTNERSHIP that

requires equity! You have to put IN, in order
to get something OUT of this experience 💯

▪ Next Discussion- May 6

QUESTIONS?