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Preparing for College Athletics
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Every year, several Shorewood students go on to be college athletes. Our students participate in NCAA Divisions 1, 2, and 3, and in a wide variety of varsity sports. Many student athletes also choose to pursue club or intramural sports in college either because those teams are more appropriate for their level, or because they do not want the time commitment required by college varsity sports.
For an overview of the eligibility process view the presentation from an October 2020 NCAA Presentation: Navigating Initial Eligibility During Covid-19
A Few Tips for Students Aspiring to College Athletics
- Be both ambitious and realistic. See the chart below from the NCAA. Very few high school athletes go on to play college varsity sports, both because of the athletic competition and the academic requirements.
- Treat this like a job search. Develop a cover letter and resume focused on your sport, including statistics of performance and contact info for current coach.
- Contact college coaches by name, not a general "To whom it may concern" approach.
- Research the colleges athletic and academic requirements to make sure you can meet them. Communicate both academic and athletic standing to coaches.
- Put together a short highlights video of performances and a statistics.
- Start sophomore or junior year.
- Visit the college and request a visit with the coach. See if you can talk to current athletes at the college. Write a note afterwards thanking the coach for his or her time.
- Find out about summer programs that might be available at different colleges.
- Follow through periodically with phone calls or emails or updates on performance to coaches.
- Most of all: the student should handle the search and communications. The parent needs to stay in the background when contacting or interviewing with coaches.
Percent of High School Athletes Going on to College and Pro Athletics

scroll down for college athletics resources
Resources
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Get in the Game
An excellent starting point for families, this guide is produced by NACAC, the National Guide for College Admissions Counselors.
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NCAA Eligibility Quick Reference Guide
Use to look up the course, GPA, and test score requirements for each NCAA Division.
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NCAA Guide for the College Bound Athlete
An NCAA-produced guide with grade-by-grade steps and things to consider. Academic requirements for core courses and test scores are particular and must be heeded.
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Guide to Playing NAIA Sports
Some colleges participate in the NAIA league rather than the NCAA. Here's a guide to those colleges and the NAIA.
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NAIA.org
NAIA specializes in small college athletics. Find out about the 250 colleges, eligibility requirements, and much more.
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College Recruiting Parent Zone Facebook Group
Hosted by blogger and authority on college athletics recruiting Michelle Kretzschmer.
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Article: Consider Ten Basic Questions When Applying as a Student Athlete
By Willard Dix, Forbes Contributor and nationally known College Admissions Expert. "My short advice is that athletes and parents should take great care when researching and applying to institutions if playing a sport is part of the plan for college." The article contains resources to help you proceed deliberately in your research.
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NCAA Future Student Athlete
NCAA page provides an introduction to the system and steps.
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Want to Play College Sports?
Learn about the NCAA Divisions, recruiting, and much more.