Recruiting Questions:

a. Personal Statements

i. It's not where you are. It's who you are, and who you are
with that truly matters.

ii. Recruiting is not an exact science.

iii. It is more important to build a team than to collect talent.

iv. Not everyone is on a full scholarship.

b. Where do you recruit?

i. Non-traditional Hockey hotbeds

ii. "Follow the Cup" or "Cup Contenders"

iii. "For the love of the game"-Extra mile"

iv. Hockey coached out of them

v. Old Fashioned Hockey

c. What is better, Prep School, Junior Hockey?

i. This depends on a number of variables
1. Academic
• Structure v. Freedom
2. Maturity
• Physical, emotional, intellectual
3. Dollars
• Either situation may be more or less affordable
4. Familiarity
• You know someone in the school or organization
• Player, teacher, coach, etc.

d. What do you look for in a player?

i. Difference Makers
1. Hard to find, easy to spot
• Few & far between.
  However, even my wife can spot one.
ii. Diamonds in the rough
1. Usually been overlooked
iii. Dimensions
1. Speed, strength, size, stick skills, shot, etc.
2. One or more/Combination
3. Team building v. a collection of good players
iv.Intangibles
1. Character, Academics, $

e. What's wrong with me?

i. Keeping up with the Jones'
1. It is more important to find the right school for you, on your timetable, than to rush into a situation.
• Do your homework
• Roster, style of play, academic majors, size of school, demographics, location, etc

 

 

• everyone can play at some level in college
• 58 DI programs in country, approximately 400 spots available per year
• personal, individual, family decision…you are in control
• no one best way, no hard-and-fast formula
• prospects develop at different rates, and have different priorities
• Higgins, Hellemeyer, Wax
• stay at school if you suffered career-ending injury?
• proper fit from both athletic and academic perspectives

self-analysis: academic interests
• goals, skill level, work ethic
• success in most challenging possible courses
• honors (college-prep, not college level), AP, IB
• slate of courses corresponds to target colleges
• public or private?
• timetable:
• freshman year: class rank starts now!
• sophomore year: can be crucial time
• may require personal attention, i.e., tutor(s)
• time management is key
• take PSAT, as it correlates strongly with AP success
• SAT IIs to relieve crush of junior year
• makes sense to take test immediately following course
• (www.collegeboard.org)
• junior year: SAT prep
• kaplan.com, review.com, inspirica.com
• 10 Real SATs (College Board)
• Word Power: Essential Guide to Building Your Vocabulary (Kaplan)
• Inside the SAT and ACT 2003 Deluxe Software (Princeton Review)
• short study periods
• retake PSAT
• predicted SAT score in ballpark of target colleges?
• consider ACT
• senior year: don't slack off!

"Much more is told in four years…than in four hours on a Saturday morning."

athletics (hockey):
• ncaa.org
• freshman and sophomore years: can't write personal letter or send E-mail questionnaire can be provided
• junior year: write introductory letter (see attached) can call us, but we can't call you gather information. . .unofficial (no expenses-paid) visits:
  • "Have you seen me play?" (strengths and weaknesses?)
  • "What exactly is your recruiting picture going to be for 2005?"
  • "What role would you expect me to play on your team?"
  • "Do you plan on coaching here for the next five years?"
• senior year: five official (expenses-paid) visits
• every program has its own personality…what is best fit for me?

prep school versus junior hockey:
• prep school: structured, supportive setting
  broad range of experiences (balance); multiple sports
  living away from home can hasten maturation process
  good ratio of practices to games
  shorter, but more intense schedule
• junior hockey: more games (not always good); three prep seasons in one year
  much stronger hockey focus; more physical; much less expensive
  imagine taking year off hockey. . .keep mind sharp

"Play at highest possible level for program that best allows you to achieve your goals."

• team success vital

"Whatever you choose to do, do it well."

what recruiters look for:
• skill: do you make the players around you better?
• character: hard, medium, or soft?

tough to play against?

track record?

• passion/spirit: do you love hockey?

financial aid versus scholarship (tuition and fees, course-related books):
• finaid.com, savingforcollege.com
• financial aid: Ivy League, Holy Cross, Union
• scholarship: maximum of 18 per school, though not all have the maximum

summer hockey:
• train, not play, year-round
• be an athlete, not just a hockey player

References: "Are You Making The Grade?" by Michele Marchetti and Nkiru Asika Oluwasanimi, Smart Money, September 2002.

Related Links:
NCAA ClearingHouse