1. education
2. graduate school
3. college

How To Market Your
Student Athlete For
Athletic Scholarships
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
2
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Copyright 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
By: Student Athletic Center
All Rights Reserved
No part of this publication may be used or reproduced in any manner
whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief
quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
For More Information Contact:
Student Athletic Center
Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
502-721-8646
[email protected]
This publication is general in nature and is not intended to give legal, accounting or investment advice. Before
incorporating any ideas in this publication the reader should consult with their financial advisor or tax professional
Some of the information provide in this publication is from IRS and NCAA
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
3
Introduction
7
Overview
9
C H A P T E R 1
What Is It Like Playing College Athletic
Worksheets
Answer Keys
13
17
19
C H A P T E R 2
Understanding The College Coach
Questions To Ask The College Coach
Worksheets
Answer Keys
20
23
25
28
C H A P T E R 3
Understanding Financial Aid
College Financial Aid
Total Cost Of Attending
Federal Methodology
Financial Aid Formula
Sources Of Financial Aid
Worksheets
Answer Keys
29
31
32
33
33
34
37
42
C H A P T E R 4
Marketing The Student Athlete
Important Questions To Answer
Five Basic Steps Of Marketing
Worksheets
Answer Keys
C H A P T E R
43
44
46
48
50
C H A P T E R 6
National Letter of Intent
Thing To Know Before Signing
Penalties
Worksheets
Answer Keys
77
78
79
82
86
C H A P T E R 7
Clearinghouse Explained
GPA, SAT, ACT Scores
Divisions I, II, & III Eligibility
Eligibility for Home Schoolers
Difference Between Divisions
Amateurism Rules
Scholarships by Divisions
Worksheets
Answer Keys
87
90
91
92
93
94
95
97
102
C H A P T E R 8
Understanding Athletic Scholarships
Publication 970
Qualified Expenses
1098-T
103
104
105
106
C H A P T E R
Game Plan B
Case Study
109
110
9
A B O U T TH E A U TH OR
Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
117
5
Six-Step Marketing Process
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
Step 6
Worksheets
Answer Keys
Student Athletic Center
51
53
57
60
63
65
67
69
75
July 9, 2011
4
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
INTRODUCTION
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
5
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Student-athletes and their families must get educated in the art of marketing themselves to
colleges. This guidebook will help you in your athletic marketing process.
Student-Athletes Must Take A Proactive Role In
The Marketing Process
Many parents today foster the belief that their child is good enough to play at the
college level and that some college coach will likely recruit their athlete. Unfortunately,
these assumptions are not realistic. Many colleges’ recruiting budgets continue to be
sparse.
Therefore, since recruiting budgets are insufficient at many colleges today,
student-athletes with less athletic skill than another may receive more interest from
colleges simply because he or she have taken a proactive role of marketing their
athletic skills. The real key to the marketing success is to understand the fact that
many student-athletes that have the potential of playing at the next level never get
noticed by college coaches. If a student-athlete takes the wait and see philosophy, the
likelihood of being recruited is very slim.
According to many reports, only 10% of today’s student-athletes are on a full-ride
scholarship. If these statistics are correct, the students that are not blue-chip
prospects MUST be “proactive” and market themselves to college coaches if they
ever hope to play at the next level. Waiting around to receive letters and calls from
college coaches is not a viable method for getting an athletic scholarship.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
6
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Most student-athletes are “reactive” or take the wait and see philosophy. But in
order to increase the chances of being recruited by college coaches, the
student-athlete must take a “proactive” role in the marketing process.
Furthermore, athletes (and parents) must realize that locating colleges that are a
good fit for the student athletically, academically, financially, and socially is much
more important than getting an athletic scholarship. If any of these 4 factors are out of
balance, a student-athlete may have a very difficult time in college.
The athlete must learn how to evaluate and select the proper program and college,
including coaching staff, team, social atmosphere of the school, playing opportunity,
team travel, and academic programs.
Many college-bound student-athletes have no idea how to go about marketing
themselves for an athletic scholarship. The information in this publication could
increase the odds of getting an athletic scholarship dramatically.
Following the recommendations in this publication will increase your odds of being
noticed by college coaches of which the student-athlete is interested in playing for.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
7
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
How Did It All Begin
Colleges started marketing student-athlete as early as 1880 and the game of football
became the most popular sport on campus. In the early years, student-athletes were
not offered athletic scholarships.
Athletes that participated in a sport were give employment on campus or were offered
jobs from local business owners. Many times the college or community leaders would
offer free lodging, meals, and other gifts to entice or attract talented student-athletes
to participate in their specialized sport.
Many times alumni and fraternities gave student-athletes other financial incentives to
lure the athlete to their college. If money was offered to the student-athlete by an
alumni or other influential member of the college or community, it was normally not
publicized and the agreement was between the student-athlete and the source giving
the money.
With football being the most popular sport on campus, colleges started to construct
stadiums. These facilities provided a comfortable setting so the regular student body
and the local community could watch the game in a relaxed surrounding. As the
game of football grew in popularity, bigger stadiums were required to house the larger
audiences.
Of course, this put a lot of financial pressure on colleges due to the cost of these new
facilities. In order to justify the cost, colleges had to win football games on a regular
basis. Winning football teams help many colleges in recruiting a larger student body
and it also provided the college with additional revenue.
As football grew in recognition, students and the general community started to
demand other types of sport activities, such as basketball, track and field and
baseball. With other sports growing in popularity it put the colleges into a position of
recruiting other high quality athletes to meet the demands. With more demand for
other college sports the modern age of athletic recruiting was born.
As college sports continued to grow, the old way of compensating the student-athlete
became unacceptable. Therefore, the National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA) in 1952 suggested using athletic scholarship to entice student-athlete to
compete in college athletics.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
8
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
This type of compensation was adapted and the NCAA had the responsibility of
establishing recruiting rules and academic standards. The rules that were
established, governed the amount of compensation the student-athlete could receive
and what type of compensation could be given.
Beside the NCAA, there are several other athletic associations (NAIA, NCCAA, and
NJCAA) that have their own rules governing the way compensation is awarded to
student-athletes. These other athletic associations my have different academic
qualification and different recruiting rules.
Today there are more than 1.2 billion dollars of athletic scholarships given out by
colleges and universities to men and women that participate in intercollegiate athletic.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
9
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Marketing The Student-Athlete
An Overview Of What You Will Learn
Student-athletes and their families must get educated in the art of
marketing the student-athlete in order to receive an athletic scholarship. Before
the student-athlete can receive an athletic scholarship they first need to
be noticed by the college coach.
What You Will Learn In This Marketing Guide
The intent of this marketing guide is to give the family a road map on how to market
their student-athlete for athlete scholarships. Many athletes will wait to their senior
year in high school to do any type of marketing or approaching college coaches. This
happens mostly with student-athletes that are not regarded as Blue-Chip prospects.
Waiting the last minute in marketing the student-athlete’s skills will normally put the
student at a disadvantage in getting noticed by college coaches and receiving an
athletic scholarship.
According to a survey of 300 coaches, 30% of college coaches started tracking
student-athlete as early as the freshman year in high school, 45% started tracking
student-athletes in the sophomore year, and 25% started the tracking process in the
junior year. Of the 300 coaches, none of them started tracking student-athletes in
the senior year of high school.
Based on the above survey, families must learn how to put the student-athlete into a
position so the college coaches know who they are and hopefully take notice of the
athletic ability of the student-athlete.
This marketing guide is broken down into 9 chapters. Each chapter will educate the
family on important aspect of the different stages of the marketing process. We will
give you information on other items that will help you pay for college expenses, just in
case your student-athlete does not receive a full athletic scholarship.
On the next few pages, you will find a brief overview of each chapter and what you will
learn. At the end of chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 you will find worksheets with
questions that you should answer in order to make sure you understood what you have
learned. At the end of the workbook sections, you will find the answers to the
questions.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
10
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Chapter 1 - Questions The Student-Athlete Must Address Before They Decide To
Play Intercollegiate Athletic - What Is It Like To Play College Athletics
Out of all the chapters in this publication, this chapter is probably the most important.
Many student-athletes only want to attend college in order to play intercollegiate sports
and hopefully go on to play professionally. Few students give much thought on what it
is like to play college athletics and very few do not understand what it take in Time and
Effort in order to be successful athletically as well as academically. Playing college
sports is a whole different world than playing high school sports. This chapter will give
the parents and student-athlete an inside view on what it will take to succeed in college
while playing intercollegiate sports.
Chapter 2 - Understanding The College Coach
Getting the attention of the college coach is utmost importance. If the college coach
does not know about the student-athlete, they cannot recruit the student. This chapter
will give you information on how most college coaches think and how they conduct the
recruiting process. By understanding the college coach’s responsibilities and how they
recruit student-athletes will give you an advantage in getting an athletic scholarship.
By knowing this information, it will help you position your student in the best possible
position to get the coaches attention.
Chapter 3 - Understanding The Financial Aid System
According to many reports, only 10% of all student-athletes that are on scholarships
receive a full athletic award and 90% are on a partial scholarship. Most of the full
scholarships are given to athletes that are playing Revenue Sports. Revenue sports
are normally football and basketball. Most student-athletes that are playing
Non-Revenue Sports begin their athletic participation on a partial or no scholarship at
all. Non-revenue sports could include, softball, track, cross country, volleyball,
baseball, hockey, swimming, golf, field hockey, etc. However, if your student is a high
quality athlete they could receive a full athletic scholarship while playing a non-revenue
sport.
Prior to 1986, full athletic scholarships were guaranteed for four-years. However, at
the present time, any athletic scholarship (full or partial) are given to student-athletes
on a year-to-year basis. What this means is, just because the student-athlete receives
a scholarship at the beginning of their college career, does not mean they will receive
the scholarship throughout their college stay.
With this being understood, it is important to know what other financial support the
student-athlete could qualify for. This chapter will give you some basic knowledge on
other financial resources that are available through the financial aid system and will
give you an idea whether you will qualify for this aid.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
11
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Chapter 4 - Marketing The Student-Athlete - The Beginning
Normally in any planning process, there are certain steps that need to be
accomplished in order to reach your ultimate goal. This chapter will outline the five
basic steps of marketing your student athlete. These steps will be covered in more
detail in chapter 5 (The Six-Step Marketing Process).
Chapter 5 - The Six Step Marketing Process
Before a college coach can recruit the student-athlete, they need to know who the
athlete is and some information on the athletic ability of the student-athlete. This
chapter will give you a simple six-step process to get the needed information to the
college coaches that the student-athlete is interested in playing for. The chapter will
cover the importance of selecting the right colleges. It will contain samples letters, bio,
and a simple tracking system to keep organized during the marketing process. The
chapter will show the student-athlete how to keep college coaches up-to-date on their
athletic and academic progress while in high school. Below is an outline of each step
that will be covered:
��
��
��
��
��
��
Step One - Picking the right colleges to contact
Step Two - How to write a great cover letter
Step Three - How to assemble the student-athlete’s bio
Step Four - The importance of the athletic video
Step Five - How to stay organized and track of all communications
Step Six - The importance of keep the lines of communication open and
keeping the college coaches up-to-date on the student-athlete’s academic
and athletic progress while in high school
Chapter 6 - Signing The National Letter Of Intent
Many parents and student-athletes think that they must sign the National Letter of
Intent in order to play intercollegiate athletics. However, signing this legal contract is
totally voluntary. By signing a National Letter of Intent, a prospective student-athlete
agrees to attend the designated college or university for one academic year.
Sometimes it is not to the advantage of the student-athlete to sign this document. This
chapter will give you some important information in regards to signing or not signing
this legal contract.
Chapter 7 - NCAA Clearing House
If the student athlete is interested in playing college sports at the NCAA Division I or
Division II level, they must submit information to the NCAA Clearinghouse. This
chapter will outline what the student-athlete needs to do. If the student-athlete only
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
12
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
is interested in playing at the Division III or NAIA, registering with the NCAA Clearing
House is not necessary.
Chapter 8 - Understanding How Athletic Scholarships Work
Most parents and student-athletes feel athletic scholarships are always tax-free and
normally high schools and colleges define athletic scholarships as merit based aid.
The truth is there are two types of athletic scholarships (1) Qualified Athletic
Scholarships and (2) Nonqualified Athletic Scholarships. This chapter will tell you the
difference between the two and by knowing the difference could put an additional
$9,600 of additional dollars in the families budget that can be used to pay for college
expenses.
Chapter 9 - How To Pay For A College Education If Your Student-Athlete Does
Not Get A Full Athletic Scholarship
Any successful coach enters competition with more than one game plan. Therefore,
the family of a student-athlete should also have a GAME PLAN B as a backup. In this
chapter, parents and student-athletes will learn how to pay the remaining cost of a
college education if the athlete does not receive a full athletic scholarship. Game Plan
B is very important if the student-athlete were to lose their scholarship due to injury,
fails academically, quits playing intercollegiate athletics, or only gets a partial
offering. This chapter will show you have to offset most, if not all, of the educational
costs.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
13
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Chapter 1
Questions The Student-Athlete Must
Address Before They Decide To Play
Intercollegiate Athletic - What Is It Like
Playing College Athletics
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
14
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
What Is it Like To Play College Athletics
Many student-athletes only want to attend college in order to play intercollegiate sports
and hopefully go on to play professionally. Few students give much thought on what it
is like to play college athletics and very few do not understand what it take in Time and
Effort in order to be successful athletically as well as academically. Playing college
sports is a whole different world than playing high school sports. Before the student
decides to play college athletics, they need to understand what to expect and
be informed on what it takes to be successful.
The Glory Days Of High School
Most student-athletes that are successful athletes in high school are accustom to being
one of the stars of the team and they expect to compete in every game and play every
minute of competition. Star athletes are accustom to seeing their name in the paper
and receiving admirations from their fellow students and adults within their community.
Many successful high school athletes are accustomed to getting special treatment from
their coaches, teachers, and in most cases full support from their parents. The
successful high school athlete is normally recognized almost everywhere they go
within a 50 or 75 mile radius of their hometown. Being a successful athlete in high
school brings on a aura of a celebrity.
Most high school athletes do not concentrate on one sport while in high school. Many
play multiple sports. Participating in sports while in high school is voluntary and if the
athlete elects not to play, there is no financial lose to the student or parents.
When college coaches are recruiting a high school athlete, the athlete and their
parents will have a feeling of importance due to the accolades given by the college
coaches. Rarely will the student-athlete be told their weakness or faults. Almost all
the communication between the athlete and the college coaches will be positive.
New Environment Could Cause Problems - What Is It Like To Play College Sports
If the successful student-athlete is lucky enough to play intercollegiate athletes, they
will find a new world of excitement and possibly disappointment. Anyone who has
played college athletics will tell you, playing college sports is totally different than play
high school athletics. I am not talking about how the game or college event is played, I
am talking about the atmosphere that the athlete will be exposed to and the
competition they will be competing with and against.
Unless the student-athlete recognizes the difference between high school and college
athletics, the athlete could experience major problems.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
15
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Once the student-athlete has made the decision to play college athletics and been
offered an opportunity to play for a college, the student will find a whole new world of
unknowns. Let’s look at a few items the student-athlete will experience that are
different from what they are accustom to while in high school.
Living Atmosphere - most student-athletes will experience living away from home for
the first time. Most students have never shared a room with another person (other
than their brother or sister). The student-athlete should understand how to handle a
roommate that has a different lifestyle than they do and they need to know what to do if
problems occur with their living arrangements.
The student will not have Mom available to make sure they keep their room clean,
what to eat and when. The athlete will not have someone advising them on whom to
associate with and during off-seasons, what time to be back at the dorm. Not
addressing these concerns could cause major problems for the athlete.
Organizational Skills - if the student-athlete has not developed good organizational
skills, they may have difficulty managing their time. While attending college they will
not have anyone to remind them about completing their homework or assignments in
advance or before going to sleep. The student-athlete will be responsible in getting
themselves up every morning so they will not be late to their classes. They will not
have anyone hanging over their shoulder encouraging them to seek help if they do not
understand a classroom assignment.
Competition - while in high school, most successful athletes were the star of the team.
When in college, the student-athlete will find they will be competing with and against
athletes that are just as talented, many are going to be stronger, faster, more mature,
and many will have more experience.
If the student-athlete experience stronger competition than they expected, it could
cause the student-athlete to lose their confidence and cause the athlete to question
their ability to compete. Many athletes have difficulty dealing with this new
environment and many become depressed.
Normally athletes that are playing college athletics will play one sport and they either
train or play year round. Many athletes that play college sports are getting paid
(scholarships) to perform. If the athlete does not perform up to the coach’s
expectations the financial support, (scholarship) could end.
When this happens, it could have a direct affect on their academics and athletic
success. Most successful college coaches understand what new athletes will be
facing and will encourage the student to stay focused. However, it is very different
from the attention they are accustomed to when they were playing for their high school
or summer league coach.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
16
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Academics - Many student-athletes will find attending classes while in college is
much different from attending classes while in high school. While attending high
school, the student has a structured routine, attending one class after the other. The
student-athlete normally is very familiar with their teachers and it is normally very easy
to setup conferences with the instructor if academic problems occur. The teachers will
also require the parents of the athlete to be involved if problems occur as well.
While in college, many athletic departments will provide an academic advisor for the
athlete. These advisors can assist the student in class selection and many times make
recommendations on which professors to take classes from. The class schedule could
vary from day-to-day. For example: The student-athlete could have three classes on
Monday, Wednesday and Thursday and two classes on Tuesday and Friday. If they
are taking a class that requires a lab, they could attend the lab on Wednesdays or
what other day it is available.
Depending on the size of the college, the student-athlete could find the availability of
the professor could be limited and if a meeting is required, the student may only have
the professor’s assistant to talk to or a limited time to talk to the professor. Sometimes
the class size could contain hundreds of students in which the personal attention would
be very limited.
In order to succeed academically the student-athlete will need to organize their time in
order to balance class attendance and athletic participation. Sometimes the student
may find that a professor may not sympathize with the student-athlete, because of the
time that it takes to play intercollegiate athletics and feel academics should take
priority.
During the season, many student-athletes will miss some of their classroom instruction
due to sport travel. Normally when this occurs, the athletic department could provide
tutoring assistance or could arrange a special class that the athlete must attend to
make sure they do not fall behind on their academics.
The student-athlete MUST recognize, they must succeed academically in order to
participate athletically. The college coach does not set the academic standards, they
are set by NCAA laws and regulations. This is the reason we say, “In order to play
intercollegiate athletic, the student-athlete must succeed academically FIRST.”
Enter every activity without giving mental recognition to the possibility of
failing. Concentrate on your academics first and athletics second. Do not focus
on your weaknesses, focus on your powers instead of your problems.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
17
“Everyone has limits on
the time they can devote
to exercise, and
cross training simply
gives you the best return
on your investment
balanced fitness with
minimum injury risk and
maximum fun.”
1. Most high school athletes do not know what it
takes in
and
in order
to be successful athletically as well as
academically.
A Whole New
Atmosphere
Author
Paula Newby-Fraser
2. Anyone who has played college athletics will
tell you, playing college sports is identical to
playing high school athletics.
“Even if you are on the
right track, you will get
run over if you just sit
there.”
Author
Will Rogers
“Twenty years from now
you will be more
disappointed by the things
you didn't do than by the
ones you did do. So throw
off the bowlines. Sail away
from the safe harbor. Catch
the trade winds in your
sails. Explore. Dream.
Discover.”
Author
Mark Twain
Student Athletic Center
True
False
3. Academic and athletic organization skills are
secondary to the athletic ability of the studentathlete when it comes to their success
academically and athletically.
True
False
4. When in college, the student-athlete will find
they will be competing with and against
athletes that are just as talented, many are
going to be stronger, faster, more mature, and
many will have more experience.
True
False
July 9, 2011
18
“It is time to break through
the barriers that have held
you back and held you
down for such a long time.
It is time to reach out and
indelibly etch your place in
history.”
Author
Greg Hickman
5. In order to succeed academically the
student-athlete will need to organize
in order to balance class attendance and
athletic participation.
Academics
Atmosphere
6. Many student-athletes will find attending
classes while in college is not much different
from attending classes while in high school.
“It's always too soon to
quit.”
True
False
Author
Norman Vincent Peale
7. During the season the athletic department
could provide tutoring assistance or could
arrange a special class that the athlete must
attend to make sure they do not fall behind on
their academics.
True
“It's the lack of faith that
makes people afraid of
meeting challenges, and I
believe in myself.”
Author
Mohammad Ali
8. Many athletes that play college sports are
getting paid (scholarships) to perform. If the
athlete does not perform up to the coach’s
expectations the financial support,
(scholarship) will not end because the athletic
scholarship is guaranteed for four-years.
True
Student Athletic Center
False
False
July 9, 2011
19
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Answer Key For What Is It Like
Playing College Athletics
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Time and Effort
False
False
True
Their Time
False
True
False
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
20
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Chapter 2
Understanding The
College Coach
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
21
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Understanding The College Coach
The first thing a student-athlete must understand about the college coach is they are
paid to perform and produce a successful athletic program. It does not matter whether
the coach coaches football, basketball or field hockey, they are hired to coach a
successful team. They are evaluated by college administrator, athletic directors,
college president, and sometime athletic board of directors on their job performance.
Their win-loss record determines their salary, bonuses and job. They get pressure from
the college, students, media, as well as alumni and athletic booster clubs if they do not
perform. If they do not produce, they will not have a job very long. This is very
different from the high school coach. If a high school coach is not producing a winning
program, they could lose their coaching job, however they seldom will lose their
teaching position at the high school.
The college coach is a very unique individual. Most college coaches are experts in
their coaching field and many have played intercollegiate athletic and some have
played professionally as well. Many college coaches were very successful athletes
and some were not, however being a successful athlete is not a criteria to be a
successful college coach.
Many college coaches have climbed the ladder of success by being an assistance
coach under a seasoned mentor. They must understand how to play the game or
sport and they must be excellent organizers. Successful college coaches must
possess good management skills and they need to be able to motivate not only the
student-athletes, but their coaching staff as well.
College coaches must be skilled verbally in order to communicate with the local and
sometimes the national media. The success of their team on and off the field of play is
their total responsibility. Many college coaches must be skilled fundraisers, because
many athletic programs do not have a large athletic budget. To add on to all the
responsibilities of the college coach, they also need to be a good salesperson.
The head college coach is in charge of the recruiting process. He or she is
responsible for following the recruiting laws passed by the NCAA or whatever athletic
association they are a member of. If any recruiting laws are broken, it will fall on the
shoulders of the head coach. Recruiting rules are complicated to understand and it is
the responsibility of the coach to make sure they comprehend what they are required
to do and what they are prohibited from doing during the recruiting process.
One of the most important jobs of the college coach is to recruit the highest quality
athletes as possible. Normally Division I coaches have an advantage over Divisions II
and III, especially when it comes to recruiting athletes that play football and basketball
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
22
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
because they normally have a larger recruiting budget than Division II or III to draw
from.
In most cases, it is not that important for the high school athlete to understand the laws
and regulations associated with the recruiting process. However, if the student-athlete,
parents or high school coach feels some of the recruiting laws are being broken they
need to notify the NCAA immediately. If the NCAA recruiting laws are broken it could
affect the student-athlete and could cause the athlete to be disqualified from
participating in intercollegiate athletics.
The recruiting process is really a sales job. When the college coach is recruiting a
student-athlete, they will try to impress the athlete as much as possible. They will tell
the student how important they feel the athlete could be to their athletic program. They
will tell the student-athlete why they want them to play for their college and what
benefits the college can give the athlete based on academics, social life, and other
factors that they feel will get the athlete to commit.
There are four important periods during the recruiting process that the college coach
should adhere to. Below is a brief outline:
��
Contact Period - during this period, the college coach or an authorized athletic
department staff member IS given permission to make in-person, off-campus
recruiting contacts and evaluations of student-athletes.
��
Dead Period - during this period, the college coach or an authorized athletic
department staff member is NOT permitted to contact a student-athlete on or
off-campus. During this period there is no official or unofficial visits allowed.
��
Evaluation Period - during this period, permission IS given to the coach or an
authorized athletic department staff member to be involved in off campus activities
to evaluate or assess academic and athletic ability of a student-athlete. However,
there CANNOT be any in-person, off-campus contact with the student-athlete.
��
Quiet Period - during this period the NCAA GIVES permission to the college coach
or athletic department staff member to make in-person recruiting contacts with
student-athletes only on the college coach’s campus or institution.
During the Contact Period many college coaches will try to make the athlete feel
important and sometimes will make statements that could give the athlete the wrong
impression.
For Example: the coach could give the athlete the impression that they are their top
recruit and could give the athlete the impression that they are the only athlete that they
are recruiting at their position.
During this period is when the student-athlete will be put under the most pressure to
commit to the coach’s college and athletic program.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
23
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
The athlete and parents must not let the college coach take control of the
conversation during the contact period. If the conversation is one-sided, it could cause
the athlete to make the wrong decision or make a commitment to early. The
student-athlete should ask several questions of the college coach before making any
verbal or written commitment.
Below are a few questions that the athlete should ask any college coach or one of their
staff members during the one-on-one interview and before making a commitment:
��
Does the athletic program have an off-season schedule?
��
How much money is a typical athletic scholarship worth?
��
What is the breakdown of the staff, coaches, and their specialties and who
will I be working with if I decide to commit to play for your college?
��
What allowances are made for class and exam preparation?
��
If I am having trouble keeping up my grades or have a problem with one of
my professors, do you have any assistance with these problems?
��
Does the team have a set of rules or policies for the athletes?
��
Based on what you know now, what are my earliest opportunities at playing
my position?
��
How many athletes are you recruiting that plays my position?
��
How many strong undergraduates are ready to move into the position I play?
��
Do you intend to play me at another position than what I played in high
school?
��
How many of the current players came here without a scholarship and later
earned one in their 2nd or 3rd year?
��
If I am offered a partial scholarship, what do I need to do to get a full
scholarship?
��
Do I have to be on the second team in order to travel with the team?
��
If I receive a scholarship and get hurt and cannot play any more, what
provisions are available to me in order to keep my scholarship?
��
How long do you plan to stay at your position at this college?
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
24
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Most of these questions can be verified by doing a little homework and evaluating the
college’s sport website.
Since the college coach’s main intent is to get the student-athlete to commit, it is
always a good idea to make sure the coach or someone on their staff is tell the athlete
the truth.
One excellent way to confirm whether the college coach is making overstatements or
not telling the complete truth, is to ask for a few names and phone numbers of
current/past athletes, as well as the phone numbers of their parents. By talking to
these resources you can find out what experience others had during the recruiting
process.
Most college coaches are honest and straightforward, however the student-athlete
could be contacted by a coach or one of their representatives that are not. It is always
best to take what is communicated to the student-athlete with a grain of salt.
Many college coaches must be excellent money managers and most understand what
type of finances are available for them to spend. In some situations, they must spread
their budget out as equally as possible among their student-athletes. This is very
common when a Division II college or university is recruiting an athlete.
Many college coaches that have limited finances will try to recruit athletes that are not
blue-chip quality, but have the potential of developing high quality athletic skills by
enticing the athlete to commit by saying, “We do not have any scholarship money
available now, but if you commit, I will try to find you some money next year.”
When the college coach makes a statement similar to this, they are not telling the
athlete they are not good enough to play intercollegiate athletics. What they are
saying is they have limited amount of dollars to give out in scholarships and most of
this money is going to be given to athletes that has proven their playing ability and their
commitment to the athletic program. Most college coaches are very dedicated to their
job, college and their athletes. Most are very trustworthy and most have the best
interest of the student-athlete in mind.
One thing to keep in mind when communicating with the college coach is to
communicate to the coach WHY you want to play for their program and HOW you can
benefit his/her athletic program. Most college coaches do not like to deal with a cocky
athlete. They want the athlete to fight for the scholarships that are available and have
a commitment to the success of the program as a whole.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
25
1. College coaches must be
order to communicate with the local and
sometimes the national media.
“My advice is to go into
something and stay with
it until you like it. You
can't like it until you
obtain expertise in that
work. And once you are
an expert, it's a pleasure.”
in
Coaches Are Paid
To Perform
Author
Milton Garland
“My great concern is not
whether you have failed,
but whether you are
content with your failure.”
Author
Abraham Lincoln
2. One of the most important jobs of the
college coach is to recruit the highest quality
athletes as possible. Normally Division I
coaches have an advantage over Divisions II
and III, especially when it comes to recruiting
athletes that play football and basketball.
True
3. In most cases, it is not that important for the
high school athlete to understand the laws and
regulations associated with the recruiting
process.
True
“ When you're a winner
you're always happy, but if
you're happy as a loser,
you'll always be a loser.”
Author
Mark Fidrych
False
4. The college coach is a very unique
individual. Most college coaches are experts
in their coaching field and many have played
intercollegiate athletic and some have played
professionally as well. In order to coach at the
college level the coach must have been a
successful athlete themselves.
True
Student Athletic Center
False
False
July 9, 2011
26
“Whether you be man or
woman you will never do
anything in this world
without courage. It is the
greatest quality of the
mind next to honor.”
Author
James Allen
“Whether you think you
can or whether you think
you can't, you're right!”
Author
Henry Ford
5.
- during this period, the college coach or
an authorized athletic department staff member is NOT
permitted to contact a student-athlete on or off-campus.
During this period there is no official or unofficial visits
allowed.
NCAA LAWS ARE
VERY IMPORTANT
6. If the college coach were to break NCAA
recruiting laws while recruiting an athlete, it
could affect the athlete and could cause the
student to be disqualified from participating in
intercollegiate athletics.
True
“ Why did I want to win?
Because I didn't want to
lose!
Author
Max Schmelling
Student Athletic Center
False
7. Quiet Period - during this period the NCAA
GIVES permission to the college coach or
athletic department staff members to make
in-person recruiting contacts with
student-athletes only on the college coach’s
campus or institution.
True
False
8. During the
Period many college
coaches will try to make the athlete feel
important and sometimes will make statements
that could give the athlete the wrong
impression.
July 9, 2011
27
“Enter every activity
without giving mental
recognition to the
possibility of defeat.
Concentrate on your
strengths instead of your
weaknesses, on your
powers instead of your
problems.”
Author
Paul J. Meyer
“Don't look back.
Something might be gaining on you.”
Author
Satchel Paige
9. During
Period, permission IS
given to the college coach or staff to make
in-person, off-campus recruiting contacts and
evaluations of student-athletes.
Important
Recruiting Periods
10. During the Quite Period, there CANNOT be
any in-person, off-campus contact with the
student-athlete.
True
False
11. There are four important periods during the
recruiting process that the college coach should
adhere to - Contact Period, Dead Period,
Evaluation Period, and Quiet Periods.
“Don't give up at half time.
Concentrate on winning the
second half.”
Author
Paul “Bear” Bryant
Student Athletic Center
True
False
12. During the
Period, the college
coach or an authorized athletic department staff
member is NOT permitted to contact a
student-athlete on or off-campus.
July 9, 2011
28
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Answer Key For Understanding The
College Coach
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Skilled Verbally
True
True
False
Dead Period
True
True
Contact Period
Student Athletic Center
9. Contact Period
10. True
11. True
12. Evaluation Period
July 9, 2011
29
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Chapter 3
Understanding The
Financial Aid System
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
30
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
If your son or daughter does not get a full athletic or
non-athletic scholarship, you need to know what is available
from college financial aid and how the financial aid system
What Is
Financial Aid
Most of you that are reading this publication, whether your student is an athlete or
non-athlete, will not qualify for Need-Based financial aid if your son or daughter will
attend an in-state supported college or university.
However, if your student decides to attend a private or out-of-state public college or
university you could qualify for Need-Based aid due to the higher cost of attending.
Therefore, understanding how financial aid works is very important. Even if you will not
qualify for Need-Based aid you could qualify for Non-Need Based aid in the form of
loans, work-study or merit/athletic scholarships. Therefore, it is very important to
understand Federal Financial Aid.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
31
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Very Important Note
Over the years, many high school senior parents have been told that having high
ASSETS will disqualify the student from receiving financial aid, especially if the asset is
in the student’s name. This is very misleading and since most students will attend a
state supported college or university, assets in a student or parent’s name will play a
very small role when it comes to receiving federal financial aid based on Need.
Here is the reason why we make this statement.
Parents receive an asset protection allowance based on the age of the older parent in
the family. A parent that is married and is age 45 has an Asset Protection Allowance
of approximately $48,700 (2009—2010).
What this means is if you have assets of under $48,700 (that is outside of a Pension
Plan or IRA), filing a joint return, the federal financial aid formula will NOT count the
assets against the student’s financial aid eligibility. If the parents’ assets are above
this limit the financial aid formula will assess the overage at a 5.65%.
For Example: Based on the information above, you had $50,000 in a mutual fund.
The financial aid formula would subtract $48,700 from the $50,000, which would leave
$1,300 that would be used to calculate the student’s aid eligibility. The reduction in
student financial aid would be approximately $74.
On the upper-end, if you are a high-income earner you most likely will not qualify for
Need-Based aid if your student attends an in state publicly supported college or
university due to your income.
Therefore, having assets in a student’s name could be a big advantage to the family
because of their lower tax bracket. Student assets are accessed at a 20% level in the
financial aid calculation. Based on the above information, assets are not the MOST
important factor that will disqualify the student from receiving financial aid. The most
important factor is INCOME.
College Financial Aid
College financial aid is money given by the Federal/State governments and the
colleges to help students pay for the cost of a college education. There are several
types of aid available including grants and scholarships, work-study programs and
educational loans.
College work-study and educational loans are considered self-help aid. Grants and
scholarships are considered gift aid and do not have to be paid back. Some of these
grants and scholarships are based on merit, and some are based on need.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
32
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Merit-based scholarships are tied to scholastic, athletic, or talent performance.
Need-based grants from colleges are usually in the form of tuition incentives or waivers
meant to attract the student.
To qualify for financial aid the student must attend class on at least a half-time basis.
Half time consists of six (6) semester or quarter hours per academic term. The student
must also maintain satisfactory academic progress to retain financial aid eligibility
status.
TOTAL COLLEGE COSTS
The Total Cost of Attendance (COA) is a predetermined number, the components of
which are detailed in the college's catalogues and brochures. The Financial Aid Office
labels this their budget.
Before you apply for financial aid, it is very important that you know the exact costs for
each college.
Total costs can be increased by the FAO for special purposes, such as special medical
or disability expenses.
The Financial Aid Budget used by most colleges includes the following:
TUITION AND FEES- This number will differ between private colleges and public
universities. Tuition is the charge for instruction. Fees include items such as health
insurance, library fees, lab fees and other student activities.
BOOKS AND SUPPLIES- The cost of books and supplies varies depending on the
courses taken. Supplies for lab, computer, engineering and art programs may raise
the cost significantly.
ROOM AND BOARD- The cost of housing depends on whether the student lives at
home, in a student dorm, or off campus. Food costs vary in different areas of the
country. Students may choose a school meal plan, eat at home, or cook for
themselves.
PERSONAL EXPENSES- Most colleges allow expenses for clothing, insurance,
medical care, disability, childcare, personal computer, handicapped provisions and
other related items.
TRANSPORTATION- Includes daily commuting expenses (bus or cab fare, personal
car maintenance, gas, etc.) and round-trip travel during school vacation periods.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
33
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
The Concept Of Financial Need
The financial aid system presumes that the family is able to contribute some money
toward their children's educational expenses. How much the family is expected to pay
is determined by the formula called the FEDERAL METHODOLOGY.
The difference between the amount the family is expected to contribute and the total
cost of college represents the student's NEED. The process of determining a student's
NEED is called NEEDS ANALYSIS. It is calculated using the following three-line
formula:
Total College Cost
minus
Families Contribution
equals
Total Financial Need
This formula establishes the family's eligibility for financial assistance, by which the
total amount of aid received by the student cannot exceed the total financial need.
When analyzing the student's need, some colleges will meet 100% of the student's
total financial need, and others will meet only a percentage, this is called gapping.
This percentage of need met can be used to help the student select an ideal college.
And yes, the student must go through this filing process each year if he/she wishes to
receive aid.
The Formula That Is Used To
Calculate Your Families Need
The FEDERAL METHODOLOGY (FM) is a Federal formula that was adopted by
Congress as part of the Higher Education Act of 1986.
Every single accredited college and university in the United States uses it to evaluate
the eligibility of every student who applies for financial aid.
The FM determines how much your family is expected to contribute towards the
student's college education, and your eligibility to receive financial aid for the balance
of the cost.
This Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is computed using family financial data
submitted on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
34
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
This analysis estimates how much the family can be expected to contribute, but
makes no assumptions about how they will finance that contribution.
What Is The Expected Family Contribution
The FM formula combines many computations to arrive at the Expected Family
Contribution. The following is a simplistic version of this complex formula:
Student's Contribution
1. The student's income is assessed at 50% after
the first $3,080 (2008 school year) of earnings.
2. The student's assets are assessed at a straight 20%.
Parents' Contribution
1. The parents' income is assessed between
22%-47%, depending on the level of total income
2. Nontaxable income and benefits, such as contributions made during the current
year to retirement funds (401K/403B) and distributions from social security, are
added back into income for assessment
3. The parents' assets (home & farm equity are not included) minus an asset
protection allowance, which is based on the oldest parent in the household are
assessed at 5.6%.
Important: All income from the student and parents is assessed using year-end
tax data from the year preceding the year when the student enters college. Asset
data is listed as of the date the financial aid forms are filed.
Some private colleges use an alternative formula called the Institutional
Methodology, which includes the home and farm as assessable assets.
This formula also takes into consideration extraordinary medical expenses and private
elementary, middle and high school tuition charges for the student and their siblings.
Sources Of Financial Aid
There are two major sources of college financial aid: Federal-based programs and
College-based programs. Most individual states also offer assistance.
FEDERAL-BASED PROGRAMS
Federal-based programs are monies which the student either receives directly or which
the school credits to the student's account. There are three programs in this section:
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
35
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
1. Pell Grants
The Pell Grant is an outright gift with no strings attached, courtesy of the federal
government. Individual awards range from $400 to approximately $4,000, and the
eligibility and size of the award is determined by the difference between
approximately $4,000 and the student's Expected Family Contribution.
2. Stafford Loans (Subsidized & Unsubsidized)
Subsidized Stafford Loans are need-based, low interest loans carried in the student's
name. The interest is paid by the federal government until 6 months after the student
graduates or leaves college. These loans are normally repaid over a 10 year period,
however other payment options are available.
The student unable to qualify for subsidized loans can borrow the Unsubsidized
Stafford Loan.
These loans do not qualify for the government subsidy and must begin to be paid back
immediately, unless deferred.
Limits on both the Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loans are $3,500 for 1st year
students, $4,500 for 2nd year and $5,500 for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th year
undergraduates. If the student needs additional funds, they can borrow an additional
$2,000 each year in Unsubsidized Stafford Loans. The accumulated total amount of
loans for undergraduate students cannot exceed $23,000.
3. PLUS Loans
PLUS Loans (Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students) are loans to parents who
want to borrow to help pay for their child's education. The PLUS loan provides
additional funds for educational expenses, and similar to the Unsubsidized Stafford
Loan, payments start immediately, unless deferred.
PLUS Loans for dependent, undergraduate students have annual and aggregate loan
limits up to the total cost of college minus any financial aid awarded to the student.
These loans have at fixed rate of interest and the repayment period can be stretched
out for 10 years or more.
College-Based Programs
College-based programs are monies given by the U.S. Government or other out-side
resources to each college to distribute. When the money is gone, the awards are
discontinued for that year.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
36
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
1. Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG)
SEOG's are grants given to undergraduates with exceptional financial need. These
grants do not have to be paid back and priority is usually given to Pell Grant recipients.
Awards are given in the range of $100 to $4,000 and are based entirely on need and
availability of funds.
The school will either credit a SEOG to the student's account or pay the student
directly, or use a combination of these methods.
2. College Work-Study
These programs are awarded to undergraduate and graduate students based on need.
Although these are not actually programs that award free money, they are more
desirable than loans since there is no financial obligation for repayment.
Most students work between 8 and 15 hours a week in on-campus jobs, such as library
assistant, faculty aide, cafeteria worker, etc.
Off-campus employers that are public or private non-profit organizations subsidized by
the U.S. Government can also provide College Work-Study and the students are paid
at least the current Federal minimum wage.
3. Perkins Loans
The Perkins Loan is a low interest (5%) loan administered by the college and
subsidized by the U.S. Government. The Perkins is awarded to undergraduate and
graduate students based on need and other financial aid dispersed to the student.
The Perkins Loan limit is $4,000, but the maximum amount disbursed is usually around
$2,500 due to low availability.
Payment begins 6 months after the student graduates and can be repaid over a
10-year period.
4. Endowments, Tuition Incentives & Waivers
These monies are given to colleges by various organizations and alumni. Private
colleges rely heavily on these gifts for operating funds and to fill the "need" of a
qualifying student. Many private colleges will discount the cost of the education by
using waivers or tuition incentives.
Sometimes these monies (merit aid) are given to students who qualify academically or
to students with special qualifications that happen to fill a college's needs.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
37
1. When it comes to receiving financial aid,
will disqualify you more than having a
lots of
.
“You gain strength,
courage, and confidence
by every experience in
which you really stop to
look fear in the face.”
Will You Qualify For
Financial Aid
Author
Eleanor Roosevelt
2. College financial aid is money given by the
Federal/State governments and the colleges to
help students pay for the cost of a college
education.
“You don't have to be
great to start, but you
have to start to be great.”
Author
Zig Ziglar
True
3. Having assets in a student’s name could be
a big advantage to the low and high-income
family because of the student’s lower tax
bracket.
True
“ You get the best out of
others when you give the
best of yourself.”
Author
Harry Firestone
Student Athletic Center
False
False
4. Students assets are accessed at a 5.65%
level and any assets that are included in a
UGMA account are not counted in the financial
aid assessment.
True
False
July 9, 2011
38
“Part of being a champ is
acting like a champ. You
have to learn how to win
and not run away when
you lose. Everyone has
bad stretches and real
successes. Either way,
you have to be careful not
to lose your confidence
or get to confident.”
Author
Nancy Kerrigan
“Paying attention to simple little things that most
men neglect makes a few
men rich.”
Author
Henry Ford
5.
- Includes daily commuting
expenses (bus or cab fare, personal car
maintenance, gas, etc.) and round-trip travel
during school vacation.
Elements Of
Financial Aid
6. The
(COA) is a
predetermined number, the components of
which are detailed in the college's catalogues
and brochures. The Financial Aid Office
labels this their
.
7. Total costs can be increased by the FAO for
special purposes, such as special medical or
disability expenses.
True
“You have to expect things
of yourselves before you
can do them.”
Author
Michael Jordon
Student Athletic Center
False
8. The financial aid system presumes that the
family is able to contribute some money
toward their children's educational expenses.
How much the family is expected to pay is
determined by the formula called the
.
July 9, 2011
39
“Perfectionism is a dangerous state of mind in
an imperfect world. The
best way is to forget
doubts and set about the
task in hand... If you are
doing your best, you will
not have time to worry
about failure.”
9. This Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is
computed using family financial data submitted
(FAFSA)
on the
application.
Understanding The
Financial Aid
Formula
Author
Robert Silliman Hillyer
“Perseverance is not a
long race it is many short
races one after another.“
Author
Walter Elliott
10. The financial aid formula establishes the
family's eligibility for financial assistance, by
which the total amount of aid received by the
student cannot exceed the
.
11. The difference between the amount the
family is expected to receive in financial aid
and the total cost of college represents the
student's NEED.
True
“Perseverance is the hard
work you do after you get
tired of doing the hard
work you already did.”
Author
Newt Gingrich
Student Athletic Center
False
12. The FEDERAL METHODOLOGY (FM) is a
Federal formula that was adopted by the IRS
as part of the Higher Education Act of 1986.
True
False
July 9, 2011
40
13.
programs are monies
which the student either receives directly or which
the school credits to the student's account.
“Those who believe that
they are exclusively in the
right are generally those
who achieve something.”
Author
Aldous Huxley
“To avoid criticism, do
nothing, say nothing, be
nothing.”
Author
Elbert Hubbard
Understanding
College Loans
14.
Loans are
need-based, low interest loans carried in the
student's name. The interest is paid by the
federal government until 6 months after the
student graduates or leaves college.
15. The student unable to qualify for
subsidized loans can borrow the
Unsubsidized Stafford Loan.
True
“To be prepared is half the
victory.”
Author
Douglas MacArthur
16. PLUS Loans (Parent Loans for
Undergraduate Students) are loans to parents
who want to borrow to help pay for their child's
education. The PLUS loan provides additional
funds for educational expenses, and similar to
the Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, payments
start immediately, unless deferred.
True
Student Athletic Center
False
False
July 9, 2011
41
“To give yourself the best
possible chance of
playing to your potential,
you must prepare for
every eventuality. That
means practice.”
Author
Steve Ballesteros
“To finish first, you must
first finish.”
Author
Rick Mears
17.
are awarded to
undergraduate and graduate students based on
need. Although these are not actually programs
that award free money, they are more desirable
than loans since there is no financial obligation
Understanding
Grants/Work-study
18. SEOG are grants given to undergraduates
with exceptional financial need. These grants
do have to be paid back after graduation and
priority is usually given to Pell Grant recipients.
True
False
19. The college can only credit a SEOG to the
student's account.
True
“The difference between
the impossible and the
possible lies in a person's
determination.”
Author
Tommy Lasorda
20. Endowments, Tuition Incentives &
Waivers are given to colleges by various
organizations and alumni. Private colleges
rely heavily on these gifts for operating funds
and to fill the "need" of a qualifying
student.
True
Student Athletic Center
False
False
July 9, 2011
42
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Answer Key For Understanding The
Financial Aid System
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Income - Assets
13. Federal Based
True
14. Subsidized Stafford
False
15. True
False
16. True
Transportation
17. Work-Study
Cost of Attending
18. False
True
19. False
Federal Methodology
20. True
Free Application for Student Aid
Cost of Attending
False
False
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
43
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Chapter 4
Marketing The
Student-Athlete
The Beginning
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
44
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Important Questions And Concerns To Be
Addressed By The Student-Athlete
Few students give much thought on what it is like to play college athletics and very few
do not understand what it take in Time and Effort in order to be successful athletically
as well as academically. Before starting the marketing process and before the student
decides to play intercollegiate athletics they need to answer several personal
questions and address several concerns in order to make the right decisions.
Here are a few questions and concerns that need to be addressed:
��
Why does the student want to play intercollegiate athletics? Is it because they
enjoy the sport and competition or do they want to use the college athletic career to
get into the pros or to impress friends and relatives?
��
Does the student have the discipline and desire to do what it takes to play
intercollegiate athletics and do they have the athletic ability to be competitive at the
next level?
��
Is the main reason the student-athlete want an athletic scholarship is to help pay for
some or all of their educational costs in order to get a high quality education?
��
Does the student-athlete know anything about what college coaches are looking for
in potential student-athletes and does the student-athlete think they have what
college coaches are looking for?
��
Does the student-athlete truly understand WHY some athletes are recruited heavily
and others are not?
��
How does the student-athlete compare athletically to the athletes that are
getting recruited and with the athletes that are presently playing at the colleges of
interest?
��
Does the student-athlete truly understand what it takes in time and effort to
position themselves to get recruited?
��
Has the student-athlete given much consideration about what to ask a college
coach during the recruiting interview, to make sure their playing style,
philosophy, morals, and goals are the same as the coach’s and their sport’s
department?
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
45
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
��
Has the student-athlete given much thought about their degree selection at the
colleges that they want to attend? Will the degree program take a lot of
study-time in order to keep their grades up? What effect will academic duties have
on their athletic participation? Will the student-athlete be able to keep their grades
up and play competitive athletics at the same time?
��
How organized is the student-athlete? Can they balance class work, playing
athletics, and have a healthy social life at the same time?
��
If the student-athlete does not get to play immediately, how will they handle the
perceived rejection? How will they handle the higher degree of competition? How
will they handle the harsh criticism they may receive from the college coaches or
their teammates.
Addressing these questions and concerns could make the transfer from playing high
school athletics to intercollegiate sports a lot easier. Also answering these questions
could eliminate or at least reduce the chances of the student-athlete dropping out of
college or transferring to another college.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
46
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Marketing The Student Athlete
The Beginning
Student-athletes and their families must get educated in the art of
marketing themselves to the colleges. This section discusses the
five basic steps of the marketing process.
The Five Basic Steps Of Marketing A Student-Athlete
1. Become proactive in the marketing process
Families assume that college coaches will hear about their athlete from their high
school or summer league coach. Many feel newspaper chippings from the local media
will also expose the athlete enough to get recruited. This is far from the truth. The
marketing process is the student-athlete’s responsibility and no one else’s.
2. Find the right academic program
Many student-athletes only go to college to play athletics and do not give much
thought to academics. When this occurs, the athlete over-looks the right “fit” in regards to academics and in many cases athletically as well. Academics in high school
can lead to larger athletic scholarships and top academics in college can lead to better
job opportunities after college.
Student-athletes must realize academics before and while in college is more
important than athletics and the athlete must consider finding the right academic
program first and place athletics second.
3. Research college athletic programs
Many student-athletes will not research the college or the athletic program before
accepting admission to the college or accepting the athletic scholarship. Athletes
should look at several things before committing to a particular college and athletic
program. The athlete should consider the following:
��
��
��
Team roster (will you be able to play quickly or will have to wait a few years)
The competition (does it match your athletic ability)
Coach’s philosophy and playing style (does it match your philosophy and
playing style)
Knowing these things ahead of time will make the college and athletic program
selection much easier. It will also eliminate any surprises once you begin the college
career.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
47
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
4. Keep your grades up
Your athletic skill may get the interest of some selective college or university, but
grades will dictate your admission possibility. The NCAA has minimum academic
requirements, but many colleges have much more stringent academic rules and
regulations.
While in high school the student-athlete should excel academically and build strong
organization and study skills. This will help the student once they are in college and
will make the transition much easier.
If the student-athlete has strong organizational and study skills, it will help the athlete
balance academic requirements and athletic participation.
5. Research other forms of financial aid assistance
All scholarships are identical regardless of whether the scholarship is based on need,
merit or athletics. Some colleges will substitute an athletic scholarship with an
academic scholarship, or other tuition incentive.
This is commonly done in NCAA Division III colleges where there are no athletic
awards or in NCAA Division II or NAIA colleges in order to maximize the school’s
athletic budget.
There is a big difference between need-based and academic-based scholarships when
compared to athletic scholarships. The major difference is the athletic scholarship is
given or earned each year based mostly on the athletic accomplishments of the
student-athlete. If the student-athlete were to get hurt, quits, or does not perform up to
the expectation of the college coach, they could lose the scholarship.
Compare this with a need-based or academic-based scholarship. The student-athlete
that receives these types of scholarships can only lose the award if they do not perform
academically or the family’s need decreases. These scholarships have NOTHING to
do with the student-athlete’s athletic ability. If the student were to get hurt or quits
playing intercollegiate athletics, the student will NOT lose the need-based or
academic-based scholarship unless they fall below the academic standards or the
family’s need decreases.
Money is money regardless of what form it comes in.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
48
1. The marketing process is the student-athlete’s
responsibility and no one else’s.
“Others can stop you
temporarily - you are the
only one who can do it
permanently.”
True
Questions
and
Concerns
Author
Zig Ziglar
“The first and the best
victory is to conquer self.”
Author
Plato
2. College coaches will hear about the athlete
from the high school or summer league coach
and it is the total responsibility of their coaches
to notify colleges of interest.
True
“The first rule of baseball is
to get a good ball to hit.”
Author
Rogers Hornsby
Student Athletic Center
False
False
3. Academics in high school can lead to larger
athletic scholarships and top academics in
college can lead to better job opportunities
after college.
True
False
4. Few students give much thought on what it
is like to play college athletics and very few do
not understand what it take in
and
in order to be successful athletically as well as
academically.
July 9, 2011
49
5. Athletes should look at several things before
committing to a particular college and athletic
program.
“You can discover more
about a person in an hour
of play than in a year of
conversation.”
Author
Plato
“You become strong by
defying defeat and by
turning loss into gain and
failure to success.”
True
False
Five Basic Steps
In Marketing
6. The NCAA has minimum academic
requirements, but many colleges have much
more stringent academic rules and
regulations.
Author
Napoleon
True
False
7. All scholarships are different regardless of
whether the scholarship is based on need,
merit or athletics.
“Out of need springs
desire, and out of desire
springs the energy and the
will to win.”
Author
Denis Waitley
Student Athletic Center
True
False
8. Student-athletes must realize academics
and
in college is more
important than athletics and the athlete must
consider finding the right academic program
first and place athletics second.
July 9, 2011
50
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Answer Key For Marketing The
Student-Athlete - The Beginning
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
True
False
True
Time and Effort
True
True
False
Before and While
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
51
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Chapter 5
The Six-Step Marketing
Process In Obtain
An Athletic Scholarship
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
52
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
The Keys To Marketing The Student-Athlete
The real key to the student-athlete’s marketing success is to understand the fact that
many athletes that have the potential of playing at the next level never get noticed by
college coaches. If a student-athlete takes the wait and see philosophy, the likelihood
of being recruited is very slim.
As I have mentioned in the Introduction Section of this publication, only 10% of
today’s student-athletes get full-ride scholarships. If these statistics are correct, the
students that are not blue-chip prospects MUST be “proactive” and market
themselves to college coaches if they ever hope to play at the next level. Waiting
around to receive letters and calls from college coaches is not a viable method for getting an athletic scholarship.
Student-athletes should never take a reactive stance or take the wait and see
philosophy. Just as the athlete is taught to take a proactive role while playing an
athletic event, they should also take this same approach when they are marketing
themselves for athletic scholarships.
The main purpose of going to college is to get a quality education, therefore the athlete
should locate colleges that are a good fit for the student academically, financially, and
socially.
I also mentioned in the Introduce Section of this publication, the athlete must learn
how to evaluate and select the proper program and college, including coaching staff,
team, social atmosphere of the school, playing opportunity, team travel, and academic
programs.
This chapter will give the student-athlete a Six-Step Self-Help Process of marketing
themselves to colleges of interest in order to receive an athletic scholarship. If the
student-athlete follows these steps, it could increase the odds of being noticed by
college coaches of which you are interested in playing for and could increase the
athlete’s potential of receiving an athletic scholarship.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
53
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Six-Step Marketing Process
The student-athlete must take charge of their own marketing efforts. This
section will go over selecting the right college to contact.
Step 1: Picking The Right Colleges To Contact
Picking the right college is one of the most important steps for families entering the
recruiting process. Here are three reasons why:
��
It has everything to do with the student’s future career development;
��
It has everything to do with the student’s future social development; and
��
It has everything to do with the student being able to graduate in four years.
Only 1 out of 10 student-athletes will get a full-ride scholarship. Therefore, it’s very
important for the student-athlete to select the right college that will provide them with
educational opportunities to succeed financially after graduation. Considering only
athletics is setting the student-athlete up for failure.
Here are 25 areas that the student-athlete should consider while selecting the
right college:
Location – Is the location of this college satisfactory to your needs?
Size – Is the size of this college satisfactory to your needs?
Small – less than 3,000 students
Medium -between 3,000 and 10,000
Medium large -between 10,000 and 20,000
Large -greater than 20,000 students
Talent Program – Does the college have a talent program that meets the student's
needs (theater, newspaper, debate team)?
Special Programs – Does the college have special programs or facilities that the
Student-athlete may need or must have (learning disabilities, special medical facilities,
etc.)?
Co-op Programs – Does the college have an academic co-op (study/work) program in
the student's major that can reduce your college costs and help the student achieve
employment after graduation?
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
54
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Job Placement – Does the college have a Placement Office that places a high
number of students in jobs prior to graduation?
Religion – Does the college have a religious program that fits your needs?
Attrition – Does the college have a high number of freshmen that graduate within five
years?
Student/Faculty Ratio – Does the college have a low student to faculty ratio to
guarantee more interactive, classroom participation and personal faculty attention for
the student and what is the philosophy of the faculty toward student-athletes?
Faculty With PhDs – Does the college have a high number of teachers with PhDs?
Safety – Does the college's campus have adequate security and a good safety
reputation?
Alcohol Drug Policy -Does the college's alcohol/drug policy fit your requirement?
Student Body Reputation – Does the college's student body reputation fit the
student's personality and does the student body support the sport you will be playing
in?
Diversity – Does the student mix at this college fit the student's personality?
Greek System – Does the role that fraternities and sororities play at this college fit the
student's needs?
Housing – Is the college's housing (and housing policy) satisfactory to your needs and
are there separate living facilities for student-athletes?
Food – Is the on-campus food at this college satisfactory to your needs and does the
athletic department provide an athletic training table?
Weather – Is the college located in a climate that's satisfactory to your needs?
Campus Setting -Is the college located in a desirable area or neighborhood?
Major – What do you want to major in and how strong is the program?
Time to graduation – Will your chosen field of study take you four years to graduate
or longer?
Conference reputation – Is the conference’s reputation you will be playing in
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
55
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
important to you based on a competition level?
What level – What division are you interested in - NCAA Division I, II, III or NAIA?
Reputation – Do you want to attend a college that has a national reputation of having
a winning program?
Your position – Is there an opening coming up in your position? If not, who is your
competition and are they upperclassmen or new recruits?
Affordability – If you do not get a full scholarship will your family be able to afford
picking up the additional college cost?
Numbers are the name of the game. The more colleges you contact, the better your
chances of getting an athletic scholarship.
It’s recommended that you contact 20-25 colleges, but in order to increase your
changes of being recruited you might want to consider initially contacting 30-40
colleges. Many student-athletes only consider one to four educational institutions.
Listing several colleges on the student-athlete’s “want to attend list” will provide them
more options when it is time to make a decision on which college to attend.
Getting additional college information by using the internet is a good place to begin
researching colleges. The college’s website will give the student important information
such as, student life, academics, housing options, academic programs, admissions
and enrollment requirements.
The same techniques can and should be used to research different athletic programs
by checking out coaches bio’s and backgrounds, team schedules, and most important,
the roster. A roster can tell you a great deal about a team.
A roster usually reveals two very important elements of a college athletic program:
��
Where the majority of the players are from. This tells you where the most
recruiting is done.
��
The roster reveals the ages of the players at each position. This tells you
what the team’s needs will be for the next few years.
However, don't make decisions based solely on a roster you found online. It could be
old or outdated. Some of the players may have been injured or transferred or some of
them could have quit. Use the roster as a general guide and then get up-to-date
information that you need from the college coaches and the current athletes on the
roster.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
56
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
One of the best sources of college information for student-athletes is College
Coaches Online.
This database has information on NCAA and NAIA colleges and universities. It will
provide ALL the information that the student-athlete will need in researching potential
colleges. This is the same website that is used by the NCAA.
Their website is: www.CollegeCoachesOnline.com
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
57
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
The student-athlete needs to make contact with the college coaches. This
section will go over how to write a great cover letter.
Step 2: The Cover Letter
Writing a cover letter to the college coach is very important. After you complete your
first letter, it can be modified for other colleges.
The cover letter should only be written to introduce the student-athlete to college
coaches. The cover letter should be no more than one page.
Remember these tips as you write:
��
The letter should be written to get the coach’s attention
��
Make sure your information is accurate and honest
The construction of the cover letter is very important. The student-athlete should write
the letter, not the parents. If the letter is written by the parents or others, it is possible
that the college coaches will see the difference in the wording and could assume the
letter was not written by the student. Do not incorporate large or impressive words in
your letter. Just put the letter together in your own words and have someone edit the
publication for spelling and grammar errors. The following is a basic guideline when
writing the cover letter.
Personal Introduction
The first part of the cover letter is intended to introduce the student-athlete to the
coach, such as:
Coach Johnson, my name is Bill Jones and I am a junior in High
School. I am interested in competing at X College in 2009, or
I have an interest in playing basketball for X State University next
year.
Achievements and Statistics
Outline a few of your athletic achievements and stats. If you participated in other
sports and have received recognitions such as all-region, all-state, or hold school
records, etc., then briefly mention them.
I am an all-round athlete playing 3 different sports. Last spring I broke the
regional record in the 100 meters and received all state honors in track and
football. This summer I played left field and first base on our regional
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
58
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
championship baseball team and batted .398 during the season.
Why You Like Your Sport
Tell the coach why you enjoy participating in your sport. This should be a short one
sentence paragraph, such as:
I have played football since I was 12 year old. I enjoy being part of a winning
team and I love to hit.
Your Current Involvement In Sports
Let the coach know what you are currently doing in your sport, including any academic
achievements.
I am presently playing on our all-city field hockey league that won the state
championship last year. We will be traveling to Tennessee, Alabama, and Kentucky this season to compete against other past state champions. At the end of
last year’s school session, I earned a 3.9 GPA in honor courses and maintained
a 4.0 GPA in Math and Science.
How Can You Benefit The Team?
Let the coach know how you could benefit their college team.
I believe in hard work, practice, and learning from my mistakes. I want to play on
a college team that has a winning philosophy. I believe I can continue the
tradition of hard-hitting linebackers at X College.
The letter should show the professionalism and maturity of the athlete with a lot of
substance and NO FLUFF. After you have written your first draft, have your parents,
coach, or guidance counselor, read it to make suggestions. Make sure to personalize
the envelope directly by addressing the envelope to the college coach in your own
handwriting.
On the next page, you will find a sample letters that you can use as a guideline.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
59
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
SAMPLE COVER LETTER #1
Date: Oct 24, 2008
Mr. Steve Baldwin
Anywhere University
1 University Drive
Nashville, TN 40000
Dear Coach Baldwin,
I am a junior at Cedar Creek High School in Cedar Creek, Tennessee, and I am interested in playing for
Anywhere University in two years.
As a freshman in high school, I was the sixth man on our Varsity basketball team. During my
sophomore year, I earned a starting position and led the team in assists and rebounding. I averaged
13.5 points a game as a sophomore and earned all-district honors. Last year as a junior, I made the
all-regional team and second team all-state while averaging 18.9 points and six steals a game, which
broke a state record. I have maintained a 3.15 GPA in honor courses during my three years in high
school.
Since my father was a college basketball player, I have grown up with a basketball mentality ever since I
was old enough to dribble a basketball. Basketball has become a very important part of my life. I am
looking forward to my senior year, because our team will have a shot at reaching the State Final Four.
This summer I played in 15 games with my summer league basketball team. We competed against
some of the top teams in the state as well as five all-star teams from Kentucky, Northern Georgia and
Alabama. During the summer, I averaged 19.3 points and 8 rebounds a game while starting as a
forward.
I strongly believe I can compete at the next level and Anywhere University is top on my list of potential
colleges. I feel with your help and guidance I could contribute greatly to your program as a team player.
I look forward to hearing back from you.
Sincerely,
Johnny Elzy
12 First Branch Road
Cedar Creek, TN 40010
(555)333-7777
Remember These Tips As You Write:
��
��
��
��
��
��
The letter should be written to get the coach’s attention
Make sure your information is accurate and honest
Outline a few of your athletic achievements and stats. If you participated in other sports and
have received recognitions such as all- region, all-state, or hold school records, etc., then
briefly mention them
Tell the coach why you enjoy participating in your sport. This should be a short one
sentence paragraph
Let the coach know HOW you could BENEFIT the college team
Let the coach know what you are currently doing in your sport, including any academic
achievements
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
60
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
The student-athlete needs to make construct an informative Bio. This
section will go over how to put together your information
Step 3: The Resume
Your resume should highlight your athletic talents and achievements. Many athletic
recruiting and marketing companies use the following format. You can too:
Section 1: Name.
Section 2: A powerful headline that will get the coach’s attention quickly, such as: 4.3
forty-yard dash and 4.0 honors student.
Section 3: Photo. You should include a “quality” photo of yourself. Make sure you DO
NOT use a picture while you are in your athletic uniform.
Section 4: What sport you participate in and what position you play.
Section 5: Include basic information about you and your family:
��
��
��
��
��
��
��
��
��
Address
Phone
E-mail
Year of birth
Year of graduation
Size of family household
Number of student’s siblings attending college
Grade Point Average (GPA)
ACT/SAT test score
Section 6: Name of high school, the head coach’s name, and telephone numbers.
Include any summer league coach’s name and phone number as well.
Section 7: Outline your physical attributes such as: height, speed, weight, right or left
handed and mention other sports you participate in.
Section 8: A summary of your general strengths, as well as team and league
information.
Section 9: An outline of your stats and accomplishments in your sport.
Section 10: Potential. Outline your goals to achieve over the next season. You can
put in a quote from your coach in this section.
A sample Bio can be found on the next page.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
61
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
62
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
IMPORTANT:
When you are first approaching college coaches you should send them your Resume
at the time you send them your letter of introduction. This could be as early as your
freshman year in high school.
Your Resume should be updated at the end of your high school years. In other words,
send the college coaches a FINIAL Resume once you have completed your finial year
of high school competition. This will give the college coach the most up-to-date
information for their files.
At the end of your high school years is an ideal time to collect high school, summer
league, and sports camp coaches’ recommendation letters.
Make sure you help your coaches in writing these endorsement letters by giving them
as much information about your out-side activities and academic accomplishments as
possible.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
63
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
The student-athlete needs to understand how to assemble a video, if one is
requested. This section will give you some ideas on how to produce a video
Step 4: The Video
The athletic video can play a very important role in marketing the student-athlete. The
coach may not be able to see you compete; therefore, the video may be the only way
to get a true evaluation of your athletic skills. Prepare a video and have it available to
send to the college coaches when they request it from you.
In reality, college coaches will only take about five to ten minutes to view a video. Do
not send them a full game video. They don’t have the time to view the full
footage. The goal of the video is to quickly showcase the student-athlete’s skills. If
possible, it should be formatted with a highlight arrow pointing to the student-athlete
and structured as follows:
��
Keep the introduction down to no more than a minute or less. Include a headline
that could be used to catch the attention of the coach. Such as: “I run the 100
meters in 10.3 seconds and have a 4.0 GPA and scored a 26 on the ACT.”
��
Then use highlight footage from your high school tapes. Use 5-7 personal
highlights. Discuss this portion of the video with your high school or summer/club
league coaches to get an idea of what highlights to put in the video.
��
Finally, use some continuous footage from your high school tapes to demonstrate
your team play. However, there are some sports where continuous game footage
cannot be used and a “highlight evaluation video” must be produced. If your
sport doesn’t allow for continuous game footage, find 20-25 highlights. It may take
more than 2-5 video tapes to find enough plays or views of competition.
Putting the video together
The athletic video does not need to be a professional production. If you feel you can
produce a quality video, do not spend the extra money to get it done professionally.
Videos should be labeled with the player’s:
��
��
��
��
��
��
name
school
graduation year
jersey number (if any)
team colors
Position or Positions
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
64
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
The decision on whether to recruit a player after watching the video is normally based
on three things:
1. The student-athlete’s overall performance on the video tape
2. The high school coach’s recommendation
3. The actual size and/or speed of the student-athlete
If the coaches like what they see on the video, there is a good chance that they will
contact you or send one of their staff coaches to watch you play.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
65
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Sometimes it can get confusing on who said what and what they said.
Therefore, it is a good idea to say organized. This section will give
you some ideas on how to keep track of communications you
may receive from college coaches
Step 5: The Tracking System
After sending out letters and resumes to 20-40 college coaches, you could start to
receive contacts from the various schools/coaches.
Once you start receiving contacts from college coaches you need to respond to
these communication and keep a good log of what was said on who said what.
Below is a sample tracking system that you can put together in an excel spreadsheet.
Athletic Tracking System
College
Name
Ohio Wesleyan
Coach
Name
Jeff Timpkin
Phone
Number
740-555-1222
Interest Ltr/Resume
Video
Level
Date Sent
Date Sent
High
5-9
6-15
Updates
Date Sent
6-20
School Contacts
Dates & Notes
7-7 Recv'd letter - they see me as top recruit
7-18 Sent follow-up letter
8-6 I called to get process to next level
8-8 Coach called back
8-15 Application process started
9-15 Visit scheduled
Denison U
Ralph Waters
419-555-2221
Med
4-1
6-11
6-20
8-6 I called to see where they stand
8-8 Assistant coach called back
9-17 Visit scheduled along with O Wesleyan
Ohio Northern
Jim Sweet
720-555-3336
Low
4-1
6-11
6-20
7-10 recv'd letter
7-25 HS coach Dickinson called to recommend
Coach Sweet stated he may be interested
College #5
College #6
College #7
College #8
College #9
College #10
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
66
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
In order to keep good control of all the communications that you have with the college
coaches, you’ll need to adopt a good tracking system from the start. Do not try to keep
track of all your communications in your head. A simple tracking system that you just
seen on the previous page can be developed by using a Microsoft Excel spread sheet
and will help you keep organized and on track.
This is a “MUST HAVE” if you want to be successful in marketing yourself to colleges.
The Excel spreadsheet allows you to easily update this information as often as you
wish and you can review what was said/who said it and what you need to follow up on.
Using a tracking system will help keep you organized and it can also show you what
interest level the college coaches may have in you.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
67
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Keep the college coaches up-to-date each year is very important. Step 6 of the
marketing process will give you some ideas on how to keep the college coaches
informed of your progress during your high school years.
Step 6: The Progress Report
Student-athletes should always keep the college coaches updated with a one-page
progress report. This simple report should provide the coaches an update on your
athletic stats and academic progress at the end of each sporting season.
It is very important to keep the lines of communication open at all times. Never stop
communicating with college coaches during the recruiting process and respond to
every communication you receive from all coaches. Remember, college coaches are
restricted on how many times they can contact you, so if they don’t hear from you on a
regular basis. they may assume that you’ve lost interest.
Below is a sample of a progress report:
John Doe
Anywhere, USA
Class of 2006
Baseball Position: RHP/1B
2008 Spring/Summer Update
��
3.5 Cumulative GPA through junior year
��
All-County League and All-Metro Athletic Conference as junior 2008
��
Led the league in home runs with 12, and 2nd in triples
��
Metro Athletic Conference Champion
��
Pitched six shutout innings in championship game
��
2005 American Legion All-Star
��
Summer Legion stats: 57 IP, 38 SO, 5 BB, 1.10 ERA.
��
Summer Legion baseball team was District champs and placed 3rd at Legion state
tournament
5406 Summer Lane
Anywhere, USA 40207
502-555-1515
[email protected]
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
68
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
When sending out the Progress Report, it is also a good idea to send a VERY SHORT
cover letter. In the cover letter tell the coach why you are send the up-date report and
ask them to include the report in your file.
Finial Recommendations To The Student-Athlete
We have just gone over 6 simple steps to increase your potential of getting an athletic
scholarship.
If you follow these 6 steps and you are marketing to the right colleges, you should
get the results that you are looking for. The results should be positive as long as you
and the college athletic programs are a good match.
However, if you only send your information out to high profile college programs, you
may not get the responses you expected. There is nothing wrong in wanting to play
Division I athletics, however Division I sport programs are very selective in who they
recruit.
Therefore, if you are not being noticed and you are not being recruited now, send your
information out to all college Divisions (NCAA Divisions I, II, III and NAIA).
Most intercollegiate athletes are not Blue-Chip athletes entering college. However,
most talented athletes that have the capability of playing college athletes could find a
college that is a good match for the student and the college’s athletic program.
IMPORTANT
Always remember, playing intercollegiate athletics and receiving an athletic scholarship
is an honor. It is a reward that you have earned for your hard work and dedication.
However, do not let this honor over shadow the reason you are going to college in the
first place.
If your only intent of going to college is to play athletics, you may not graduate with a
degree and your whole financial future could be put at risk. Keep focused on your
education and you will walk away from you college experience with many good
memories, both athletically and academically.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
69
“You can have anything
you want, if you want it
badly enough. You can be
anything you want to be,
do anything you set out
to accomplish if you hold
to that desire with
singleness of purpose.”
1. The real key to the student-athlete’s marketing
success is to understand the fact that many
athletes that have the potential of playing at the
next level never get noticed by college coaches.
True
False
Picking The
Right College
Author
Abraham Lincoln
“You cannot consistently
perform in a manner
which is inconsistent with
the way you see yourself.”
Author
Zig Ziglar
2. The main purpose of going to college is to
get a quality education, therefore the athlete
should locate colleges that are a good fit for
the student academically, financially, and
socially.
True
False
3. Making decisions on what college to attend
based solely on a roster is a good idea,
because these rosters are always up-to-date.
“You can't build a
reputation on what you're
going to do.”
Author
Henry Ford
Student Athletic Center
True
False
4.
the right college is one of the most
important steps for families entering the
recruiting process.
July 9, 2011
70
5. One of the best sources of college information
for student-athletes is College Coaches Online.
“You can't change the
wind, you can however
adjust your sails.”
True
The
Cover Letter
Author
Unknown
“You can't cross the sea
merely by standing and
staring at the water.”
False
6. The cover letter should only be written to
introduce the student-athlete to college
coaches. The cover letter should be no more
than five pages.
Author
Rabindranath Tagore
True
False
7. Do not incorporate large or impressive
words in your letter. Just put the letter
together in your own words and have someone
edit the publication for spelling and grammar
errors.
“You can't get much done
in life if you only work on
the days when you feel
good.”
Author
Jerry West
Student Athletic Center
True
False
8. The letter should show the professionalism
and maturity of the athlete with a lot of
.
substance and
July 9, 2011
71
9. A powerful headline that will get the coach’s
attention quickly should be in the resume.
“Concentration is the
ability to think about
absolutely nothing when
it is absolutely
necessary.”
True
The
Resume
Author
Ray Knight
“Defeat is not the worst of
failures. Not to have tried
is the true failure.”
Author
George E. Woodberry
“Destiny is not a matter of
chance, it is a matter of
choice; it is not a thing to
be waited for, it is a thing
to be achieved.”
Author
William Jennings Bryan
Student Athletic Center
False
10. You should never include a picture of
yourself in the resume. The picture should be
in the video that you would send the coaches.
True
False
11. In the body of your resume, you should
only include information that pertains to you
only. Never provide information about your
parents. It is not needed.
True
False
12. The resume should summarize your
general strengths, as well as team and league
.
July 9, 2011
72
13. The athlete should have a video ready at all
times, even as early as the freshman or
sophomore year in high school.
“You never will be the
person you can be if
pressure, tension and
discipline are taken out of
your life.”
True
The
Video
Author
Dr. James G. Bilkey
“Discipline and concentration are a matter of being interested.”
Author
Tom Kite
False
14. The athletic video needs to be
professional production. If you feel you can
produce a quality video, make sure it looks as
if a profession has produced it.
True
False
15. The video may be the only way to get a
true evaluation of your athletic skills because
the college coach may not be able to see you
play in person.
“Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what
you can do.”
Author
John Wooden
True
16. In reality, college coaches will only take
about five to ten minutes to view a video. Do
not send them a full game video unless they
ask for one.
True
Student Athletic Center
False
False
July 9, 2011
73
17. It is not that important to keep track of
communications with the college coaches,
because all communication is sent by mail.
“The toughest thing
about success is that
you've got to keep on
being a success. “
Author
Irving Berlin
“You've got to take the
initiative and play your
game. In a decisive set,
confidence is the
difference.”
Author
Chris Evert
True
The
Tracking System
18. Using a tracking system will help keep you
organized and it can also show you what
interest level the college coaches may have in
you.
True
Author
George Horace Lorimer
False
20. Using an Excel spreadsheet allows you to
easily update communication with coaches as
often as you wish and you can review what
was said/who said it and what you need to
follow up on.
True
Student Athletic Center
False
19. The best way to keep track of your
communication with the college coach is to
write everything down in a notebook.
True
“You've got to get up every
morning with determination
if you're going to go to bed
with satisfaction.”
False
False
July 9, 2011
74
“The way a team plays as
a whole determines its
success. You may have
the greatest bunch of
individual stars in the
world, but if they don't
play together, the club
wont be worth a dime.”
21. The progress report should provide the
coaches an update on your athletic stats and
academic progress at the end of each
.
The
Progress Report
Author
Babe Ruth
“The will to win is
important, but the will to
prepare is vital.”
22. It is not necessary to continue
communicating with college coaches once you
have made the initial contact, because they
have made a file on you.
True
Author
Joe Paterno
“The world of achievement
has always belonged to the
optimist.”
Author
Harold Wilkins
Student Athletic Center
False
23. When sending out the Progress Report, it
is also a good idea to send a VERY SHORT
cover letter explaining why you are sending
the report.
True
False
24. At the end of each sporting year, you
should send the coach an up-dated Bio and a
few video clips of your season.
True
False
July 9, 2011
75
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Answer Key For The Six-Step
Marketing System
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
True
True
False
Selecting
True
False
True
No Fluff
True
False
False
Information
Student Athletic Center
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
False
False
True
True
False
True
False
True
Sports Season
False
True
False
July 9, 2011
76
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Chapter 6
Understanding The
National Letter
Of Intent
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
77
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Understanding The National Letter of Intent
Some of the following information is being provided by the NCAA and if you
want to know more information go to their website www.ncaa.org.
Once the student-athlete has been recruited and has decided on a college or university
to attend, they could be asked to sign a legal document called the National Letter of
Intent, (NLI). Most student-athletes have heard of the National Letter of Intent.
However, very few understand what this legal document entails and what happens
when the document is signed. The following information will outline some important
facts that all parents and student-athletes need to know.
The NCAA Eligibility Center is in charge of managing the daily operations of the
National Letter of Intent program and it started in 1964 with seven conferences and
eight independent institutions, the program now includes 610 Division I and II
participating institutions. While the NCAA Eligibility Center is in charge of the daily
operations, the Collegiate Commissioners Association provides governance oversight
of the program.
Most college athletes that are participating in intercollegiate athletics have signed what
is referred to as the National Letter of Intent, (NLI). This legal document binds both
the student-athlete and the college to an agreement in which the prospective
student-athlete agrees to attend the designated college or university for one academic
year.
The document also binds the college or university in an agreement to provide athletic
financial aid for one academic year to the student-athlete. In order to provide an
athletic scholarship to the student-athlete, the student must be eligible for the financial
assistance based on academic standards under NCAA rules.
Many student-athletes feel they must sign the National Letter of Intent in order to play
intercollegiate athletes, however this is not totally true. The NLI is a voluntary program
with regard to both institutions and student-athletes. No prospective student-athlete or
parent is required to sign the National Letter of Intent, and no institution is required to
join the program.
Advantages Of Signing The National Letter of Intent
There are many advantages to both prospective student-athletes and the college or
university when it comes to the NLI. On the next page, you will find a few things that
student-athletes should be aware of.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
78
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
��
Once a National Letter of Intent is signed, prospective student-athletes are no
longer subject to further recruiting contacts and calls from other colleges
��
Student-athletes are assured of an athletics scholarship for one full academic
year
��
By emphasizing a commitment to an educational institution, not particular
coaches or teams, the program focuses on a prospective student-athlete's
educational objectives
Things To Know Before Signing The National Letter of Intent
It is always a good idea to read any document that must be signed in order to know
what is in the document. Since most student-athletes have never signed a legal
document before, it is a good idea for the parents or legal guardian to read the
document prior to the student signing.
Initial Enrollment in Four-Year Institution - According to the NCAA, the National
Letter of Intent applies only to prospective student-athletes who will be entering
four-year institutions for the first time as full-time students. However, it is also permissible for 4-2-4 transfers who are graduating from a junior college to sign the NLI. No
prospective student-athlete enrolling at midyear shall sign an NLI, with the exception of
midyear junior college transfer students in football, who must graduate at midyear for
this NLI to be valid.
Financial Aid Requirement - When the student-athlete signs the NLI, they must
receive a written offer of athletics financial aid for the entire school year from the
college that they will be playing for. The written offer must list the terms and conditions
of the athletics aid award, including the amount and duration of the financial aid. For
the NLI to be valid, the student-athlete and their parent or legal guardian must sign the
NLI and they must also sign and agree to the offer of athletics aid prior to submission
to the college or university that is named in the document, and any other stated
conditions must also be met. If the conditions outlined in the financial aid offer are not
met, the NLI shall be declared null and void.
If the student-athlete signs a professional sports contract in the sport in which they
signed the NLI, the student-athlete remains bound by the provisions of the NLI in all
sports. This is true even if NCAA rules prohibit the college or university named in the
document from providing the athlete with athletics financial aid.
One-Year Attendance Requirement - The terms in the NLI shall be satisfied if the
student-athlete attends the college named in the document for one academic year or
two semesters or three quarters as a full-time student.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
79
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Penalties That Could Be Imposed
Basic Penalty - The student-athlete must understand after signing the NLI with a
college it is binding. If the athlete does not attend the college or university named in
the NLI for one full academic year, there could be penalties imposed on the student.
Penalties could be imposed if the athlete enrolls in another college or university that
participates in the NLI program. If this happens the student-athlete may not compete
in intercollegiate athletics until they have completed one full academic year in
residence at the latter institution. The Student-athlete also needs to understand they
shall lose at least one season of intercollegiate athletics competition in all sports. This
is in addition to any seasons of competition expended at any institution.
Early Signing Period Penalties - If the prospective student-athletes will be playing
football in college, they are prohibited from signing an NLI during the early signing
period. A student who signs an NLI during the early period in a sport other than football
will be ineligible for practice and competition in football during the student’s first year of
enrollment at an NLI member institution. The student-athlete will also forfeit one
season of competition in football.
There are certain special circumstances that the athlete should know if they are thing
of play multiple sports. One example is when the student’s primary sport is NOT
football, but the student anticipates participating in football. If this is the plans of the
student-athlete they should delay signing an NLI until either the football signing period
or during the regular signing period for all other sports.
Release Request and Appeal Process - Sometimes a student-athlete may want a
release from the NLI, due to unforeseen circumstances. If this happens the athlete
can request to be released from my NLI obligation, the NLI release request form and
appeal process information can be reviewed on the NLI website at
www.national-letter.org. The student-athlete must understand that the NLI Policy &
Review Committee has been authorized to issue interpretations, settle disputes and
consider petitions for complete release from the provisions of the NLI when
extenuating circumstances are determined to exist and the signing institution denies
the athlete a release. The athlete also needs to know that the Policy & Review
Committee’s decision may be appealed to the NLI Appeals Committee, whose decision
shall be final and binding.
Circumstances That Will Void The National Letter of Intent
The NLI can be declared null and void if the college or university named in the National
Letter of Intent notifies the student-athlete in writing that they have been denied
admission or if the college has failed to notify the student-athlete in writing by the
opening day of classes in the fall . The student-athlete must have submitted a
complete admission application to void the NLI.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
80
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
The NLI could be rendered null and void if the student-athlete is eligible for admission,
but the college named in the National Letter of Intent defers admission of the athlete to
a subsequent term. . However, the NLI remains binding if the student-athlete defer
their admission.
The NLI shall be declared null and void if, by the opening day of classes in the fall of
the school year, the athlete has not met (a) the institution’s requirements for
admissions, (b) its academic requirements for financial aid to student-athletes, or (c)
the NCAA requirements for financial aid (NCAA Bylaw 14.3) or the junior college
transfer requirements, provided the student-athlete has submitted all necessary
documents for eligibility determination.
According to the NCAA, if the student-athlete becomes a nonqualified athlete (refer to
NCAA Bylaw 14.3), the NLI will become void. However if the athlete is a partial qualifier per NCAA Division II Bylaw 14.3.2.1, the NLI would remain valid.
Sometimes due to budget problems of some colleges they will discontinue their
participation in a given sport. If this occurs and the student-athlete has signed the NLI,
the contact will become null and void.
Another way the NLI can be void is if the college that is listed in the National Letter of
Intent is proven to break NCAA recruiting laws.
Other Important Items To Know About The National Letter of Intent
��
The student-athlete and their parent/legal guardian has 14 days to sign the
NLI. If the NLI is not signed during this time the NLI will be invalid
��
As we have mentioned earlier in this publication, athletic scholarships are
from year to year, however when the student-athlete has signed the NLI, the
contract is in full force for a period of four (4) years, begin on the date the
athlete signs the NLI
��
Sometimes college coaches change jobs or transfer to another college’s
athletic program. When this happens the student-athlete must understand
that they have signed the NLI with the college or university and not with a
particular sport or coach. If a coach leaves the institution or the sports
program (e.g., not retained, resigns), the student-athlete is still bound by the
guidelines that are in the NLI
��
Once the student-athlete has been recruited and has decided to play for a
certain college of university, the college will want the athlete to sign the NLI.
However, many athletes and their parents/legal guardian do not know that the
college coach or an institutional representative may not hand deliver the NLI
off campus or be present off campus at the time the student signs the contract. The NLI may be delivered by express mail, courier service, regular mail,
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
81
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
e-mail or facsimile machine. An NLI transmitted to an institution by
facsimile machine or electronically shall be considered valid.
Concluding Considerations
There are a few important considerations the student-athlete should consider before
signing the National Letter of Intent.
��
Since the NLI is binding (within limits) contact, make sure the college that the
student-athlete will be attending is the right fit athletically, socially, and
academically.
��
The NLI binds the student-athlete for four-years, however athletic
scholarships are given out on a year-to-year standpoint. The student-athlete
needs to find out what could happen to their athletic scholarship (if any), if
the athlete were to get hurt or runs into academic problems
��
If a college recruits the student-athlete to play intercollegiate athletics, but
DO NOT give or offer the athlete an athletic scholarship, you cannot sign the
NLI. Sometimes the college coach will pressure the athlete to commit by
telling the student they will try to get them some money next year.
��
It is recommended the student-athlete consult with their parents/legal
guardian, coaches, and other trusted advisors before making a decision.
Remember, the NLI is voluntary NOT mandated.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
82
“There are no secrets to
success. It is the result of
preparation, hard work,
learning from failure.”
1. Most student-athlete do not need to
understand the legal requirements of the National
Letter of Intent, because their high school coach
takes care of this process.
True
NLI Is A Legal
Document
Author
Colin Powell
“Success does not come
to those who wait... and it
does not wait for anyone
to come to it.”
Author
Unknown
2. The NLI is a legal document that binds both
the student-athlete and the college to an
agreement in which the prospective
student-athlete agrees to attend the
designated college or university for one
academic year.
True
“Success doesn't
"happen". It is organized,
preempted, captured, by
consecrated common
sense.”
Author
F. E. Willard
Student Athletic Center
False
False
3. All student-athletes that are going to play
intercollegiate athletics in the United States
must sign the National Letter of Intent.
True
False
4. The NLI is a
program with
regard to both the colleges or universities and
student-athletes.
July 9, 2011
83
“Success is focusing the
full power of all you are
on what you have a
burning desire to
achieve.”
Author
Wilfred A. Peterson
“Success is never
permanent, and failure is
never final.”
Author
Mike Ditka
“Success isn't a result of
spontaneous combustion.
You must set yourself on
fire.”
Author
Arnold H. Glasgow
Student Athletic Center
5. Once a National Letter of Intent is signed,
prospective student-athletes are no longer
subject to further recruiting contacts and calls
from other colleges.
True
False
Signing The
National Letter of
Intent
6. When the student-athlete signs the NLI,
they must receive a written offer of athletics
financial aid for the entire 4 years of school
from the college that they will be playing for.
True
False
7. If the student-athlete signs a professional
sports contract in the sport in which they
signed the NLI, the student-athlete remains
bound by the provisions of the NLI in all sports.
True
False
8. If the athlete does not attend the college or
university named in the NLI for one full
academic year, there could be
imposed on the student.
July 9, 2011
84
9. If the listed college on the National Letter of
Intent is proven to break NCAA recruiting laws,
the NLI is null and void.
“Success without honor
is an unseasoned dish; it
will satisfy your hunger,
but it won't taste good.”
True
Null and Void
The NLI
Author
Joe Paterno
“Sweat plus sacrifice
equals success.”
Author
Charles O. Finley
10. The NLI could be rendered null and void if
the student-athlete is eligible for admission,
but the college named in the National Letter of
Intent defers admission of the athlete to a
subsequent term.
True
“When a goal matters
enough to a person, that
person will find a way to
accomplish what at first
seemed impossible.”
Author
Nido Qubein
Student Athletic Center
False
False
11. If the prospective student-athletes will be
playing football in college, they can sign the
NLI during the early signing period.
True
False
12. Sometimes due to budget problems of
some colleges they will discontinue their
participation in a given sport. If this occurs and
the student-athlete has signed the NLI, the
contact will become
and
.
July 9, 2011
85
“When defeat comes,
accept it as a signal that
your plans are not sound,
rebuild those plans, and
set sail once more toward
your coveted goal.”
Author
Napoleon Hill
“When it's all over, it's not
who you were. It's whether
you made a difference.”
Author
Bob Dole
“When placed in command
- take charge.”
13. The student-athlete and their parent/legal
guardian have 24 days to sign the NLI. If the NLI
is not signed during this time, the NLI will be
invalid
True
False
Other Things To
Consider
14. The student-athlete must understand that
when they sign the NLI it is with the college or
university and not with a particular sport or
coach.
True
15. If a coach leaves the institution or the
sports program (e.g., not retained, resigns),
the student-athlete is not bound by the
guidelines that are in the NLI.
True
Author
Norman Schwarzkopf
Student Athletic Center
False
False
16. In order to provide an athletic scholarship
to the student-athlete, the student must be
eligible for the financial assistance based on
academic standards under
rules.
July 9, 2011
86
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Answer Key For Understanding The
National Letter of Intent
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
False
True
False
Voluntary
True
False
True
Penalties
Student Athletic Center
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
True
True
False
Null and Void
False
True
False
NCAA
July 9, 2011
87
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Chapter 7
Understanding The
NCAA Clearinghouse
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
88
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Understanding The NCAA Clearinghouse
Some of the following information is being provided by the NCAA and if you
want to know more information go to their website www.ncaa.org.
If you are a high school student-athlete who has the goal of playing any college sport
at the NCAA Division I or Division II level you must submit your "core" class high
school transcripts and standardized test scores (ACT or SAT) to the NCAA
Clearinghouse.
Student-athletes must meet specific academic requirements before they can be eligible
to play intercollegiate athletics. The NCAA has established a standard for core courses
that need to be completed in high school. To certify the eligibility of a prospective
student-athlete, the NCAA has set up an Eligibility Clearinghouse. Student-athletes
can register with the Clearinghouse at:
http://www.ncaaclearinghouse.net.
Division III
Student-athletes that plan to play at NCAA Division III colleges do not have to register
with the Clearinghouse. Eligibility for financial aid, practice and competition at Division
III colleges are governed by institutional, conference and other NCAA regulations.
Here is what the NCAA recommends:
Students should register with the clearinghouse after the completion of their junior year
in high school. At this time, a transcript, which includes six semesters of grades, should
be sent to the clearinghouse from the high school. Additionally, students should have
their SAT or ACT test scores forwarded directly to the clearinghouse whenever they
take the exam.
The student-athlete can send their Clearinghouse forms in early -- it will not delay the
process. At the end of the your junior year, the athlete simply asks their high school
guidance counselor to forward their transcript (updated).
The student-athlete’s final transcript (at the end of their senior year) will also have to be
sent to the NCAA, by the athlete’s high school.
In order to be registered with the clearinghouse, the student must complete a
student-release form and mail or fax the top (white) copy of the form to the
clearinghouse along with the $27 registration fee. Give the yellow and pink copies of
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
89
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
the form to a high-school official who then sends the yellow copy, along with an official
copy of the student-athlete’s high-school transcript, to the clearinghouse. The athlete’s
high school should keep the pink copy for its files. After graduation and before the
school closes for the summer, the student-athlete’s school also must send the
clearinghouse a copy of your final transcript that confirms graduation from high school.
Several additional points about the NCAA's initial-eligibility requirements should
be emphasized:
��
The NCAA illegibility rules set a minimum standard only for athletics
eligibility. It's not a guide to your qualifications for admission to college
��
Under NCAA rules, your admission is governed by the entrance requirements
of each member school
��
The General Education Development (GED) test may be used under certain
conditions to satisfy the graduation requirement of Bylaw 14.3 but not the
core-course or test-score requirements
On the next page you will find a chart that list standards of the Core-Course Grade
Point Average and SAT test scores and ACT sum or composite scores as charted from
the NCAA website. Please take note that this chart can change and for the most
recent chart, you should visit the NCAA website at www.ncaa.org.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
90
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
CORE GPA
SAT
3.550 and above
3.525
3.500
3.475
3.450
3.425
3.400
3.375
3.350
3.325
3.300
3.275
3.250
3.225
3.200
3.175
3.150
3.125
3.100
3.075
3.050
3.025
3.000
2.975
2.950
2.925
2.900
2.875
2.850
2.825
2.800
2.775
2.750
2.725
2.700
2.675
2.650
2.625
2.600
2.575
2.550
2.525
2.500
2.475
2.450
2.425
2.400
2.375
2.350
2.325
2.300
2.275
2.250
2.225
2.200
2.175
2.150
2.125
2.100
2.075
2.050
2.025
2.000
400
410
420
430
440
450
460
470
480
490
500
510
520
530
540
550
560
570
580
590
600
610
620
630
640
650
660
670
680
690
700
710
720
730
730
740-750
760
770
780
790
800
810
820
830
840-850
860
860
870
880
890
900
910
920
930
940
950
960
960
970
980
990
1000
1010
Student Athletic Center
ACT SUM
37
38
39
40
41
41
42
42
43
44
44
45
46
46
47
47
48
49
49
50
50
51
52
52
53
53
54
55
56
56
57
58
59
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
July 9, 2011
91
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Division I Eligibility
According to the NCAA website, to be eligible to compete in intercollegiate athletics at
the Division I level you must:
1. Graduate from high school.
2. Complete 16 core academic courses. (Note: Students entering college in
2008 need 16 core course units; an extra course in math and one additional
language course):
��
��
��
��
��
��
English: 4 years
Natural or physical science (including at least one lab course if offered by the high school): 2 years
Mathematics (Algebra I or higher): 2 years
Additional courses in English, math, or natural or physical science:
1 year
Social science: 2 years
Extra core courses (from any category above, or foreign language,
non-doctrinal religion or philosophy);
3. Meet the standards of the core-course Grade Point Average as charted from
the NCAA website or on page 90 of this publication.
Division II Eligibility
According to the NCAA website, to be eligible to compete in intercollegiate athletics at
the Division II level you must:
1. Graduate from high school.
2. Have a GPA of 2.0 or higher (based on a 4.0 scale) in a successfully completed core curriculum of at least 14 academic course units: Note: Division II
school do not have a sliding scale like the Division I college.
English: 3 years
Math: 2 years (Algebra I or higher)
Natural or physical science including 1 yr of lab: 2 years
Additional courses in English, math or natural or physical science:
2 years
�� Social science: 2 years
�� Additional academic courses (in any of the above areas or foreign
language, or
�� philosophy or non-doctrinal religion): 3 years
��
��
��
��
3. Have a minimum SAT score of 820 or a sum ACT score of 68.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
92
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Division III Eligibility
The NCAA has no eligibility requirements in Division III athletics because there are no
athletic scholarships at the Division III level. Each school sets its own academic
requirements and provides scholarships based only on academics or need. However,
Division III schools have been known to give outstanding scholarships, grants and
tuition incentives based on various academic merits and talents.
NCAA Division Academic Reform Update
The NCAA has approved a reform policy that will penalize college teams for not
meeting set graduation and academic progress milestones each year, as well as
historically. Under the new rules, programs that do not meet standards can face
penalties such as loss of scholarships, recruiting limitations, and post-season eligibility.
The new standard is based on a 50% graduation rate over a 5 year period and also
takes into account the number of players who remain academically eligible each
semester.
Eligibility For Home-Schooled Athletes
Students who were home schooled for any part of high school (grades nine through
12) must now register with the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse. The
clearinghouse will process all home-school certifications. There will no longer be the
need for institutions to file initial-eligibility waivers for students who have been home
schooled.
What Courses May Be Used To Meet The Core-Course
Requirements
In Division I, only courses completed in grades nine through 12 may be considered
core courses. In Division II, a student may use all core courses completed prior to initial, full-time collegiate enrollment to meet the core-curriculum requirements (including
a core course completed during summer school after grade 12). A college course
taken during high school by a home-schooled student may be used to meet the corecourse requirements, provided the course is placed on the home-school transcript,
would be accepted for any other student and meets all requirements to be considered
a core course.
[Note: Courses completed during eighth grade and credits awarded through
credit-by-exam may not be used to meet the core-course requirements.]
Home-Schooled Athletes should work with their parents or home-school instructor to
ensure that they are indeed taking the required number of core courses in the
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
93
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
appropriate subject matters. Home-Schooled Athletes may want to consider providing
the coach a copy of their home-school transcript and ACT/SAT test score.
Home-Schooled Athletes should register with the Clearinghouse after completion of his
or her junior year.
What Are The Differences Between The Three Divisions In The NCAA
Division I
Division I member institutions have to sponsor at least seven sports for men and seven
for women (or six for men and eight for women) with two team sports for each gender.
Each playing season has to be represented by each gender as well. There are contest
and participant minimums for each sport, as well as scheduling criteria. For sports
other than football and basketball, Division I schools must play 100 percent of the
minimum number of contests against Division I opponents -- anything over the
minimum number of games has to be 50 percent Division I. Men's and women's
basketball teams have to play all but two games against Division I teams; for men, they
must play one-third of all their contests in the home arena. Schools that have football
are classified as Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) or NCAA Football
Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA). Football Bowl Subdivision schools
are usually fairly elaborate programs. Football Bowl Subdivision teams have to meet
minimum attendance requirements (average 15,000 people in actual or paid
attendance per home game), which must be met once in a rolling two-year period.
NCAA Football Championship Subdivision teams do not need to meet minimum
attendance requirements. Division I schools must meet minimum financial aid awards
for their athletics program, and there are maximum financial aid awards for each sport
that a Division I school cannot exceed.
Division II
Division II institutions have to sponsor at least five sports for men and five for
women, (or four for men and six for women), with two team sports for each gender,
and each playing season represented by each gender. There are contest and
participant minimums for each sport, as well as scheduling criteria -- football and
men's and women's basketball teams must play at least 50 percent of their games
against Division II or Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) or Football
Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) opponents. For sports other than
football and basketball there are no scheduling requirements. There are not
attendance requirements for football, or arena game requirements for basketball.
There are maximum financial aid awards for each sport that a Division II school
must not exceed. Division II teams usually feature a number of local or in-state
student-athletes. Many Division II student-athletes pay for school through a
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
94
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
combination of scholarship money, grants, student loans and employment earnings.
Division II athletics programs are financed in the institution's budget like other
academic departments on campus. Traditional rivalries with regional institutions
dominate schedules of many Division II athletics programs.
Division III
Division III institutions have to sponsor at least five sports for men and five for women,
with two team sports for each gender, and each playing season represented by each
gender. There are minimum contest and participant minimums for each sport. Division
III athletics features student-athletes who receive no financial aid related to their
athletic ability and athletic departments are staffed and funded like any other
department in the university. Division III athletics departments place special importance
on the impact of athletics on the participants rather than on the spectators. The
student-athlete's experience is of paramount concern. Division III athletics encourages
participation by maximizing the number and variety of athletics opportunities available
to students, placing primary emphasis on regional in-season and conference
competition.
Certification of NCAA Divisions I and II Amateurism Rules
Amateurism certification will not cover all areas of NCAA Bylaw 12. Institutions will be
responsible for determining the amateur status of prospective student-athletes for the
areas of the amateurism bylaws not covered by the amateurism certification process.
In addition, institutions will be responsible for certifying compliance for all amateurism
bylaws during the time period between the student-athlete's request for final
amateurism certification and his or her initial enrollment at an NCAA institution.
Selected amateurism rules to be certified by amateurism certification include:
�� Contracts with a professional team (Division I)
�� Salary for participating in athletics (Division I)
�� Prize money above actual and necessary expenses (Division I)
�� Play with professionals (Division I)
�� Tryouts, practice or competition with a professional team (Division I)
�� Benefits from an agent or prospective agent (Divisions I and II)
�� Agreement to be represented by an agent (Divisions I and II)
�� Organized-competition rule (Divisions I and II)
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
95
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
NCAA Athletic Scholarships – By Division
The following is a description of the differences in athletic scholarships between the
three NCAA Divisions. This information is being provide by the NCAA and can be
reviewed on their website.
Division I Athletic Scholarships
Divisions I schools can offer athletic scholarships and there are a maximum number of
athletic awards given for each sport, for instance:
��
Division I-A football schools are limited to a total of 85 full scholarships.
Virtually all Division I-A schools give the full scholarship, rather than partial
scholarships.
��
Division I-AA schools are restricted to 63 full scholarships. Unlike Division IA schools, Division I-AA schools can give partial scholarships and they have
no limit as to the number of players receiving partial assistance.
��
The service academies, such as Army, Navy, and Air Force; are exempt from
scholarship rules because all of their students receive full scholarships from
the federal government.
Information on the number of scholarships given by sport can be obtained at:
http://www.ncaa.org/library/membership/division_i_manual/2005-06/200506_d1_manual.pdf
Division II Athletic Scholarships
Division II schools can offer athletic scholarships. There are maximum financial aid
awards for each sport that a Division II school must not exceed. The maximum for
Division II football is 36. Many Division II student-athletes pay for school through a
combination of various scholarship dollars, grants, student loans and employment
earnings. Information on the number of scholarships given by sport can be obtained at:
http://www.ncaa.org/library/membership/division_ii_manual/2005-06/200506_d2_manual.pdf
Division III Athletic Scholarships
Division III are typically smaller schools that focus primarily on academics. Division III
schools are not allowed to offer athletic scholarships. However, this is no reflection on
the quality of those schools, or the ability for student-athletes to obtain sizeable
“non-athletic” scholarships. Each school sets its own academic requirements and many
give outstanding scholarships, grants and tuition incentives based on academic merit
and talent.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
96
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
NAIA - Scholarships & Basic Eligibility Rules
The NAIA consists of about 500 colleges and universities, many of which are small
schools. According to the NAIA website (www.naia.org), the conference has 32
districts in 50 states and sponsors national championships in most major sports.
Scholarships
Like the NCAA, the NAIA awards full and partial athletic scholarships if the
student-athlete meets two of the following three eligibility requirements upon entering
as a freshman:
1. A high school GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.
2. An 18 on the ACT or 860 on the SAT.
3. Graduate in the upper half of the high school graduating class.
The student-athlete must also maintain consistent academic performance as well.
NAIA schools are allowed to combine both academic and athletic scholarships. While
there can be more scholarship money available for a student-athlete in the NAIA, these
schools are often private and the cost to attend is much higher on the average.
The rules and regulations are also less complicated than in the NCAA. One big difference is the fact that in the NAIA you can try out with the team. This is a tremendous
opportunity for student-athletes that were not heavily recruited, but exceptional at their
sport.
Information on the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is available at:
http://www.naia.org
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
97
1. To certify the eligibility of a prospective
student-athlete, the NCAA has set up an
Eligibility Clearinghouse.
“Success is not
measured by what you
accomplish but by the
opposition you have
encountered, and the
courage with which you
have maintained the
struggle against
overwhelming odds.“
Author
Orison Swett Marden
“Success is not to be
pursued; it is to be
attracted by the person
you become.”
Author
Jim Rohn
True
Registering For The
NCAA Clearinghouse
2. If you are a high school student-athlete who
has the goal of playing any college sport at the
NCAA Divisions I, II, or III level you must
submit your "core" class high school
transcripts and standardized test scores (ACT
or SAT) to the NCAA Clearinghouse.
True
“Success isn't a result of
spontaneous combustion.
You must set yourself on
fire.”
Author
Arnold H. Glasgow
Student Athletic Center
False
False
3. The NCAA illegibility rules set a minimum
standard only for athletics eligibility. It's not a
guide to your qualifications for admission to
college.
True
False
4. When registering with the NCAA
Clearinghouse the student must pay
Registration Fee.
July 9, 2011
98
5. Under NCAA rules, your admission is
governed by the entrance requirements of each
member school as well as it’s athletic department.
“Success without honor
is an unseasoned dish; it
will satisfy your hunger,
but it won't taste good.”
Author
Joe Paterno
“Sweat plus sacrifice
equals success.”
True
False
NCAA
Clearinghouse
Qualifications
6. The General Education Development
(GED) test may not be used to satisfy the
graduation requirement of Bylaw 14.3.
Author
Charles O. Finley
True
“When a goal matters
enough to a person, that
person will find a way to
accomplish what at first
seemed impossible.”
Author
Nido Qubein
Student Athletic Center
False
7. To be eligible to compete in intercollegiate
athletics at the Division I level you must
complete 16 core academic courses.
True
False
8. To be eligible to compete in intercollegiate
athletics at the Division I level you must
complete
years of English.
July 9, 2011
99
“When you are down on
your back, if you can look
up, you can get up.”
Author
Les Brown
“When the will is ready
the feet are light.”
9. According to the NCAA website, to be eligible
to compete in intercollegiate athletics at the
Division II level you must have a GPA of 2.0 or
higher (based on a 4.0 scale)
True
False
NCAA
Clearinghouse
Division II
10. According to the NCAA website, to be
eligible to compete in intercollegiate athletics
at the Division II level you must have 2 years
of Social Science.
Author
Proverb
True
“When someone tells me
there is only one way to do
things, it always lights a
fire under my butt. My
instant reaction is, I'm
gonna prove you wrong.”
Author
Picabo Street
Student Athletic Center
False
11. According to the NCAA website, to be
eligible to compete in intercollegiate athletics
at the Division II level you must have 2 years
of English.
True
False
12. According to the NCAA website, to be
eligible to compete in intercollegiate athletics
at the Division II level you must have minimum
SAT score of
or a sum ACT score of 68.
July 9, 2011
100
“The best thing about the
future is that it comes
only one day at a time.”
Author
Abraham Lincoln
“The best and fastest way
to learn a sport is to
watch and imitate a
champion.”
Author
Jean-Claude Kelly
“The achievements which
society rewards are won at
the cost of diminution of
personality”
Author
Carl Jung
Student Athletic Center
13. Division III institutions have to sponsor at
least five sports for men and five for women, with
two team sports for each gender, and each
playing season represented by each gender.
True
False
Differences Between
The Divisions
14. Division I member institutions have to
sponsor at least seven sports for men and
seven for women (or six for men and eight for
women) with two team sports for each gender.
True
False
15. Division II institutions have to sponsor at
least five sports for men and five for women,
(or four for men and six for women), with two
team sports for each gender, and each playing
season represented by each gender.
True
False
16. Division III athletics departments place
special importance on the impact of athletics
on the participants rather than on the
.
July 9, 2011
101
17. Divisions I schools can offer athletic
scholarships and there are a maximum number
of athletic awards given for each sport.
“Golf is a game whose
aim is to hit a very small
ball into an even smaller
hole, with weapons
singularly ill-designed for
the purpose.”
True
Amount Of
Scholarships
Author
Winston Churchill
“Football doesn't build
character. It eliminates
weak ones.”
False
18. There are maximum financial aid awards
for each sport that a Division II school must not
exceed. The maximum for Division II football is
46.
Author
Darrell Royal
True
False
19. Division III schools are not allowed to offer
athletic scholarships.
“The country is full of good
coaches. What it takes to
win is a bunch of interested
players.”
Author
Don Coryell
Student Athletic Center
True
False
20. Division I-A football schools are limited to
a total of 85
.
July 9, 2011
102
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Answer Key For Understanding
NCAA Clearinghouse
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
True
False
True
$27
False
False
True
4
True
True
Student Athletic Center
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
False
820
True
True
False
Spectators
True
False
True
Full Scholarships
July 9, 2011
103
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Chapter 8
Understanding How
Athletic Scholarships
Work
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
104
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
How Athletic Scholarships Work According To The IRS
This part of the publication is designed to educate the parents of student-athletes that
may receive an athletic scholarship.
Most parents and coaches are unaware how athletic scholarships are treated by the
IRS and by knowing how these scholarships work could mean the family could receive
up to $9,600 of additional dollars to cover educational expenses.
Most middle and high-income taxpayers that have student-athletes will not qualify for
need-based financial aid at most state-supported colleges and universities other than
student loans.
Therefore, proper tax planning in conjunction with understanding how best to use
athletic scholarships is a must.
Most student-athletes will not receive a full athletic scholarship. Therefore, the
remaining cost of the education will need to be paid from other resources.
Understanding IRS Publication 970
In evaluating IRS Publication 970, you may find that understanding how scholarships
work and qualifying for the tax credits and deductions is more complicated than what is
being communicated to the general public.
IRS Publication 970 defines a scholarship (whether athletic or non-athletic) as
follows:
“A scholarship is generally an amount of money paid to a college or
given to the student in order to pay for the pursuit of an education.
The student may be either an undergraduate or a graduate student.”
Most athletic scholarships are distributed by athletic department funds and then
created to the student-athlete’s direct cost of attend the college.
However, some athletic scholarships can be used to pay for personal expenses of the
student-athlete during his or her undergraduate studies.
Many parents of student-athletes assume that all athletic scholarships are tax-free.
Another assumption is that an athletic scholarship is treated the same by the college
and the IRS.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
105
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
This is not true.
Colleges and universities define all forms of scholarships and grants as funds that are
used for the benefit of the student based on the need of the student or on his or her
merit and special skills (such as athletic, music, or art). On the other hand, the IRS
defines all scholarships and grants as qualified or non-qualified.
The IRS does not care whether the scholarship or grant was given to the student
based on need, academic merit or athletically. Now here is where it starts to get a little
complicated. The IRS’s major concern is how the scholarship is used by the
student-athlete. If the athletic scholarship is used to pay for qualified educational
expenses, the scholarship is tax-free to the student-athlete.
If the funds are used to pay for non-qualified expenses, the athletic scholarship is
taxable to the student-athlete. The complexity begins in determining exactly what the
IRS determines what are qualified educational expenses.
What Are Qualified Expenses
IRS defines qualified educational expenses for college savings plans (such as 529
plans) as tuition/fees, room and board, and some qualified personal expenses such as
books, supplies.
However, when it comes to qualifying for the tax-free athletic scholarships, educational
tax credits and deductions, the IRS defines qualified educational expenses as tuition/
fees and necessary costs only.
In other words if your student-athlete were lucky enough to get a full athletic
scholarship, 2/3 of the scholarship could be 100% taxable to the student-athlete in the
year the scholarship was received.
As you will notice, the definition of qualified expenses for 529 savings plans is much
broader than the definition of qualified expenses when dealing with tax-free
scholarships, tax credits and deductions.
Qualifying For Educational Tax Credits and Deductions
To qualify for the educational tax credits and deductions someone must pay for
qualified educational expenses from ordinary income, savings, non-tax-free
investments, gifts, inheritance, and loans to name a few.
In addition to tuition/fees, athletic scholarships can be used (tax-free) for other course
related qualified expenses such as:
► Required fees
► Required books
► Required supplies and equipment
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
106
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
However, in order for the above to be classified as qualified expenses, they must be
paid or purchases by ALL students attending the college or ALL students taking a
particular course of study.
The key word in this definition is required.
Whether the student-athletic must report his or her athletic scholarship as taxable
income depends on whether the student must file a tax return and whether any part of
the athletic scholarship is taxable.
If the student-athlete’s only income is a tax-free athletic scholarship, the student does
not have to file a tax return and no reporting is necessary.
However, if all or part of the athletic scholarship is taxable and the student is required
to file a tax return, the student must report the taxable amount of the athletic
scholarship as income.
These distinctions are very confusing to many families because a W-2 is usually not
sent to the student-athlete notifying them to report this income.
To make matters worse, these families do not know how the college used the athletic
scholarship.
The college will send the athlete a 1098-T that will give the student information on what
the qualified expenses were during the year and the amount of the athletic or other
scholarships received.
However, once again this 1098-T does not tell the student-athlete whether the
scholarship is taxable or not, thus leaving the student or parents calling their tax
professional for an explanation.
It is important to note at this time that some athletic scholarships do not restrict the
use of the money that is given to students to cover college costs while some
do restrict how the money is to be used.
If the athletic scholarship has a restrictive use, the student and parents need to make
sure they know what the money can be used for.
For example:
If the donor (college or other resource) restricts the use of the money for tuition
and fees only, the student-athlete does not have to claim the money as taxable
income.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
107
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
If the donor restricts the use of the money for expenses (other than required tuition and fees), the student-athlete must claim the scholarship as a taxable event,
because the money will be used for nonqualified expenses.
If the athletic scholarship has a nonrestrictive use, the student-athletic can elect
to use the scholarship for any purpose they choose as long as the money is
used for college related expenses.
Normally, colleges will apply the first money they receive toward tuition and fees
(qualified expenses). However, if the scholarship can be used for any educational
expenses, the student and parents can elect (on the student’s tax return) how they
want the scholarship to be used.
If the student elects to use the nonrestrictive scholarship to pay for nonqualified
expenses, the parents then can claim the educational tax credit or deductions. In this
case, the student must complete an income tax return and claim the scholarship as
taxable income. In many cases, the student will not have to pay any taxes on the
scholarship if the scholarship is less than his or her standard deduction.
Most donors (colleges or other sources) do not restrict the use of the scholarship even
if the scholarship is called a tuition scholarship and even if the amount of the
scholarship is the exact amount of the tuition at the college. If the family is in doubt of
how the scholarship is to be used, they need to check with the donor of the funds for
clarification, not their tax professional.
Qualifying For Educational Tax Credits And Deductions
Earlier in the publication, there was reference that required books, supplies, and
equipment were qualified expenses and any scholarship used to purchase these
expenses would be tax-free. But how will this affect qualifying for the educational tax
credits and deductions.
Remember, qualified expenses according to the IRS are expenses that are required
to be paid by all students or all students that are taking a particular course of
study and must be paid directly the college or university.
Let’s look at an example of how complicated it can become when dealing with IRS
definitions and their compliance issues. Example - Donna and Bill, both first-year
student athletes at College W, are required to have certain books and other reading
material to use in their mandatory first-year classes.
The college has no written policy about how students should obtain these materials,
but any student who purchases them from College W’s bookstore will receive a bill
directly from the college.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
108
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Bill bought his books from a friend, (not directly from the college) so what he paid for
them is not considered a qualified educational expense.
Donna bought hers at College W’s bookstore. Although Donna paid College W directly
for her first-year books and materials, her payment is not a qualified expense because
the books and materials are not required to be purchased from College W for
enrollment or attendance at the institution. In this example, Donna purchased her
books and supplies thinking they were qualified expenses.
However, there is a misunderstanding of the IRS rules.
Donna would not be able to claim the tax credit or deduction because College W did
not have a written policy stating the material must be bought directly from the
college’s bookstore. This is true even though the material was required as a condition
for enrollment and attendance, the IRS would not allow the material to be classified as
qualified expenses for qualifying for the educational tax credits or deduction.
Conclusion
Receiving an athletic scholarship is a great honor not only for the student-athlete but
for the parents as well. However, most student-athletes will not receive a full athletic
scholarship. Therefore, parents should take a proactive role in finding other resources
to help pay for college expenses that are not covered by the athletic scholarship.
Understanding how athletic scholarships, tax credits and deductions work is an
important first step.
Normally the student’s high school or college coaches have more than one
game plan while planning for athletic competition.
Therefore, it is a good idea for parents to do the same thing in order to help
offset educational expenses that are not covered by athletic scholarship funds.
There are very few experts today that parents can turn to in order to help them set up
an alternative game plan. If you have received this publication from your coach or
school, I recommend you get back to them for a recommendation of a professional that
can help in cover additional college expenses.
If you were given this publication from a trained and certified athletic financial
consultant, I suggest giving them a call in order to set up an alternative plan to cover
additional educational expenses you may incur. Understanding how athletic
scholarships, tax credits and deductions work is confusing.
Is it impossible to navigate?
No, not with the right knowledge and help from a trained consultant.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
109
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Chapter 9
Understanding What To Do
If Your Student Does Not
Receive A Full Athletic
Scholarships
Game Plan - B
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
110
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Game Plan - B
The following information will outline what families can do if their student-athlete does
not receive a full athletic scholarship or lose the scholarship due to unforeseen
circumstances.
When dealing with any high ticket purchase, families must know the True Direct
out-of-pocket cost for the purchase.
What is Direct Out-Of-Pocket Spending?
This is defined as the amount of money that an individual will spend DIRECTLY from
monthly income or investments.
Direct out-of-pocket spending can cause individuals to run into financial
difficulties by over extending their monthly or yearly cash flow.
When individuals do not plan ahead financially to pay for their student’s college
education or when large unexpected costs occur, financial problems could cause a
drastic affect on the family’s financial future.
In order to simplify this information, we will show you what a real family did to help pay
for college expenses when their athlete only received a partial athletic
scholarship.
Background Information
The Total Cost of Attending the college is $17,000 a year. The college costs are broken down as follows:
Tuition/Fees
Room/Board
Book/Supplies
Miscellaneous Costs
$ 6,750
6,250
750
3,250
Total Cost of Attending
$17,000
The Total Cost of Attending is what is used by the Federal, State and the Universities
to calculate the financial need of the family.
In this family’s situation, the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) was calculated to be
$17,265.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
111
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
This was calculated by taking the family’s income and assets and ran it through the
Federal Methodology Formula, which is the formula that is used to calculate the EFC
of the family.
Once the Needs Analysis Company calculated the family’s Need the college took the
EFC and subtracted it from the Total Cost of Attending the college.
In this situation, the Need of the family is $0.
(Total Cost of Attending = $17,000 minus Family Expected Contribution = $17,265
= $0 Need).
Since the family’s Need is $0, the student will qualify for what is called an Unsubsidized
Stafford Loan of $3,500 for the freshman year in college.
As we mentioned in Chapter 3 of this publication, there are two types of Stafford
Loans. The first type is called a Subsidized Stafford Loan. This is a Need-Based loan
that is available to students that have a financial need. If the student had qualified for
this Need-Based loan, the Federal Government would have paid the interest on the loan
while the student-athlete attended college.
Since the athlete did not qualify for need, the student could qualify for the Unsubsidized
Stafford Loan, which is identical to the Subsidized Stafford Loan in all aspects
except the Federal Government does NOT pay the Unsubsidized Stafford Loan’s interest
while the student-athlete is attending college.
The college did offer the student-athlete a $5,500 athletic scholarship.
Now let’s look at what the Student-Athlete will receive up to this point:
Unsubsidized Stafford Loan:
Athletic Scholarship:
$3,500
5,500
Total: $9,000
After subtracting the student loan and the athletic scholarship from the Total Cost of
Attending the college ($17,000) we have a remaining cost of:
Remaining Cost of College:
$8,000
Up to this point I must remind you that the student loan IS NOT a Direct Out-of-Pocket
Expense, because the money it is NOT coming from the family’s annual income or
from their investments.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
112
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Since the loan is not a Direct Out-of-Pocket Expense and the student can elect to
defer loan payments until after graduation, the family will not have a direct affect on
their monthly spending.
Based on the family’s income of $96,000 a year and since the family will use $3,500 of
the Unsubsidized Stafford Loan to pay for Qualified Tuition/Fees, the parents will
qualify for what is called the American Opportunity Tax Credit.
Let’s look at the Opportunity Tax Credit:
American Opportunity Tax Credit (OC)
The OC is a partial refundable credit against an individual's federal income tax liability.
Calculation of Credit… The OC is calculated by taking 100% of the first $2,000 of
"qualified tuition and related expenses" plus 25% of the excess of these expenses, up
to a $2,000 limit.
For example, if the qualified expenses of an individual student were $4,600, the OC
would be $2,500 (100% X $2,000 plus 25% X $2,000). However, if qualified expenses
were only $3,000, the OC would be $2,250 (100% X $2,000 plus 25% X $250).
Maximum Credit Allowed… The maximum OC allowed per student is $2,500 per
year. The credit can be claimed for each student claimed on the parents’ tax return.
For example, if there are two "eligible students" that have qualified educational
expenses, a maximum OC of $5,000 (2 students X $2,500) can be claimed.
Credit Phase Out… The OC is phased out when the taxpayer reaches certain levels of
"Modified Adjusted Gross Income". The credit is ratably phased out for Modified AGI of
between $80,000 to $90,000 for single or head of household taxpayers and $160,000
to $180,000 for married taxpayers, based on 2009 tax laws.
Qualified Expenses… The OC is only available for certain qualified expenses for
undergraduate courses at "eligible educational institutions".
Qualified expenses consist of tuition and related fees and required books/
supplies at an eligible educational institution, but do not room and board, personal
transportation or living expenses, activity fees, or insurance.
Reduction of Qualified Expenses… Tax-free grants or scholarships (Need, Merit, or
Athletic) that are used to pay for qualified expenses will reduce the tax credit down
dollar for dollar.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
113
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Other items that will reduce qualified educational expenses are:
��
��
��
��
��
��
Employer provided educational assistance
Veterans’ education benefits
Tax free income from Coverdell IRAs
529 Savings or Prepaid Tuition plans
EE Savings Bonds, and
Qualified expenses deducted elsewhere on the tax return
The Opportunity Tax Credit can be used for the first four years of college. The tuition
and necessary fees at the college the student-athlete (in our example) will be attending
is $6,750.
Since the Opportunity Tax Credit MUST be reduced by any tax-free benefit the student
may receive, we must deduct the athletic scholarship from the tuition/fees to come up
with the remaining qualified expenses that can be used to receive the Opportunity Tax
Credit.
(Tuition/Fees = $6,750 minus Athletic Scholarship = $5,500 = $1,250 of qualified
expenses).
After subtract the athletic scholarship from qualified tuition/fee we have left over $1,250
of qualified expenses remaining. Since the maximum of qualified expenses that can be
used to get the Opportunity Tax Credit is $4,000, we have enough expenses for the
parents to receive a Opportunity Tax Credit of $1,250.
As of the present, we now know we have the following money to help pay for
educational expenses:
Stafford Loan:
Athletic Scholarship:
Opportunity Tax Credit:
$ 3,500
5,500
1,250
Total Available:
$10,250
Now let’s summaries where we are so far:
Total Cost Of Attending
Total Money Available
$17,000
10,250
Total Cost Remaining
$ 6,750
Things are starting to look a lot better, but we are not through.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
114
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
The Total Cost of Attending the college that the student-athlete will attend includes the
following areas:
��
��
��
��
Tuition/Fees
Room/Board
Books/Supplies
Miscellaneous Costs
Based on the above you must understand what the Direct Cost you must pay the
college for your student-athlete attendance.
The Direct Cost (or money that you pay the college directly) is Tuition/Fees and Room/
Board.
The other areas are called Indirect Costs (money that is NOT paid directly to the
college) such as Books/Supplies and Miscellaneous Costs.
We all realize that the student-athlete will have to buy books/supplies. Miscellaneous
costs normally consist of travel costs, spending money, etc. Looking at these expenses
you need to determine if they are additional expenses that you are not paying now.
For example: Many families have to buy books and supplies while their student is
attending high school. Of course, these expenses may not be as high as college books
and supplies. However, it is a cost that you are accustomed to spending and some of
this cost is already in your yearly expenditures that you have been paying for the last
four years. Also, you maybe giving spending money to your student and letting them
use your gas/oil in the family automobiles.
These costs must be realized when looking at the Indirect Costs of attending college.
Since you are spending money on book/supplies while the student is living at home, we
can use an estimated cost of $200 a year. This money now can be shifted to help pay for
some of the cost of books/supplies while attending college.
Now what about Miscellaneous Costs?
College Miscellaneous Costs are probably the most overlooked expense that is
included in the Total Cost of Attending College.
Many colleges include in Miscellaneous Costs the following:
��
��
��
��
Travel expenses
Spending money
Clothing
Other personal expenses
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
115
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Now let’s look at these costs a little closer. Instead of pulling numbers out of the air,
let’s use a reliable source that can give us a good assessment of what the average
middle-income family normally pay toward miscellaneous costs.
The IRS and the Federal Government gives an independent taxpayer what is called a
PERSONAL EXEMPTION.
A Personal Exemption is a sum of money that the Federal Government and the IRS
feel that a person could survive on during the year. In other words, this sum of money
should be enough to buy food and basic necessary human needs. The present
Personal Exemption is $3,500 a year.
This is taken off as a deduction on your income taxes per family member. The IRS
gives you this deduction because it is the amount Congress feels it will take to cover
basic needs of each individual person in the family.
Now how much do you spend annually while your student-athlete is living at home?
Is your water bill higher?
How about your grocery bill!
Do you give the student-athlete spending money?
Do you purchase their cloths?
Do you let the student-athlete drive your car and burn up your gas cursing the
local high school hangout?
�� Do you pay high school activity fees?
��
��
��
��
��
The list can go on and on!
What do you really spend on your student-athlete while they are under your roof!
How many of you can save $10 a day or adjust your daily spending by this
amount?
This should not be a major problem for most of you. However, some of you may feel
this would be a difficult task. If that is the case let’s look at where we can find more
ACCESSIBLE money.
I don’t know if any of you have really noticed, but every year our tax liability changes
due to inflationary adjustments on personal exemptions and tax brackets. Each year
our personal exemption allowance is normally increased by $50 per person.
Each year our taxable income brackets changes by $2,000 to $2,500.
In other words, last year you could have paid 25% tax on $2,500 but due to inflation
adjustment to your bracket, next year you will only pay 15%.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
116
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Based on these yearly changes we normally will pay less tax on our taxable income.
In our case study, the family has four individuals in the household and due to
inflationary adjustment to their taxes, they will notice an additional $405 of less tax next
year. This tax savings does not take into consideration any state income tax savings.
Now let’s look at where we stand now:
Stafford Loan:
Athletic Scholarship:
Opportunity Tax Credit:
Student Consumptions While Living At Home
Tax Savings From Bracket Creep
$3,500
5,500
1,250
5,500 *
405
Total Available:
$16,155
Remain College Cost
$
845
Note: * The items that are being consumed by the student-athlete while living at
home can be transferred to cover college expense:
��
��
��
��
��
��
��
Food
Spending Money
Gas/Oil (automobile)
School Activity Fees
High School - School Supplies
Senior Activities
Family’s Travel Expenses Attending Athlete’s games
Since the family has $850 of remaining college costs to cover and the family could
have qualified for the full Opportunity Tax Credit of $2,500, the student-athlete could
claim $2,750 of the athletic scholarship as taxable income, thus increasing the
parents’ tax credit by $1,250 for the first four years of college. Considering this
addition savings, the family is left with $0 of college expenses to be paid.
Now here is the best news of all.
Normally when a student-athlete is given a partial athletic scholarship at the beginning
of their college career and they excel in their sport for one or two years, they normally
are put on FULL scholarship the last two years of college.
If this occurs the student-athlete will not have to borrow any additional money for college
and Mom/Dad can, (if they choose) use the money they were paying for the education
and use it to pay the student’s loans off before graduation.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
117
By Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
About The Author
Chuck Moore, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011
118
By Chuck Moore, CCPS, CCFC, CAMC, CAFC
About The Author
Chuck Moore is the president and founder of the Educational
Literacy and the Student Athletic Centers located in the state of
Kentucky.
He is also the Director of Educational Services for the American
College Planning Foundation (a non-profit organization).
Chuck is a Certified Cash Flow Consultant, Certified Athletic Marketing Consultant and
Certified Athletic Financial Consultant.
Over the last 26 years, Chuck has helped hundreds of families in the area of college
financial literacy and athletic marketing issues.
He has been approved to conduct EILA credits (professional development courses)
to all guidance counselors, principals, athletic directors and school administrators in
the state of Kentucky when it comes to addressing the high cost of a college
education, family college financial literacy and athletic issues.
These same professional development courses are also approved in the state and
South Carolina.
He has appeared on local and national radio and TV and has been interviewed and
published by local/national media organizations, including the National EAJournal
(national publication for CPAs and Enrolled Agents).
Chuck provides financial educational programs and consulting for college bound
students and parents. He also provides college financial literacy assistance to
employees of corporations, employees of small businesses, and hospitals on
addressing college affordability issues on a personal standpoint.
Chuck has trained CPAs, past college athletes, past/present high school/college
coaches, realtors, mortgage brokers and financial consultants on college financial
literacy and athletic marketing issues across the United State.
Student Athletic Center
July 9, 2011