For Student Athletes with a goal to play on a university/college team, the journey to become a team athlete starts as early as grade 9 if applying to institutions in the US, and grade 10 or 11 if applying to institutions in Canada.
The FIRST STEP is to learn about the process - take time to explore websites and read through some important information:
Guide for the College Bound Student Athlete (Student Athlete Preparation from Grades 9 to 12 - Opportunities in the US)
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA - Student Athlete Opportunities in the US)
NCAA Eligibility for BC Students
U Sports (Student Athlete Opportunities in Canada)
The SECOND STEP is to register to show you are available/eligible:
Eligibility Centre (US) - registration seems to be free
U Sports Central (Canada) - seems to be a $50 registration fee
Important Considerations/Tips:
*Academics are important: Focusing on doing your best in your schoolwork from grades 9-12 is important. Universities/colleges in the US will look at academics from grades 9-12; universities/colleges in Canada tend to focus more on grade 11-12, but it can vary. Student athletes still need to apply for institutions through the normal admission process. Students should always try to apply before early application deadlines (if applicable) to make the process flow smoothly (timelines can be difficult).
*Be realistic: It takes a lot of time and effort to work towards being a student athlete. It is important to consider if your academics and athletic skills are strong enough to earn you admission to the university or college you are interested in playing for, and to also understand that it is quite competitive to earn and keep a spot as a student athlete. It can definitely be a very worthwhile process, but it requires hard work and perseverance.
*Start early - make contact and follow-up: Students should have an athletes resume as well as a personal highlight video ready for early grade 10 (especially for US opportunities). These should be sent out to coaches on teams students are interested in playing on. It is important for the student to be communicating with coaches, and not the students parents. Sometimes it can be helpful to have a coach reach out also, but the main point of communication should be the student. A lot of follow-up will likely be required in order to get replies. It is also important to let your coach(es) know about your plans and that you may need them to write a reference letter for you at some point.
Questions? Please come and see me (Mrs. Price) any time to discuss student athlete processes!