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College Admissions Guide for Volleyball Players

First Things First

This page is designed to provide you with important information about participation in volleyball at the collegiate level. The information contained here is critical especially if you want to play in college at a Division I or II institution.

The most important publication for all high-school athletes preparing to compete at the college level is the NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete. This booklet summarizes the rules and regulations in an easy-to-read form. It includes information about academic eligibility, core course, SAT/ACT tests, recruiting, financial aid, and college freshman eligibility requirements for Divisions I and II.

You can view a copy of the Guide by contacting the NCAA at NCAA One free copy is also available by calling the NCAA at (317) 917-6222.

If you intend to participate in Division I or II athletics as a freshman in college, you must be registered with and be certified as eligible by the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse. Refer to the Academic Eligibility Section to determine the initial-eligibility standards that apply to you. Please note that initial-eligibility certification pertains only to whether you meet the NCAA requirements for participation as a freshman in Division I or II athletics and has no bearing on your admission to a particular Division I or II institution.

You should apply for certification after your junior year in high school if you are sure you wish to participate in intercollegiate athletics as a freshman at a Division I or II institution. If you fail to submit all required documents, your incomplete file will be discarded after three years, requiring you to pay a new fee if certification is requested after that time. There is no deadline to register with the clearinghouse; however, you must be certified before receiving an athletics scholarship, practicing and competing at a Division I or II institution. You can register online at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net. This site will provide you with information about initial-eligibility at NCAA Division I and II member colleges and universities.

College Planning Timeline

Planning should begin during your freshman year because there are many details you will need to prepare for college. Establishing and following a manageable schedule will assist with this task.

Freshman/Sophomore Year

Check with your guidance counselor to be sure that you are taking courses that meet the NCAA's initial eligibility requirements. (It is your responsibility to inform school personnel of your intent to play college sports.) Your scholastic record is important.
Begin to keep photocopies of all "press releases" mentioning your name, including articles in local newspapers and our own school paper. You will want to include a couple of the best ones in your mailings to interested coaches.
You may wish video tape a few of your games. This will give coaches the chance to see you playing volleyball.
Be a team player both on and off the field, your ATTITUDE will be noticed by coaches and teachers. Remember, these people may be writing college recommendations for you in the future.
It is appropriate to write a brief letter of introduction and interest to college coaches at this time, but you will send a more detailed communication with your athletic resume during your junior year.
Play club volleyball. College coaches, recruiters, and scouts cannot attend many high school games because their own teams compete during the same season. They will attend regional and national tournaments to evaluate talent among top high school players.

Junior Year

Continue to build a strong transcript by taking challenging academic courses, earning good grades, and taking the PSAT and SAT I. Work to be a leader both on and off the court. Take the PSAT in the fall in preparation for the SAT and for eligibility for National Merit Scholarships.
Ask your high school coach to write a letter of recommendation for you to include in your correspondence to college coaches.
Keep a record of your best performances. A college coach may also want to know your time for the "mile" or "50 yard dash" as well. Keep track of your personal and team statistics and remember, BE HONEST!
Write letters to college coaches at the institutions you are interested in attending to provide an introduction and to obtain information about the colleges you are evaluating. Include your resume and one or two of your most impressive newspaper clippings. Include: the name of your school, sport and coach; recognition, leadership, and awards earned in the sport; SAT/PSAT scores, Grade Point Average; and a listing of your school and community services and activities.
In response to your letter you may receive written communications from college coaches, but be aware that they may not contact you in person or by telephone until on or after July 1, between your junior and senior years.
If you receive a card or questionnaire from a college coach asking about your academic background, be sure to complete and return the information as soon as possible.
If you receive a card or questionnaire for your high school coach to complete, it will be your responsibility to give it to him or her. Follow up to be sure that it is returned to the college in a timely manner.
You may be asked to write a short essay explaining why you are interested in playing college athletics. It never hurts to jot down a few thoughts along the way.
Request information brochures from those colleges that interest you the most. Review college catalogs as you receive them. Do you meet academic qualifications? Please be sure to follow the college admissions process as described by the Guidance Department. You can't play college sports if you are not accepted to the institution. And what if you sustain an injury? Be a STUDENT first! Keep your options open.
Attend college fairs and meet with college representatives who visit KHS and the St. Louis area. Visit colleges during the summer between your junior and senior year, if not sooner. You may want to take advantage of open houses or schedule one-on- one interviews and tours with an admissions counselor.
Begin to prepare college essays. Discuss your hopes and dreams with your parents to solicit their assistance and support.
Explore your options and examine plans for financing your education. Attend financial aid informational meetings with your parents. Begin searching for potential scholarships on the Internet, at your local library, through local business and postings in the Guidance Department.
Stay in top physical and mental condition. It will be important if you are to meet your great expectations for athletic and academic success.

Senior Year

Consider playing club volleyball, participating in a clinic or going to a volleyball camp sponsored by the college of your choice between your junior and senior year. It may be your last chance to demonstrate your skills to potential coaches.
Take a senior SAT I and/or SAT II if required by the colleges to which you will apply and STUDY. Don't slack off now, your senior grades are very important!
Complete college applications and apply as early as possible. Be sure to use any application sent to you by the college coaches (even if you have received another application from the schools admissions office). The application the coach sent you may be specially coded to alert the admissions office that he or she is interested in you.
Register with the NCAA Clearinghouse. If you are not registered, you will not be able to participate in college sports or participate in "recruiting trips." Forms are available online at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net.
Consult your guidance counselor and high school coach regarding your academic and athletic plans. Solicit their help.
Keep in touch with college coaches. The college coaches recruiting you may send you cards or letters daily, but may ONLY CALL OR SPEAK WITH YOU once a week. That includes scouts or assistant coaches.
You may wish to invite a coach to an important game. You may also wish to include a copy of your team schedule.
You may be invited on a recruiting trip during your senior year, a visit to the college campus hosted by the coach and his team. If you are, be sure to write a thank you note to the coach and your student host upon your return.
Whatever you do, do not sit around and wait for things to happen. Be pro-active. Create a plan of action for college admission, communicate with coaches and FOLLOW THROUGH.

Creating a Great Video

You're ready to try your hand at making a video. So, where do you start? A video should give a coach an idea of the type of player you are and the level at which you are playing. Recruiters are expecting to see your best performances, so you have to make sure it is your best. If you mail a poor video, you are hurting your chances even more than if you didn't send one at all.

Coaches are very busy during the entire calendar year, so don't waste time sending game tapes. They don't have the time to watch a whole game tape where you might touch the ball a half-a-dozen times. The tapes should be highly edited and show great plays in a game environment. They should be no longer than 10 - 15 minutes.

Don't forget the basics. Coaches like to see 150 touches within a three-minute span so they can really get a good idea of what kind of player you are. Some players get very sophisticated and spend a lot of money in terms of creating videotapes that are flashy, have music and stop action, but that doesn't mean very much. You just need some game action and clips showing your best all-around skills.

Here are a few pointers.

Be sure to identify yourself by color of jersey and number.
Edit the action. Do not show the entire game.
Add a personal "interview."
Include a schedule of games so the coach or an assistant can come and watch you in person.
Film from an elevated spot.
Arrange to do the taping of skills at the same time as others players.
This allows for recovery time between each skill and players naturally encourage each other.

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