Frequently Asked Questions
The following questions and information were developed by the NCAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. The committee urges prospective student-athletes to ask these types of questions during their recruitment.

Athletics

What positions will I play on your team?

•It's not always obvious.

•Most coaches want to be flexible so that you are not disappointed.

Describe the other players competing at the same position.

•If there is a former high-school all-American at that position, you may want to take that into consideration.

•This will give you clues as to what year you might be a starter.

Can I "redshirt" my first year?

•Find out how common it is to redshirt and how that will affect graduation.

•Does the school redshirt you if you are injured?

What are the physical requirements each year?

•Philosophies of strength and conditioning vary by institution.

•You may be required to maintain a certain weight.

How would you best describe your coaching style?

•Every coach has a particular style that involves different motivational techniques and discipline.

•You need to know if a coach's teaching style does not match your learning style.

What is the game plan?

•For team sports, find out what kind of offense and defense is employed.

•For individual sports, find out how you are seeded and how to qualify for conference and national championships.

When does the head coach's contract end?

•Don't make any assumptions about how long a coach will be at a school.

•If the coach is losing and the contract ends in two years, you may have a new coach.

Describe the preferred, invited and uninvited walk-on situation. How many make it, compete and earn a scholarship?

•Different teams treat walk-ons differently.

Academics

How good is the department in my major?

•Smaller colleges can have very highly rated departments.

•A team's reputation is only one variable to consider.

What percentage of players on scholarship graduate in four years?

•This will tell you about the quality of their commitment to academics.

•The team's grade-point average also is a good indicator of the coach's commitment to academics.

College Life

Describe the typical class size.

•At larger schools, classes are likely to be larger and taught by teaching assistants.

•Average class size is important to the amount of attention you receive.

Describe in detail your academic support program. For example: Study-hall requirements, tutor availability, staff, class load, faculty cooperation.

•This is imperative for marginal students.

•Find a college that will take the 3.000 students and help them get a 3.500 GPA.

Describe the typical day for a student-athlete.

•This will give you a good indication of how much time is spent in class, practice, studying and traveling.

•It also will give you a good indication of what coaches expect.

What are the residence halls like?

•Make sure you would feel comfortable in study areas, community bathrooms and laundry facilities.

•Number of students in a room and coed dorms are other variables to consider.

Will I be required to live on campus throughout my athletics participation?

•If the answer is yes, ask whether there are exceptions.

•Apartment living may be better than dorm living.

Financial Aid

How much financial aid is available for summer school?

•There is no guarantee. Get a firm commitment.

•You may need to lighten your normal load and go to summer school in order to graduate in four years. You can take graduate courses and maintain your eligibility.

What are the details of financial aid at your institution?

•What does my scholarship cover?

•What can I receive in addition to the scholarship and how do I get more aid?

How long does my scholarship last?

•Most people think a "full ride" is good for four years.

•Financial aid is available on a one-year renewable basis.

If I'm injured, what happens to my financial aid?

•A grant-in-aid is not guaranteed past a one-year period even for injuries.

•It is important to know if a school has a commitment to assist student-athletes for more than a year after they have been injured.

What are my opportunities for employment while I'm a student?

•Find out if you can be employed in-season, out-of-season or during vacation periods.

A Few more Helpful Suggestions From Charlie

We would like to think that everyone involved in recruitment plays by the rules. If you are a student athlete and find yourself in a situation where you or someone you know are being offered gifts or money, please be aware that the NCAA closely monitors all recruitiment activities. DO NOT jeopardize your eligibility by accepting any special offers from any college representatives, boosters, or persons that claim to be representing an academic institution. You have worked very hard to get the chance to receive a scholarship, please don't blow it by doing something that would jeopardize your eligibility. If you find yourself in this situation please talk to your parents, counselor, or coach about this and get some advice.

What are your future objectives in playing college football?

•The most common answer to this question is "Uhm I want to play in the NFL, doesn't everyone playing ball?"

I know, you have probably heard it several times, but the chance of any high school player to make it in the NFL is about 250/1000000, or about 1 in 40,000. That probably sounds very discouraging.

•If you really believe you have a legitimate chance at making the pros, then please be realistic in your approach. If you are one of the premeir athletes in your state, and have aspirations of playing in the NFL then you may want to consider playing for a school that will probably give you the best chance to start very soon. This seldom happens if you decide to sign a letter of intent with a top 10 school. Those schools are usually loaded year after year with big name recruits such as yourself, who are fighting hard for a chance just to get to play in their junior or senior year. Please don't take anyone's word about your prospects of starting anytime soon. Get it in writing. If something sounds too good to be true it probably is. Talk to some of the other graduates from your school who have gone on to play ball.

•Find out something about who some of your mentors are going to be. How do they rank among their colleagues? As an example, you may want to find out how many NFL receivers, linemen, etc... this coach you will be mentored by on a day to day basis has put on an NFL draft board. This may mean that you may not necessarily be on TV every week. Please don't get caught up in all of the hype of playing on national TV.

• The flip side of this equation, is if you do sign with a top 10 school, and you do manage to make it into the starting lineup, you will be getting a lot of airtime. We hope you will make the best of that opportunity when and if that time ever comes. This will also help your chances of achieving your goal.

• In the end, it is ultimately up to you to decide what is the best fit for you. We hope we have given you more food for thought.We hope you will make a good decision about the college you choose. Please remember that there is life after college, and you will want to choose a college that will also help you make a career choice, if the NFL thing doesn't work out for you.

Partying and Campus Life

• Being a big time athlete in a big time schools carries a lot of responsibilities. this subject may even come up during your recruiting trip. You will probably be approached by a lot of people to attend some of the best parties on campus with really hot looking women, yada yada yada... Dude!!!, there will be plenty of time for that once you get all settled in after your freshman or sophomore year. Remember you have to be academically eligible to play. The rules don't change when you go to college. Now, I am not saying you need to hang out at the library all day. I am saying, make sure your homework is done, and your room is clean, and you have put away your toys (Hehehe Do I sound like Dad now?). Your mom and dad would probably like to think you fell asleep on your books on weekends. The reality is your probably gonna get a little partying in. Know your limits, and don't ware yourself out or do anything dumb such as getting into fights, and your mom and dad have probably told you the rest! • Why am I telling you this now, ?

• You want to know what college life is going to be like, don't you?

Thanks, Enjoy your Senior Year, and Good Luck getting that Scholarhip!!

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