Part 2: Commitments

Part 2: The Real Commitments Behind “I’m Committed”

In Part 1, we explored what student-athletes commit to once they are enrolled and on campus. But long before that moment, there are key commitments that often are not discussed: the effort, discipline, and daily habits that shape you into a recruitable athlete. That’s what we’re focusing on today, the commitments before the offer comes in.

It all starts with your commitment to Academics. Grades matter! The higher your academic achievements, the more doors open for you. Not just the number of colleges that will accept you, but the amount of financial assistance that becomes available to you. It’s no secret, the better your GPA, SAT and ACT scores are, the better chance for scholastic scholarships. For an in-depth look into scholarships, visit this article from Dr. Imed Bouchrika, Co-Founder and Chief Data Scientist at Research.com: https://research.com/research/scholarship-statistics

Make sure you fully understand college eligibility requirements and work closely with your guidance counselor to ensure you are on the right path. The earlier you work with your guidance counselor and understand the NCAA/NAIA requirements, the better off you will be. Take pride in the classroom, not just on the field.

Your Commitment to character and coachability. How are you treating your coaches, teammates, officials, teachers…? Coaches are watching you, not just in-between the lines. I have heard many coaches tell the story of how a talented athlete gets immediately removed from their recruiting board: Some by how they acted toward a coach after being substituted, some by how they treated an official after a call that didn’t go their way, and even some for how they treated their parents after a game. How you carry yourself matters. Be a great teammate, lift others up, and lead by example.

Be committed to the whole recruiting process. Not an easy task, especially when results can be slow. Understand that recruiting isn’t passive, you have to work for it. Make sure to update your profile and highlight videos regularly. Track where you are at on a weekly and monthly basis. Proactively reach out to college coaches, make sure they know who you are. Following up with coaches through emails, calls, and hand written thank-you messages will make you stand out. Commit to communication.

Every commitment you make in high school moves you one step closer to being college-ready.

For more perspective, hands-on support, and clear next steps in your recruiting process, visit AthleticCohesion.com and book a call with me. I look forward to hearing about your recruiting goals.

Be Yourself, Be Committed, Be Recruitable