Women’s Soccer College Recruiting Symposium

Where: Waubonsie Valley High School Auditorium (2590 Ogden Ave, Aurora, Il. 60504)*
*parking in the main lot off of Eola Rd.

When: Monday March 8th, 2010. 7-9pm.

Who: Any player or parent of a player who aspires to play soccer at the college level.

Why: To educate about the college recruiting process from all divisions.

The College Panel:

Division I
• Baylor University-Paul Jobson
 Big Twelve Conference

• University of Illinois- Janet Rayfield
 Big Ten Conference

• University of Wisconsin Madison-Paula Wilkins
 Big Ten Conference

Division II
• University of Illinois Springfield- Pete Kowall
 Great Lakes Valley Conference

Division III:
• Aurora University- Kanute Drugan
 Northern Athletics Conference

NAIA
• University of St. Francis- John Nikchevich
 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference

Junior College
• College of DuPage- Jason Hunter
 NJACC North Central Community College Conference

*NCAA rules prohibit a college coach to discuss specifics about their particular institution, but they may provide general information about their division and recruiting process. Some questions may be better suited for a personal contact with a specific institution/coach.

The format will be starting with lead questions being asked from the topics below and then getting the parents and players to participate.

Topics: (Recruiting, Scholarships, Academics, In/Off-Season)

Sample Questions:

• When does the college search/recruitment process start?
• How can an s/a get a coach interested in her?
• How can an s/a educate themselves on the recruiting process and/or a particular school?
• When and how can an s/a be contacted?
• What can I expect from an unofficial visit?
o How many can I take?
• Will it help if I attend a college camp?
• Should I send video?
• How does my high school athletic program fit in?
• How will an s/a know that a college coach is interested in her?
• If a coach makes an offer can she take that offer away?
• Can an s/a commit before the end of her junior year?
• What are the upsides and/or downsides to early commitment?
• What is the National letter of Intent (NLI) and when is it signed?
• If I make an oral commitment prior to signing am I or the school bound by that commitment?
• If I commit and the coaching staff changes do the new coaches have to honor the prior commitment (not the NLI)?
• What is the process of an early commitment?
o How does the coach let me know that an early commitment option is available?
o Why would I commit early?

Scholarships

• How many scholarships does your school have and if you do not have athletic scholarships what is available?
• Can I combine an athletic and an academic scholarship?
• Will you give a full scholarship or can they be partial?
• What is a walk-on and if I am a walk-on what should I expect my role on the team to be?
• What are the details of financial aid at your institution?
• What is a red-shirt?
• If I am given a scholarship and I am injured and can’t play what happens?
• Can a scholarship be rescinded for reasons other than injury?
• Can I have a job and play?
• If I have to go to school for 5 years in order to graduate can my scholarship be stretched?
Academics
• What is the clearinghouse?
• When do you have to know my sat/act scores?
• Is academic help available when we are on the road?
• Is my athletic ability more important than my academic standards?
• What are the admission requirements for an athlete?
• Does your team have a full-time academic advisor?
• Can the application fee be waived for athletes?
In/Off-season
• What is travel during the season?
• What is a typical off-season?
• Should I expect to do fund-raisers?
• What is the weight room program like?
• Can I miss a season to study abroad?
• What if my academic schedule conflicts with my athletic schedule?
• Do I have to live on campus?