The Recruiting Process

In addition to rowing for a quality high school rowing program, athletes interested in rowing in college can do several things to increase their chances of being recruited. Athletes all over the country are competing for college roster spots. We recommend several things for rowers and their parents to do in order to maximize their chances of being recruited and receiving academic or athletic scholarships.

Rowers/Coxswains:

Ø Make up a Rower Profile/Resume. Include class rank, GPA, subject of interest, community service, National Honor Society, athletic and academic achievements, other sports played, other school or community activities, club team information (schedule, coach’s name and phone number), newspaper clippings, photo, high school schedule and coach’s name and contact information, team records and statistics.

Ø Get letters of recommendation from coaches and teachers.

Ø Attend college camps of the schools you are interested in. More camp information can be found on USRowing.com, row2k.com, regattacentral.com and vespoli.com. Sign up early as spots will fill up.

Ø Send a letter of interest to prospective college coaches prior to your junior year. Explain your interest in the college and their rowing program. Give your position (port, starboard, coxswains, seat number, boat) and include class rank and GPA. Make it a one-page letter. They will follow up with a questionnaire.

Ø Search colleges of interest on the internet and look on websites for recruiting information.

Ø Review your high school transcripts for accuracy before releasing them. Keep an unofficial copy for you to send out.

Ø Keep a list of the college coaches that you have contacted. Keep sending coaches information about yourself (updated articles, player profile/resume, letters of recommendation and anything else that can keep the coach’s interest. Keep showing interest!

Ø Send an e-mail when you will be in their area or at a race.

Ø Register with the NCAA Clearinghouse, preferably before your senior year. Register at http://www.ncaaclearinghouse.net.

o There are 3 levels of college athletics, Division I, II, and III. Division I and II colleges can offer an athletic scholarship. Division III is not allowed to offer athletic money, but sometimes helps to find academic or other financial aid. No matter what Division you are looking into participating follow the following steps:

§ Register with the NCAA Clearinghouse at http://www.ncaaclearinghouse.net.

§ Take your SAT exam. You must send your results to the NCAA Clearinghouse. There code, 999999, can be entered in the list of colleges to receive results of the SAT test.

Ø Collegiate coaches cannot contact you until July 1^st after your junior year. When the coach calls, be prepared with a list of questions. Ask the coach about the team, the school, the practices, the schedule, and anything else you are concerned with attending their school. Be prepared and the coach will know that you are serious.

Ø If you are contacted by more than one school, you are allowed to take 5 official paid recruit trips. You can go to any school any time as long as you do not take anything from them, these trips are considered unofficial. The paid trips may include a plane ticket or any from of transportation, meals, and a stay over with a team member.

Playing a sport in college provides many benefits, from room and class assignments to tutors. You will have complete support staff of coaches, trainers, tutors, academic advisors and doctors. You will have a team of friends with common interest already there for you. The team provides travel and other team functions. The college supplies you with uniforms and equipment. You will learn to manage your time better than most college students do. Best of all you will continue to do something you love to do, ROW!!

Rowers/Coxswains and Parents:

There are things that the athletes and the parents can do on/off the water to maximize being recruited.

Rowers/Coxswains:

Ø Row/Cox like you want to be recruited.

Ø Stay positive! If you have a bad row or erg test, refocus quickly to what will be happening next. Do not sulk, hang your head, curse, walk off, argue with teammates or coaches.

Ø They look at the way you speak and present yourself to others at all times!

Parents:

Ø Do not converse with you child before or during the race; they will come to you after.

Ø Parents are also being recruited too! It is important to impress any college coach, present that you will not be a problem to them. Sit quietly while watching the races; do not draw attention to yourself.

One Last Thing:

Ø Grades don’t lie and neither will we. When college coaches contact us they generally ask two questions: 1) What are their grades like? and 2) What kind of person are they?

Ø The better your child’s grades and SAT scores, the greater the likelihood that they will receive interest from the college. A student who qualifies for an academic scholarship allows a college coach to use less athletic money thereby making the athlete more desirable.

Ø The majority of athletes rowing for the Vineland High School Crew Team are great human beings. However, no coach at VHS will cover up serious character flaws if we are asked about an athlete.