South Jersey Barons College Night
Monday, February 8th, 2010

The South Jersey Barons Youth Academy will be holding some age/gender specific college night programs over the next few months at various age brackets. The next one is on Monday, February 8th, 2010 from 6:30pm to 8:00pm at the Shawnee Baptist Address:  303 Oakshade Road, Shamong, NJ, 08088.

The main focus will be the final 2 years of the college selection and placement process and the importance of both academics and soccer preparation. The process to be followed will be clearly outlined and the roles and responsibilities of the club, coaches, players and parent outlined.

This will be a very useful and informative session presented by former club President and new Director of Coaching Cliff Simmons and current Technical Director Scott Middlemass. Both Cliff and Scott have had extensive experience over the last 10 years in educating and assisting players and parents on how to get the most out of the college recruitment process.

Come prepared with questions and you will get the most out of the evening. Similar programs with a different emphasis will also be presented to Under 14 and 15 teams in early spring.

South Jersey Elite Barons College Night Reveiw
Key Websites
Academics & Athletes
-  Eligibility
-  Recruiting
-  Division 1 Financial aid Information
  • web1.ncaa.org/eligibilitycenter/common/
(NCAA clearinghouse – must register if student athlete)
Click on youth academy and NCAA information and some useful guides and explanations are available.
 
Introduction 
 
Reasons for College Night
  • Stress the necessity for student involvement in the process
  • Mom and Dad are not the one’s going to college
  • What can happen if you do not do your homework and due diligence.
  1. May not like the campus
  2. May not like the location – distance from home, town, shopping, weather etc.
  3. May not have your ultimate major
  4. May not have a good mix of students compatible with you
  5. Class sizes and teaching approach may not be what you expected
  6. On-campus restrictions – cars?
  7. On-campus security
  8. Academic competitiveness
  9. Social activities (nightclubs, movies, organized school activities etc.)
  10. Cost may become burdensome and stressful to family
  11. Coach may not be what you expected
  12. Team may not be what you expected
  13. Teammates may not be what you expected
  14. Team competitiveness
  15. Competition for playing time
  16. Preseason and off season activities
  17. Who do you play? – accessibility for family to see you.
    • Always ask the key question – if soccer doesn’t workout would you still stay at the school?
Give examples of injuries, academic and social challenges coaches who change, etc.
 
We are here tonight not to give you a basic college decision program we are here to help you understand how important it is for you to be proactive and involved in your college process.
 
Academics 
  • Maintain or improve academics results
  • Focus on success in core subjects – English, Math, Sciences
  • Get involved in outside school activities in addition to sports – (know what schools you are looking at want)
Research admissions criteria at various colleges that interest you.  Cannot join clubs in your senior year and get much benefit.
  • If you have troubled subjects get help now.
  • Do not get black marks on your high school credentials – suspensions, detentions, drinking or drug issues.
  • SAT’s prepare for and take 3 times.
  • After 1st time research your weaknesses and get help. Difference between 1,000 and 1,200 for the 2 key parts is huge. Research school admission and financial aid criteria so you understand what they are looking for.  You can figure out generic guidance but school specific is important.
  • ACT’s have value at some schools, research it!
  • Do not let down your senior year.  Many schools pay particular attention to course selection and performance throughout your high school career but in particular senior year.
  • Honors and A/P courses have benefits.
  • Understand the difference between liberal arts schools and traditional schools, graduate school planning vs jobs right out of college.  Even if you do not have a major try to select schools that have enough diversity for your possible needs.
Finances
  • Understand cost relationships between private and public universities and in-state vs out of state tuition.  The differences can be significant.
  • Have open discussions with your parents on financial parameters.  Students should not assume any school is fair game and parents should not assume that scholarships or grants will happen.
  • Develop a family budget with or without academic/athletic aid.
  • Know if you qualify for financial aid.  This will differ based on schools you look at, family finances, number of siblings in school at same time.
  • Research financial aid sections at colleges you may be interested in to understand their grant/scholarship/aid expectations and parameters (this will help guide your SAT efforts).
  • With your parents lay out possible options taking into account academic aid, parent contribution, student contribution.
Having knowledge is always the preferred approach. When you know what you are looking for you can approach various colleges and universities with a plan.  This will generally be more successful than winging it.

Soccer

College Selection 
  • Once you have developed an initial list of schools that fall into your academic, social and financial parameters you can focus more on understanding the soccer side.
  • Visit the soccer websites of schools you are considering. Look for the following:
    • Stability of coaches, players and results
    • Schedule – who do they play?  Where do they play?  Consider other schools in the same conference as they will generally have similar criteria and school structures
    • Review current roster for makeup of players, size, high school affiliation, overseas players
    • Review prior rosters for player turnover
    • Review team stats as this will tell you a lot about how the coach works (does he play 13 – 14 players per game vs 17 – 18).
    • How big is the roster and how many players had significant participation?
    • What is the record of the team?
    • What is the class makeup (upper classmen vs under classmen)?

      Visit schools
    • Look at campus
    • Look at facilities for soccer and off season
    • Talk with players and coaches
    • Talk with non-student athletes
    • Check out cafeteria
    • Sit in on a freshman class
  • Communication
    • Contact coach
    • Be professional and courteous at all times whether verbal or written communications
    • Always respond/follow up positively with coaches
    • Keep coaches informed of your schedule
    • Be prepared to ask the coach soccer questions that matter to you.
    • Follow up thank you’s after a visit have value
    • Understand when recruiting coaches become sales people.  You have to try to sift through the sales pitch to get to the facts.  Your research will help you with this.
Process
  • Beginning of junior year develop a tentative list of schools (include wish list schools and others)
  • Begin to research and get guidance from your parents.
  • End of September contact coaches at schools you are looking at and provide them with your profile along with high school and club schedule.
  • Follow up prior to showcases.
  • Follow up after showcases with thanks if they attended.
  • Over the winter break analyze what occurred and re-visit your school selection list.
  • Spring contact additional coaches.
  • August of Senior year have a more defined list based on the previous years experience and research
  • Provide list to SJB staff along with accurate up to date profile and club will develop a letter from the coach to various schools on our players lists for introducing and recommending players.
  • Stay in touch with coaches during fall high school/college season.
  • During Junior and Senior year try to get to a number of games involving schools you are considering as well as visiting the school.
  • Be prepared for final college showcases.
  • Provide feedback to SJB staff for follow – up assistance.
Player
  • Fitness and work rate are absolutely critical to most college coaches.
  • Technical ability and tactical knowledge is assumed and will be observed.
  • A lack of work rate, fitness and defensive emphasis are death to a potential recruit.
  • Fitness includes endurance and strength so use your off season wisely.  Get into permanent fitness habits.  Eat right, stay away from drugs and alcohol.
  • Take care of minor injuries before they become chronic.
  • Be smart during your high school season.
  • Once you have committed to a school increase your attention to details both academic and athletic.
  • Players who take a vacation between commitment and college pre season struggle or fail.  Do not let yourself be one of them. 
 REMINDER
  • Academics are critical
  • Stay out of trouble say NO to Alcohol / Drugs
  • Do your research, procrastinators do not succeed
  • Communicate, communicate, communicate with parents, coaches, SJB staff, teachers, they can all help
  • stay sharp technically and tactically
  • Fitness can always be better, get off the sofa and focus
  • Pick friends for the right reasons – good one’s help the cause
  • Be humble but confident and success will come