BLAME Your COACH ?

One of the biggest misconceptions in THE COLLEGE SELECTION PROCESS, is that a high school Coach, Guidance Counselor, Athletic Director or your Club coach is solely responsible for a student-athletes' college process.

No one wants you to achieve your dream of becoming a collegiate athlete more than your high school coaches. Unfortunately, most coaches lack the time, resources and college coach relationships to take on this serious challenge. The average high school coach has relationships with fewer than five college coaches and most of those relationships are local. It is totally unrealistic to believe that your coach (who is multitasking) is responsible for getting you (or your teammates) a scholarship. It is just as unrealistic as believing that a college professor is responsible for getting you a job once you graduate.  

At the end of the day, it is important to understand that student-athletes and their families are ultimately responsible for their entire college process. If your student-athlete is not being recruited at the rate you believe they should be... it is totally up to the student-athlete/parents to take control and utilize every resource available to maximize your recruiting potential. This should include sitting down with your high school coach or an expert and discussing a game plan for success.

Tim Twellman

College Cost = It’s Time for YOU to Set a New Standard!

College has become a burden – specifically, a financial burden for families and college graduates all across the United States. At one point in history, receiving a college education was an honor of the highest quality. A college education not only guaranteed you a job but it didn’t cost anywhere near what it costs today. In fact, most college students could work their way through college and not have a single cent of debt after graduation. 

Today, people people are beginning to question if college is even worth it. Well, is it? Today, the average student debt for a college graduate is ~$30k. $30,000!!! That is a lot of money, considering that is the national average. Some college graduates have debt in excess of $200,000. How did this happen? To make matters worse, these kids can’t find jobs. So, is it worth it…??? Is it worth putting you or your family in debt or even worse, to not be able to pay off your debt? Simple answer, NO! So, what should you do?

Yes, college is expensive and yes, student debt continues to grow. But, does that mean you have to do it? Does that mean that you have to follow everyone else and continue to make this epidemic worse? No… you don’t have to do this. There are colleges for you and there are colleges that will not jeopardize your financial future. And even more importantly, there are colleges that will give your child the opportunities that they are looking for. But, it takes work… it takes research and it takes time. But, there are options… you don’t have to be forced into this. 

If there is a high level of communication and awareness within the homes of families across the U.S., then families will make better decisions – and this includes the child. Get YOUR CHILD involved and show them what this decision REALLY means … 

Here are some thoughts and pointers for every family facing this decision today:

1. Sit down as a family and ask the common sense questions – do this early and often so no one, including your child, is surprised by the financial impact of this decision
2. Talk openly with your spouse and your child about what money, if any, you have saved for college
3. Discuss the concept of student debt and how it could impact their future
4. Do the math with your child – show them how much college costs – too often kids don’t understand the financial impact of this decision. They should – it’s their future.
5. Ask your child what they want to study and research the potential post-graduate salary expectations for your child.
6. Research different scholarship and financial aid packages – again, do this math WITH your child… don’t enable them and surprise them when they graduate.
7. Identify as many as 50 schools that give you and your child the best financial and academic opportunities
8. Once you know you have found the schools for you and your child, create a plan and a strategy to find the RIGHT FIT!

James Twellman 

It's That Time of Year for High School Athletes | MomsTeam

It's That Time of Year for High School Athletes | MomsTeam

Sharing A Child's Sports Experience: A Gift For Parents | MomsTeam

Sharing A Child's Sports Experience: A Gift For Parents | MomsTeam

Will a college soccer camp help me get recruited?

COLLEGE CAMPS

Which camp should I attend?Do I need to attend a college camp?

The camp season is approaching as your student athletes anxiously await their opportunity to jump-start their recruiting process. Camps and give athletes the opportunity to compete against other athletes from around the country. They are especially attractive to athletes who are trying to get discovered by college coaches. Following this guide will help you manage your athletes' expectations for camps.

Student athletes won't "get discovered" there: most camps are just that …… they provide basic training. These camps are often crowded with hundreds of athletes, meaning they won't get close attention from coaches. College coaches will already have a list of the athletes they want to scout during the event.

Know where your athletes rank on the coaches' lists before they go. Make sure a relationship is already established between the college coach and the athlete before they go to the camp. The coach should have received the student athletes profile and email expressing his/her interest in the schools academic and athletic program. Plus keep in mind college camps will have additional coaches from other colleges, assisting with the instruction. It is important to contact these coaches ahead of the camp as well. This is your first impression as a player. So if you are not at your best, then this first impression might not be right. Be sure to attend a camp physically and mentally prepared to play.

Some programs have camps just for seniors; they might hold an "advanced" or "elite" camp, and/or several one-day camps. These are important to attend, as the coach might only select a few recruits, thus eliminating the "clutter" of the hundreds of athletes at regular camps. Again these are important to get noticed, get recognized as a potential recruit.

Camps and combines are an excellent way to find out where an athlete ranks against the competition. It is important to choose camps wisely based on your ability to play at these schools and that these schools fit your academic and social needs.

Do you have questions?

Contact Tim…The College Porgram    info@thecollegeprogram.com

    We offer an extensive COLLEGE PROGRAM that fits your needs

Thank you parents for all that you do

I know I speak for your kids when I say "THANK YOU" for everything that you do for them.

These High School student athletes could never do what they do without the help of their parents and/or guardians. No way they could get through all of this without your support.

THANK YOU and I know they appreciate it....

Don't stop helping now....The student athlete that is serious about playing college sports really needs your help. It is a hard road to navigate and they need the family on their side.

I see the normal school and social stress everyday as a coach..add the college recruiting process on top of the high school pressure and look out...it can be too much to handle..

THANKS AGAIN

We, as parents, want to look back and feel that we did what was needed to be done to help our kids on their way.

The College Program

Do you know where you want to go to play your sport in college?

If you don't, that doesn't mean that you won't get recruited - but if you're not talking regularly with coaches, you need to get proactive as soon as possible.

Start getting in touch with coaches now, and remember there are over 1700 schools with athletic programs in the U.S. So don't limit yourself just to the schools that are near you or to just Division 1 programs.

Over 80% of athletic opportunities are outside of Division I.

Working hard now, being proactive, will make all the difference for your athletic career, your education, and your future. 

Contact:

Tim Twellman
www.thecollegeprogram.com