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Improve your "Recruitability" Factor So, you're a high school athlete and you want to be recruited by a prestigious college? Before you're carried away with dreams of being Dick Vitale's next "diaper dandy," there are some steps to take. The NCAA Prospective student-athletes must follow NCAA rules and regulations, which can make the recruiting process very confusing. An experienced guide, such as your high school coach or guidance counselor, can help you navigate the process. They can make sure you file the necessary forms (such as the "Clearinghouse" form) and meet the minimum eligibility requirements. Also, keep your eyes open for information on the recruiting process. You've probably seen the promotions during March Madness that show a college star explaining the eligibility process. Listen to them! Self-Promotion How do you go about marketing yourself? Many hopeful college recruits have made the mistake of waiting for colleges to contact them, but the reality is that very few athletes have that luxury. But don't worry, even if you aren't a 'blue chip,' there are several innovative ways to catch their attention!  Learn About Them If you're serious about getting recruited, do some research of your own. To learn more about a school and/or program, check out their Website. The fastest way to get a school's profile and web address is to go to Embark.com (formerly College Edge) at http://www.embark.com/. This site allows you to search by name, state or country. Once you find your dream school, Embark.com lets you go to their Website, get details about the school, apply online, etc.  Contact Them The best way to do this is either through "snail mail" (a.k.a. a typed letter), email, or phone. To be most effective you should use a combination of all three. You can find the appropriate mailing addresses by either calling the schools you are interested in or looking them up on their Website. To make sure that someone receives your mail, send it to multiple coaches. In fact, a lot schools have recruiting coordinators. Recruiting Services There are various recruiting services available to athletes: some are free, some aren't. Many are accessible through the Internet, but you should research them completely before any money changes hands. Most of them consist of setting up an individualized Website which includes a picture, brief description and stats. Image and Recruiting You may think the image you portray doesn't affect the recruiting process. Wrong. College coaches are very careful of the athletes they recruit; after all, you're going to be representing a school of higher learning. Take this quote from former Grambling Football Coach Eddie Robinson, who also holds the record for most wins." My players can wear their hair as long as they want and dress any way they want. That is, if they can afford to pay their own tuition, meals, and board." Do you recall the saying "You don't got a second chance to make a first impression?" While it may sound old-fashioned, a clean-cut image is a necessity for most optimistic college recruits. It's not only your on-the-field performance that recruiters notice, but your off-the-field behavior as well! They may be getting the scoop on all your activities as they evaluate you. At Sports Media Challenge we use the "Success Pie" to evaluate the three components of success - Image, Exposure and Performance. In order to be successfully recruited, the three must be in complete balance and at remarkably high levels. This guide should help you in the recruiting process. You've got the information and now the ball's in your court. How badly do you want it?