Do colleges look at sports outside of a school team?

By Noa Saxton July 14, 2023 14:00

The role of sports in the college admissions process cannot be ignored. Many student-athletes aspire to play at the collegiate level, and for some, it may even be the primary goal. While playing on a high school team can help showcase talent, not all student-athletes have that opportunity. Some may have to rely on playing sports outside of school, such as club or travel teams, to gain recognition from college coaches. The question is, do colleges look at sports outside of a school team when evaluating prospective student-athletes for admission?

The answer is yes, colleges do consider sports outside of school teams when evaluating prospective student-athletes, but it is not the only thing that matters. The college recruiting process for student-athletes begins with coaches gathering a list of potential recruits who meet basic requirements using recruiting media sites, recommendations from coaches, and camps. Coaches then send out recruiting letters, questionnaires, and camp invitations to the athletes who pass the initial evaluation. They narrow down the prospects based on who responds and how interested they sound, and conduct in-depth evaluations of the remaining athletes to create a ranked list of top prospects, often communicating with their high school and club coaches and attending showcases and tournaments. Finally, coaches extend verbal offers and scholarships before signing the athletes.

In this process, coaches look at a variety of factors beyond just the high school team, including performance on club and travel teams, participation in showcases and tournaments, and overall athletic potential. The importance of starting the recruitment process early in high school, as coaches begin initial evaluations during this time. It is important for student-athletes to understand the process and respond to coaches in a personalized manner to increase their chances of being recruited.

While sports outside of school teams can certainly help showcase talent, it is not the only factor that coaches consider. Factors such as the quality of coaching, strength of the sports program, and academic reputation should also be considered. For example, playing on a high-level club team may be impressive, but if the student-athlete is not performing well academically, it may hurt their chances of being recruited. In addition, coaches also consider character, work ethic, and leadership qualities, all of which can be demonstrated both on and off the field.

Moreover, participating in extracurricular activities outside of sports can also be beneficial for student-athletes. Recruitment is a two-way street, and students need to learn everything they can about certain athletic programs, as well as the school's academic offerings, campus culture, and student life. Participating in extracurricular activities outside of sports, such as volunteering, internships, or leadership roles in clubs, can help showcase a well-rounded profile to coaches.

Ultimately, the size of a high school should not be the sole factor in determining whether a student-athlete will be noticed by colleges. A smaller school may have fewer resources and a weaker sports program, but if the student-athlete is performing well on club or travel teams, they can still catch the eye of college coaches. The importance of coaches attending showcases and tournaments, where they can see prospective student-athletes compete against other top talent.

In conclusion, while playing on a high school team can certainly help showcase athletic talent, colleges do look at sports outside of school teams when evaluating prospective student-athletes for admission. However, it is not the only factor that coaches consider. Student-athletes should take an active role in the recruitment process, starting early, and participating in extracurricular activities both on and off the field to showcase a well-rounded profile to coaches. Ultimately, a variety of factors should be considered, and having a backup plan in case a sports career does not work out is important.

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