Parent Advice

Scotty Jenkins

Full-time track athletes will put in hundreds of hours of workouts each year to
help elevate their craft. Running, recovery, biking, lifting, throwing, jumping,
or sprinting workouts are all part of developing muscle-memory speed and
strength. Their training does not stop for more than a few hours and is
continuous throughout the year.

The most challenging part, though, is that all of the hours are held up by the
same pair of feet.

When other parts of your body ache, you can stay away from them. Maybe change to
a leg workout when your arms are sore. Or maybe focus on cardio when your gleuts
or back are tight. But, when your feet hurt, there is little you can do to
alleviate the pain while training to be your best.


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Generally, a lot of track athletes feel sore or tired after each workout or
specific workout. But, there is a difference between general soreness and actual
pain. It can be hard to differentiate the two sometimes, but as a track athlete,
it is important to stop working out or running when your feet are in pain.

What is pain?
Pain can be an indication of the overuse of specific muscles. Pain looks and
feels different for everybody. When a track athlete starts to feel pain, it is
important to attempt to measure the pain. If the pain is between a 1-3 at the
start of the workout, likely it will go away as the warm-up and physical workout
continue.

This pain is probably inconsistent and moves around your body a little bit. Mild
pain is common, and can usually be pushed through. Mild pain can be the effect
of a difficult workout the day before or even simply having a bad night's rest.

However, it is when your pain starts to be more than mild that it might be in
your best interest to stop your workout. Moderate pain, which would be around a
4-6 on the pain scale, appears while the exercise is going on. It may be
tolerable for some, and intolerable for others.

In this case, you need to listen to your body and decide if you feel it's
necessary to stop. It may be smarter to just end your training session if you
are feeling pain in this range. Sometimes this is a sign that the body might
just need some type of resting.


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How to determine what level of pain you are in as an athlete?
There is a scale of pain that will help an athlete communicate with coaches,
parents, and trainers. This scale can be different for everyone, but establish
your own scale as your career goes on. This will help you compare how you are
feeling on different days. Below are a few examples of what different levels of
pain can be compared to:

 * Mild pain is common soreness or pain that doesn't take your mind off what you
   are doing. This would be considered a 0-3 on the pain scale, and usually, can
   be overcome. If the pain persists and keeps you from focusing on the
   activity, consult your coach or trainer, and take a few minutes to stretch
   out the area and muscles connected to it.
 * Moderate pain is centralized pain in one area that is keeping you from
   focusing or performing your best. Moderate pain is an indication to be
   cautious. This would be considered a 4-6 on the pain scale, and can be
   overcome but only in the most necessary circumstances. Moderate pain in
   athletes can quickly worse if the area that hurts is continued to be
   stressed. More stress on an area that is needing rest can quickly lead to
   injury.
 * Severe pain, the highest level of pain, would be considered a 7-10 on the
   pain scale. This pain is very severe and can be felt during, before, or after
   the workout. The pain will increase as the workout continues on, which means
   the workout should be stopped immediately. If an athlete would continue on,
   the injury could become worse than it was originally. If you notice an injury
   while working out, the most important thing to do is stop.

When it comes to your feet, pain should never be overlooked because injuries can
take months to truly heal. The tendons, bones, and muscles in your feet are
extremely sensitive. If you can change the surface that you are running on, that
might help to alleviate the pain if it is not as severe. You can also slow down
your run or workout, to help with the pain, and still complete the workout.

However, if you do all of these things and the pain still persists, stop the
workout immediately. Continuing to run and work out through pain, is a recipe
for disaster. This can establish bad habits and patterns for the athlete and
makes them more susceptible to serious injury.


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When one area of your body is experiencing pain, the other “normal” parts will
compensate themselves to help with the painful area. This can cause the other
areas of your body to overwork themselves, and put them at risk for injury as
well. Some athletes struggle with stopping or reducing their workouts because of
an injury. But ultimately, your health is the most important.

There is nothing wrong with taking the necessary time off to rebuild and
recuperate your body.

In track, each event area has a specific body part, or multiple for that matter,
that are being used constantly during workouts and competition. For example:

 * Throwers are using their arms, shoulders, and backs every single time they go
   to throw a shot-put; they also use their legs as a balance when they throw
 * Jumpers use their legs and feet to sprint down the runway and jump into the
   sand
 * Sprinters and hurdlers run every single practice to prepare for meets, which
   are heavy on their legs.

If a thrower were to notice their arm severely hurting during practice, it is in
their best interest to stop throwing and step out. If they can see an athletic
trainer, that would be most helpful.

If a jumper or sprinter were to notice that their hamstring was really acting up
and was in extreme pain during a workout, continuing to run on it would not help
the athlete.


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For all event areas, continuing to work out or run through extreme pain will
lead to worse problems, which could keep the athlete out for a long time. No
athlete enjoys being out of competition due to an injury, but it is not in their
best interest to risk their career if they are hurting.

Do not run or compete through extreme pain. Get it checked out, and take your
necessary rest and rehabilitation time seriously.

Why Track & Field Athletes and Runners Should Never Ignore Foot Pain

NCAA Division-II sports are at the intermediate level of competition in the
National Collegiate Athletic Association. It is the middle ground essentially
between Division-I [gmtm.com/articles/tag/division-i/] and Division-III
[gmtm.com/articles/tag/division-iii] athletics.

NCAA Division-II [gmtm.com/articles/tag/division-ii]offers an alternative to the
highest-level (and usually more expensive) D1 sports programs, and to the
non-scholarship division offered in D3.


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How many Division-II schools are there in the NCAA?
To date, there are around 300 schools that are considered NCAA Division-II
programs. These schools tend to be smaller, public schools. Sometimes, they will
be private institutions, but most D2 schools are public universities that are
related to the larger state schools that you see in major Division-I sports.
Think California-Santa Cruz or UC-Davis compared to Cal-Berkeley or UCLA.

If you're interested in how many teams other NCAA divisions have, check out this
article: Why does Division-I Basketball have the most teams of any sport?
[https://gmtm.com/articles/college-basketball-why-does-division-i-have-the-most-scholarships]


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Do Division-II schools offer as many sports as Division-I schools?
Division 2 programs have requirements for the number of sports offered to each
gender at their school. For instance, they must sponsor at least five sports for
both men and women.

For some sports, like basketball [gmtm.com/articles/tag/college-basketball] or 
tennis [gmtm.com/articles/tag/college-tennis/], there is a team for each gender,
usually playing in separate seasons. Other sports, like volleyball
[gmtm.com/articles/tag/college-volleyball/], baseball
[gmtm.com/articles/tag/college-baseball/], softball
[gmtm.com/articles/tag/college-softball/], or field hockey
[gmtm.com/articles/tag/field-hockey/], are only offered to one gender. In that
case, an equivalent sport is usually offered to the opposite gender to offer the
same number of athletic scholarship opportunities.


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Do Division-II sports make money?
In D2 sports, there are no attendance requirements at games such as football or
basketball. They do not depend on the number of people attending the games to
make money. Since every sports program in Division-II is operated at a fraction
of the cost of Division-I sports, D2 schools do not have to generate as much
revenue.

D2 sports also offer less scholarships than Division-I, making the annual
operating costs for each sport a lot lower. Many student-athletes will pay for
school through partial athletic scholarships, academic scholarships, financial
aid, and student loans that they acquire. Most state schools are lower in cost
than the larger Division-I schools, making it more affordable for
student-athletes who may not be able to receive a full-ride in D2.

Interested in how Division-II and Division-III athletes make due with less
scholarship money? Check this article out: Is playing at a Division III college
affordable without athletic scholarships?
[https://gmtm.com/articles/is-playing-sports-at-a-division-iii-college-affordable-without-athletic-scholarships]


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How much to Division-II teams travel?
D2 athletes still have to travel once or even multiple times per week. But the
number of miles put on the team bus is a lot less than Division-I teams, who
often fly across the country for a single game or two-day tournament. That is
because the competition in Division-II sports on a much more regional level. 

Without big TV rights and grant money that D1 schools have to fight over,
Division-II teams are able to stay in the same local conferences as they've
always been in. Most of a team's schedule will be against rival opponents in the
same state or region, which is always fun for fans to see.

You can read more about Division-II conferences in this article: Ranking the
Five Best Division-II Football Conferences
[https://gmtm.com/articles/ranking-the-five-best-division-ii-football-conferences]


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Do Division-II schools offer athletic scholarships?
In terms of money, each sport at a Division-II school has a specific fund limit
that they are not legally allowed to exceed. The big difference between
Division-I and Division-II sports is the amount of money that each program has,
and is allowed to offer to recruits or current players.

Athletic scholarships [gmtm.com/articles/athletic-scholarships] are permitted in
D2 sports. However, they are more stingy limits on the number and amount of
scholarships these divisions can hand out to their athletes.

In football, Division-I teams are allowed to hand out 36 full scholarships,
whereas some Division-I football programs can hand out as many as 85 full
scholarships to their athletes. The NCAA restricts the number of scholarships
each sports program can deliver to its athletes.


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Are there full athletic scholarships available to D2 athletes?
All division 2 sports are known as “equivalency” sports, which means that the
NCAA restricts the total amount of financial aid that is available for each
sport to the equivalent of full scholarships. This is known as the
partial-scholarship model. This model allows division 2 schools to recognize
student-athletes for their skills through athletic aid while keeping budgets
more on track. Typically, division 2 schools will choose to split up and offer
partial scholarships to athletes, so that more people can receive athletic aid.
This does not mean that a division 2 school will never hand out a full-athletic
scholarship, but most of the time they will prefer to split them up. The
operating costs in division 2 tend to be smaller than programs of smaller sizes,
and it does not cost them as much to sponsor competitive athletic programs. This
means that teams have the right to divide and split the money up into partial
offers for more people to receive. Additionally, division 2 sports are limited
to a total of 60 scholarship equivalents for men’s sports, not including
football and basketball.


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Do Division-II athletes get a lot of free clothes and equipment?
The equipment and amount of gear that an athlete will receive vary at each
school. D1 schools, with more money to spend and less budget restrictions, will
typically give out more gear, equipment, recovery tools, and other random items
to their athletes. However, this does not mean that D2 schools do not do the
same thing. Most players at the division-II level, will also receive free gear
and equipment throughout their four or five years of college.

For instance, if you are playing lacrosse
[gmtm.com/articles/tag/college-lacrosse/] at a division 2 school, you may get
new helmets, backpacks, sticks, or cleats from your program. If you run track
[gmtm.com/articles/tag/track-and-field/] or cross country
[gmtm.com/articles/tag/cross-country] at a division 2 school, you may get new
running shoes, a warm-up suit and a training top for when meet day arrives. All
of this is typically dependent on the number of members of the team, and the
amount of money available to spend on gear and equipment.

For the most part, you will be taken care of as a division 2 student-athlete,
and shouldn’t have to worry about spending a lot of money on buying your gear.


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Athletes looking to compete at a collegiate level, but don’t want the stress or
financial burden of being a walk-on [gmtm.com/articles/tag/walk-on] at a NCAA D1
school, may benefit from looking into a division 2 school. They offer a balance
between high-level competition and academics. Also, they do offer a decent
amount of money out to their athletes, which can be helpful for recruits.

Division-II Sports: How do D2 athletics compare to NCAA Division-I?

Picking the right college can be a tough task for any high school senior, but it
can be a unique and even more complex process for young student-athletes. As we
approach the new school year, thousands of high school seniors will begin
applying for college and making decisions regarding their future. Here are some 
helpful tips for parents [https://gmtm.com/articles/category/parent-advice] and
things hopeful student athletes should consider before committing to a college
or university.

Focus On Your Academic Interests When Looking At Colleges
First things first, good academics lead to more opportunities. It is so
important to take advantage of the academic scholarships
[https://gmtm.com/articles/athletic-scholarships-how-to-get-more-money-to-play-college-sports] 
that you could be eligible for - and you could be a sought after commit to some
schools that match your learning interests.

As a student-athlete it is easy to get caught up in the hype surrounding the
school’s athletic programs, but remember you are still a “student” as much as an
“athlete”. Just like the old NCAA [gmtm.com/articles/tag/ncaa] commercials say, 
only 2 percent of all NCAA student-athletes go on to compete on the
professional
level [https://www.nfhs.org/media/886012/recruiting-fact-sheet-web.pdf], so
having a strong interest in your education is important. Ensure that the college
you choose has the major you want to focus on, or at least offer similar
opportunities that will lead to success off the field.

For more info on scholarships, check out these helpful articles
[https://gmtm.com/articles/tag/scholarships]!


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Ask Coaches, Scouts About Where You Rank In Your Sport
Before you can make a decision about which college to choose, you must also
figure out where you stand athletically, and at what level you want to play your
sport. You don’t always have to play a sport at a Division-I school
[gmtm.com/articles/tag/division-i] or be a full-time student athlete. Many
schools offer high-level club sports and tons of intramural sports. This
provides students an opportunity to stay in shape and meet new people, while
also allowing one to be a part of a competitive environment.

A major benefit of intramural sports
[https://gmtm.com/articles/tag/intramural-sports] is the small time commitment,
allowing you to focus on school or maintain an off-campus job throughout your
college years, while also contributing to a team.

If you want something more competitive and serious, you may want to consider
club sports. Club sports [gmtm.com/articles/tag/club-sports] are not sanctioned
by the NCAA, have no scholarships attached, and have less time commitments but
are good if your school does not have inter-collegiate offerings for the sport.
Sports like rugby [gmtm.com/articles/tag/rugby], lacrosse
[gmtm.com/articles/tag/lacrosse], ice hockey [gmtm.com/articles/tag/ice-hockey],
and ultimate frisbee [gmtm.com/articles/tag/ultimate-frisbee] may fall into this
category.

If you are a motivated athlete who might not be ready for the collegiate level, 
check out these helpful articles [https://gmtm.com/articles/tag/talent-transfer] 
on finding new sports!


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Explore Every Division Of College Sports To Find Your Place
Intercollegiate sports is what we often think of when talking about college
athletics. Students participating in intercollegiate athletics should expect
significant practice commitments and the highest level of competition. However,
not all inter-collegiate sports are the same and the NCAA has divided them into
three separate categories that describe the financial responsibilities and level
of competition offered. The following are the different NCAA distinctions:

 * Division-I: D1 sports tend to be the larger schools with the most competitive
   athletes and are the ones we often think about when it comes to collegiate
   athletics, such as Alabama, Duke, Penn State, etc. These schools offer their
   student-athletes athletic scholarships which cover tuition, board, etc.
 * Divison-II [https://gmtm.com/articles/tag/division-ii]: Students at D2
   colleges can still receive athletic scholarships, however they are often
   limited or smaller in dollar amount. DII schools are usually smaller
   institutions and include California State Schools and the reigning DII
   football champions Ferris State [Division-II: Ferris State Wins 2021 College
   Football National Championship].
 * Division III:
   [https://gmtm.com/articles/five-reasons-to-consider-playing-division-iii-college-sports] 
   D3 schools are athletically competitive, however do not offer athletic
   scholarships
   [https://gmtm.com/articles/is-playing-sports-at-a-division-iii-college-affordable-without-athletic-scholarships]
   . This being said, many students do receive a merit-based scholarship to
   attend or need-based aid. This article
   [https://gmtm.com/articles/best-division-iii-football-conferences-2020] is a
   great introduction to learning about some of the most competitive D-III
   athletic programs, who dominate more than just football.

There are also NAIA schools [gmtm.com/articles/tag/naia] and junior colleges
[https://gmtm.com/articles/tag/junior-college], both of which compete outside of
the NCAA and can help a student-athlete develop athletically and academically in
an effort to find a place in Division-I sports. These both prove to be a great
option and a plethora of professional sports stars chose this route
[https://gmtm.com/articles/what-is-a-junior-college-and-is-it-right-for-me].

Understanding which of those three divisions is the right fit for you boils down
to you priorities as an athlete. The first step would be understanding your
level of athletic talent
[https://gmtm.com/articles/doubts-about-being-good-enough-for-a-collegiate-sport]
, and a more highly competitive athlete who knows they have the skills to be
recruited at a DI level may want to focus on getting an athletic scholarship at
such an institution.

Division-I through Division-III schools have all produced professional athletes,
so it is your job to make the best of the resources provided to you at whatever
institution you choose.

Another factor that may affect your choice is your commitment to playing the
game long-term. If playing professionally is not something you plan to do, or if
you want to prioritize academics over athletics, a DIII or DII school may be
less of a time commitment.
[https://gmtm.com/articles/10-things-division-iii-sports-offer-student-athletes] 
If playing on a big stage and getting noticed by scouts is important to you,
consider choosing a DI school.


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Pick A School That Is Just The Right Size And Can Support You
Different divisions of college athletics, as well as the size of the school also
impacts the amount of money colleges have to invest in the school’s athletic
facilities, support staff, and you as an athlete.

You should request a tour of the campus weight room, indoor practice facilities,
physical therapy, locker rooms, and any other relevant areas to your training
and competing. It may be a red flag if training areas look worn down. Remember,
the health of your facility could impact your growth as an athlete and can help
prevent injury while training.

Athletic support staff is also important in your growth as an athlete, student,
and person. From athletic trainers, to emergency care, to the strength coaches
and tutors, it is important to ensure that you have a group of people that have
your back as you start this chapter of you journey.

College Sports: How To Pick The Right School To Attend

Lacrosse is frequently referred to as “the fastest sport on two feet” and its
growth over the last two decades suggests it is the may not lose that reputation
anytime soon.

For some quick context, during the 2009/10 high school year, there were 90,670
boys and 68,768 girls playing high school lacrosse in the United States. During
the 2018/19 high school season, there were 113,702 boys and 99,750 girls
playing. Thats a 25% increase in participation for the boys' high school sport
and almost double the amount of girls playing lacrosse in high school.

The rise of lacrosse as a rapidly-growing sport across the country is due to
multiple factors. Let's examine a few of those reasons below:

More Kids Are Seeing Lacrosse Than Ever Before
One factor is the increase in access to watching great lacrosse players. A
search of Youtube finds lacrosse highlights making their way to SportsCenter as
early as an April 10th, 2007 episode that featured a Cornell vs. Syracuse
highlights package as the top play in a Top 10 countdown.

Since then, people have seen goals, saves, and even fights popping up on
Twitter, Instagram, and now TikTok and GMTM. Sports fans across the country were
introduced to a sport they did not know much about, but they could see
jaw-dropping highlights like players running at full speed and scoring
behind-the-back goals that they likely had never seen before.


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Growth Of Professional Leagues Across North America
Fans also had the chance to watch professionals playing lacrosse starting in the
early 2000s. Major League Lacrosse was founded in 1999 and played its inaugural
season in 2001.

The MLL was the first professional field lacrosse league in the United States
and gave collegiate lacrosse players an opportunity to continue playing with
regularity after graduation. Greater opportunity for playing beyond college can
lead to more youth playing a sport and taking that sport more seriously if they
have the talent. It also meant that adults and kids alike could see people
playing field lacrosse after college for the first time ever. Then in 2003, the
MLL signed a contract with ESPN to have weekly games shown on ESPN2 and
additional games could be streamed on ESPN3.

The presence of professional lacrosse starting in the early 2000s with the MLL
and professional indoor (or "box") lacrosse with the National Lacrosse League
meant more options to watch. Now, the Premier Lacrosse League, the top field
lacrosse league in the US, and the NLL have contracts with ESPN for games to be
shown.


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An Increase In College Scholarships And Opportunities
Colleges have seen this and have worked to capitalize on the growth starting in
the early 2000s. Between 2003 and 2018, colleges added lacrosse teams at an
incredible rate
[https://gmtm.com/articles/lacrosse-is-the-fastest-growing-college-sport-in-the-ncaa]
. That increase allowed for greater participation. In 2006, 16,444 men were
playing college lacrosse and 10,207 women were doing the same.

In 2018, there were 25,588 men and 17,640 women playing in college.While
lacrosse teams may not balance the spreadsheets in a typical sense like a
college football team, the demographic of student-athletes who play lacrosse can
benefit a college. That was done with the motivation of keeping student-athletes
who may not come on scholarship and instead pay full tuition in-state.

There are certainly players who would still take the chance to play for a
traditional powerhouse such as John Hopkins, Maryland, or Syracuse, but smaller
colleges could see the financial benefit by keeping players who may not star for
a Top 25 school.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Regardless of why lacrosse has seen incredible growth in the last 20 years, it
appears that lacrosse is here to stay and with greater opportunities to play at
all levels as well.

How Lacrosse Has Continued To Grow In Popularity Across America

Athletes and parents often ask for college scholarship money during the athletic
recruiting process. The athlete and parent may need to ask for a better
scholarship if there is not a sufficient amount of college scholarship money
available. Some athletes do not know that they may be able to ask for more
college scholarship money. Athletes should ask for more money through a letter
or phone call to the college coach.

Before you reach out to a coach who has shown interest and asking for a larger
scholarship, it is important to know whether the sport you play is an
equivalency program or a head-count program.

For each different athletic program at a college or university, there is
different amount of scholarships - or a different style of budgeting for
scholarships entirely. It is important for prospective athletes and their
parents to understand what certain sports at certain collegiate levels can offer
in the form of financial aid.


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Head-Count Sports vs. Equivalency Sports
A headcount scholarship is an NCAA term for a full-ride scholarship. The term
comes from how the NCAA categorizes the sports it sanctions. The sports that
generate revenues for a school or athletic department are considered “headcount
sports.”

What are the Head-Count Sports in the NCAA?
For men, the NCAA head count sports are basketball
[https://gmtm.com/articles/tag/college-basketball] and Division-I FBS football
[https://gmtm.com/articles/tag/college-football]. For women, basketball, 
volleyball [https://gmtm.com/articles/tag/college-volleyball], tennis
[https://gmtm.com/articles/tag/college-tennis], and gymnastics
[https://gmtm.com/articles/tag/college-gymnastics] are categorized as headcount
sports.

As they participate in the sports that make the money, it is the athletes in
headcount sports who receive full-ride scholarships. If a football program has a
total of 85 scholarships, then only 85 football players can be on full
scholarship at any given time.

What are the Equivalency Sports?
Any sport that’s not a headcount sport is considered a “non-revenue” or 
“Olympic” sport [https://gmtm.com/articles/tag/olympic-sports] and is referred
to as an “equivalency sport” by the NCAA. In fact, at most larger colleges and
universities, it’s revenue from the headcount sports that often provides the
funds for equivalency sports.

As they don’t generate the same amount of revenues for a school, equivalency
sports have fewer scholarships to offer. And, as you might have guessed, coaches
from equivalency sports award equivalency scholarships.

An equivalency scholarship most often takes the form of a partial scholarship.
While coaches of equivalency sports teams don’t have enough scholarships to give
the entire team a full ride, an equivalency scholarship does allow a coach to
provide some scholarship money to some or all of his or her team.


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Reasons why a college coach would increase the amount of financial aid in an
athletic scholarship without athletes or parents asking:


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More money became available late in the process.
As a recruit, you really don’t have much control over this. If the coach gives
you an offer and you realize that it’s still not enough to make the school
affordable for your family, you can let the coach know what your target number
is. The coach may or may not be able to find more money in the budget to meet
your goal.


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A recruit improves significantly and increases their value.
This is also a tough negotiation tool to control. Keep the coach updated with
your progress and keep an eye on the roster. If a key player in your position is
graduating and there are very few athletes on the roster in your role, it could
make you a more valuable addition to the team.


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Coaches want to avoid losing a prized recruit to another school.
This is your best means of negotiating for more scholarship money. We include
more information about this below, but you need to have a few different offers
from schools you’re interested in to be able to leverage them in negotiating for
more scholarship money.

Don’t try to rush the scholarship process
No doubt, one of the biggest mistakes athletes make when trying to negotiate a
better scholarship deal is to do it too early. This is especially true when they
receive a scholarship offer from a school they really like, and they want to get
more money out of the deal.


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While it's understandable to think about negotiating a bigger deal, it can't be
done if you haven't even had your first offer.

If you haven't been offered a scholarship yet, then you are negotiating too
early. In most cases, you won't have the leverage to negotiate if the school or
coach has not shown enough interest in you. Wait until you receive a letter of
interest or have committed to a school before asking about financials.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you haven's signed with a school, here are a few ways to start the
conversation about attending a school and getting an idea of where an athlete
like you fits into their scholarship process:

Ask coaches if you are talented enough in and out of the classroom.
Athletes should ask the coach in person (or over the phone) if there are any
areas of improvement that the coach sees in the athlete. Athletes may be able to
ask for a better scholarship if they improve in areas such as speed, power,
strength, quickness, etc. If the athlete is not a strong student, the athlete
should ask the coach if there are books or materials that the coach thinks would
help the athlete improve.

Ask if your academic performance could help you secure more money at their
school.
If you’re looking for a full ride, but don’t participate in a headcount sport,
don’t despair. You might still be able to receive an equivalency scholarship of
some percentage and have the remaining costs covered by a package of merit
scholarships or government grant monies. These package deals are often created
by coaches together with their school’s administration to help provide the
equivalent of a full-ride scholarship to equivalency sports athletes.

Educate yourself on financial aid and talk to advisors about every option
available to pay for college.
Remember that your odds of getting an aid package to augment a partial,
equivalency scholarship rely on two things; your GPA and FAFSA (link to FAFSA
blog). The higher your GPA, the better chances you’ll have of earning any form
of non-athletic scholarship. And the FAFSA (which stands for Free Application
for Federal Student Aid) should be applied for by every high school senior,
regardless of family income, as many coaches leverage FAFSA grants to fill out
aid and scholarship offers to recruits.

Apply to the schools you are interested in for academic reasons, too.
While there are only two athletic scholarship “types,” you still have multiple
opportunities to earn a scholarship or scholarship package that covers some, or
all, of your college costs. When it comes to equivalency scholarships and aid
packages, there is no right or wrong. The key is to know your type, know what
you have to do to earn that type of scholarship offer, and then, find the
school, program, or package that’s right for you!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NCAA requirements to combine athletic and academic scholarships
Each NCAA Division I member institution makes financial aid awards to
student-athletes in compliance with the NCAA Division I Academic Progress Rate
(APR) and Federal Graduation Rate (FGR) Requirements. A student-athlete's
athletic scholarship and financial aid awards, including grants, loans, and
work-study, may not exceed the total cost of attendance for the institution.

How Recruits Can Ask A School For More Athletic Scholarship Money

As one of the world’s oldest sports and centerpiece of the Olympics, wrestling
is rooted in deep traditions and valued throughout many cultures. In the United
States collegiate wrestling is known as folkstyle and due to a few recent
changes and expansions, recruiting is expanding and changing right before our
eyes.

The expansion of Women’s wrestling into Power 5 Conference schools is a
game-changing innovation for a multitude of reasons. 

First and foremost, women's college wrestling is creating opportunities for
women that would traditionally have to go to smaller schools in the NAIA or NWCA
to compete with the best female athletes. Now, women will be able to be
recruited to Power 5 Conferences for wrestling when schools sponsor them.

The University of Iowa is the prime example of this. They are currently
attracting top female talent at both the high school and collegiate transfer
levels, to develop their team and wrestling room.

Besides the opportunities that the introduction of women's wrestling, it will
also benefit the men's sport. With additional opportunities for women at certain
schools, more roster sports will open up to men with the Title IX rules and
legislations that need to be followed. This is a win for every potential
collegiate wrestler.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Another recent decision that has offered more opportunities to college wrestlers
is the NCAA's approval of individual NIL deals, or the allowance of
student-athletes to benefit monetarily off of their Name, Image, and Likeness
[https://gmtm.com/articles/tag/name-image-likeness]. These deals allow
student-athletes to be compensated for endorsing brands or their image being
used in partnerships off of the wrestling mat.

Besides the obvious financial benefits that come with this for student-athletes,
it is now a recruiting tool at multiple levels. Certain states have approved
NIL
deals for high school athletes
[https://gmtm.com/articles/which-states-can-high-school-athletes-benefit-from-nil]
, allowing these potential recruits to come in with their own pre-established
personal brand when being recruited.

Pennsylvania, which is largely considered the top state in the country for youth
and high school wrestling, just approved these deals for high school athletes.
With the NCAA approving these deals, as long as they fall within the acceptable
parameters laid out by the NCAA.

Universities throughout the country have started developing NIL departments to
help their student-athletes have contracts/partnerships reviewed, all while
helping current and potential student-athletes find deals for them to benefit
off of. This is an attraction for any athlete who is being recruited. Knowing
they can come in and receive support in finding deals will attract athletes to
universities based on potential compensation that they could receive while
attending that specified university.

These deals tie in with another major factor in wrestling recruiting which is
Regional Training Centers. These centers help student-athletes prepare and
continue training for the Olympic Styles, Greco-Roman and Freestyle, during and
after their collegiate folkstyle careers. These deals can turn into sponsorships
and jobs upon graduation which will allow the athlete to continue competing and
pursuing their dreams.

For wrestlers it does not have to be just at a Regional Training Center. Roman
Bravo-Young has been announced for signing with a top MMA manager. Gable
Stevenson has signed with the development program of the WWE. These are two
other common routes for top collegiate wrestlers to go after graduation.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The University of Iowa, who recently added Women’s Wrestling while hiring a top
coach, has a regional training center - The Hawkeye Wrestling Club. This will
allow women to train with men while competing to make World and Olympic teams.
The Hawkeyes also have a NIL Program to help their student-athletes with these
deals; this program is called “Flight.”

They are not the only University offering these opportunities for male and
female wrestling recruits but they are definitely at the forefront of the
expansion and opportunities that are coming for future and current collegiate
wrestlers. The current expansion and overhaul of collegiate athletics is leaving
the sky as the limit for recruits and current collegiate student-athletes.

College Wrestling: NCAA Innovations That Every Wrestler Should Be Paying Attention To

Rebekah Morris

The libero position on the volleyball team is one of the most important
positions in the game of volleyball (Rank by importance were Setters, Outsides,
Liberos). Defense is important but serve receive passing can sometimes be the
game changer that it takes to win a game. The only time the libero isn't on the
court is when another player serves during their opposite position, and so the
libero is ultimately on the court at all times.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Serve - Receive - Pass
Many coaches during the recruiting process have claimed that "A lot of players
can defend, but can they pass well?" As much as passing might not be fun (which
I would argue that it is) it is probably the most important fundamental skill
that the libero needs to possess. And not only does a libero need to possess
that skill, they often need to be the best passer on the team. Passing a three
ball so your offense can be in system (your setter can set to any hitter) is
more important than getting that amazing dig. Consistency at the serve receive
pass will put you above other liberos, and so when you think that you've passed
enough during practice, there's always more passing that can be done.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You Need to Be a Leader
It doesn't matter if you're a freshman or senior on your college team, being a
leader as a libero is crucial. Because the libero is essentially on the court at
all times, controlling the atmosphere and energy will go a long ways. The libero
has the ability to tell the hitters what spots are open on the other side of the
net while also frequently talking about what is happening on the other side of
the net is essential. A quiet libero, while still talented, will not be as
beneficial to the team as a vocal leader libero.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Spark Plug
While the libero cannot jump above the height of the net and attack the ball,
the libero can spruce up the energy when a fellow teammate gets a kill. Coaches
are on the look for players that have a great energy while playing. You want to
be the person that every one would pick to play with. Are you fun to play with?
Cheer when your hitters get a kill, recognize that amazing set from your setter,
and motivate everyone around you to play as hard as you do.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hustle
A libero has to hustle to cover her hitters back to base position, and then read
a play and moved to defensive position, and then repeat. Hustle to get the tip
up, hustle to save the off-blocker hit, hustle to chase a shanked pass, hustle,
hustle, hustle. By hustling 100% of the time, you are showing your teammates
what you expect from them and when you hustle to save a ball that no one hustles
after, you can tell them that they should have gotten the ball. Provide an
example with your hustle and your teammates will follow. Work ethic is
contagious and to think that you can simply help your teammates out by hustling!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A Never Give Up Attitude
The libero position is the most competitive college volleyball recruiting
position because there are more high school liberos than there are freshmen
libero spots for college teams. And not only are you competing with defensive
specialists, in many cases a fantastic outside becomes a libero during college
because of her commitment and play at the defensive level. Because of this, the
libero needs to be the hardest working person on the team and needs to separate
themselves from others: which can be done by being a leader, hustling, being
consistent, having a great energy, and being the best serve receiver in the
building. By being relentless and not giving up, the libero shows a strong
mental game with the capacity to handle tough situations and play well under
pressure.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Volleyball is a sport with quite a few different positions, and while these are
important aspects for every type of position to have, when the libero has all of
these features, it would be hard for a coach not to play that libero.

The Libero: Volleyball's Most Unique Position Explained

Keiwaine Hicks

If you are a basketball fan, player, or coach, you’ve often heard about or have
watched some of the top high school programs in the country play. Some of these
top schools include: Montverde Academy (Florida), IMG Academy (Florida), Sierra
Canyon (California), and DeMatha (Maryland) for boys and Mater Dei (California),
Duncanville (Texas), Christ the King (New York), and Marshall (Illinois) for
girls. Each year, these programs have nationally ranked players who are among
the top recruits in the country.

How much of an advantage does playing for a top national high school have in the
recruiting process? What is the appeal of playing for a top national high
school? 

Here are five advantages players who play for top national high schools have in
the recruiting process:


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Top High Schools Play A National Schedule
The top programs in the program often play a national schedule, and they play
games and compete in tournaments across the country. One of the most prominent
high school girls basketball tournaments is the Nike Tournament of Champions,
which hosts the top high school teams in the country and Canada. Eight Olympians
and five #1 WNBA draft picks have played in this tournament.

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Hoophall Classic, held at
Springfield College over Martin Luther King Day Weekend, is a popular boys
showcase.

Stakes can be high as many programs aim to compete in the end-of-season GEICO
Nationals Basketball Tournament, where Montverde Academy of Florida has won a
tournament record of five national titles. NBA players such as Isaiah Stewart,
Ben Simmons, and Joel Embiid have played in this tournament.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

These Teams Have Elite Coaching Staffs
The top programs in the country are mainstays for one primary reason: elite
coaching. These coaches have decades of coaching experience, with many winning
numerous state and national titles.

Additionally, these elite basketball coaches have a history of producing
phenomenal players who have gone on to achieve high accomplishments in the
college ranks, NBA, WNBA, and Olympics. With a long and decorated alumni roster
list, these elite basketball coaches have proven they know how to prepare
players for the next level.

Some of the top high school boys basketball coaches include:

 * Kevin Boyle (Montverde Academy, Florida) who has produced over 15 NBA players
 * Steve Smith (Oak Hill Academy, Virginia) who has won nine National titles
 * Dorothy Gaters (Chicago Marshall, Illinois) won has won 1,153 games & 10
   Illinois state titles
 * Sue Phillips (Archbishop Mitty, California) who has been named Gatorade, WBCA
   , and Naismith National Coach of the Year


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Coaching Connections At Top College Programs
One of the perks of being one of the top coaches in the country is the
connections. These coaches routinely entertain the top college basketball
coaches at practices and games; many of these top college coaches have these
coaches’ cell phone numbers favorited in their phones in hopes of signing their
players. NBA scouts frequent their games to get a glimpse and start profiling
potential NBA players.

Additionally, many of these coaches have connections on awards committees such
as Gatorade National Player of Year, and influence selections on USA Basketball 
teams and roster spots for McDonald’s All-American Game. Playing for these top
coaches can put you on a path for potential greatness post-high school career.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

More Media Attention Than Other Recruits
A benefit of playing for a top high school basketball program is the increased
media attention. Teams play games against top competition on national tv
networks such as ESPN and CBS Sports. 

Companies film highlight clips, workout sessions, to post on websites such as 
YouTube and Instagram which can attract millions of views. Media members write
about teams that attract national headlines, and some programs even have
docu-series made about them.

Additionally, these programs usually have top players, many of whom are already
celebrities on social media sites, and can have a following in excess of a
million. Some players are able to increase their marketing power and potentially
earn lucrative endorsement deals as a result of playing for and being associated
with these top programs and players.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

College-Level Competition In High School
A main attraction of playing for a top national high school program is the
intense competition players face on a daily basis. The adage of “Iron sharpens
iron” holds true - every day, players are competing against future top college
and professional players in practice and workouts.

Some teams might feature numbers of 10 future college players on a given roster.
Experiencing this intense competition allows players to get better and grow in
their skill-set, which will play dividends in preparation for the next level in
their basketball careers.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Undoubtedly, players who attend top national high school programs receive
significant advantages, many of which are inherent, in the recruiting process.
Regardless of the advantages players receive, players still must be committed to
improving and developing their skill-set in order to compete and produce on a
daily basis.

Basketball Recruiting: Do the top high school teams get more attention from college coaches?

Playing for a college team takes more than talent or level of skill, and coaches
are looking for different characteristics and traits in recruits for their
college team. 

Remember, it is the coach's team. The coach has built a culture and program that
he/she wants the recruit to not only fit into, but maintain and progress during
the continued years of playing. They aren't just looking for a volleyball
player, the coaches are looking for someone to become a part of their culture,
team, and family.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1) A Good Personality
A good personality can go a long way! Coaches are looking for athletes and
recruits that get along and work together well with others. They want to see
someone who is involved in their high school community outside of volleyball,
someone who has a good relationship with their teammates, and someone who is
passionate and motivated by different things, whatever that may be. Once you
play for a team, you become a representative of that sport at the college– and
the coaches want to make sure you will represent the team well.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2) Strong Work Ethic
Depending on the high school you go to and the high school team you play on, you
might have easily fit into a starting position for your team. In college, it
will not be so easy and having a strong work ethic will show your character and
leadership potential. A coach once told me, "The girl that's working 50% but is
phenomenal? Well I'd rather have the girl that's working 110% and is okay." Hard
work pays off and when coaches see a strong work ethic, one that never quits or
gives up, they will want that player on their team and on the court.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3) A Team Player
Volleyball is a team sport, it isn't an individual race where one sole leader
takes the win. Volleyball needs six players, working together on offense and
defense, to outplay opponents. Rosters consist of more than six players, meaning
the six who aren't on the court want to be on the court. But a coach wants to
see that players on the bench excited, supporting and cheering on their
teammates. During the game, one must put aside position competition for a game
competition, and back in practice you work to beat out your teammate, but during
the game you give her tips, support, and feedback to win the game.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4) Compete! Compete! Compete! 
Coaches are looking for competitors, players who want to win and who will work
hard to do so. One way to show coaches your competitive side is to always know
the score of any drill or game that you are participating in. This shows your
competitive side and highlights that you work hard to get the win. It can also
show a coach what happens when you are losing, do you push through and continue
to fight or do you give up? Show them that you always fight with intensity,
focus, and encouragement if you're ahead or behind the opponent.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4) Focus on Academics
Showing a coach that you have good grades in high school and that you were
committed to your academics helps to easy any worries about the course load of
college classes while playing a sport. There are mandatory semester credits and
GPA requirements that the NCAA has in place to ensure that athletes are
maintaining good grades. It is a privilege to play volleyball during college,
and a very small amount of volleyball players go on to play professional
volleyball, which means academics are important and coaches want to see that you
are focused and smart with your responsibilities and priorities!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5) Grit 
Along with a strong work ethic, coaches are looking for athletes who have
maturity and grit. What is grit? Grit is courage, resolve, and perseverance.
They want an athlete who doesn't give up and who continues to push through when
things aren't going one's way. If you play for a team for four years, there are
going to be hard days. That's guaranteed. Some days you might not be in the zone
and your passes aren't landing or you can hit over the block, but if you go home
defeated you will be defeated. But if you keep up a positive attitude, believing
in yourself, and work that much harder to get perfect passes or a higher
vertical, then you have grit. And who else better to go against a strong
competitor than someone with grit?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6) Leadership Qualities
There are many ways to be a leader and having leadership qualities will give you
an edge over others. Are you a vocal inspirator? Do you lead by example? Do you
push your teammates to work harder? Do you support your teammates on and off the
court? Do you have good communication with others? Coaches are looking for
athletes with leadership qualities: honesty, accountability, humility, and
integrity.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7) Passion for the Game
This might seem obvious, but if you breathe, think, watch, and live for
volleyball, coaches will be able to tell. They will see your passion and love
for the sport and be excited to have you on board because of your excitement to
be on board, to continue playing the game that you love.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It might seem like a lot, but coaches are simply looking to find great people to
fill their teams up with. Talent and skill aren't everything and these
characteristics and traits are what coaches are looking for in athletes.
Personality and work ethic are a key component of an athlete and by reinforcing
these values, a coach might start to picture and see how well you would fit on
the team. 


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What College Coaches Are Looking for in a Recruit

Getting ranked - it’s the ultimate goal and source of motivation for many
basketball players across the country. Players, parents, coaches, and fans check
websites, magazines, and scouting services to find out who are the top players,
the elite among the good, the best of the best.

Ranking services begin ranking players at an early age; there have even been
rankings of the top 3rd graders in the country!

Rankings can provide a quasi-measuring stick for how you compare to other
players in your class, region, state, or even nationally. For many, rankings can
serve as a glimpse into the next generation of basketball superstars to
potentially put on your watch radar. A few use rankings to gauge correlation
status between past superstars and prospect potential of playing for top
colleges and professionally.

With so much media attention and influence on rankings, many high school
basketball players might wonder if they should be worried if they are not
ranked. The succinct answer is: “Absolutely not!”

Rankings have utterly no bearing on if you receive a college basketball
scholarship. Rather than focusing on rankings, it’s most crucial to spend your
time and energy dedicated to improving your skill-set on the court.

Here are four truths about rankings and why you shouldn’t be worried if you are
not ranked:


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Recruits Have Little Control Of Rankings
Media pundits, camp directors, and scouting services are the ones who produce
rankings. Some of the factors that go into the rankings are completely out of a
player’s control. It’s important to remember that a player is ranked comparative
to other players within that demographic, which could be location, position, or
age group.

For example, if a male player is ranked as a 6’2” point guard, but has an eight
inch growth spurt and becomes a 6’10” player with the same skill-set, he would
certainly jump in the rankings.

Also, you have no control of how many players a person who’s producing the
rankings sees or which tournaments & camps they attend. A player’s ranking can
increase or decrease simply based on who sees them on which stage. The only
thing that a player can control is his or her play on the court!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rankings Of Athletes Are Highly Subjective 
The most important thing to remember is that rankings are somebody’s opinion! An
evaluator doing the rankings might be partial to players who are from a certain
organization due to the organization’s previous history of players they
developed. Some are partial to players who play in their organization on their
AAU or travel teams.

There are even some evaluators so think more favorably of players who subscribe
to their services or attend their camps. Biases are rampant within services or
companies that produce rankings reports.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rankings Do Not Guarantee Success In College or A Path To The NBA or WNBA
Throughout history, it’s been proven that rankings have no bearing on success at
the next level. There have been players who weren’t ranked among the top 100
players in the country who later became first round lottery NBA and WNBA draft
picks. Additionally, there have been players who weren’t ranked among the top
100 in the country who became NCAA National Player of the Year. Conversely,

there have been players who were among the top ranked players in the country
during their prep careers, but never achieved All-American status in college or
got drafted to the NBA or WNBA. Once you get in college, nobody cares about your
rankings during your prep career. You will have to work extremely hard and be
dedicated to experience success and achieve your goals!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Very Few Athletes Actually Get Ranked 
In 2018-2019, the National Federation of State High School Associations 
conducted a High School Athletic Participation Survey which showed that 540,000
high school student athletes play basketball. If you take a ranking list of the
top 100 players in the country, it statistically means that the ranking
represents approximately a minuscule 0.0002 percent of players in the country!

Keep in mind that there are thousands of roster spots in college basketball when
you combine all of the levels. Not getting ranked doesn't mean that you don’t
have the ability to play college basketball. College basketball teams at all
levels have rosters filled with players who were never ranked!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It’s important to keep in mind that rankings are merely a snapshot in time. If
you desire to play college basketball, remember that it only takes one coach to
be interested enough to give you a college basketball scholarship and a chance
to play college basketball. That college basketball coach will like you if you
are ranked #3 or #3,000!

Rather than focusing on rankings, focus on improving your skill-set in order to
increase your chances of obtaining a college basketball scholarship and
ultimately finding the right fit for you to achieve your academic and athletic
dreams!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Keiwaine Hicks [http://gmtm.com/articles/author/keiwaine-hicks] is a
contributing basketball writer for GMTM. He is a graduate of Duke University
[http://gmtm.com/articles/tag/duke-blue-devils/], has over 20 years experience
coaching basketball at various levels, and is passionate about helping
student-athletes achieve maximum success."

Recruiting Rankings: Should I Be Worried If I’m Not A Ranked Basketball Player?

What can be better than watching volleyball? Not much... besides watching
volleyball on the beach! Beach volleyball is a relatively-new NCAA sport that is
growing as fast as any. And now, volleyball players from landlocked states and
cold-weather climates can earn athletic scholarships
[https://gmtm.com/articles/best-tips-for-college-volleyball-recruitment] and
attend college to play beach volleyball. 

But, before you ditch your sneakers and knee pads to hit the sand, it's
important to familiarize yourself with the rules. Beach volleyball has a few
different rules compared to indoor volleyball.

While they might be hard to master at first, the sport will come easy as you
continue to play. And trust me, once you feel the sun and take in the views
around a beach court, it'll be hard to get you back inside.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here are five of the differences between beach volleyball and indoor volleyball:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A Smaller Court... And Very Different Surface
The size of the court is different than indoor volleyball because indoor is
played with 6 players per side, while beach volleyball is played with two
players on each side. The court is entirely sand, so it easy to dive and dig,
and measures 2 meters shorter and 1 meter narrower than a regulation indoor
court. 

The extra three feet missing from the court means that the two players have less
ground to cover on defense. Alternatively, the smaller area means the attackers
have less area of the court to aim for and score.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

More Side Changes During Each Set
Side changes occur more often as well because when you're outside there are more
elements to be considered: wind, sunshine, rain, sun, and even humidity. Side
changes occur every 7 points as opposed to indoor where it occurs after every
set.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Different Scoring With Shorter Sets
An indoor volleyball set is won when a team reaches 25 points first. Beach
volleyball, on the other hand, has sets that end when a team earns 21 points. 

Another major difference is that, unlike collegiate indoor volleyball, a game in
the sand ends once one of the two teams wins a second set. So, on the beach, you
have to win only two sets, while in the gym, you have to win three.

But, in both versions of the sport, a tie means another set is played to 15
points and the winner having to win by 2 points. The games might be quicker, but
when you're playing 2-versus-2, you're touching the ball more often and moving
further than you would in an indoor game. Not to mention, the sun and the sand
make beach volleyball a workout for every player, even if one team dominates the
whole match. Two sets in the sand is definitely a test for any athlete.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Ball
A volleyball used for beach volleyball is different than indoor. It is lighter,
softer, and marginally bigger to enable players to close distances quicker and
react faster to a floatier ball. The lighter weight of the volleyball allows the
volleyballs to float in the air more, allowing great players to use the weather
to their advantage, as well as enabling a reaction to the weather whereas the
leather balls during weather would be harder to control.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

No Tipping and No Doubles
In beach volleyball there is no tipping with fingers to try and psych the other
team out. Instead one would have to use their palm, or straight locked or curled
fingers to hit a short shot over the net. 

Along with that technical side of beach volleyball, double touching is also much
stricter than in indoor volleyball, so there will be much more "bump sets" to
avoid a player double touching and fewer instances of players setting the ball
with their initial contact after the serve. 

Another technical difference is that when a block touch occurs, it is considered
the first contact of the play so your team only has two more attempts to get the
ball over the net instead of three more attempts in indoor volleyball. 

Play Style
Because there are only two players on each side of the net, it can be expected
that the game is a little slower than indoor when there are six people on each
side. Beach volleyball also requires players to be versatile in every position
as each player will be serving, passing, setting, defending, and hitting, unlike
indoor volleyball. These players are well-rounded and have high a high
volleyball IQ in order to be successful. 

At higher levels of beach volleyball, one player is dedicated to blocking and
one player is dedicated to digging. This format allows the digger to play on the
opposite side of the blocker and allows the blocker the chance to block the
opponent's attack. 

If you're an indoor volleyball player, during the summer go and play some
outdoor beach volleyball as well because the game will make your indoor
volleyball better as well. It is easier to dive in the sand, you will learn more
control due to more contact with the ball, and constantly playing volleyball
will make you a better volleyball player.

Beach Volleyball Rules: How The Sand Differs From Indoor Volleyball

If you desire to get recruited to play college basketball, it’s paramount that
you record games, which will be used to evaluate your play, to send to college
basketball coaches. You never know how much of the game a college coach will
watch; it could be only five minutes, a half, or even the whole game. The most
important factor all high school players should be cognizant of is sending game
film that is free of distractions!

College basketball coaches want to be able to watch games and have complete
focus on evaluating your play and not be distracted by external sources on film.

When getting someone to film your games, please ensure that you tell the person
to not engage in the following behavior. If you are planning to send game film
to a college basketball coach, carefully review and think twice before sending
if any of these behaviors are present.

Here is a list of six examples of types of distracting videographers to avoid
having record your games:


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The "Coach"
“The Coach” is the videographer who is actively “coaching” while recording. He
or she is telling the players which plays to run on offense and shouting
instructions regarding how to guard on defense.

Often during games, “The Coach” will shout words of encouragement to the team or
individual players; if the team or certain players aren’t performing up to par,
“The Coach” will let them know that as well. When watching games to evaluate
players, college coaches are watching to make opinions about players and aren’t
interested in evaluating your coaching skills - avoid this type of videographer
at all costs!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The "General Manager" 
“The GM” (General Manager) is the videographer who is not quiet about dispensing
thoughts and providing comments about how a team should be run during the game.

“The GM'' comments on substitution patterns and critiques the coach’s in-game
decisions about personnel on the floor or on the bench. “The GM” is quick to
express excitement or displeasure about events that are occurring and is
convinced that he or she can do a better job running the team.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The "Referee"
“The Referee” is the videographer who starts commenting about the refs as the
ball is thrown up for jump ball. He or she gives an earful to the refs about
every call or non-call.

“The Referee” is a master mental statistician - or at least thinks they are! - 
and will quickly remind refs of disparities in number of fouls and free throw
shot attempts.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The "Cheerleader"
“The Cheerleader” is the videographer whose energy level and excitement
throughout the game is off the charts. He or she is actively engaged with the
crowd in chants and when his or her team or player makes a great play.

Some might even take to another level and cheer with the cheerleaders as they
are doing their cheer routines on the court.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The "Talker" 
“The Talker” is the videographer who talks the entire game while recording.
Games can be long, and they aren’t exciting for some people. He or she will pass
the time by talking on their phone or talking with people sitting near them.

Sometimes, “The Talker” is extremely popular and friendly and must have a
conversation with everyone who passes by.


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The "Eater"
“The Eater” is the videographer who is eating frequently while recording. Not
only can you actually hear what he or she eats, but you also can hear bags
rustling and drinks being opened.

Most times, “The Eater” will provide commentary about the food, especially if
the food is particularly delicious or not tasty at all. “The Eater” thinks he or
she is being subtle, but is completely oblivious that food sounds are being
picked up.


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Given the fact that college basketball scholarships and college basketball
roster spots are very coveted and comparatively few to the number of high school
basketball players seeking them, college basketball coaches have seen and
received almost every type of film imaginable.

Help yourself stand out among the rest by sending game film that is free of
distractions! Doing so will allow college basketball coaches to completely focus
on watching and evaluating your play, thereby, increasing your chances of
getting a college basketball scholarship.

Distracting Game Film? Here are six types of videographers to avoid during your biggest games

In soccer, formations define the different positions on the field taken by each
player of a team.

The usage of a formation by a coach or team manager depends on his tactics, the
number of players available to him, the type of opposition, and the team's style
of play.

Here are some of the popular soccer formations:


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The 4-4-2 Formation
This formation was commonly used among teams in the 1990s as well as the early
2000s. When the 4-4-2 formation is adopted, the central midfielders will need to
be very resilient on the pitch as they will act as cover for the defensive
backline while also supporting the attack.

The wingers, also known as wide midfielders have a responsibility to attack from
the wings. When possession is lost, the wide midfielder also withdraws to
protect the full-backs.

Benefits of the 4-4-2 formation:
 * The formation provides a good balance for a team whether in or out of
   possession.
 * In terms of statistics, the formation ensures the team adopting it covers the
   most area of the field when not in possession.
 * It is a solid formation for teams' compactibility.

Risks of the 4-4-2 formation:
 * The formation is risky because of the huge gap the midfield will experience.
   No extra man to support the two midfielders.


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The 4-2-3-1 Formation
Undoubtedly, the 4-2-3-1 formation ranks as one of the most commonly used
formations among teams in world football right now. There are the wing-backs,
inside forwards, and an attacking midfielder just behind the center-forward.

Benefits of the 4-2-3-1 formation:
 * The holding midfielders (or defensive midfielder) cover for the full-backs as
   they (the full-backs) can roam on the wings, thereby contributing also to the
   attack.
 * The formation gives room for four forward-minded players who ensure
   positional rotation and flexibility upfront.
 * As stated earlier, two defensive midfielders create a solid spine, as well as
   the two center-backs, making it difficult for opposition attacks to
   penetrate.

Risks of the 4-2-3-1 formation:
 * Attackers could be overburned with defensive duties
 * The point man upfront will be isolated for a good number of times during a
   game


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The 4-3-3 Formation
The 4-3-3 formation is a very common formation you will find around. The
formation sees four defenders, three midfielders, and three attackers on the
field of play. It is both a defensive and attacking-inspired formation and has
been used to great effect by some teams in the United States and Europe.

Benefits of the 4-3-3 formation:
 * When in off-the-ball situations, flexibility is assured.
 * The formation affords fluidity, as teams can also change to the 4-5-1 or
   4-1-4-1 formations from the 4-3-3.
 * With the deployment of three attacking forwards, opposition fullbacks will be
   restricted in attacking options.

Risks of the 4-3-3 formation:
 * Vulnerability to counterattacks, especially from the wings.
 * If the midfielder does not have the stamina to hold the team, that will be a
   big problem because the formation relies greatly on the midfielder to always
   turn up.


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The 3-4-3 Formation
For team managers or head coaches that are offensive-minded, this formation is
one not to joke with. In reality, the four men in midfield the two wing-backs.
consists of 2 wing-backs.

Maybe not as defensive-minded as a 4-4-2 or a 4-5-1, we have seen teams prosper
with this formation.

Benefits of the 3-4-3 formation:
 * The Center-backs have the freedom to probe into the midfield in order to
   break through the lines.
 * The wing-backs and wingers are used to create overloads in wide areas.
 * Maximum freedom for the wingers for attacking displays as the wig-backs
   provide width with the wing-backs.
 * Counter-pressing is always a great opportunity with the 5 attacking players.
 * Flexibility to a 5-4-1 is feasible when out of possession.

Risks of the 3-4-3 formation:
 * Limited bodies in midfield.

Soccer Coaching: The four most popular formations and why they work

Lily Ford

Becoming a college athlete is fun, tiring, rewarding, and busy. It is also
something that can distract you from the major aim of college: getting a degree
and academics.

Students who are also athletes should be able to do all of it, meaning that they
would be best if they succeed at their sports while also succeeding in their
classes if they aim to play in their entire college days.

If you don't have the intention of making the sports you play your career,
college is the last opportunity for you to compete at a thing you enjoy before
you totally give it up or join a low-key occasional adult league outside your
job. If you're hoping to make the sports you play an actual career, then playing
in college might just be the ticket you need into the major leagues.

For instance, expert football recruiters watch college-level football games to
figure out the stars of tomorrow.


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What are the benefits of playing sports at the college level?
 * It can help you understand time management.
 * It can help you grow your leadership skills.
 * It can help you grow your communication skills.
 * It can help you have excellent physical growth.
 * You'll be able to make friends who have similar interests.
 * You can use your spare time to play the sport you enjoy.
 * There's a chance that you'll earn an athletic scholarship.
 * It can help you relieve academic stress.
 * You'll learn from a coach that's passionate and knows a lot about your sport.
 * You can travel to locations you never thought you'd ever be to.
 * Your public exposure will be great via media interaction.
 * You get the chance of becoming one of your college ambassadors.


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What are the negatives of playing sports at the college level?
 * If you do not manage your time well, it could have a negative effect on your
   academics.
 * The time commitment in your college sporting career might affect the
   friendships you build outside of sports.
 * You might miss some relaxed evenings and weekends because of games,
   practices, or tournaments.
 * You may need to spend your free time in the gym or conditioning outside your
   official practices.
 * You'll likely not get as much playtime as you want, depending on your
   teammates' skills.
 * Your sleep time might be altered because of late games and early practices.
 * Your professors or classmates may apply a pervasive stereotype on you.
 * There's a chance of you getting injured.


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There is no doubt that the benefits of playing sports in college can noticeably
outweigh the drawbacks. All in all, it is left for you to decide if it is
something you'd like to do. You should also decide if this is something you want
to pursue as a career outside college or something you'll only do as a college
student.

What are the benefits and drawbacks of playing college sports?

In volleyball, the setter controls the offense by turning the first pass into a
hittable ball. They should be the most knowledgeable players on the court, have
great hands, be quick, and an outspoken leaders on the team. Setting is an
important Position in Volleyball (link article)


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Mindset
The mindset of a setter is one of the most important aspects of a player wanting
to take on this position. This position requires a great deal of composure and
mental toughness, as unlike any other position, they will typically be involved
in every single play of the game.

If they make a mistake and bury their heads, the team may not recover. If they
play for praise and glory, they may not see it that setting isn’t often flashy
and doesn’t elicit cheers from spectators, but with a team-first mindset, it can
be a gratifying position that makes you invaluable to a program.


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Volleyball IQ
When you see a good setter, you may notice they have soft hands that make no
sound when they contact the ball overhead. They make sure the ball has no spin
and ends up right where the hitter needs it to be.

What you may not see, however, is the amount of court awareness and volleyball
knowledge that goes into every play. Each set has a name that requires different
placement, speed, and height, and setters must know what each stands for, and
listen for those calls from the hitters to make a split-second decision on where
the ball is going to go.

They must also use their knowledge and awareness to set the hitter with a better
chance at a play-end kill, or at least a player with the consistency to swing
over and in the court.


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Required Skills
Because their base position is typically right-back, setters must also be great
defenders. Since they have a running knowledge of offenses, they tend to use
that knowledge to beat the ball and play great defense as well.

A well-rounded setter might also hit while planning the front row, typically on
the right-side. It is important to learn How to Improve Your Digging (link
article) and How to Improve Your Vertical (link article) to do well as a
six-rotation setter.


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Putting in the Work
Setting is a skill that anyone can work towards. Every skill in volleyball is
achievable with hard work. Improving speed and setting consistency is key, but
also having a great, positive mindset and a vast volleyball IQ and the key to
elements of becoming a great setter.

Players willing to work hard and become this key component of a program’s
offense will find themselves with a secure place on the court.


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ALSO READ: The Best Drills to Improve Setting (Link Article)

Volleyball: How To Become A Better Setter

Handball USA Opportunities

Who Won? 1 on 1 OL DL Reps

GO PRO

Lead off Triple

Wando vs James Island
Robert E Hayes Field
Mount Pleasant, SC
August 12th 2022

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