Athletic Recruiting &
College Scholarship Book
| |
By Mark Bercik
A former professional and NCAA Division I
athlete, coach, and scout |
For
Athletes, Parents and Coaches
of All Sports |
The
high-school athlete’s guide to earning college scholarships
and preparing for playing college and pro sports |
This
is the only SPORTS SCHOLARSHIP GUIDE that
has interviews with professional and collegiate athletes,
coaches, and scouts who give
up-front advice
on
high-school, collegiate, and professional sports to help both
the student-athletes and their parents/guardians |
| 1.)
thoroughly understand the recruiting process that leads to
athletic scholarships and/or financial aid, and
2.)
prepare for life in college sports if the student-athlete
does play sports in college or receive an athletic scholarship. |
“I
keep the America’s Complete
SPORTS SCHOLARSHIP GUIDE
on my desk to show all of the recruits who come into my
office.”
Jim Tressel,
head football coach,
The Ohio State University
“2002 National Champions”
|
Photo
provided by The Ohio State
Department of Athletics |
|
| Real-life
experiences & advice for high school athletes
from
100's of people who've been through the athletic recruiting
& scholarship process
America's
Complete SPORTS SCHOLARSHIP GUIDE
stresses the importance of having a college
education to fall back on
once the student-athlete's playing days are over. |
|
| Advice
from a Professional Softball Pitcher and a member of the USA
Olympic Gold Medal 2004 Championship Team |
Dream
Big! |
Jenny
Finch (R) with the author Mark Bercik after a pro softball
game between the Chicago Bandits and the Akron Racers
in Akron, Ohio. |
Some advice
that I would have for the high-school athletes that want to
play at the next level is keep the grades up and hit the books
because without the grades you’ll go nowhere.
College coaches definitely do not want to
be worrying about your grades while you’re playing for them
in college.They want to worry about what you’re doing on the
field.
Be a team player, be the best you can be everyday
you step on the field, give it 110%, leave everything on the
field. Dream Big! Just do it and go for it.
Jenny Finch,
University of Arizona
Chicago Bandits Pro Softball Pitcher
Olympic Softball Gold Medalist
Sports Illustrated cover person--July
2005 |
|
Knowledge
is Power!
 |
| Dick
Vitale (L) with the author Mark Bercik on the ESPN "College
Basketball Game Day" set at the 2006 NCAA "Final
Four" college basketball tournament in Indianapolis,
Indiana. |
The key to being a well-rounded student athlete is understanding
that knowledge
is power and that “education plus athletics” makes them the
best person and attractive recruit as possible. When
a youngster is fortunate enough to play sports in college
by receiving an athletic scholarship or financial aid—he/she
should look at attending college as a “ticket to success”—not
just as an athlete but also a person. Don’t just go to college
to play sports—get your degree while you are there.
The David Robinsons, Grant Hills, and Tim Duncans should be
the role models of today’s high-school student athletes. They
were motivated to become well-rounded people first and great
basketball players second. Michael Jordan went back to college
to get his degree after being drafted by the NBA as a junior
in college because he was motivated to become a complete person
and didn’t want to be perceived as being only a great athlete.
Dick Vitale
Former Head Basketball Coach,
University of Detroit and the NBA Detroit Pistons,
ESPN and ABC Sports College Basketball
Analyst |
|
This
book should be read by both the student athletes and their
parents!
"If
you're serious about sports scholarships and understanding
how the athletic recruiting process works, you need to read
this book."
Michael Zordich,
Penn State All-American defensive back and 12-year
NFL veteran for the San Diego Chargers, New York Jets, Arizona
Cardinals, and Philadelphia Eagles. |
|
Tips
on athletic scholarships and how to get noticed and recruited
by college coaches
in football, basketball,
baseball, soccer, hockey, volleyball. etc. |
|
|
Interviews and Advice from:
|
Paul
Maguire
(ESPN)
The
Citadel Univ.
(South Carolina) Tight End, Buffalo Bills Punter |
NFL
T.V. Analysts
|
Solomon
Wilcots
(CBS Sports)
University
of Colorado, Minnesota Vikings', Pittsburgh Steelers', Cincinnati
Bengals' Defensive Back
|
Mike Barnett,
Ohio University Catcher, Toronto Blue Jays'
Hitting coach |
and many other
• College Coaches
•
All-Americans
• Professional
Athletes & Scouts |
Kelly
Holcomb,
Middle Tennessee State University,
Buffalo Bills'
Quarterback
|
Jeff
Faine,
Notre Dame All-American,
Cleveland Browns'
Center |
Michael
Zordich,
Penn State All-American,
New York Jets',
Arizona Cardinals',
Philadelphia Eagles'
Defensive Back |
Matt
Wilhelm,
Ohio State All-American,
San Diego Chargers'
Linebacker |
|
who are
"Giving Something Back to the Game
for the Kids"
|
|
| 
ESPN's
Paul Maguire
pictured with author Mark Bercik
"Today's young athletes should be making sure they acquire a
college education first and foremost! Their Plan B should
be playing sports at the next level--- NOT their Plan
A."
Paul Maguire
ESPN (Sunday Night) NFL TV Analyst
|
|
Lisa
Dergan (R) with Mark
Bercik at the filming of the
BEST DAMN SPORTS SHOW
PERIOD in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
This
is the
BEST DAMN SPORTS SCHOLARSHIP GUIDE PERIOD!
“I would
not have the job I have today with Fox Sports if I didn’t participate
in sports and attend college to get my education.
“Every female
or male junior high-or high school athlete who has dreams and
goals of playing sports in college and possibly receiving a
sports scholarship should read this book to learn from the valuable
advice and real-life experiences that all these special people
are sharing for their benefit.
“This book
is very similar to our show, the “BEST DAMN SPORTS SHOW PERIOD,
in that it isn’t completely about the x’s and o’s of sports,
but its about real-life stories of people, it’s entertaining,
and it’s informative.”
Lisa
Dergan
San Diego State University graduate
golfer on Celebrity Players Tour for Callaway Golf
host of Fox Sports reality show ‘SPORTS
HUNT’
Fox Sports Net ‘BEST DAMN SPORTS SHOW
PERIOD’ sports reporter
|
|
|
This Book will Hit You Harder than a Muhammad Ali Jab or a
Joe Frazier Left Hook!
Ray
"Boom Boom" Mancini
World Championship Lightweight Boxer
Parent of a Student Athlete
|
Ray
"Boom Boom" Mancini
|
You
learn from real-life experiences and you need to learn from
your mistakes.
I was very
fortunate to have so many good people to help me during both
my high school playing days in sports and during my pro boxing
career. As far as learning which people you could trust to give
you good advice—it’s just something you have to learn from experience.
Learning how to communicate with people and
deciding whether they are going to be good for you and your
career is something that you don’t learn in school like you
do Math, English, History, etc...—it’s something you learn on
the streets and on your own through trial and error.
You learn from real-life experiences and you
need to learn from your mistakes. If you make the same mistake
twice—then shame on you for not learning from the first time
you made that mistake.
Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini
Actor and Movie Producer
Former World Championship Lightweight
Boxer
|
|
Advice
from an Olympic Gold Medallist Swimmer |
Participating in college athletics is an awesome experience.
College sports are fantastic.
|
Amanda
Beard (L) with the author Mark Bercik at the Disney MGM
Studios during the “ESPN the Weekend” in Orlando, Florida. |
Q:
What advice do you have for the female athlete who wants to
play college sports?
A: Participating in high-school and college
sports is a wonderful thing to do. College athletics is an
awesome experience. College sports are fantastic. My advice
for the female student athlete is to work hard at your game
but have balance.
You need to be very focused at improving your
skills in your sport to increase your chances of getting an
athletic scholarship but at the same time enjoy the time you
spend in high school. Don’t be so focused that you miss out
on the experiences such as attending the prom, homecoming,
etc.
Amanda Beard,
University of Arizona
2005
Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model
Olympic
Gold Medallist Swimmer
CEO of Amanda Beard, Inc.
|
|
| Quote
from a WNBA All-Star and Three-Time Olympic Basketball Champion |
Lisa
Leslie
Photo Compliments of Rich Arden
/ ESPN |
It’s
not our fault we were born girls—we just want to play sports
too.
Lisa
Leslie,
University of Southern California All-American
Los Angeles Sparks forward
3-time Olympic basketball champion |
|
|
To all
student athletes:
"Prepare for college
and get your education whether you receive an athletic scholarship
or not."
Mike Stoops,
Associate Head Football Coach,
University of Oklahoma,
"2000 National
Champions"
Current
Head Football Coach, University of Arizona
All-American Defensive Back, University
of Iowa |
|
|
|
You only
get one chance to get an athletic scholarship!!!
"My advice to student-athletes
and their parents is to learn as much as you can about how
the recruiting process works before it's too late to do
anything about it."
"You need to read this book if earning an athletic
scholarship and playing at the next level is your goal!"
Mike Barnett (pictured with author Mark Bercik)
Major League Hitting Coach,
"Toronto Blue Jays" |
"THIS BOOK TELLS IT LIKE IT IS...
The recruiting process which leads to athletic scholarships
and financial aid is all about numbers... your GPA, your
height, your weight, your speed, how many scholarships each
sport has to offer, etc..."
Mark
Stoops,
Defensive Backs Coach, University of Miami, Fla.
"2001
National Champions"
Current Defensive Coordinator,
University of Arizona
University of Iowa Defensive Back
|
 |
Do You Know?
- What
all the academic and eligibility requirements
are?
- What
questions to ask college coaches?
- What
college coaches look for when evaluating a potential
recruit?
|
|
| First and foremost the student athletes dreams and goals of
playing sports in college and
earning a sports scholarship starts with one thing:
Understanding the Recruiting Process! |
| "The
student athlete must understand the recruiting process starts
with academics and it begins in their freshmen year. If
the student doesn't meet NCAA's Academic and Eligibility
Requirements
they will not receive a scholarship regardless of how great
an athlete they may be."
Mike Stoops,
Associate Head Football Coach and Defensive Coordinator,
University of Oklahoma
2000 National Champions
Current Head Football Coach,
University of Arizona
All-American Defensive Back,
University of Iowa
|
* This statement is only the tip of
the iceberg as far as all of the information the prospective
college athlete needs to be aware of. There are nearly 50
pages in one chapter in the NCAA's Manual on eligibility called
BYLAW, ARTICLE 14 Eligibility: Academic and General Requirements.
A "Realistic" guidebook that helps parents
and coaches teach student athletes the recruiting process
and how to promote themselves to college coaches as an attractive
recruit.
|
| Once you have read this guide, you
will understand all the aspects of the recruiting process
and the business of collegiate sports. You will also learn
how to get yourself noticed, find valuable contacts, and effectively
promote yourself as a knowledgeable and mature student athlete
to college recruiters. |
 |
Mark Bercik is well respected by college,
professional and high school coaches across the
U.S. and Canada. A former professional NCAA Division
I athlete, coach
and scout, he is still among the youngest high
school athletes ever to receive a Division I athletic scholarship.
He was MVP and captain of his college team before
he played professionally. Now he has arrived as
a writer, speaker, and consultant who is Giving
Something Back to the Game. . . |
OUR MISSON | OUR GOAL
|
What's Being Said About This Book. . .
|
"Mark Bercik understands the recruiting process. His
SPORTS SCHOLARSHIP GUIDE provides parents and student
athletes with valuable information that will help them understand
the academic and athletic accountability needed during high
school for a young person to be attractive to college coaches.
A 'must read' if your goal is to earn a scholarship and
play college athletics"
-Perk Weisenburger,
athletic director, Illinois State University, and former
college baseball player at Central Michigan Univ.
"The SPORTS SCHOLARSHIP GUIDE will certainly be helpful
to young athletes and parents. It is refreshing to see how
Mark Bercik and all the people associated are giving
something back to the game for the kids!"
-Joe Carbone, head baseball coach, Ohio University
"America's Complete Sports Scholarship Guide is a high
school coaches best friend! Not only does it provide realistic
information on the athletic recruiting process for student
athletes and parents but it is also an excellent resource
guide for high school coaches to refer to."
-Jim Vivo, head football coach, Ursuline High
School, Youngstown Ohio, 2000 State Champions
"Reality for players and parents, this guide should be read
by all players who aspire to compete at the next level."
-Ed Stacey, associate scout for the New York
Yankees, former Texas A&M graduate assistant coach
"About
the only thing that an Ohio State Buckeye
and a Michigan Wolverine can agree on is:
 "The
fact that this book can be very helpful to high school athletes
with dreams and goals of playing collegiate or professional
sports;
It
deals with the "reality of sports" and advises
student athletes to have a Plan B— a college education
to fall back on when their playing days are over."
-Marcus
Marek,
All-Time Tackling Leader and All-American Linebacker
for the Ohio State Buckeyes
"Mark Bercik has a firm grip on the recruiting
process. Not only does the Sports Scholarship Guide
inform parents and high school athletes about the realities
of high school, collegiate, and professional sports. . .it
will help young athletes of all ages understand how they need
to conduct themselves on and off the field to even be considered
a prospect. Everything you need to know about athletic scholarships
is in this book."
-Mike Nittoli,
San Francisco, California, youth league
football/baseball coach and former Chicago White Sox catcher
". . .Ballplayers in youth leagues, potential college
prospects, and even the blue chip recruit can benefit from
reading this book. This book is a must for information about
athletic scholarships."
-Gary Deniro, parent and former starting linebacker
for two National Championship teams
at the University of Alabama
". . .It is a great guide to the do's and don'ts regarding
academic eligibility, sports scholarships, being recruited,
and getting exposure to college coaches and professional scouts."
-Gary Hinkson, head baseball coach, Hickory High
School, Hermitage, Pennsylvania
"Mark Bercik's book gives direction with a purpose. Just
read it!
Jim
Szuch, former assistant football
coach, Michigan State University
|
| Click Here for More Reviews and Testimonials |
Below
is some valuable advice for the benefit of high-school athletes
and their parents that was obtained after the publishing
of the first edition of this book
|
|
|
Advice
from the Major Leaguers |
|
| Don't
ever underestimate the power of good grades! |
Jody
Gerut (L) with author, Mark Bercik |
"My
advice to high-school student athletes is: Don't ever
underestimate the power of good grades.
"I
would not be where I am at today if I didn't have
the good grades necessary in high school to be able
to attend college on a baseball scholarship
to Stanford University. I grew and developed as an
athlete and a person while I was there."
Jody
Gerut
Stanford University, California
Cleveland Indians Outfielder |
Enjoy playing sports at whatever level you are playing
at now because you never know what's going to happen
along the way. |
Eric
Wedge (L) with Mike Florak, head baseball coach,
Youngstown State University |
"My
advice to high-school student athletes is: Enjoy playing
sports at whatever level you are playing at now.
"Take
everything one step at a time and prepare for attending
college to get an education whether you receive an
athletic scholarship or not. You need to have something
to fall back on when your playing days are over. You
never know what's going to happen along the way. Look
at my collegiate and professional career: I
had to deal with 9 separate surgeries during my playing
days, and I'm only 36-years-old."
Eric
Wedge
Wichita State University, Kansas
Cleveland Indians Manager |
Be realistic about your chances of receiving an athletic
scholarship or a professional baseball contract. |
Ryan
Ludwick (L) with author, Mark Bercik |
"My
advice to young ball players who have dreams of receiving
an athletic scholarship or a professional baseball
contract is: Be realistic; you are not the only ball
player in the country who has these particular dreams.
"Take
a look around you—no matter what part
of the country you live in, every parent of every
child who has the same dreams as yours is doing whatever
they can to make sure their child has the best equipment,
the best personal instruction, the best of everything
and anything that can help increase their child's
chances of obtaining the same goals you do.
"Although
I encourage each and every young ball player to have
dreams and goals, I want them to know just how difficult
it is to play at the next level. The odds are so against
them that they would be crazy not to have a "Plan
B" to fall back on—and that plan would
be to get a college education."
Ryan
Ludwick
Nevada Las Vegas University
Cleveland Indians Outfielder |
Don't put the cart before the horse; build a foundation. |
Lloyd
McClendon (L) with author, Mark Bercik |
“My
advice to young ballplayers who have dreams of playing
professional sports is: Don’t put the cart before the
horse.
“Build
a foundation—get good grades in high school,
use those good grades to help you attend college on
an athletic and/or academic scholarship, play your
sport in college, get your college education so you
have something to fall back on, and then give professional
baseball your best shot.”
Lloyd
McClendon
Valparaiso University, Indiana
Pittsburgh Pirates Manager
|
Use playing sports in college to improve your game
and to mature as a person. |
Jack
Wilson (L) with author, Mark Bercik |
“My
advice to high-school student athletes is: Not every
ballplayer has to take the conventional route of attending
a four-year college after high school. Sometimes
a junior college is the best fit for a young baseball
player to help him improve his game and mature both
mentally and physically at the same time.
“Attending
a junior college led to my getting both a Division
I scholarship offer to a college in Texas and a pro
baseball contract that included a paid college education
so I could continue taking classes during the off-season
in order to get my degree.”
Jack
Wilson
Oxnard Junior College, California
Pittsburgh Pirates All-Star Shortstop |
I needed to attend college and experience real-life
situations with other people who were the same age as
I was. |
Jason
Bay (R) with author, Mark Bercik |
“My
advice to young ballplayers who have dreams of getting
drafted out of high school by a professional baseball
team is: Slow down, don’t be in such a hurry, give your
body and mind time to develop and mature, go to college,
play college ball, polish your game, and enjoy all the
life experiences a young man should encounter at that
age.
"I didn’t get drafted out of
high school because I wasn’t mature enough physically
and mentally at that point in my life. I needed
to attend college and experience real-life situations
with other people who were my age in order to mature
into a well-rounded young man. It is not
an easy road to go down for a teenager who is competing
and playing against ball players several years older
and wiser than you."
Jason
Bay
Gonzaga University, Washington
Pittsburgh Pirates Outfielder |
|
Advice
from a three-time
NBA Championship Center |
Play
the game because you love it! |
Bill
Wennington (R) with author, Mark Bercik at the
ESPN Zone in Chicago, Illinois |
"My
advice to the junior-high and high-school basketball
player who has dreams and goals of obtaining an athletic
scholarship and/or perhaps going on to play in the NBA
is for them to play the game because they love it and
let the chips fall where they may. The
farther you progress in your basketball career, whether
it be playing collegiately or professionally, the
more the sport becomes a business and the more you’ll
need to realize that the only way you will be able
to mentally handle all of the demands and pressures
that go along with playing basketball at the next
level is if you are playing the sport because you
love it."
Bill
Wennington
St. John's University, New York
Chicago Bulls Center
|
|
Advice
from a NFL
"Hall of Fame" Coach |
|
Marv
Levy, former Buffalo Bills' head football coach
(C), at his book signing at the Book Expo in Chicago |
Q:
What advice do you have for the high-school football
player who has dreams and goals of playing collegiate
and professional football? A:
If you are going to college just to play football
and are not going to take getting your college education
seriously, then don’t bother going to college at all!
Marv
Levy
Former Buffalo Bills' head football
coach
|
|
| Advice
from ESPN Sports Personalities |
I
wouldn't be where I am at today if I didn't get my
college education. |
Dan
Patrick (R) with author Mark Bercik during the
“ESPN the Weekend” at the Disney Yacht Club in
Orlando, Florida |
Q:
How important do you feel it is for today’s high-school
athletes to understand that they should have a college
education to fall back on once their playing days are
over?
A: Very important. I wouldn’t be where
I am at today if I didn’t have my college education.
As a youngster, I also had the same dreams and goals
of one day playing collegiate and pro sports as many
of today’s athletes do and even though I did have
a few scholarship offers to play basketball at some
small colleges, I was realistic enough about my own
abilities to know I didn’t have what it would take
to make it to the next level. I knew that I needed
to make a decision on what classes I should take in
college that would lead to me getting an education
in the field of what I wanted to do for the rest of
my life.
Dan Patrick
University of Dayton
graduate
ESPN SPORTSCENTER anchor and
ESPN Sports Radio talk show host
|
It
is also important to gain maturity, which is something
that the responsibility of college brings you. |
Howie
Schwab, ESPN Sports trivia expert with the author,
Mark Bercik at the ESPN Club on the Walt Disney’s
Boardwalk during the “ESPN the Weekend” in Orlando,
Florida |
Q:
Since you have worked for ESPN Sports for over 17
years as a head of the research department, how important
do you feel it is for the high-school athlete who
has dreams and goals of making a living playing professional
sports to understand that they should have a college
education to fall back on once their playing days
are over?
A: I think it is extremely important for kids to have
a college education to fall back on if their athletic
careers don't work out. For every LeBron James, Kevin
Garnett, and Kobe Bryant there is a Lenny Cooke, D'Angelo
Collins, or Korleone Young who did not make it after
entering the NBA draft out of high-school. What happens
to a kid who goes to the pros and then injures his
knee? His career is over and then what happens? It
is also important to gain maturity, which is something
that the responsibility of college brings you. You
also see some high school athletes who could develop
in college but instead go to the NBA and ride the
bench. Look at Ndudi Ebi, Kendrick Perkins and Travis
Outlaw recently.
Howie
Schwab,
St. John's University
class of 1978 graduate
Coordinating producer, ESPN,
and costar of ESPN's "Stump the Schwab" |
|
| Advice
from a Sports Reporter for Fox Sports
|
I
think that when girls play sports it makes them
more well-rounded and attractive. |
Lisa
Dergan with author Mark Bercik at the filming
of the BEST DAMN SPORTS SHOW PERIOD at Hi-Tops
Sports Bar in Pittsburgh. PA. |
“I
encourage every girl in junior high and high school
to participate in sports. I began playing golf at
the age of 12, and I think it was one of the most,
if not the most beneficial decisions I ever made during
my junior high-school years.
When girls participate
in sports, it helps them gain self-confidence, which
is very important to a young girl. I think that
when girls in junior high and high school play sports,
it makes them more well-rounded and attractive.
I also encourage
young ladies to try to play sports in college, regardless
of whether they receive an athletic scholarship
or not. There are many opportunities for girls to
play sports during their college years nowadays.
They can try out for the college team or a club
sport or even participate on a coed intramural team.
Obviously, they want to attend college to get their
education first and foremost, but I feel they should
get involved in several different activities during
their college years so that they can create a balance
in their lives and not be a bookworm during their
entire college years.
Young ladies need
to get involved in various activities so that they
can gain valuable life experiences and learn how
to communicate with others and make new friends.
They will make valuable connections through college
friendships that will help them network after college
is behind them. It’s not always what you know—sometimes
it’s about who you know.
I wouldn’t have
the job I have with Fox Sports today if I hadn’t
participated in sports at a young age and attended
college to get my education and make some very valuable
contacts along the way.”
Lisa Dergan
San Diego State University
graduate,
golfer on Celebrity Players Tour for Callaway Golf
host of Fox Sports reality show ‘SPORTS
HUNT’
Fox Sports Net ‘BEST DAMN
SPORTS SHOW PERIOD’ sports reporter
|
|
Advice
from the three-time All-Pro NFL
Wide Receiver |
Learn
to play as many positions as possible. |
Hines
Ward (L) with author Mark Bercik |
"My
advice to the high-school athlete who has dreams and
goals of getting an athletic scholarship and/or playing
professional sports is to always stay positive on the
field, practice like you play, learn to play as many
positions as possible, and play it cool, go to school—go
to college and get your education whether you get a
scholarship or not.
Today’s high-school athletes need
to understand going to a college to get an education
is a "must", it doesn’t matter what college
they attend as long as they obtain their degree. They
need to understand that their earning power in the
“real world” will be significantly much greater if
they have a degree than if they don’t."
Hines Ward,
USA Today All-American
H.S. Quarterback
University of Georgia halfback / quarterback / wide
receiver
Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro
Wide Receiver
|
|
| Advice
from the 1st Pick in the 2004 NBA Draft
|
Set
goals for yourself; write those goals down and what
it will take to achieve them; work on your weaknesses!
|
Dwight
Howard (L) with author Mark Bercik during the
“ESPN the Weekend” in Orlando, Florida
|
"My
advice to any high-school athlete who has dreams and
goals of getting an athletic scholarship and/or playing
professional sports is 1.) Put God first in your life
2.) Set goals for yourself; write those goals
down and what it will take to achieve them, work on
your weaknesses!
I set numerous goals for myself during
my freshmen year in high school, and I obtained each
and every goal I set for myself because I knew how
much work it would take for me to achieve those goals.
I worked harder than anybody will ever know to reach
those goals. If I hadn't been drafted as high as I
was in the draft, I would have attended Duke University
on a basketball scholarship."
Dwight Howard
Gatorade High School Athlete
of the Year
Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, Georgia
1st pick in the 2004 NBA draft
Orlando Magic Forward
|
|
| Advice
from an LPGA Golfer |
College
recruiters want to know about your work ethic
and how much time you spend working on your game.
|
Leslie
Spalding (R) with the author Mark Bercik at the
LPGA Classic in Warren-Vienna, Ohio |
“My
advice to the female high-school athlete who has dreams
and goals of getting an athletic scholarship and/or
playing professional golf is to work hard at improving
your game, especially your weaknesses.Don’t just work
on what you are good at.
College recruiters want to know about
your work ethic and how much time you spend working
on your game. Some college coaches prefer to recruit
high-school athletes from other countries like Korea
because they know how hard the Korean high-school
golfers work at improving their game and how many
hours per day they spend practicing their game.
My advice for any female high-school
golfer who has the opportunity to play on the professional
tour directly out of high school is go to college
for at least a year or two. Go to a college away from
your home so that you can gain very valuable life
experiences and to develop your social and communications
skills so that you can become a well-rounded person.
You’re on your own when you become a professional
golfer; you don’t have coaches to teach you the game
and teammates to give you support."
Leslie Spalding,
Two-time
Montana State High School Champion
University of Alabama
LPGA Golfer
|
|
| Advice
from a NFL All-Pro Defensive End |
Your
“Plan A” should be getting a college education; your
“Plan B” should be getting an athletic scholarship
or playing professional sports. |
Adewale
Ogunleye (C) with the author Mark Bercik and Mark
Ferrera (R), ESPN Sports Talk Live host at the
ESPN Club In Orlando, Florida |
“My
advice to all high-school football players who have
dreams and goals of getting an athletic scholarship
and/or playing professional football:
Your “Plan A” should be getting
a college education; Your “Plan B” should be getting
an athletic scholarship or playing professional sports.
There are so many variables that have to come into
play in order for a college athlete to ever make it
to the professional level that it would be unwise
for young athletes to not have acquired their college
education.
I was very fortunate to make it to
the NFL; I didn’t just walk into a starting position
for the Miami Dolphins and become the AFC sack leader.
I wasn’t taken in the NFL draft. I was a free-agent
who was lucky enough to have some valuable contacts
that helped me get my foot in the door in order to
get a pro tryout as a free agent. My story is very
unique and I was prepared to put my college education
to good use when I found out I wasn’t drafted by an
NFL team. I began looking for a good job in the “real
world” before my valuable contacts got me a chance
to attend a pro tryout."
Adewale Ogunleye,
University of Indiana
Miami Dolphins All-Pro
Chicago Bears Defensive End |
|
| Advice
from a NHL nine-time Stanley Cup Championship Coach
|
You
will get noticed by college hockey coaches if you
are playing on a junior hockey league team. |
Scotty
Bowman (R) with the author Mark Bercik at the
ESPN Club in Orlando, Florida |
“My
advice to the high-school athlete or college student
who has dreams and goals of getting a hockey scholarship
and/or playing professional hockey: Work hard at improving
your game by playing against the best competition you
can and get yourself noticed by as many college coaches
as possible by playing in as many tournaments as you
can. Do what it takes to get yourself a tryout to play
for a junior hockey league team. Wayne Gretzky, Mario
Lemieux, and Mike Modano are all products of junior
hockey.
You will get noticed by college hockey
coaches if you are playing on a junior hockey league
team. The rest is up to you to perform well on the
ice in front of these coaches."
Scotty Bowman,
NHL Hockey Coach, Detroit Red
Wings,
Montreal Canadiens, and Pittsburgh Penguins
Nine-Time Stanley Cup Championship Coach |
|
| Advice
from the Father of an NFL "Hall of Fame"
halfback, Barry Sanders |
If
your son or daughter wants to play college or pro
sports— you need to read this book.
|
William
Sanders (R) with the author Mark Bercik at the
Hall of Fame weekend in Canton, Ohio, where Mr.
Sanders' son Barry Sanders was inducted into the
NFL Hall of Fame. |
“My
advice to any parent or guardian of a high-school athlete
or college student who has dreams and goals of getting
an athletic scholarship and/or playing pro sports is
parents need to understand just how difficult it is
to get an athletic scholarship let alone make it to
the pros. You have the same chances of your son or daughter
making it to the pros as you do of hitting the lottery.
They need to understand how many thousands of kids have
the same dreams and goals of getting an athletic scholarship
as their son’s or daughter’s.
I am the father of
11 children, two of which received football scholarships,
(Barry, Oklahoma State and Byron, Northwestern University).
I made sure each and every one of my children knew
the importance of getting a college education. All
11 of my children have graduated from college. Parents
need to support their child’s dreams but they also
must emphasize to them that they need to have their
college education to fall back on.
If your son or daughter
wants to play college or pro sports—you need to read
this book. You need to understand how the recruiting
process works and the reality of sports so that you
can help your children increase their chances of getting
an athletic scholarship and a college education."
William Sanders,
Father of Barry Sanders
Oklahoma State University All-American
Detroit Lions
NFL “Hall of Fame” Halfback
|
|
|
Advice
from the USA Today
High School Basketball “Coach of the Year” |
What
makes LeBron James so special is that he had the drive
to become the best all-around player he could be. |
Dru
Joyce II (L) with the author prior to an Akron
St. Vincent-St. Mary’s high school basketball
game against Cardinal Mooney in Youngstown, Ohio. |
| | |
