Track and Field Scholarships: How do I know where I stand?

How do I get a Track and Field Scholarship?

The first step in getting a Track and Field Scholarship is getting exposure.  There are a number of sites on the internet that provide a great baseline on where you need to be in certain Track and Field events to be in the running for an Athletic Scholarship.  Below are some sites that you can use as a reference, and most college coaches use these to recruit Track and Field Athletes:

Athletic.net   This is a site that is used by coaches to submit meet results.  You can search by individual Track Athlete, Track and Field Teams, or by individual events.  In my opinion, one of the best.

DyeStat  This is another good site, and has a number of "lists" to judge your performance.

Recruiticus Online athletic scholarship database.

For more information: Track and Field Scholarships

What is an NCAA FCS Football Team?

What is Division 1 FCS?

The NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) is comprised of 120+ schools that have football as a varsity sport.  Previously known as Division I-AA, the teams in this league compete in a playoff series.  From an Athletic Scholarship perspective, FCS schools operate a little differently than FBS Schools (See FBS definition).  In FCS programs, football is classified as an equivalency sport, and programs are allowed to give partial scholarships amounting to a total aid of 63 athletic scholarships.

What is an NCAA FBS Football Program?

What Division are FBS Schools?

The NCAA Division 1 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) are a set of schools that by definition have varsity football teams.  They are distinguished by those in the Division 1 Football Championship (FCS) Division by the following:

• FBS programs differ in Athletic Scholarship headcount, and may offer scholarships to 85 athletes.  Any player receiving aid in an FBS program counts against this 85 scholarship number.  In FCS programs, football is classified as an equivalency sport, and programs are allowed to give partial scholarships amounting to a total aid of 63 athletic scholarships.
• Division 1 FBS football is the only NCAA sport to determine a champion through a series of bowl games, and not through a post-season tournament.

Click here for a listing of NCAA FBS Schools

The Unofficial Visit: NCAA Rules

The Facts on Unofficial Visits

So what is the unofficial visit?  It is a visit to an institution / campus for those interested in athletic scholarships that is not funded by the college or university.  It is a key recruiting tool, and a great way for prospective student athletes to get a feel for the school and its program.  Below are some key Q & A on the visits.

How many unofficial visits can I take?

A prospect / recruit can take an unlimited amount of official visits.

When can I take an unofficial visit?

Unofficial visits can take place at any time, except during NCAA dead periods (see NCAA Recruiting Calendars for Dead Periods), and can occur starting Freshman Year.

Is there any documentation required for an unofficial visit?

No.

Are there any length restrictions on an unofficial visit?

No, there is no limit to the length of an unofficial visit.

Can the college / university provide cost-free lodging, meals and entertainment during an unofficial visit?

No, these items cannot be funded.

Can the college / university provide transportation to athletic practice, competition sites or athletic events?

Yes, transportation can be provided.

Can the college / university provide complimentary admission to athletic events?

Yes, the institution can provide up to 3.

Can I participate in practice during an unofficial visit?

Participating in organized athletic events to test or view the candidates skills is expressly forbidden.

Can a coach offer me an athletic scholarship during an unofficial visit?

The unofficial visit is typically used to gauge a coach's level of interest, and on come occasions, an athletic scholarship can be offered. 

What is the best time to take advantage of unofficial visits?

After establishing contact with a target school, Junior year spring / summer is the best time.

How do I schedule an unofficial visit?

Contact the coach by phone and let them know your intention.  Most will be very receptive and help you schedule an appropriate time to visit when they will be available.

Want Tips on Unofficial Visits?  See this post:  Tips on Unofficial Visits

Want information about NCAA Official Visits?  See our article here: Official Visit FAQ.

For more information, go to  the Recruiticus Athletic Scholarship Info Site

The Official Visit: NCAA Rules

NCAA Rules for the Official Visit

Are you ready for your Official Visit?

One of the most exciting parts of the college recruiting process is the NCAA Official Visit.  First off, if you are being offered a visit, you have obviously grabbed someone's attention, and they want to bring you to campus on their dime, and show you the merits of their athletic program.  Here are some of the basic rules outlined by the NCAA on Official Visits:

How may Official Visits can I take?

• A total of 5 D1 / D2 visits combined
• Only ONE visit per school
• Unlimited to D3

How long is an Official Visit?

• The Official Visit shall not exceed 48 hours in length, and is measured from the time the prospect arrives or is entertained by the institution (whichever comes first), to the time the prospect departs.
• If the prospect remains in the vicinity of the institution beyond 48 hours, the institution may not pay for his/her trip home.

What are the rules around transportation and the Official Visit?

• Round trip transportation costs can be covered via direct route from the prospect's home to the institution.
• If air transportation is used, it may not be beyond coach class.
• The prospect may not be transported by limousine or helicopter (I love this one ;)  )
• The institution may not provide an automobile for use by the prospect or the host student.
• Friends or relatives may not receive cost-free transport, unless they accompany the prospect during auto transport.

What type of lodging can be provided during an Official Visit?

• The prospect shall live and dine the way a regular student does at the institution.

What type of Entertainment can be provided on an Official Visit?

• Entertainment can be provided for the prospect and the prospect's parents or spouse.
• All entertainment must be within a 30 mile radius of the institution.
• Institution athletic event attendence can be provided for the prospect, parents and spouse.  It must be general admission seating.  Seating on the bench, in special boxes, etc. is prohibitted.
• The institution may pay for any reasonable expense incurred.
• Cash may not be provided to the prospect (but in my experience it is given to the host to cover meals)
• The host will receive $30 for each day to entertain (not including admission), and may not buy souvenirs.

Rowing Scholarships: Getting noticed

How to get noticed for a Rowing Scholarship

Other than the obvious:  rowing for a club, going to great regattas, etc.  There are a number of things you can do for exposure to College Rowing coaches looking to provide athletic scholarships to great rowers.  Below are some great tips:

1. Sign up at U.S. Rowing  U.S. Rowing is the National organization for rowing here in the United States.  You can sign up for free, and it is a great source of rowing scholarship information, and just the sport in general.  As a member, you can also work with your coach to submit ERG times for National Team Testing, a great way to get exposure.
2. Sign up for the log at Concept 2 ERG  If you row, you know the personal torture device that is the ERG, made by Concept 2.  They have an online tracking system that is fantastic, and it can give you some great exposure as the results are public.
3. Compete in National Events.  There are a number of great national events, the top being the Crash B Sprints.  You can find a listing of them here: Row2K Events.
4. Sign up at Recruiticus.  This site has an ERG rankings list that is distributed to coaches.  Link here:  Recruiticus Rowing Scholarships

This is just a short list of things you can do for exposure.  Want to know what a good ERG time is?  Here is a table of ERG Times for College Scholarships