Set budgets. Higher education is expensive. Start planning now. Even if you do get academic and athletic money, there are still many costs associated with higher education. Find scholarships. There are many, many scholarships that can be combined with athletic and academic money. (Please consult the coach and school to...
Some Thoughts on College Visits Finding and choosing a college can be a challenging task. Here are some tips and some guidance on how to make the process go more smoothly and effectively for your family…. Start early. If your child is in upper school (grade 9 or higher), then...
Is it Okay to get Nervous?
Why is it okay for professional golfers to admit they get nervous and junior golfers deny that they are nervous? Is it because junior golfers are so on edge all of the time that they cannot feel the difference? Or is it because junior golfers feel a sense of embarrassment and are afraid to ask for assistance? I believe it is a combination.
My observations from years of playing, teaching and coaching…..
Junior golfers are so on edge they cannot feel or tell the difference between a little nervous and over-the-edge nervous. The pressure of performing as a junior golfer and making a college decision are real! And, Yes there is a sense of embarrassment when pressure hits and hiccups occur. We all feel it. I still feel it. Nobody enjoys failure. With maturity, you learn to “fail forward”. So, both are true that it is difficult to decipher between a little nervous and a lot nervous and pressure is real for junior golfers.
Here are a couple of helpful hints to help alleviate the pressures and help with the decision making process:
(For more Helpful Hints on visiting a college, visit Ask Maggie and feel free to send me your questions.)
Try these helpful drills and articles:
How much should I play this fall?
How much you play on the weekends during school is a personal preference. It is important that your school work is a priority. College coaches care about your scholastic aptitude. It shows discipline.
If your high school golf is in the spring, then you can definitely play some fall events if your family schedule permits. It depends on your age, but if you are a sophomore or junior you can look for events near schools of choice and play there on the weekends if that college team is at home. It will give you a chance to “double dip” by playing an event where it is easy for the coach to come watch you play and possibly take a school visit before or after the event. (The coach may not be allowed to visit with you on or off the campus during the event depending on the rules of the division.) Always reach out to the coach before making plans to make sure it will work with the coach’s schedule.
If you are playing fall high school golf, you may only want to play a couple of events and ones that are close to home if possible. You can still visit a college, but remember that coaches will be more available later in the fall after their team schedule concludes. (You can easily find team playing schedules on each college profile in the college directory.) They will also appreciate if you set up your school tour through the admissions office and use your time with the coach to talk golf and what you need to do to have the opportunity to play there. (If they offer to meet you on the tour for a bit or even do the tour themselves, consider it a bonus!) Another bonus to taking the school tour is a little check mark on your application that shows interest and some some schools offer a discounted application fee for taking the tour!
Have you ever attended a college golf tournament? Fall is a great chance to get a feel for the level of play of college players. It is also an opportunity to see how the coaches interact with their teams and vice versa. It may help you add a team to your list or remove one from your list based on your observations. Remember it is a two-way street! You are interviewing the coach and team as much as they are interviewing you.
Your golf requires a lot of planning. Be proactive to make the best use of your time and money. And remember to thank your parents and coaches for their efforts in making your dreams come to life!
Remember to keep your profile and calendar updated. Coaches are interested in you!
Want to visit a college coach next week while you are out of school on spring break? Know before you go….. What is a dead period? During a dead period a college coach may not have face-to-face contact with college-bound student-athletes or their parents, and may not watch student-athletes compete or visit their...
Gary, from Illinois asks:
When should we start visiting colleges?
Start anytime. I would recommend driving through a campus or two when your teen is approaching 9th grade. Or, plan to stop for lunch and walk around. Many college cafeterias allow guests to pay and dine. Between 9th and 10th grade, check with college admissions, take a tour, observe a class in session, and explore a dormitory. It is acceptable to ask the coach for 10-20 minutes with advance notice during your freshman and sophomore year (provided it is allowed by the recruiting rules). Do not be disappointed if the coach is unavailable. You will appreciate the coach’s schedule when your child is on a roster.
Please be respectful of time when you ask. The coach will have paperwork to do if you speak and have an unofficial visit.
It may be helpful to visit a campus with just 2-3k students and compare to larger schools of 15-20k students. Observe classes in both environments.
Consider the practicality of playing golf in different climates. Perhaps limit your school visits to either southern or southwestern schools if you want to play outdoors year-round. If this is not a concern, expand your choices to include Ivy League schools, (strong academics), or northern division III schools which may include more time away from golf during the academic year. However, some northern programs have impressive facilities for indoor putting and practicing during inclement winter weather.
Also think about visiting schools of different division levels. Wonderful programs exist in all divisions. Always ask yourself, “Will I be happy here if something unforeseen happens and I am unable to play golf?”
If you are a parent of a junior golfer, your urge is to want to help. This is very natural. You are a parent. The beauty of golf is that the game will do a lot of the “help” for you. You just need to provide the opportunity and a few helpful tips along the way. By the way, if you are a junior golfer, your urge is to rely too much on mom and dad. Wouldn’t it be nice to stop being told what to do every day and earn a little “freedom”? Start taking on responsibilities yourself. Show them that you can do this!Here are 4 things you can do:
1. Print out the Packing List. Get yourself organized! College coaches want to see an organized, responsible, independent golfer.
2. Plan your own practice.
3. Thank the organizers and volunteers of the event.
4. Start looking at colleges on your own. Start a notebook of thoughts and questions.
To Go or Not to Go
….That is the question
First things first. It depends on your goals. There are many possible goals associated with attending a camp on a college campus. Here are a few:
1. I just want to have fun and get away for a week or day. I’m going for the “camp” atmosphere and making friends. Golf is a bonus!
2. I’m new to the game and need to learn the basics and play some golf.
3. I’m in middle school nearing high school and want to start learning a bit about college and playing college golf.
4. This college is one of my top 5-10 choices. I want to meet the coach and see the school.
5. One of my top 5-10 schools of choice has a coach at this camp.
6. I realize now that I am not getting one of my top 5-10 schools of choice and need to get seen by some coaches at a different level.
7. I’d like to learn how to play at a higher level and learning from a college coach might give me some insights.
There are many other reasons to attend. Know your goal. Log in to see some of the camps that we know about and what to expect at camp.
Before reading this article, you may want to read Should I go to Camp at a College. This article will help you in your decision making process.
There are many, many camps to choose and for different reasons. Here are just a few that I would like to share with you (in no particular order). I have listed only a small set. Please search the college of your choice and phone them about whether they are having a camp or participating at another camp. Many times coaches from other schools work camps at another college. While some coaches use the camp as a chance to find potential recruits, there is no guarantee that the camp will produce that opportunity.
Camps at a college campus can meet a variety of goals. However, they can be expensive. Know your goal of the camp experience and make sure you sign up for the one that fits. You should also read all of the information about the camp. One other important note: NCAA regulations require that camps be open to any and all entrants (limited only by number, age, grade level and/or gender). In other words, NCAA will not allow college camps to select applicants based on ability.
As an added bonus, here are a couple of fun camps in Virginia for a younger sibling:
Independence Golf Club– A fun, non-college co-ed experience camp, for your beginner golfer. Overnight and day camp experiences are offered.
Woodberry Forest School– For the young, All-Sportster in your family! Woodberry Forest Sports Camp offers sports-loving boys between the ages of 10 and 14* (14-year-olds who will enter 8th grade in the fall may attend) a 3-week camp special experience.