Navigating Collegiate Track & Field Recruiting Process

1. The recruiting process – Collegiate track & field Steve Blocker Emporia State University

2. Overview • Approaching the athlete • Do they want to compete? • Are they eligible to compete? • Do you believe they CAN compete? • Don’t allow athletes to assume they will be discovered

3. NAIA • Meet 2 of 3 requirements • Graduate in top half of class • Minimum GPA of 2.0 • Minimum of 860 SAT or 18 ACT

4. Division II Eligibility • 3 years English • 2 years Math (Algebra 1 & higher) • 2 years natural or physical science (including 1 year lab science if offered) • 2 years of social science • 3 additional years of math/English/natural science • 4 years of additional core courses (i.e. foreign language) • 2.0 GPA in core courses & ACT sum of 68 or SAT sum of 820

5. Division I Eligibility • 2.3 GPA in minimum 16 core classes • 4 years/English • 3 years/Algebra 1 & higher • 2 years/natural or physical science (1 year of lab science if offered by HS) • 1 extra year English/math or science • 2 years social science • 4 years of extra core courses (foreign language etc.) • Combined SAT/ACT sum score that matches sliding scale

6. Financial Aid • NCAA Division I & II Maximums • Men 12.6 scholarships • Women 18 scholarships • Amounts differ by school/conference etc. • Very few receive a “full-ride” • ESU total roster - ~ 95 total athletes • Schools may have list of minimum standards on website

7. Financial Aid • ~138,000 scholarships in D I & DII • Average scholarship amount $10,500 • This includes football/volleyball & Men’s & Women’s basketball • Avg. Track & Field Scholarship ~ $1,500-$3,000 • Over 103,000 men & women compete in collegiate track/xc in 2011 • Over 1 million boys & girls competed • 1,096 colleges sponsored collegiate track & field

8. Financial Aid • As coaches we recruit the parents just as much as the athlete • Up to 15% of college athletes give back their aid – scholarships are renewable each year • “Kids who have worked their whole life trying to get a scholarship think the hard part is over when they get the college money,” said Tim Poydenis, a senior at Villanova receiving $3,000 a year to play baseball. “They don’t know that it’s a whole new monster when you get here. Yes, all the hard work paid off. And now you have to work harder.” New York Times – March 2008

9. National Qualifying • NCAA DIVISION II (Men) • 100 Meters 10.34 10.60 • 200 Meters 20.87 21.45 • 400 Meters 46.46 48.00 • 800 Meters 1:49.89 1:52.55 • 1,500 Meters 3:45.30 3:52.50 • 3,000m Steeplechase 8:56.00 9:20.00 • 5,000 Meters 14:00.30 14:35.00 • 10,000 Meters 29:21.20 30:40.00 • 110-Meter Hurdles 14.12 14.65 • 400 Meter Hurdles 51.82 53.60 • 4 x 100 Meter Relay 40.18 41.20 • 4 x 400 Meter Relay 3:09.00 3:15.00 • High Jump 7’-.75” 6’-9.75” • Pole Vault 16’-10.5” 15’-9” • Long Jump 24’-8.5” 23’-5” • Triple Jump 51’-3” 47’-6.5” • Shot Put 58’-9” 52’-10” • Discus 180’-8” 162’-3.5” • Hammer 206’-6” 182’-.5” • Javelin 213’-4” 193’-6” • Decathlon 6976 6300

10. National Qualifying • NCAA Division II (women) • 100 Meters 11.54 11.95 • 200 Meters 23.78 24.55 • 400 Meters 54.64 56.30 • 800 Meters 2:09.36 2:14.00 • 1,500 Meters 4:27.70 4 4:36.00 • 3,000m Steeplechase 10:35.00 11:10.00 • 5,000 Meters 16:20.00 17:20.00 • 10,000 Meters 34:58.20 36:40.00 • 100-Meter Hurdles 13.61 14.40 • 400 Meters Hurdles59.72 1:02.50 • 4 x 100 Meter Relay 45.69 47.20 • 4 x 400 Meter Relay 3:42.30 3:50.00 • High Jump 5’-9” 5’-6” • Pole Vault 12’-11” 11’-7.25” • Long Jump 19’-8” 18’-6.25” • Triple Jump 40’-8” 38’-3” • Shot Put 48’-8” 43’-11.5” • Javelin 149’-11” 131’-2.5” • Discus 160’-3” 142’-.25” • Hammer 184’-3” 162’-4” • Heptathlon 5069 4400

11. Steps to Cover • Sit down with athlete and come up with a list of schools • Check academic standards/admittance/program of study • Check for walk-on standards/qualifying standards etc. • If considering an NCAA school, register for NCAA eligibility center

12. What Collegiate Coaches Look For • Performances at Championship Meets • Marks (not place) • Academics • More $$$ available for Academics than Athletics! • FAT times/marks • Athlete’s demeanor while visiting campus

13. Visiting Campus • NCAA schools can offer Official or Unofficial visits • Official visits are funded by the school (usually highly sought after athletes) • Official visits require ACT/SAT/PSAT score • Usually overnight • We usually bring athletes in during mid-fall

14. Questions to ask While Visiting • How have athletes in that event improved over the years? • Coaching Philosophy? • Event Coach / Program philosophy • Will they have opportunity to travel or compete at conference championships? • Squad size limits

15. Questions to ask While Visiting • Will practices interfere with their major? • Where would they fit into the program? • Single events / relays, etc? *We are always evaluating Recruits* Interaction with their parents Interaction with college coaching staff Interaction / behavior with college athletes

16. What HS Coaches Can Do • Sit down and visit with athlete during Junior year or before if necessary • Help develop criteria of what student is looking for in a school (distance/finances/etc) • Create a short list of schools and begin researching academic/athletic requirements • Be honest with the athlete about where they can compete

17. What HS Coaches Can Do • Meet with Parents about the reality of earning a scholarship and competing at the collegiate level • Money may not make you happy!!!

18. Thank You • Email: Sblocke1@emporia.edu • Office: 620-341-5938