Marketing Mainland-Bound Student Athletes
Created by Brittany Awai, Kamehameha Schools Maui c/o 2006
Updated: March 2006
 Aloha & Welcome!
For Hawai'i high school athletes, mainland colleges are fertile ground for post-high school play. While the local Hawai`i colleges and universities offer good opportunities for local kids, many view mainland schools as their best, and sometimes only, option. But how does a local player market him or herself beyond Hawai'i's shores? How do they get noticed by the coaches and coaching staff that could make or break their collegiate athletic careers? This website offers Hawai`i high school athletes information and tips to make it as a student-athlete.
Steps to Market Yourself…
A prospective athlete is defined by the NCAA as anyone who enters and begins their 9th grade year in high school. As a student athlete from Hawai`i, here are suggested steps for your college bound journey:
- Create and maintain a master list of colleges you would like to attend.
- Register with the NCAA Clearinghouse.
- Check academic requirements for each college in your 9th grade year.
- Create and maintain an Athletic Profile.
- Create a video of sport specific skills and game footage.
- Visit college websites and complete the prospective student athlete questionnaire.
- Communicate in writing & verbally with college coaches to express interest in their program.
- Take advantage of official and non-official college visits to gauge what college environments fit your preferences.
- Participate regularly in out of state tournaments and college skills clinics to gain exposure for you as a prospective student athlete.
- Evaluate your options to balance academic and athletic scholarship opportunities. Send in college applications as early as possible.
Master List of Colleges to get you started
 This task is time consuming and the information is sometimes difficult to find on college websites. However, once you complete the list it is very easy to maintain and update and can be used to merge documents/letters. If you partner with other student athletes and their families, you can share in the research portion of this task and enter data into a master shared file.
Sample List (volleyball)
NCAA Clearinghouse can help take you…
The NCAA Clearinghouse website will provide information about initial-eligibility at NCAA Division I, II, and III member colleges and universities. The Clearinghouse serves three main constituent groups: prospective student-athletes, high school administrators, and NCAA member institutions. Eligibility rules change frequently so you should check this website regularly to remain informed. Helpful areas within this website for student athletes are below, however, you are encouraged to browse the entire website for useful information:
Collegiate Leagues where you may gain opportunities…
There are nearly 1,700 colleges that offer opportunities for student-athletes to play their sport beyond high school. The number of colleges that offer the sport could vary from 30 to 1,700. It just depends. We have a resource spreadsheet updated with 2006 information and it lists an approximate number of colleges within each league and division that offers a particular sport for student athlete participation. Athletic Opportunities by Sport
NCAA-National Collegiate Athletic Association
http://www.ncaa.org/wps/portal
NAIA-National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
http://naia.collegesports.com/
NJCAA-National Junior College Athletic Association
http://njcaa.org/
An Athletic Profile can get you…
 Marketing yourself as a student athlete goes beyond being named an all-star or all-state athlete in high school and having a few articles in the local newspaper. Mainland college coaches do not browse every local newspaper searching for their next recruitment class. In fact, student athletes considered under the radar or unknown have successfully placed themselves in colleges as student athletes through assertive marketing techniques. A standard marketing technique for student athletes is to develop an Athletic Profile from your freshman year in high school and update it as needed. This profile is then emailed directly to the college coach.
Sample Profile WORD
Sample Profile PDF
The sample profile listed here is an example of the type of information that is needed. Try to keep it to one page. You may format the profile any way you want. Once you email the profile to a college coach, it doesn’t hurt to call them to ensure that they received it.
Create a video to sell yourself…
Launch Pad Productions http://www.lpphawaii.com/ helps Hawai`i student-athletes get the recognition they deserve. Please visit and browse through the website to get detailed information on its services and quality video products.
For those wanting to create their own video, you are encouraged to include:
- A 2-3 minute introduction of yourself
- Unedited game footage
- Edited highlights for approximately 2-3 minutes
- Skills Footage
Packaging of video should be labeled with athlete name, graduation year, and position. Tips regarding shooting direction and helpful hints may be found at Launch Pad Productions.
School Specific Athletic Questionnaires/Databases for…
While you may send your profile, DVD, and/or other forms of communication to a college coach about yourself, some schools may encourage you to go to their website to fill out their prospective student athlete (PSA) database. In these databases, you will have the ability to create and maintain your profile which may be submitted to any participating athletic program. The profile will consist of personal, academic, and athletic questions. Sample of what this may look like is shared below:
Communicate with college coaches to enhance your options…
Phone Communication
Who should call the college coach?
- Preferably the student athlete, not the parent. Parents can help the student athlete prepare and support them. Coaches remember student athletes who made an attempt to have a conversation over those whose parents call for them.
When should you call the college coach?
- Only after you have introduced yourself via a letter/athletic profile and/or DVD/Video, attended a mainland tournament or clinic, you received an academic scholarship, etc.
Why should you call at all?
- Families should not assume that once their student athlete is seen via video or at a tournament that the college recruitment process is near completion. You are competing for a scholarship with many other athletes and must help keep your name at the top of the interest list. Coaches remember that you made an effort to call and keep in touch.
Written Communication
College coaches want to know if you are really interested in their school or not. You may take any standard letter and customize it with your own personal touch to show the college coach you have taken the time to learn about their school, their program, their team, and you should also share what is going on with you.
Sample Intro Letter WORD
Sample Intro Letter PDF
What do you say? Here are some sample questions that you may use as a guideline:
Sample Questions Related to Athletics
What is your coaching style?
All coaches have different coaching styles and use different techniques for motivation and discipline. It is to your benefit to ask this question to determine whether your learning style and the coach's style would be a good fit.
What are your expectations for the upcoming year?
Obviously, all coaches would like to see their programs succeed each year. By asking this question, you will learn the goals and objectives the coach has set forth to reach the final destination -- a successful season.
What role will I play on your team?
Many coaches will already have an idea of how they would like to utilize certain recruits. You will be able to find out where the coach sees you fitting in on his/her team and why.
What are your practice schedule and your workout program?
It is important to know the physical demands that will be placed on you during your tenure as an athlete. Also, you need to know how much time is spent with this sport so you may manage your study time wisely.
What other players may be competing at the same position?
The response could give you an idea of when you can expect to be a starter.
Will I be red shirted my first year?
The school’s policy on red shirting may impact you both athletically and academically.
When does the head coach’s contract end? How long does the coach intend to stay?
The answer could be helpful. Do not make any assumptions about how long a coach will be at a school. If the coach leaves, does this change your mind about the school/program?
What are preferred, invited and uninvited walk-on situations? How many do you expect to compete? How many earn a scholarship?
Situations vary from school to school.
Is medical insurance required for my participation? Is it provided by the college?
You may be required to provide proof of insurance.
If I am seriously injured while competing, who is responsible for my medical expenses?
Different colleges have different policies.
What happens if I want to transfer to another school?
You may not transfer without the permission of your current school’s athletics administration. Ask how often coaches grant this privilege and ask for an example of a situation where permission was not granted.
What other factors should I consider when choosing a college?
Be realistic about your athletics ability and the type of athletics experience you would enjoy. Some student-athletes want to be part of a particular athletics program, even if that means little or no playing time. Other considerations include coaching staff and style. Of course, the ideal is to choose.
Sample Questions Related to Academics
How strong is my degree program?
There are some institutions that have stronger programs than others. There are also those institutions that specialize in specific degree programs.
Does this major mix well with athletics?
Some majors are more time consuming than others and may require labs or mandatory work outside of class hours. You need to know the demands that will be placed on you within your major, to know if you are spreading yourself to thin through participating in athletics.
How important are academics to you as a coach?
Many coaches have different thoughts regarding athletics. It is important to know that the coach's philosophy on academics will compliment yours.
What percentage of athletes graduates in four years?
This will tell you about a coach's commitment to academics. Also, the team grade point average is a good indicator of academic commitment.
Sample Questions Related to College Life
Does the team have mandated study hall?
You will be informed of any study hall hours that may be required of you during your tenure. Also, this is a good time to ask about the availability of tutors.
What is the average class size?
You will learn what type of attention you will be receiving as a student. Some larger institutions have large classes that tend to be taught by teaching assistants.
How would you describe the residence halls/campus housing and will I be required to line in campus housing as a student-athlete?
Sometimes student-athlete housing is provided and included in the scholarship you are allotted. It is important to know this before enrolling with the institution. Also, coaches and other institutional faculty have a better idea of what the residence halls are like and where they are located on campus.
Sample Questions Related to Financial Aid
What is the length of my scholarship and what type of scholarship is it?
Most institutional scholarships are for only one year. Also, there are some scholarships that cover just tuition (or housing, or books) and others that cover housing, books, tuition, or full-ride scholarships.
Is there financial aid available for summer school?
Some athletes prefer to simply take the necessary course hours to be eligible to play during the season. This could leave you with several credit hours that you may wish to pick up during the summer. However, you may need financial assistance in the summer, so ask whether or not your financial aid packages cover summer expenses.
What are the different financial aid packages?
It is important to know what your athletic scholarship entails. Also, it is important to know if you can supplement your athletic scholarship with other financial aid packages the institutions offers.
If I get seriously injured and I am unable to participate, what will happen to my scholarship?
Institutions are not obligated to offer scholarships or financial aid past the term of the agreement. It is important to know what the institution's commitment to injured athletes is.
May I be employed while receiving a scholarship? Do you have work study available?
Find out if you can be employed while in season, or out of season. Also, find out if you can be employed during vacations without violating your scholarship.
Official/Unofficial Campus Visits help you decide where to go…
A college coach recently stated at a clinic, “five years ago 85% of the student athletes visited our college on an official visit. Now the number has reversed, 85% of the student athletes visit our campus and program on unofficial visits and when we invite them back for their official visit, it is normally their second or third visit to our campus.”
An official campus visit is an expenses paid trip by the college for the student athlete to experience life at the campus. Official visits may be offered to seniors in high school. Check NCCA website for any rule changes regarding this.
An unofficial campus visit is when a student athlete pays for their own way to visit one or more schools while on vacation, or added on to a mainland tournament experience. These visits could start as early as your 9th grade year. Imagine if you visited 3 college campuses each year, you would’ve experienced 12 colleges by the time you are a junior. You will have prepared yourself to make a more informed college choice. Call the admissions office of the college to arrange for the campus visit. Send your profile to college coach and let them know you will be there for a visit and if you could spend time with them to learn about their program. They will make time for you.
Tournaments & College Clinics will showcase your skills…
 Athletes are encouraged to participate in a club who travels to out of state tournaments so that they can gain exposure to college coaches. Most college coaches cannot afford the time and money to hop on a plane and fly to Hawaii to watch you perform. Tournaments are held across the nation throughout the year. Some tournaments attract more recruiters than others. Choose and invest wisely to maximize your visibility with college recruiters.
Many colleges offer skills clinic for student athletes to attend during the summer or school breaks. There are day camps and residential camps with room and board. The average prices of these clinics range from $350 to $600 per student-athlete for a three day camp. At these clinics, you can meet the coach, experience his coaching style, and understand his coaching philosophy. You can find a camp by either searching for one on the Internet or by checking out the schools you are interested in.
Common Reasons Why Hawai`i Student Athletes Procrastinate & Risk Their Chance to go…
- My child is not good enough yet. I want them to get better before we contact college coaches.
- I can wait until my junior or senior year before I begin my college search and marketing process.
- This is not my normal position on the team so I am not as good in this position. I do not want the college coach to see me play in a different position.
- Student athletes and families from Hawai`i who fail to look beyond the west coast for college opportunities.
- I don’t need a video, I have connections.
- I sent my video and profile, why should I call the college coach?
- I only want Division I schools.
- I will wait for an athletic scholarship and not apply for any academic scholarships.
Mahalo Message
It is my hope that the future generation of student athletes and their `ohana from Hawai`i will find the information on this website helpful during their college bound journey. I learned a lot from this process and wished along the way it could have been easier. Feel free to contribute your experiences and stories to this website by emailing the webmaster at lamb@lpphawaii.com. Through our joint efforts to ho`omau (perservere) and take on this kuleana (responsibility) to kokua everyone, we can mälama our people through continuous education and life long learning. Hiki no!
Brittany Kaleimamo Auli’i Awai
Kamehameha Schools Maui
Class of 2006
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