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Expert: - 6/6/2008


Question
my names Andres and i play tight end.i just finished my freshman year in high school.i am 5'11 and a half and weigh 170 .i am not really a fast guy but i have really great hands.i was wondering what i would need to get to play college football.what are the requirements and specifications that i have to meet.thank you

Answer
Andres,
Thanks for the question.  To play college football the first thing you must do is to have solid grade! As a college football player you will be a "Student/Athlete" which means you are a student first, athlete second.  To be attractive to college coaches you need to have football skills, and it sound like you have some already - "great hands and size".  You will need to have a good grade point average to also be attractive to coaches.  Football coaches want players who will achieve and excel in the classroom as well as the football field.  They want players who will graduate and players who will help raise the team's over all grade point level.

You are at an age now where you are growing and developing.  You appear to have good size now and with continued weight training and conditioning and running you will become bigger stronger and faster.  Continue to work on your fundamentals over the next 3 years while in high school.  Work on catching, blocking, tackling, running routes.  Learn to "read" keys on film and on the field.  This will help you more than you will know.  Also if you can learn to play special teams (kick returner, kicker, punter, long snapper, etc.) you will increase your desirability.

When you are ready to apply to colleges also notify the football coach of the colleges of your interest to play for them.  If they are not offering a scholarship ask to walk-on to the team.  Start writing to coaches in your Junior year of high school.  Ask your highschool coach to help market you for the next level.

Best of luck to you. Please let me know how you are doing over the next few years and let me know when you start playing college football.

Victor Winnek
NCAA Football Official

College Football

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Vic Winnek

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Will Answer all queries RE: Rules of Football - NCAA & Federation; Officiating; Instruction on Football; Mechanics & application of rules; Setting up Instructional programs and clinics for: Officials, coaches and media; Liability Issues (Legal & Insurance questions)arising from coaching, playing, refereeing, product liability. Serve as an Consultant and Expert Witness in Football Related Matters in Tort and Contract (Standard of Care for: officials, coaches, players, assignors, BOD; Player, equipment, field & stadium Safety; Fee issues, independant contractor workers compensation. History of the College football game -its evolution. MY PURPOSE IS TO INFORM & EDUCATE FANS, MEDIA, THOSE INTERESTED IN FOOTBALL ABOUT: THE RULES, THEIR APPLICATION, PHILOSOPHIES; OFFICIATING; LEGAL ISSUES INVOLVING FOOTBALL. I WILL NOT RESPOND TO BASHING OF TEAMS, COACHES OR OFFICIALS. I will not dignify rude or disparaging comments with a response, nor entertain questions that use profanity or questions that suggest Football officials are corupt, such an insinuation is ridiculous and ludicrous.

Experience

24 years officiating High School & College football, NCAA Referee, Umpire, Back Judge & Line Judge 2 years Arena Football-substitution official Instructor of NCAA & Federation Officials, Played prep and college football; coached High School football; Athletic trainer; 23 years of instruction in Officiating Football

Organizations
Past President of Calif. Football Officials Assoc; Western Collegiate Football Officials Assoc.; CFOA-Long Beach Unit Board of Directors CFOA-South Bay Unit & Long Beach Unit, Pres. Executive Council of Calif. Football Officials Assoc.; CIF Presidents' Council on Officiating; Chairman Ethics Committee

Publications
Referee Magazine; California Football Officials Assoc. Instructor's Guide; NACC Div. 1-AA football officials' clinic; CFOA instrutional materials; Articles written: Line of Scrimmage mechanics, Forward Progress, Side Line Warnings, 2006 NCAA New Timing Rules; various instructional materials, UWLA Law Review

Education/Credentials
BA USC 1987
JD UWLA School of Law 1996
3 Years Reno Football Officials Clinic
4 Years UCLA Football Officials Camp Big 12 Mini Clinic NFL Grass Roots Clinic Aloha Clinic, Honolulu, HI West Coast Alliance Clinic

Awards and Honors
NCAA Div. 1 FCS & Div. III, 9 post season Bowl Games, play-offs, CIF Div. 1,2,3,5,8,9,10,12 Final, 10 years CIF Semi-finals, 19 years of CIF play-offs, California State High School Football Div. 1 Championship, Southern California Jr. College Championship, NCAA Div. III Semi-Final

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