You are here:

College Football/Recruiting

Advertisement

Expert: - 10/26/2011


Question
What is the best way to get noticed, and get recruited from a foreign country to America?

Answer
Simon
I cannot give you an answer as to the best way as there are so many factors that go into the recruiting process.  There are certainly a few things that will help.  Clearly if you have some "special talent", speed or "size" that may make you desirerable and could get you noticed.

The first thing you need to have are good solid grades - the better your academic the more comfortable a school will be with recruiting you.  You should have academics that will allow you admission to a school in its own right.  The better the grades or test scores the more notice you will get.  Schools want student athletes who will help their grade point average and graduation rate.

Next you have to have some talent that sets you apart from others [i.e. kicking, passing, running, tackeling] or some physical attribute that sets you apart, such as size and or speed.  Coupled with that  you have to be athletic and coordinated.  If you are 6 foot 8 and weigh 300 lbs. and can run fast, have great strength and in shape you will get some notice.  Or if you can consistantly kick 50 yard field goals accurately, or consistantly punt the ball 70+ yards with great hang time, you will get some notice.

The next part of getting noticed is, marketing and networking. You have to market yourself to coaches and recruiters and create a network of contacts.  You have to find where you will fit in and where you want to go to school and play football.  The marketing is a skill of self promotion and this is done in many different ways.  I caution you about services that charge you money to do this for you.  Some are legitimate, others don't have great results. Start my e-mailing college admissions and football/athletic offices and expressing your interest.  Also you will need to register with the NCAA clearinghouse and you can do this on-line by going to NCAA.org and filing out the resgistration information.  Makesure your foreigh travel documents are in order [. Passports, visas, etc.]  Also know Canada has great colleges and football as well.

College Football

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Vic Winnek

Expertise

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

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.