What an Ivy League Track & Field Roster Can Tell You About Your Chances of Making the Team
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00:02 Understanding the Importance of School Rosters
00:17 Analyzing Freshmen Student Athletes
00:50 The Value of High School PRS
01:31 Leveraging Social Media for Insights
01:50 Reaching Out to Current Student Athletes
03:08 Real Talk: The Importance of Clean Social Media Presence
03:43 The Impact of Your Online Persona
04:34 Creating a Separate Track and Field Social Media Page
After coaching in the Ivy League for 7 years, and competing as an Ivy League Track & Field athlete, I am excited to democratize this information that would otherwise only be accessible to those who can afford a private consultant. While I can’t boost your GPA or help with your SAT score, I can share everything I learned about the admissions process for athletes. We are giving this information away for free, but if you would like to support the project you can donate here. Either way, I hope this info helps you find your way onto an Ivy League Track & Field team. We hope to see you at our clinic!
Navigating the college track and field recruiting process can feel overwhelming. Aspiring collegiate athletes often find themselves unsure of where to begin and how to effectively connect with coaches. This article provides a comprehensive guide to demystifying the process, focusing on key strategies like roster analysis, social media engagement, and the importance of online presence.
1. Deep Dive into Team Rosters: Uncovering the Coach's Ideal Athlete
After establishing target schools and reviewing their recruiting guidelines, the next crucial step is a thorough examination of each team's roster. This analysis offers invaluable insights into the type of athlete a coach is seeking. Focusing on the freshman class is particularly beneficial, as these athletes represent the coach's most recent recruiting choices.
Unlike recruiting guidelines, which provide general information, team rosters often include specific details about athletes' high school achievements. This typically encompasses:
High School Accolades: Awards, titles, and recognitions earned during high school competition.
Personal Records (PRs): Best recorded times, distances, or heights in various events.
Conference Placement/Major Meet Performances: Results from significant competitions, showcasing an athlete's performance under pressure.
This information allows prospective recruits to benchmark themselves against current team members. By comparing your own PRs and achievements to those of the freshmen, you can gain a realistic understanding of where you stand in the recruiting landscape.
Important Considerations When Analyzing Rosters:
Timing of PRs: Remember that the freshmen's high school PRs might be from their senior year. If you're a sophomore or junior, don't be discouraged if your current marks don't match up. You still have time to improve.
Holistic Evaluation: While PRs are important, coaches also consider other factors like work ethic, coachability, and character.
By combining information from recruiting guidelines, team rosters, and particularly the freshmen's high school profiles, you can develop a clearer picture of your potential fit within a program.
2. Leveraging Social Media for Research and Connection
Social media platforms offer a unique window into the world of college track and field. Utilizing these platforms strategically can significantly aid your recruiting efforts.
Following Team Pages:
Following team social media accounts provides insights into:
Competition Footage: Observing race videos, field event performances, and other competition highlights.
Training Footage: Glimpses into training sessions, drills, and practice routines.
Team Culture: Understanding the team's personality, dynamics, and overall environment.
Training Intensity: Assessing the level of training and competition within the program.
These insights can help you determine if a particular team's environment and training philosophy align with your own preferences and goals.
Following Individual Athletes (Especially Freshmen):
Connecting with individual athletes, especially current freshmen, can be incredibly valuable. Freshmen are ideal contacts because:
Recent Recruiting Experience: They recently navigated the recruiting process and can offer firsthand insights.
Empathy and Willingness to Help: They likely remember the challenges of the process and are often willing to share their experiences.
Fresh Perspective: Their memories of the recruiting process are still fresh, allowing them to provide detailed and relevant information.
Effective Communication with Athletes:
When reaching out to athletes, be polite, respectful, and specific in your inquiries. Consider asking questions like:
"What were your sophomore/junior year PRs?"
"What are some key things I should focus on in my training?"
"Do you have any advice for navigating the recruiting process at this school?"
Many athletes are happy to share their knowledge and experiences, offering valuable insights specific to their program.
3. The Crucial Role of Social Media Presence: A Word of Caution
While social media can be a powerful tool for connecting with teams and athletes, it's essential to recognize its potential impact on your recruitment. Coaches frequently use social media to assess prospective recruits' character and behavior. Therefore, maintaining a professional and responsible online presence is paramount.
The Importance of a Clean Social Media Profile:
Inappropriate content, such as pictures of underage drinking or reckless behavior, can be a major red flag for coaches. Even seemingly harmless content can create a negative impression if it paints a picture of someone who isn't serious about their sport. A social media profile filled with party pictures but lacking any evidence of athletic dedication can raise concerns about an athlete's priorities.
Strategies for Managing Your Online Presence:
Review and Clean Up Existing Content: Carefully review your social media accounts and remove any content that could be perceived negatively.
Consider Separate Accounts: Creating two separate accounts—one for personal use and one specifically for track and field—is a highly recommended strategy.
The "Track & Field" Account: This account should showcase your dedication to the sport. Share training updates, competition highlights, and other relevant content that demonstrates your passion and commitment. This serves as a portfolio for coaches to get to know you as an athlete.
The "Personal" Account: This account can be used for more personal content, but it's crucial to ensure it doesn't contain anything that could jeopardize your recruitment. Consider making this account private.
By actively managing your social media presence, you can ensure that your online image reflects your dedication to track and field and enhances your recruitment prospects.
The college track and field recruiting process requires a strategic and proactive approach. By thoroughly analyzing team rosters, leveraging social media for research and connection, and maintaining a responsible online presence, aspiring collegiate athletes can significantly improve their chances of success. Remember that coaches are looking for well-rounded individuals who demonstrate both athletic talent and strong character. By focusing on these key areas, you can effectively navigate the recruiting landscape and pursue your dreams of competing at the collegiate level.
