AQHA/PRCA Horses of the Year announced
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Five first-time winners were chosen as American Quarter Horse Association/Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Horses of the Year, which were announced Oct. 10. […]
A Higher Standard – Recruitment Advice
CJ Aragon, Coach at Sul Ross, competing in Roswell, New Mexico, two years ago. CJ took second place. - Sul Ross
I get asked every year for advice on the recruitment process. Here is some of the advice I share every year with students:
Finish your senior year strong, keep your grades up. The NIRA has very strict rules when it comes to grades and if you are taking dual credit classes in high school those will count as college classes. This means that if your dual credit GPA doesn’t meet the NIRA standards you will start off ineligible. Your grades matter, take care of them through your entire high school career. Another huge step is making sure you qualify academically. It’s important to know what qualifications your specific school requires so you know if you’re even eligible to apply. If your academics aren’t up to par, you can’t qualify for a scholarship, which is another important reason to do your research early.
Create a highlight video and resume. Show all of the best moments you have had over the past few seasons. However, keep your video short and to the point. Coaches are busy and we want to see your highlights, but we don’t have time to watch a 30-minute video on every student. Also pick appropriate music for your video. I’ve had videos that I couldn’t watch with the volume on in my office because of the language. Your video is a great opportunity to make a first impression, Take advantage of it.
Communicate with coaches. Learn how to contact and communicate with coaches throughout the recruitment process. YOU should communicate directly with the coach. Reach out to coaches early in the process to get on their radar. Recruiting is very competitive so start planning early and reach out to programs that you are interested in. Once you have committed to a school, let the other coaches know, trust me, coaches appreciate it when you tell us that you have committed.
It’s important to know yourself and your strengths and weaknesses and where you will be the most successful. This is true for the classroom and in the arena. Not everyone will do well at a University with 20,000 students and not everyone will do well at a community college with 1500 students. Pick a school where you can be successful in the classroom and in the arena. You have to be honest with yourself and pick programs that suit your talents and abilities. If you’re having trouble assessing your abilities, ask someone that you trust and will be honest with you. You don’t want to waste your time contacting schools that aren’t for you.
Make sure your social media content is professional and appropriate. It may come as a shock, but a lot of coaches will look to social media to see who you are and what you’re about. You want to make the right impression. Make sure things like pictures, voicemail, email, and Twitter handles are appropriate, because at the end of the day, they represent you and your future program.
Never be afraid to ask for help. College recruiting can be a very confusing and tedious process. Use your resources, whether that’s your parents, coaches, guidance counselors or students who have already been through the process. Always ask for help if you don’t know, because there’s no such thing as a dumb question. You don’t want to miss out on an opportunity because you were unsure about something or you were afraid to ask for help.
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