Section 1

The first half of the book will cover the basics of the recruiting process. Educators and coaches need to begin educating the athletes and parents on the recruiting process in the beginning of their freshman year. Remember, it is a Four-Year process. Waiting until the junior or senior year is now too late for a number of students. Every year there are countless numbers of high school senior athletes wishing for another chance to play. These athletes didn’t truly understand becoming a college recruit was a four year process.

The Recruiting Process

Types of Scholarships

• Full Athletic Scholarships
• Partical Athletic Scholarships
• Financial Aid
• Estimated Family Income

Divisions & Classifications of Competition

• NCAA DI
• DII
• DIII
• NJCAA
• Military Academies
• NAIA
• Preparatory Schools
• Walk-ons
• Early Graduation

Roles of the Individuals in the Recruiting Process

• You, the Student-Athlete
• Your Coach
• Your Counselor
• The College Recruiter

NCAA Clearinghouse

• What is it and why is it so important?
• Qualifications
• Core Class Requirements
• Sliding Scale

The Workbook

Section 2

The second half of the book is the student-athlete's workbook. This section will have the different tasks needed to be completed every year. Meeting with your guidance counselor is critical in the education process. There are worksheets for each meeting one should have with their counselor and each worksheet has a list of questions to help guide the athlete and parent. There is also worksheets with questions for the meetings with your head coach. Below is a breakdown of all the worksheets in the book.

List of Worksheets

9th Grade

• Document and calculate your core classes

10th Grade

• Document and calculate your core classes
• Guidance Counselor Meeting Checklist
• Head Coach's Meeting Checklist

11th Grade

• Document and calculate your core classes
• Junior Year Recruitment Guidelines
• Fall Guidance Counselor Meeting Checklist
• Head Coach's Meeting Checklist
• Spring Guidance Couselor Meeting Chesklist

12th Grade

• Document and calculate your core classes
• Senior Year Recruitment Guidelines
• Head Coach's Meeting Checklist
• Guidance Counselor Meeting Master Log
• CLEARINGHOUSE MASTER LIST
• LIST OF INDIVIDUAL SCHOLARSHIPS

Educate Parents

It is important for the parents to understand recruiting is a complicated, detailed and drawn out process. At times, it is also very confusing. There are many misconceptions and misunderstanding which have a negative impact on many recruits around our country. The “Win the 4th, Win the Game” presentation will assist the head coaches with educating the parents on how athletes get recruited. We all know coaches don't get athletes’ scholarships, athletes do!

About the Presenter

Mike Kostoff has coached football at the high school and college level for the past 17 years. His college experience includes coaching jobs at Adrian College and The University of Findlay. His recruiting experience has given him a solid understanding of the recruiting process especially at the DII and DIII levels. He has encountered a number of gifted and talent athletes lost, confused and unaware of the recruiting process. These athletes couldn’t get the opportunity to become a college athlete because they failed to understand recruiting is a four year process.

Educationally, Mike graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a BS in psychology in 1992. After a few years as a Drug Counselor and Prevention Specialist, he returned to Eastern Michigan to pursue his teaching certificate. He spent six years as a high school teacher where he also coached basketball and track. In 2003, he accepted a position at The University of Findlay where he also completed his Master’s degree in Educational Leadership. 

Why Create This Workbook

So many athletes around our country spend countless hours working the fundamentals and techniques of their sport in hopes of becoming a college athlete. Most have been dreaming of this since they began playing in the youth leagues. The purpose of this presentation and book is to give every high school athlete the understanding and a plan to become a college student-athlete. My hope is for the athletes to use the information to increase their chances of making their dreams a reality.