A Hip Pocket Guide to Athletic Recruiting and Scholarships
By: Nikolai Czja

The goal of this book is to provide an overview of the college recruiting process by sharing knowledge that has helped me to secure NCAA Division I athletic scholarships for both of my sons, one in tennis and one in track and field.

Collegiate recruiting is a business and a big business. The University of Texas’ athletic ticket sales for the 2004-2005 academic year was $33,507,576. The football recruiting budget for the average Mid-American Conference (MAC) University is $90,000. For example, the Georgia Bulldogs spent $500,000 on football recruiting for its 2004 class.

It will behoove any athlete to approach collegiate athletic recruiting as a business person. This book will explore several business gambits and teach strategies that will facilitate the achievement of your dream, an athletic scholarship

• Learn how to negotiate from a position of power like a business person, rather than a high school athlete.
• Learn how to be noticed by coaches.
• Learn how to objectify your college visits and evaluations with a ranking system.
• Learn what questions to ask while on campus visits.
• Learn the academic requirements needed for athletic recruitment.
• Learn where to find federally mandated crime statistics for individual universities.
• Learn the advantages and disadvantages of early versus late recruiting dates.
• Learn why red shirting can cost an athlete as much as $73,000.
• Learn negotiation skills that facilitate opportunities.
• Learn why you should not select a university solely on the basis of the coaching staff.
• Learn how to do a self evaluation to identify your positioning in the recruiting market place.

You do not have to be a blue chip athlete to secure a scholarship. With the proper knowledge you can create your own opportunities.