Timeline

When and How Do I Get Started?

The following is a suggested timeline for potential athletes to help you plan:

Note: Please note this is only a timeline, certain sports and the players skill and own individual determination will dictate his/her success

Work on your game, enjoy it and enjoy other sports also, coaches like to see a well rounded athlete
Grades are very important, the NCAA uses all grade 9 course work as part of the core course requirements
Learn the language
Begin research on the sporting organizations and the academic requirements needed
Visit the NCAA, NAIA, NJCCA, CIS, CCAA websites. These websites have links to all the schools, the sports they offer and to what conference they belong. Begin making a list of potential schools
Begin making a portfolio of photos, awards, stats, newspaper clippings

Build on your physical strength, speed and agility, you are a serious athlete and strength and conditioning will aid in keeping you healthy and provide endurance
Compete in tournaments/ID Camps outside of your home area
Participate in summer camps that universities and colleges may be offering in your sport, this is a chance to begin making connections.
Talk with the senior students in you academy, find out where they are going and what they are doing to find opportunity for exposure in the sport
Very Important: Keep up grades
Meet with your school Counsellor to ensure you are taking the right courses to meet any eligibility requirements, meeting academic requirements, and meeting graduation requirements
Continue your research
Begin to put together your profile
Consider taping excerpts from games and work on an individual video to highlight your skills (coaches can help you with this)
Continue putting a portfolio together, keeping all your records
Become familiar with the recruiting guidelines for each sporting organization: NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA, CIS

Continue working on fitness, get help with weaknesses in your game
Attend showcases, outside tournaments, summer camps, ID camps
Continue to work hard on academics
Meet with your school Counsellor to ensure you are taking the right courses to meet any eligibility requirements, meeting academic requirements, and meeting graduation requirements
Continue your research
Consider writing the PSAT (Practice SAT), it is only written once a year in October. This will help to prepare you for what you will face when writing an SAT
Write you first SAT/ACT in the Spring of your Grade 11
Register for the Eligibility Centres: NCAA, NAIA, at the beginning of your Grade 11 year
Update your Eligibility Centre file, with required transcript information, at hte end
Finalize your profile packages and video to send out to coaches/schools

Note: 10/16 core courses must be complete before the start of the senior year (7/10 must be in English, Science and Math)

Play other sports that are low risk for injury for conditioning
Write/re-write SATS if necessary, to help boost the score you need for eligibility and for potential academic scholarships
Ensure that all core course requirements are met
Ensure your portfolio is updated and complete
Attend showcases, outside tournaments, summer camps, ID camps
Talk with local college coaches and out about walk-on tryouts as an alternative plan in your scholarship quest
Talk with your academy and community coaches, about local college contacts and assisting you with your search
Continue sending out packages to schools
Keep up academics
Update your NCAA/NAIA profile often until your final transcripts are required
Arrange for any final transcripts to be sent from your high school and that the school has the correct contact and address