Seniors can be in one of two places at this stage. Some may be taking a sigh of relief, having just signed your NLI, while others may be in panic mode still trying to find a place to play college golf. While it is late in the process there are still options available if you work hard to contact coaches and keep an open mind.
Make sure you have registered for the NCAA Eligibility Center and you have taken your ACT and/or SAT. If you don’t have your resume together at this stage you need to get it completed ASAP. Make sure your resume includes all of the necessary information that a coach needs to know, along with a good recruiting video.
Keep in mind most DI coaches are done with their recruiting so look mostly at DII, DIII and NAIA options. You may find some smaller, lower ranked DI schools are still looking so don’t be afraid to contact them but try not to spend too much time if you don’t get a response. They may still be looking but they still have certain criteria they are searching for with a recruit.
Also remember that DIII schools may not have golf scholarship but they can still offer great financial packages. If you are unable to find a 4 year program, don’t hesitate to consider going to a JuCo program for a year or two, then transfer to a 4 year program. There are several great JuCo programs with outstanding coaches who have track records of sending their players on to top ranked DI programs.
For those who may have signed their NLI’s and are looking towards their future as a collegiate golfer remember that one phase of your golf career may have ended, but another is getting ready to begin. Enjoy some time to relax, you have worked hard to get where you are, but don’t rest too easy and for too long. Once you step foot on campus things move quick and you don’t have as much time to practice and improve your game as you may think you do.
Coaches will expect you to be prepared to play from the time you get to school, many times competing in your first event before classes even start. There will be a lot of distractions and a lot of responsibility. Start now with making better decisions on how you spend your time. Learn to do your own laundry, cook your dinner and pack for your tournaments.
If you have any major swing changes you want to undertake then now is the time. Keep your college coach informed on any major changes or decisions you make about your game. The relationship your college coach has with your swing coach is a critical one so begin to develop that early on.
Start a strict workout regimen, especially this winter when golf isn’t as strenuous. You will have a tough workout schedule once you get to college. If you aren’t prepared you could injure yourself or wear your body down too quickly. Work on better nutrition habits. You will have your own say on when and what you eat for the most part in college, prepare now to fuel your body with good nutritious food.
As we near the end of 2015, it is a great time to set some goals for the upcoming year. Write down a few big outcome goals you have in mind, but remember the important part of setting goals is to develop a game plan and specific short term process goals that will help you stay on track and see your progress. Focus on time management and better self discipline. These are two areas that all college athletes struggle with, so the sooner you can develop better habits the more prepared you will be for college golf.
While the winter time provides players the chance to take a little break make sure you don’t get too far behind. Don’t let the cold weather scare you away, make the most of your practice time when the weather is decent enough to be outside. There are some great indoor drills you can work on to keep your fundamentals in check. A hitting and chipping net, putting aids and a mat, foam golf balls, tempo swing trainers and many other aids can help you when the weather outside is too extreme for practice.
If you would like assistance with finding a place to play college golf next fall, developing your game plan for 2016, or any of these other areas check out the RecruitPKB packages or contact Brandi directly to discuss her full time programs.
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