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| Athletic Scholarships |  When it comes to athletic scholarships and college sports recruiting, it is advised for you to get familiar with the rules and regulations surrounding the several college associations, divisions, and conferences. Violation of the rules, even while still in high school, can lead to ineligibility in your future athletic career. Your first step should be to define which associations (NCAA, NJCAA, etc.) your future colleges and universities belong to, and then thoroughly review those groups' websites.
Be involved
College coaches don't know who you are, unless you are one of the top athletes in the country. This surely doesn't mean you aren't a good athlete or aren't going to be recruited into college. It just means you should take an active part in the process; college coach can not find you. You have already put in all the time training for your sport, now you need to put in the effort to demonstrate your talent. Below are a several ways for you to do this.
Demonstrate interest
Each day college coaches get lots of mail, and will only be impressed by persons that stand out. Therefore, try to personalize your correspondence; it shows high interest and will translate to more attention. Do research and don't ask questions easily answered by the school's website. For instance, don't  ask "I like biology. Does your school have that as a major?” It will be better “I see your school has a major in biology, which is one of my favorite subjects. How have athletes on your team dealt with the time constraints involved with balancing biology coursework and athletics?" Open-ended questions like that will start a more in-depth dialog with the college coach, while showing your enthusiasm for the program.
Speak with your high school coach
Your high school coach is probably connected to local college athletic programs, and possibly some on the state or national level. Spend some quality one-on-one time with your coach to speak about what your aims are for continuing in your sport. Your coach may be able to advise which direction you should consider, as well as what your coach feels is realistic for you.
Road trip
It will be a good idea to visit top choices of colleges and universities. Before you go, make sure to schedule an appointment with the coach for the time you will be visiting the school. While coaches are frequently seeking for specific positions/talents, they are also looking for new members to join their team. Therefore, your personality and how you cooperate while visiting are definitely important characteristics they consider. During this trip, try to meet some of the current athletes and get a feel for what it is like to go there.
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