Sample Content: Registration Required for Full Access. REGISTER NOW!
When to Begin Using GoalTender Matrix and the Planner
Why Middle School is Not Too Early to Start Planning
Parents of talented basketball players are often anxious to understand the college basketball recruiting process and the opportunities for securing a college scholarship for their player. At the same time, they wonder what is the right time to begin engaging their player in the process.
For a 7th grader or an 8th grader, college seems like it is light-years away. But we believe this is the perfect age to begin to work with your player on a roadmap to success. At this age, rather than expecting your player to fully immerse himself in GoalTender, we recommend that parents familiarize themselves with the GoalTender matrix, the timelines outlined in the GoalTender Planner and the general recruiting process, so that they can guide their player over the next several years.
It is certainly not too early to engage a 7th or 8th grader in understanding a few basic ideas that are emphasized throughout GoalTender:
1. Basketball recruiting takes place during spring and summer evaluation periods, typically not in the high school gym. For this reason, players should identify an AAU basketball club or club basketball team to join by the 8th grade. Playing club basketball beginning in 8th grade provides players with an opportunity to become familiar with the club basketball competitive environment and events before the critical recruiting evaluation periods during high school.
2. Contrary to popular mythology, academic success is critical to securing opportunities to play college basketball. As a basketball player with ambition to play college basketball, your goal should be a 3.0, not a 2.0.
3. The best way to do well on the SAT or ACT is to pay attention in the classroom and learn the subject matter over time.
4. If you only achieve a 2.0 in math and English, you will have a very (very) hard time making the score required by NCAA on your SAT/ACT.
5. If you are having trouble with math, don't gloss over it. If you do, it will catch up with you later, when you take the SAT or ACT. Math, like basketball, is a subject that is learned through repetition and practice. Some students need more time to understand math fundamentals and need more practice than others to master it. But with continued effort, students will eventually get where they need to be. A parent need not be a math whiz to help out. Parents can help by exploring what resources are available at school or in your community to help with math tutoring for your player.
6. Begin a regular conversation on athletic goals and academic goals.
You may have noticed that almost everything listed above relates to academics, not athletics. Why? Because if you can help your player think of himself as a "college bound student-athlete" with both academic goals and athletic goals (and especially if you can do this before he enters 9th grade), then you will significantly improve his chances of someday playing college basketball.