"All high-school athletes wishing to compete at an NCAA college must register with the Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse. Information about the Clearinghouse can be found in the Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete. The NCAA national office does not handle initial-eligibility certifications. Please do not contact the NCAA national office with inquiries regarding an individual's initial eligibility status, including whether transcripts, student release forms, etc., were received or about when you will be cleared. The Clearinghouse maintains and processes all of the initial-eligibility certifications."
- NCAA.org (Eligibility)

>> Initial-Eligibity Clearinghouse

"Playing football at the next level was one of the best experiences of my life as a player, a student and a man. I learned a great deal about the game and about myself. It was very hard work but the rewards are evident in my life every day. It is my goal as a coach to help as many players experience the game of football at the next level. I have created a short overview with some coaching points, suggestions and tips from myself and other college coaches I have spoken with through the years. My aim is to be as truthful as I can because this process can be rough on your ego and self-image as a player. The reality is that less than 5% of all high school players will play at the college level. This is in no way a discouragement but a statement of fact and a reality check. Many players have the physical ability to play at the next level but for various reasons such as poor grades, inability to relocate to an area with a viable opportunity or lack of knowledge in the process of getting accepted limit a player’s chances. These tips will hopefully help with the last hindrance, lack of knowledge. Please remember that your high school coach is your most important asset. I can help you through the process and help you with decisions on where you might be able to play. I will be honest but understand my goal is to get you where you would like to be. Please communicate with me and I will work hard for you. Below you will find an extensive list of college programs at all levels. Each has a link to their website and the current coach’s phone number. You should: 1. Read my tip sheet and division explanations 2. Narrow your choices to about 5 to 7 schools 3. Check out their website and fill out a “Recruit Questionnaire”. Most schools have these on-line. You may have to look for it, though. If not, call them direct and request one. 4. Visit your top choices personally to see if it is what you expect. Again, be sure to ask questions if you get overwhelmed or confused. Good luck in your pursuits." Nate Gillam Head Football Coach Bremerton High School ngillam@bremertonfootball.com

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Ten Tips to Understanding the Recruiting Process

If you are even considering playing football (or any sport) at the next level, here are ten things to know:

GRADES, GRADES, GRADES - You are a student first, an athlete second. If you can’t make the academic requirements to gain entrance to a school, you cannot play on their athletic teams. Junior College programs are the only option but you must still maintain a minimum grade requirement to stay eligible.

Character is Key - Many programs are recruiting players that are of high moral character. They understand that programs and players are very closely scrutinized and they don’t want to invest in someone who will eventually make the program and the school look bad.

Aim High but Be Realistic - Every player dreams of playing on TV in front of 100,000 fans at the big schools. That is a great dream but be realistic. Most of the large schools (UW, WSU) are recruiting the best players in the region. If you are 2nd team All-League, that is great but it may not be enough to get noticed by larger schools.

Don’t Overlook Smaller Programs - Just because you don’t play for a large school doesn’t mean you can’t play at the next level. There are far more middle size and small programs that have equally competitive football programs. A great Northwest example is Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA. They have been a great program for many years with a nationally recognized former head coach in Frosty Westering. The player’s experience at the smaller level is often MORE enjoyable and beneficial than playing at a large school.

It’s NOT about you - Don’t take anything personally. This is easier said than done. Most college programs are looking for a specific player or player type. If you don’t match what they are looking for, it isn’t your fault. The best way to overcome this is to be as versatile a player as possible.

But it IS about You - College programs have one overriding goal - WIN. They need players that will help them achieve this goal. You have a better chance to make it to the next level if you are more versatile. Play as many positions as possible, don’t put yourself in one box (“I’m a right tackle”).

It’s About the Money - College teams are investing in you as a player. Programs, even the smaller ones, devote millions of dollars to scholarships for players. They are shrewd investors and want to make a return on their investment. Often they only have a few to award so they can be very picky.

Control the Things You Can Control - The most common reason many players don’t get noticed is completely out of their control—Size. The modern game is about three things—Smarts, Size, Speed. You can really only control two of these three items. The best thing to do if you are slightly deficient in one is to improve the other two. For example, if you are 5’7”, you can’t really make yourself taller. However, you can improve your speed and excel in school to bring notice to yourself.

Understand the process - Educate yourself, market yourself, communicate with your coach about your plans so he can help you achieve them. Your high school coach is your best asset. Check out possible schools on the web. Nearly all of them have electronic recruit questionnaires for potential players to fill out. Fill these out and get on the mailing list. Understand that there are specific requirements for each level of competition (see Division Explanations). Ask questions, don’t be shy.

Be Prepared to WORK - Getting to the next level is only a small part of the hard work. Once you are there, it is outright competition. Everyone is working in the classroom, in the weight room and on the field to be the best. This takes hard work, dedication and perseverance. These are only a few of the qualities you must possess to have success at the next level.

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College Football Divisions Explained

NCAA Division IA - Most widely known level. Most nationally recognized programs are at this level. These schools have a limited number of full scholarships (tuition, books, room & board) they can award. Usually have few, if any walk-on (players without scholarship) players. Must be a top player in Region to be considered. Example Schools: UW, USC, Notre Dame

NCAA Division IAA - Very similar to Div. IA. The main differences between IA and IAA are the size of the players and the ability to scholarship more players. Division IAA have the ability to “split” scholarships to include more players. Players may receive a partial scholarship of various denominations. Generally more walk-on players than Div. IA. Must be a top player in your state to be considered. Example Schools: Portland State, Eastern Washington University, Montana

NCAA Division II - Smaller schools with competitive programs. Main distinction is enrollment and location. Players and teams are still very competitive regionally. Fewer scholarships are offered, if any at all (depending on school). Must be a top player in your league to be considered. Example Schools: Western Washington University, Central Washington University

NCAA Division III - Smallest of the NCAA divisions. Again, main distinction is enrollment, location and scholarships offered. Players and teams are competitive regionally. Scholarships are not offered but financial aid is available depending on the school. Many schools at this level are private and/or have very rigorous academic requirements. Must be a top player in your league to be considered. Example Schools: Pacific Lutheran University, University of Puget Sound, Whitworth

NAIA - A smaller, independent football division. Generally smaller, more academic schools are members. Still very competitive regionally. Scholarships are not generally available for sports but can be offered financial aid through the school. These schools are often private and/or have very rigorous academic standards. Must be a top player in your league to be considered. Example Schools: Eastern Oregon University, Southern Oregon University, Azusa Pacific (CA)

Junior College (JC) - These programs are independent two year community colleges that offer football as an extra-curricular activity. They can be very competitive regionally. They do not offer scholarships but financial aid is available through the schools. Academic requirements are the least rigorous of any level. Many players who have had difficulties with grades will attend a JC to improve their grades and play football. After two years, they can be recruited to play at any of the four-year divisions mentioned above. Unfortunately, there are no longer any JC programs in the state of Washington. There are some very good programs in the Northwest and Northern California and Utah. Example Schools: Sierra College (CA), Dixie State (Utah), Snow College (Utah)

You can find more details and information on these divisions at the following web addresses:
www.ncaa.org
www.ncaafootball.com
www.naia.org
www.njcaa.org

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