Getting evaluated during the athletic recruiting process as soon as possible and the importance of it

The goal of the athletic recruiting process for any sport that you play is to end up getting a scholarship offer.  Why else would you be reading this site?  But in order to get a scholarship, you will need to be evaluated by the coaching staff.  Most of the coaches want to see you in person (give you the eyeball test) and then see you on tape or during a summer camp.

This evaluated comes first in every single recruiting situation possible.  Even if a college coach at a rival school offers a scholarship because State University did, they are at least evaluating you after they know there is another scholarship on the table.  The sooner that you can get your evaluation, the better.  And after a recent comment from a parent, I thought this would be a good article to touch on.

Here is the comment I mentioned.  Just to let you know, the parent in this is no different from many others.  She may have actually posted it but I can promise you many others think it out there:

Can going to the one day camps over the summer to a school that you are really interested in and that have shown interest in you, (school visits, spring eval phone call, emails, etc.) hurt you if you don’t perform well? Are you better off staying home and waiting for them to continue to evaluate you through your senior year?

For the first part of the question, if you come into the camp in bad condition and struggle to hold your own against other players, then yes, it definitely can hurt you.  But if you are hoping that you are a Division I recruit, you should know better than this and prepare your mind and body for the rigors of the camp circuit.  I can’t imagine what it would be like to go to ten different one day football camps all across the country but recruits do it.

The only situation I can see an excuse could crop up is if you were injured/sick before the camp.  I have talked about this before but the absolutely worst time to suffer an injury/illness in regards to the football recruiting process and basketball recruiting process is the spring and summer before your senior year.  The reason is because you need the spring to train and the summer to shine at camps.  I have seen recruited athletes come down with mono (State University never offered this athlete so he went to I-AA State University) and others I am following now who were hurt in the spring.

If you have the opportunity to train and give it your all, then you should go to these camps.  Ducking competition is not the way to get a scholarship offer.  As I have said before, and this is something to really think about, if you are not good enough at that level, then the coaches will figure that out.

Going to one day of their camp is the most cost effective option to give yourself the opportunity to perform in front of their coaches and to be evaluated.  If they don’t think you are good enough for a scholarship (which likely happens in 95% plus of the situations), then you move on.  That is why I think getting evaluated as soon as possible is important.  Why would you stretch out a dream that has no chance of happening?

I feel that athletes should go to the camp and get feedback.  The coaches are likely to say that they will keep recruiting you and you need to keep working hard.  But think about how many times you were pulled aside to work with the elite players at the camp.  Deep down, were you one of the best campers there (I just wanted to say I have never heard a high school athlete tell me they sucked at a camp.  Not once.)?

Going back to her question, I think you should go to the camp to see where you sit with the college coaches.  Even if it is your dream school, if you are not good enough, then you need to look for more options in the recruiting process.  If you figure out that you are not good enough for State University, then you will move on to other schools across your region.  And because it is early enough in the process right now to do that, then it is perfect timing.

If you skip the camp and continue to get recruited by them, the coaches may get your senior film in October and feel that you are not good enough.  By that time, two schools that could have been the perfect fit for you may have already moved on with players at your position.  This stuff happens all the time.  It may be hard to stop hoping for a State University offer, but if they haven’t extended a scholarship by now after their camp, you may need to start re-evaluating the process.

 

 

The post Getting evaluated during the athletic recruiting process as soon as possible and the importance of it appeared first on Recruiting-101.

from Recruiting-101 http://ift.tt/2rpUn38

Matcha Mint Chip Ice Cream (Vegan)

One of my favorite ice cream flavors is mint chocolate chip. I am pretty sure it was my sister who turned me onto it. I remember being kids, sprawled out on the living room floor, sunbeams cascading down the walls as we held cereal bowls filled to the brim with that soup-y, melting green ice cream. I would smash it around until it was the perfect creamy consistency, all as we watched Labyrinth, Dirty Dancing, Adventures in Babysitting or Nadia for the millionth time on video. So while I have so many happy memories associated with this flavor, I have to say that this dairy-free version satisfies like nothing else. I actually feel good after eating it. Cashew-based ice creams are my favorite - so creamy, silky, dreamy. So in the name of warm weather and summer-is-coming vibes, I bring you...

This is a summary, images and full post available on HHL website!

from Healthy. Happy. Life. http://ift.tt/2rwva5G

Where not to skimp in the athletic recruiting process

There is no doubt that money is a factor in the athletic recruiting process for everyone.  Some families have more than others and that affords them the luxury of going on unofficial visits at the drop of a hat.  Others struggle to get outside of their hometown because of a lack of transportation options.  This happens all time unfortunately.

And while I have talked about different ways to save money throughout the recruiting process overall, there are also a few areas that you should skimp on when trying to get a scholarship offer.  I have come up with five areas that are worth investing in to help you overall with the recruiting process.

1.) A Recruiting Highlight Video
With the ease of hudl, either take the time to get it done yourself at a high level or hire someone.  This video is absolutely vital to get your foot in the door with college coaches and for them to get taste of your abilities.

2.) As many unofficial visits as possible
I hate to bring you back to my glory days when I played athletics but because of our lack of vehicles that could travel far, I only ended up making one college visits.  Shockingly, this was the school I ended up attending and played at over the following four years.  But if I had a chance to do it again, I would have tried to figure out a way to get to more schools.  I am not talking about unofficial visits across the country where you need to fly.  I am talking about in-state visits to schools at all levels (Division I, I-AA, II, III, NAIA, and even Junior College) that you can drive to.  The reason is that you want to get a taste of what all these schools can offer you overall.  And while the Internet is great for finding some information, a visit to the school is priceless to see what kind of feeling the place gives you.

3.) Phone time with college coaches
If you have a son that is a sought after football recruit who is getting call after call in the football recruiting process, make sure their cell plan has unlimited minutes.  The last thing you want to do is limit your son and their exposure to these coaches.  The more that call, the better even if the phone bill will be a little higher (hopefully not a great deal higher).  So call your phone provider because it may be your son’s cell phone getting the calls from coaches.

4.) Summer college camps (football)/AAU team (basketball)
Very rarely does a basketball player end up getting a Division I scholarship without playing AAU basketball.  It unfortunately just works that way and there is not a lot you can do about it.  What that means is it is important to get on a good team, even if you have to pay a little money out of pocket.  Not all teams are sponsored so your money will help pay for tournaments.  As for the summer camps, it is vital to at least get to a few one day camps (turn them into your own one day camps) so the college coaches can get a taste of your ability.  If they don’t think you are good enough at the camps, then you can move on and look at other schools that think you are good enough for a scholarship offer.

5.) Time for research
Parents and kids need to invest the time into researching schools that fit them and marketing themselves to those same programs.  Everyone might want to play at USC but what if a school like Florida Atlantic has the location you want, the major you are looking for, and success in athletics as well?  The big name schools are not always the best option so pour some time into the process and research programs as much as possible.

 

 

 

 

The post Where not to skimp in the athletic recruiting process appeared first on Recruiting-101.

from Recruiting-101 http://ift.tt/2sBoxOJ

May 2017 Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver Statistics Package with Full Charts & Graphs

May 2017 REBGV Stats from Mike Stewart

Market activity picks up in May

Home buyer activity returned to near record levels across the Metro Vancouver housing market in May.

Residential property sales in the region totalled 4,364 in May 2017, a decrease of 8.5 per cent from the 4,769 sales in May 2016, an all-time record, and an increase of 22.8 per cent compared to April 2017 when 3,553 homes sold.

Last month’s sales were 23.7 per cent above the 10-year May sales average and is the third-highest selling May on record.

“Demand for condominiums and townhomes is driving today’s activity,” Jill Oudil, Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) president said. “First-time buyers and people looking to downsize from their single-family homes are both competing for these two types of housing.”

New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties in Metro Vancouver totalled 6,044 in May 2017. This represents a 3.9 per cent decrease compared to the 6,289 units listed in May 2016 and a 23.2 per cent increase compared to April 2017 when 4,907 homes were listed.

The month-over-month increase in new listings was led by detached homes at 27.1 per cent, followed by apartments at 22.7 per cent and townhomes at 14.1 per cent.

The total number of properties currently listed for sale on the MLS® system in Metro Vancouver is 8,168, a 5.7 per cent increase compared to May 2016 (7,726) and a 4.5 per cent increase compared to April 2017 (7,813).

“Home buyers are beginning to have more selection to choose from in the detached market, but the number of condominiums for sale continues to decline,” Oudil said.

The sales-to-active listings ratio across all residential categories is 53.4 per cent. By property type, the ratio is 31 per cent for detached homes, 76.1 per cent for townhomes, and 94.6 per cent for condominiums.

Generally, analysts say that downward pressure on home prices occurs when the ratio dips below the 12 per cent mark for a sustained period, while home prices often experience upward pressure when it surpasses 20 per cent over several months.

“While sales are inching closer to the record-breaking pace of 2016, the market itself looks different. Sales last year were driven by demand for single-family homes. This year, it’s clear that townhomes and condominiums are leading the way,” said Oudil. “It’s important to work with your local REALTOR® to understand the different factors affecting the market today.”

The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver is currently $967,500. This represents an 8.8 per cent increase over May 2016 and a 2.8 per cent increase compared to April 2017.

Sales of detached properties in May 2017 reached 1,548, a decrease of 17 per cent from the 1,865 detached sales recorded in May 2016. The benchmark price for a detached property is $1,561,000. This represents a 3.1 per cent increase over May 2016 and a 2.9 per cent increase compared to April 2017.

Sales of apartment properties reached 2,025 in May 2017, a decrease of 5.8 per cent compared to the 2,150 sales in May 2016.The benchmark price for an apartment property is $571,300. This represents a 17.8 per cent increase over May 2016 and a 3.1 per cent increase compared to April 2017.

Attached property sales in May 2017 totalled 791, an increase of 4.9 per cent compared to the 754 sales in May 2016. The benchmark price for an attached property is $715,400. This represents a 13.1 per cent increase over May 2016 and a 1.9 per cent increase compared to April 2017.

The post May 2017 Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver Statistics Package with Full Charts & Graphs appeared first on Mike Stewart.

from Blog – Mike Stewart http://ift.tt/2rNmNW4

I got a verbal scholarship offer at a summer college football camp. Is that scholarship really on the table?

College football coaches love getting athletes that they recruit on campus during the summer for at least one day of camp.  The reason is that it allows them to work with you, evaluate your skills, determine your level of coachability, and just get a general feel for what you can bring to the table.  If I were to ask college coaches, there is no doubt that they would love to see all prospects in camp before offering them.  The problem is that is not always possible.

But what happens if you go to a camp and just blow up?  The coaches end up loving you and taking you aside multiple times while you are there.  Then after the camp, the head coach tells you that there is a scholarship offer waiting for you at the school.  He just offered you verbally, but the question is, do you really have an offer on the table?

The answer to that question is it seriously depends on the school.  Some programs throw out verbal offers like they are nothing and others make sure that you are not confused where you sit in the football recruiting process.  Another set of college coaches may make it seem like they want you to play for their program but you have no clue as to if there is an offer actually on the table.

The true answer to this question should come within two weeks of you attending the camp (this is of course if you are in the summer before your senior year.  Otherwise, it is a different answer).  If the coaches were serious about the offer, your abilities, and the hope that they can sign you in February, then a written offer should be coming in the mail.

While summer camps for college coaches are an extremely busy time, if they think highly enough about you, they can take the ten minutes to send out a written offer.  While this scholarship could actually be pulled at anytime, seeing it in writing shows their true interest in you and their intention to make sure you know there is an offer on the table.

A few years back I spoke with a quarterback prospect who went to a Division I-AA (FCS) school for their summer camp and did really well.  The athlete claimed that the coaches had extended a verbal offer but for whatever reason, the coaches at this top tier program never ended up sending the scholarship in the mail.

In the end, despite what they told him, there was no offer and he signed with a Division II program.  One of two things likely happened.  The coaches told the athlete that they liked him a great deal and made it seem like there was an actual offer on the table.  But they never said that there is a scholarship waiting for you and there was an issue in communication between the athlete and the coaches.

The other thing that may have happened is the coaches extended a verbal offer after the camp but ended up not being impressed during the fall by what he did with his high school team.  So their response was to just stop recruiting him and not say anything.  While I do believe this is an upstanding coaching staff, college coaches do stuff like this all the time so I am not out of line in saying that this really could happen.

I think the answer to the original question, like in all situations, is to wait until the offer paperwork has arrived until you can get really excited.  I have heard plenty of stories where there is a verbal offer made but the paperwork never arrives.  If you want to commit to that school, is there even an offer on the table?  You don’t really know.  So until that letter comes saying State University wants to offer a scholarship, I wouldn’t mark it down as on the table just yet.

The post I got a verbal scholarship offer at a summer college football camp. Is that scholarship really on the table? appeared first on Recruiting-101.

from Recruiting-101 http://ift.tt/2qOEBLO

What is an Interest-Saving Mortgage?

The post What is an Interest-Saving Mortgage? appeared first on Invis Team RRP.

from Invis Team RRP http://ift.tt/2svXDYC

Football Recruiting Notes from a Four Star Recruit

Over the last year, I have had a chance to speak with an outstanding athlete and his father throughout the football recruiting process.  With his decision coming in the near future, I thought I might post some of the notes that I have talked about and learned with regards to their recruiting process.  In every situation, things are going to be unique but it is very interesting to see what a four star recruit has been through.

The first, as I have talked about before, is that because he is such a sought after recruit, he has cut himself off from the media.  This athlete currently boasts scholarship offers from schools in the Big 12, SEC, Pac 10, Big 10, ACC, and a number of other smaller conferences as well.  Because he holds double digit offers, reporters from all of the major recruiting sites (Rivals, 247Sports, Scout, etc) would all want to speak with him about the newest scholarship offer.  And with so many on the table, it took a toll and he ended up going into seclusion from the media.

The icing came when a school from the Big 12 called and one of the sites spoke with him and reported it.  The other recruiting site (I am not going to go into which one did this) from that school started calling him.  Since he wasn’t answering, they kept calling him.  Over the course of the evening, that reported called him eight different times trying to speak with him about the offer.  If you are on eight already, why not call ten times?

That is simply ridiculous with regards to the recruiting process.  Some may even consider that stalking, and this was from a grown adult trying to speak to a 17-year old on the phone.  What this shows is that if you make the offers public (Which I still would recommend, as I will talk about in a bit), be prepared to talk to a lot of reporters and coaches.  Not only from Scout and Rivals, a lot of newspapers are trying to cover in-state recruiting.  So get used to it.

One of the more interesting stories that I heard with regard to highlight videos was that a school in the Big Ten requested that they send his highlight tape.  The dad did it, in fact he ended up doing it four different times.  The coaching staff at this school lost it three different times for a tape that they actually asked for. Let me state for the record that this is one of the better programs in the Big Ten and happened three different times.  They ended up offering the athlete a scholarship but it seemed to be one of the most difficult processes in the world to get it to them.  And with each tape being send overnight via UPS, the costs added up rather quickly. The good news is sending video via hudl and youtube is an easy process and free other than your time.

And the final note comes from the importance of marketing yourself and making sure that people know you are getting offered.  This recruit did a text book job of following The Five Steps to a Scholarship Offer.  He marketed himself to schools, sent out tape, built a website, and made his video widely available to college coaches.  Without the work that he did, I wonder how many offers would be the table right now?

Regardless, what really set his recruiting off was one scholarship offer.  While there were some smaller schools that offered early, this senior received a major scholarship offer from a program that many consider a powerhouse.  It was the third school to extend a scholarship but it really broke open the recruiting process.

The recruit wisely made sure that the recruiting services were aware of this offer and that the coaches at other schools knew he had it in hand as well.  The schools that were biding their time in the recruiting process stopped coming up with excuses and stepped up with offers.  Obviously this recruit is a special athlete because you can do all the marketing in the world but if you can’t play, you are not going to get looks.  He worked hard and put himself into a great situation.  Combined with the work that his dad did, he will get an opportunity to play Division I football on scholarship and will turn down some of the top programs in the country along the way.

 

The post Football Recruiting Notes from a Four Star Recruit appeared first on Recruiting-101.

from Recruiting-101 http://ift.tt/2rfQVbc