WHAT'S A BLAZE
 
December 2010
Newsletter
 

Thank you for taking the time to read through this issue of the WHAT'S A BLAZE newsletter.  I hope you will find the information helpful.  Each issue will have information on a variety of subjects; information that I hope will be of interest to soccer players, coaches and parents.  Please feel free to send me emails and let me know what information you would like to see in future newsletters.  And send in your questions.  I will be answering submitted questions in each newsletter. 

Sincerely,

Mike Getman
Head Coach Men's Soccer at UAB
Mike Getman Soccer Camp Logo
2011 Schedule

Winter Elite Camp  January 7-9
Day Camp  June 13-17
Day Camp  July 11-15
Residential (Premier) June 19-23
Residential (Advanced) June 19-23
Residential (Advanced) June 26-30
Team Camp  June 20-23
Advanced Mini Camp July 29-31

Does attending camp improve my chances of playing at UAB?


Attending camp will not ensure you of making our team. Having the academic ability and the soccer ability are both needed to play at UAB.

Camp does allow us to get to know each other and help us both figure out if we would be a good fit.

This season, 17 of our 24 players were past campers.  Some had been to our winter Elite Players Camp, and others have been to our summer camp.

UAB Men's Division I Soccer


Earlier this year, the NCAA announced that UAB will be the host of the 2011 College Cup.  College Soccer's "Final Four" will be played in Birmingham at Region's Park, December 9-11, 2011. 

This is a great honor for the Birmingham area and it will be a great benefit for the Soccer Community.  While taking a rest from your own season, as a coach or player, you can now spend a week watching the top college teams compete for a National Championship.  There will also be coaching clinics and a Showcase Tournament as part of the week long festivities.

We will keep you up to date on all the plans through each issue of our Newsletter.
RECRUITING
WHAT TO EXPECT
By Coach Getman


Hopefully you have already read, in past newsletters, the steps to take in the recruiting process.  If you missed any of these, click here to access archived issues of Whats A Blaze.

The information in this article is intended for those who are interested in playing college soccer and are unsure of how or when to contact college coaches.  The rules can be complicated and they change from year to year.  This is a basic guide, but you can find all the details at www.ncaa.com.    If you have sent out your resume as I spoke about in the May 2009 Newsletter and made other attempts to let the College Coaches know of your interest, then what are the NCAA rules Coaches must follow about contacting prospects? 

Coaches may not call you or return your phone calls until after July 1 before your Senior year of High School.  After that date, they can call you once per week.  Before this time, they can answer your calls and speak with you on the phone, but only if you placed the call.

Coaches can send you a letter or email after Sept. 1 of your Junior year.  Before that, they can only send you a recruiting questionnaire and information on their camps. They cannot send you any recruiting information before September 1 of your Junior year, even if you sent them something first. They are never allowed to send you a Text Message.

Coaches cannot have direct contact with you off their college campus before July 1 proceeding your Senior year. If you bump in to a coach at one of your games, he can say hello and be polite, but he is not allowed to have any recruiting conversation with you or your parents.

College coaches can speak with your Club or High School coach almost anytime. Most college coaches will call your coaches to learn about your interests and to follow up on any communication you may have sent them.  This is typically one of the first steps a college coach will take.

Contact on the college campus is a different thing. Once you step foot on the college campus, the coach is allowed to speak with you or your parents.  Full blown recruiting conversations are acceptable once you are on campus.  These "unofficial" visits are a great way to get to know the coach and the school.  The coaches can show you around campus and answer all of your questions. This is becoming a bigger and bigger part of the recruiting process.  These visits can happen at any age and any time during your High School career.

Participating in a College Camp is another great way to get to know college coaches.  They can work with you on the field and see how you handle yourself off the field as well. You will also get to know the coaches much better when you are spending that much time together.  How do you fit with the personality of the coach? Is this someone you want to spend the next 4 years of your life with? Camp is a great way to find out.

Check out our Winter Elite Camp (for boys ages 15 & up) where you will get a chance to work with all of my Coaching Staff as well as the Soccer Coaches from several other colleges.  If those dates don't work for you, then check out our Summer Camps.


Sign up to read my step by step guide in future newsletters and send in your questions.  I will answer your questions and more in each edition.  Click here to access past newsletters with articles about the recruiting process.
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