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CHARACTER: Defined as: "moral quality, the principals and motives that contract the life". In light of the numerous arrests and negative happenings as of late with professional and college athletes alike, the word CHARACTER has never been more in the forefront. It's a shame that out of the more than 400,000 NCAA student athletes that have great character, a small number are in the news
giving college sports, especially men's basketball and football, a black eye. Yesterday alone the Ohio State football coach suspended four players for different illegal activities.
Some college coaches are now saying that they are looking at a perspective student athletes CHARACTER as much as their ability. I guess they are getting tired of babysitting and worrying about troublesome athletes. Good for them! More should take up the notion instead of winning at an "all costs" attitude. See the article below in the "Interesting News" section of this Newsletter.
That's why at A4A we are teaching our athletes the difference between being a character and having character. Having good character is an integral part of the college recruiting process today. Coaches want to know four things - that you have the skills, the work ethic, the desire to attend their school, and that you have good CHARACTER.
Maybe it's our guidance, maybe it's our goal setting, maybe its the families that are hiring us, but out of the well over 100 athletes that are under our guidance, their CHARACTER has never come into question. We feel we are doing our small part to make society a little better and help make our student athletes more successful.
As always, thanks for your continued support. We continue to thrive from your referrals and are helping so many athletes get into great schools (45 and counting). And - we are currently working with athletes from 37 different high schools around the Bay Area. Very cool!
All the Best,
Steve
Steve Britschgi
President
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What We Do
Advocates for Athletes (A4A) is a local, hands-on consulting and coaching business created to help educate and guide student athletes and their families through the college recruiting process, with the ultimate goal of obtaining a college athletic scholarship and/or admittance to a school of their choice because of their sport.
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Who We are Talking To:
Below is a partial list of the colleges that our athletes are either attending, committed to or are speaking with:
Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Cornell, Brown, University of Penn, Bucknell, Columbia, Georgetown, Fordham, Colgate ,Duke, U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, Wake Forest, U Conn, Notre Dame, Stanford, UCLA, USC, CAL, Arizona, Arizona State, LMU, Santa Clara, University of Washington, Washington State, University of Oregon, Oregon State, University of Portland, Portland State, USF, USD, UOP, Davis, Gonzaga, University of Denver, University of Nevada-Reno, Sacramento State, San Jose State, Fresno State, UCSB, Cal Poly, San Diego State, LSU, Clemson, Auburn, Ole Miss, BYU, TCU, University of Utah, Saint Mary's, Montana, Montana State, Boise State, University of Hawaii, Colorado State, Northern Arizona, American University, Elon, University of Florida, University of Alabama, Rutgers, Providence, Duquesne, Rice, UC Irvine, Eastern Washington, Cal State East Bay, Cal State Bakersfield, Southern Utah, Stony Brook, University of Massachusetts (Boston, Dartmouth and Lowell), Sonoma State, Chico State, Cal Poly Pomona, UCSD, Humboldt State, Cal State Monterey Bay, Chaminade, Hawaii Pacific, Seattle Pacific, Dominican, Colorado Mesa University, Western States College, Grand Canyon, Dixie State, Colorado State-Pueblo, Central Washington University, Northwest Nazarene, University of Puget Sound, Tufts, Williams, Amherst, Bates, NYU, Carnegie Mellon, Kenyon, Haverford, MIT, Hamilton, Middlebury, University of Chicago, Springfield, Clark, Swarthmore, Colby, Vassar, Trinity (Connecticut and Texas), Brandeis, Smith, Lesley, Claremont Mudd Scripps, Pomona Pitzer, Occidental, Redlands, Whittier, Willamette, Western Oregon, Menlo College, Washington and Lee, UC Santa Cruz, Lewis & Clark, Westmont, Carroll College, Azusa Pacific, Point Loma Nazarene.
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From the Desk of Michael Romano: "Mr Test Prep"
ASK MR TEST PREP:
WHEN SHOULD MY STUDENT TAKE THE ACT OR THE SAT FOR THE FIRST TIME ?
Testing schedules should be tailored to the student. The more precocious the student, the sooner he or she should begin sitting for the test. However, this is not a one size fits all scenario. It is possible to take the SAT too soon, and a disappointing score can be emotionally devastating, leaving the student further from achieving the desired results.
In the NFL, not all first year quarterbacks are ready to succeed. Often coaches keep their young stars out of the action because failure on the biggest of stages can seriously undermine confidence, and confidence is key. Hall of Fame Quarterback and Bay Area legend Joe Montana was initially kept out of the lineup for just this reason, and things worked out great. On the other hand, Michelle We, a young golfer who tried playing on the men's tour at age 15, has not faired well and many experts believe that the damage to her confidence may be irreversible.
Some kids can hit it out of the park right away. Some can fail and it's no big deal. Others fail and it can wreak havoc. When to take the test is a very important decision, and it needs to be treated as such.
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Interesting News From the NCAA
Time to refocus on the whole student
By Barney Forsythe
President, Westminister College (Mo.)
The worlds of academics and athletics have a mingled, controversial relationship. This clash is seen most prominently in NCAA Division I sports, particularly football and men's basketball, where athletics is a big business. On the other hand, NCAA Division III programs strike a balance between academics and athletics.
Division III views team sports as an opportunity to develop skills in teamwork, determination and personal discipline. However, there is a sea change occurring in America's youth sports culture that threatens to undermine this approach to athletics. As the popularity of privately sponsored teams in junior high and high school settings rises, we must examine the effects this divide has on our youth and families.
The United States is the only nation that has historically nurtured its athletes in school settings. Many Olympic and professional athletes depend on this support to reach their goals. Athletics participation, when properly integrated with academic pursuits, helps strengthen positive personal traits like teamwork, self-discipline, sportsmanship, leadership and perseverance. Many people, no doubt, reflect fondly on their participation in sports as formative in their personal development.
Indeed, for a select few, that participation has paved the way for a successful career and led to enviable opportunities in business and media, as well as sizable salaries. Practically speaking, the regular exercise regimens and attention to personal health encouraged, or required, in the sporting world impact people in a very real way on a daily basis. The benefits of athletics can be plentiful when placed in the context of a well-rounded and fulfilling life.
However, this context is becoming overshadowed by the commodity of sports and the mentality that perpetuates revenue over respect. Club teams, showcase tournaments and high-intensity camps increasingly dominate the current athletics environment for young athletes. In many cases, these more elite, nonscholastic teams instruct members to cease their involvement with traditional school teams.
Too often, students are lured to these private programs with the promise of exposure to top college and university coaches who could possibly offer lucrative athletics scholarships. The disconnection here is evident. Young athletes begin to think of athletics success as a means to an economic end rather than a pursuit of higher education. The time and energy invested in the practices, games and travel can drastically deter students from focusing on their academic studies. In addition, year-round competition and athletics specialization can lead to injuries and burnout for these athletes.
The high financial costs of these private teams might be even more concerning. The youth sports culture is rapidly becoming a pay-to-play industry. Families are investing enormous sums of money so their children can gain a possible advantage in the college admissions process. The resources that could be used to support academic success are instead driving extracurricular activities in a risky venture to catch a recruiter's eye. While club teams that promote positive qualities and develop talent do exist, many others are trying to fill rosters to raise profits. Clubs might tempt families with the possibility of recognition, but the internal goal is building revenue. As a result, youth sports are becoming professionalized at a cost to families, students and academics.
We must not underestimate the role that universities play, sometimes unknowingly, in encouraging this switch in values. Through glorifying the success of athletes at the university and professional levels, we walk a fine line of devaluing the pursuit of more academic goals. According to the NCAA, the estimated probability of an athlete competing in athletics beyond high school at an NCAA Division I, II or III institution is somewhere between 3 percent and 11 percent, depending on the sport. The probability of receiving a scholarship to compete in a Division I program is even more remote. The chance of a high school athlete competing at a professional level is less than 1 percent. While the pursuit of those dreams is worthy, what do you say to a young athlete who is not destined to be in that 1 percent? The emotional and financial fallout can be devastating, due to such intense pressure for these young athletes to perform.
Most Division III programs attempt to find a balance that emphasizes successful completion of coursework, spirit, character and community. Athletics participation is held in an appropriate relationship to academics. Athletes play for love of the game, not as a means to an economic or ego-driven end. Scholarships are based upon academic and personal merit, rather than on a recruiter's brief glimpse. Aren't the hopes and successes of our youth greater than the events that occur on a playing field?
As institutions of higher learning and as a society in general, we need to react to the shift taking place in youth sports. Healthy competition is being replaced by big business. Pressure for athletics specialization, accompanied by the lure of financial incentives, puts incredible pressure on students. By refocusing our attention on the whole student, we can begin to adjust our values to emphasize those qualities that truly benefit our youth and the promise of their potential.
Barney Forsythe is the president of Westminster College (Mo.). Forsythe is slated for appointment to the Division III Presidents Council and is a current member of the Division III Recruiting Working Group. This editorial first appeared on Nov. 9 in the Huffington Post.
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Recruiting Question
of The Month
One of the most popular questions we get from parents of perspective athletes:
How do you determine how good my athlete is and at what level can they play?
We use 5 criteria to make that determination.
1. Parent and Student Questionnaires. Both the parent and student fill out separate questionnaires that illicit who the athlete is, grades, test scores, character, etc.
2. An Athletic Assessment: including height, weight, speed, strength, awards, etc
3. Level of Recruitment so far: Has the athlete received any letters or communication from college coaches?
4. Club and or High School Coaches Assessment: Important to hear what the coaches have to say. Can the athlete play at the next level?
5. Sport Specific Numbers: Height, weight, speed, strength, times, etc, that college coaches are looking for in each particular sport.
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The results of using this criteria are usually spot on, however once the determination is made at what level the athlete can play, we will still reach out to a few, what we call MVP schools that may be a reach for the athlete, we do this to allow growth through passion, goal setting and workouts.
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Testimonials
Dear Steve,
I am so grateful to you for giving our daughter Rachel the confidence to go after UCLA. She is going down for orientation this week and she is still thrilled with her choice. This last weekend at a swim competition, it was fun to share with another swim parent the value you added to the college search experience. Without your assistance, I don't believe we would have found the complete match in both school and team.
Thank you again,
Alicia Owen,
Mother of Rachel-committed to UCLA, for the fall of 2013
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Steve:
Conner and I wanted to send you our hearty thank you's for all your help with Conner's college application/positioning, and more importantly, for the enormous role you played in the successful results he had in his process! As you know, he used this process to finalize his choice (he got into his first two; and decided not to apply to any more, with glee), to finalize the size/division of school to go to, to develop relationships with coaches at several division levels, and to narrow down his search to the school that really hit him in all the right places.
The steps you helped him through, as well as your personal involvement, were spot on. Conner may be one of the more stubborn humans on the planet, but he followed through really well on this. He succeeded in the early application process in getting great coach support (along with good grades and exceptional SAT's), and being completely done with the madness of college admissions at about the same time most of his friends were just starting with the frenzy. He is extremely excited about both school and baseball at Lewis & Clark. We recommend anyone thinking about college and athletics, at D1, D2, or D3 levels, to talk with you as we have an extremely high level of trust in you and in the process you took Conner through. It helped in a broader way than just the nightmare of the college application process, and as a parent I have huge appreciation for that.
All the best-I am happy to talk to any perspective clients about the good work you do.
Best, Bob
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"A4A was a godsend to our Student Athlete. Steve provided invaluable guidance on the recruiting process, advice throughout and the all-important ongoing check-ins with our son. We had no idea how long and how difficult the journey of getting recruited to a Division 1 football program would be. Steve and A4A helped us objectively evaluate our son's potential and match his goals to achievable results.
You definitely need an "Advocate" in your corner during the recruiting process - and they don't get any better than Steve and A4A. We can't thank you enough for being there for us day or night, and making it all happen. The end result of all of the hard work is that our son, Shane, committed to play Defensive End at the United States Naval Academy. We are all very happy with this result and highly recommend A4A!"
Steve and Tammy Artim
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"We wanted to take the time and let all of you know how grateful we are to have spent the past year working with A4A.
Steve, never would I have imagined that a word, "Process" would ring so true in regard to helping our daughter navigate the NCAA/Academic institutions.
As a result of A4A's extensive knowledge, patience and understanding, our daughter Lilly will be attending and swimming at a division one school in the fall of 2013!
Your knowledge and guidance created a low stress, less worry atmosphere in our household thus allowing our family to enjoy the college journey. The consistent support and advice you provided to our daughter along the way has made her more confident and smart about her choices. The experience has taught all of us that patience, persistence and following the "Process" pays off in the end.
Thank you for believing in our daughter and for providing such a valuable and knowledgeable service."
All the very best,
Robin and John Nelson
Redwood City, Ca
Parents of Lilly, Duquesne University, Fall of 2013
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"Navigating the student athlete college recruiting path can be a daunting and confusing process. We were fortunate to have A4A's services to help with this process for our daughter who plays soccer. Steve was very professional and extremely flexible in working one-on-one directly with our daughter, while keeping us abreast of current activities. Steve was also extremely helpful in the final stages of discussions and negotiations with the top schools on our list. The process was ultimately successful in that we had several options available for our daughter to play soccer in college at both the Division I and Division II level. I would recommend A4A's services for anyone looking to get professional guidance and assistance with the recruiting and college selection process."
~John and Kim Miller
Parents of Lauren-committed to Cal Poly Pomona for the fall of 2013
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"Thank you for all your guidance and help throughout this process. We couldn't have done this without you!! "
~Karen Bruneman
Mother of Brooke-committed to Lesley University for the fall of 2013
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"Steve, I am a true believer in your program and in A4A and what you have done. If you remember we came to you late in the game. Bemi was a great athlete in football (All-Conference as a junior and senior) but had zero, I repeat zero, interest from any school. More importantly, he had no one helping him or telling him what he needed to do even to have any colleges look at him.
You sat down with us over lunch, laid out a very simple game plan and then you pushed to execute it. From the basics on what to do with ensuring Bemi focus on improving his SAT scores, to making a highlight video and then mapping out the schools that fit a major that he wanted to do with his life. I was impressed by how much 1-1 time you committed to with Bemi, how you coached him on what to do, how to send the emails to the college coaches, how to talk to the coaches, and how to follow-up. More importantly, you stayed on top of everything. You have a "failure is not an option" attitude and its contagious. It is also clear to me that you really care and you work to ensure that the kids you take on are successful and get a chance at a scholarship and more importantly a future education.
As you know we just got back from a weekend trip to Western State College in Colorado where Bemi has received a scholarship offer to play football there. There is no doubt if anyone wants to go to college to be a student athlete, your program is the way to get them that visibility and a chance. I will be happy to recommend your program to anyone. Please send any doubters my way.
Thanks again for all your efforts".
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"When our son decided that he wanted to play sports in college, we weren't sure of how to go about getting information out to college coaches. After countless hours of searching and feeling overwhelmed by the whole process, we decided to seek help, and that is when we contacted Advocates for Athletes (A4A).
After our first session with A4A, we felt like a huge weight had been lifted. A4A gave us so much information that we would have never been able to obtain on our own. With the expert knowledge and information they provided, and the one-on-one help, it made the whole recruiting process a lot easier. A4A gave our son the confidence and tools not only to sell himself to college coaches, but a confidence that he will be able to use throughout his life.
Thanks to the great service they provide, our son has signed with a great college, and is looking forward to being a college athlete. I would recommend A4A to any high school student that is interested in playing sports at the next level. Working with A4A was one of the best things that our family has ever done."
~Mother of a former St. Francis High School football player recruited to University of San Diego who has since transferred to play at Colorado.
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"The A4A program has helped my son tremendously. My son has given a verbal commitment to Fresno State this past summer as a Junior, and has already taken an unofficial visit to the school.
The program that A4A customized for my son utilizing the Advocates for Athletes playbook has been a huge help during this crucial time in his life. If I could summarize the changes that I have noticed in his approach to everyday life, his time management would be number one. The A4A program has really helped him prioritize his day to day activities. I have noticed that he is "goal setting" much more than before and incorporating many of the strategies that Steve and my son worked on.
The program works and Steve's diligence and genuine caring for his student athletes is very apparent."
~Tom Paroubeck
Father of Jordan, the 69th pick of the San Diego Padres in the 2013 Major League Baseball draft.
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"I wanted to share with you our family's appreciation for the service that Advocates for Athletes has provided us. A year ago the task of selecting the right school for our daughter was overwhelming. Frankly, once we met with Steve and learned about the extensive research he had done on this issue and the process he had developed based on his findings we knew we made the right choice. An important side benefit in all of this is that our daughter has taken ownership in what will become her future. It has been a great lesson in learning for our family and his deliberate approach has taken much of the anxiety out of what is an otherwise difficult and complicated process. You can count us among the "advocates" for Advocates for Athletes."
~David Bartoshuk
Father of Megan Bartoshuk. Carnegie Mellon, fall of 2013
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Thank you!
Thank you for taking the time to read our A4A Newsletter. If you have any questions or comments please contact us.
Please forward this Newsletter on to anyone you feel might be in need of our services or interested in the college recruiting process.
Sincerely,
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A4A Resource Partners
*The Riekes Center for Human Enhancement
*Michael Romano, "Mr. Test Prep"
*BAWSI, Bay Area Women's Sports Initiative
*Susan Zaro, LMFT, Sports Health Counseling
*QWERTY Education Services
Westface College Planning
Prep2Prep
Performance Hoops, John Folonis
The South Bay:
Extreme Fitness&Sports(Campbell)
Crossfit Los Gatos
Tutoring Club(Almaden,Cupertino,Los Gatos and Willow Glen)
For details and contact information on each of our Partners please visit our website @ www.advocates4athletes.com.
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