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With my senior (college) son's basketball career ending this past winter, I can't help but to think back on why I started A4A some 4 years ago. It was because of my frustration with the college recruiting process when I went through it with my own son. Like most parents, we had know idea what to do, where or when to start, or who to turn to for answers. There was no education on the subject at the school level and the "national" companies we turned to seem to be more interested in the money than our athlete. And so the research began....
I can sincerely say that I started this for all the right reasons. I saw the need, and being a former athlete, athletic club owner and coach - I really wanted to make a difference in the lives of young student athletes by helping them realize their dream. The experience of being able to continue to play the sport you love at the next level is not only cool, but it teaches so many things: team work, responsibility,confidence, time management, cultural awareness, discipline, etc, etc. I truly believe that it sets student athletes up for success after college.
I never would of had the idea or started this company if it wasn't for the basketball prowess of my oldest son, Spencer. I thank him for that. Proud as well. It's been one "heckuva" ride for the young man, one that has taken him from Australia to Hawaii and from Worcester, MA to Nampa, ID, and many places in between. It has been so fun to have been a part as his coach, father and fan - hoping that he considers joining A4A after graduation!
College sports is not for everyone but with over 1700 colleges and universities that offer collegiate athletics there are a lot of opportunities out there. Many, many aspiring high school athletes fall in between the cracks. Just like myself and 90% of all families I talk to, they do not know what to do, when to start or who to talk to, to start the recruiting process. There are no secrets, but with the "right" information it is very doable. That's why A4A was started!
So,what does it take for an athlete to be recruited at the college level?
1. A PASSION for the sport.
2. GRADES...the better they are the better the opportunities.
3. CHARACTER and a strong WORK ETHIC.
4. ATHLETIC ABILITY (honestly evaluated) and the DRIVE to want to get better.
If you have an aspiring high school athlete or know of one that wants to continue on, contact A4A. We sincerely care about the future of our athletes!
Thanks, 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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From the Desk of: Michael Romano, "Mr Test Prep"
WHAT DO MIKE TYSON, THE SAT AND THE ACT HAVE IN COMMON ?
Mike Tyson was one of the most feared heavyweight prize fighters in history. Before his first loss, he had a record of 27 and 0.; 24 of his wins were by knock-out, and most of those knockouts occurred in the first few rounds. Mike Tyson confessed recently that he should have been beaten much sooner because his skills had deteriorated dramatically; however, he continued to win because of his reputation. Essentially, his opponents thought he was much tougher than he was.
Many students struggle with the SAT or ACT because they misjudge the difficultly of the test they are dealing with. If you want to perform to the best of your abilities, then you must free yourself from the false and disempowering perspective that the test is impossibly tough and terrible. Really bright kids will struggle if they misperceive the nature of the test, and students of average ability will succeed if they perceive it properly. Buster Douglas, the fighter who beat Mike Tyson, was only a modest talent, but he truly believed he could win. You never want to underestimate your opponent, but overestimation can be just as big a mistake. I work very hard with each student on this idea. You must go into this experience with the right mindset: this test is easier than it looks, and I can do this!
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www.mrtestprep.com mrtestprep@gmail.com
650-575-5867
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Where are the A4A Athletes
going to College?
Here is a partial list.
Colleges
The U.S. Naval Academy
Providence University
Princeton University(2)
UCLA (2)
Tulane University
Loyola Marymount University(2)
Lewis and Clark University(2)
Dominican University(2)
Western State College of Colorado
U.C. Berkeley(2)
Texas Christian University
Brown University (2)
University of Utah
Cal Poly Pomona
Claremont Mudd Scripps
Georgetown University(2)
Carroll College
Chaminade University
Kenyon College
U.C. Merced
U.C. Davis
Carnegie Mellon University(2)
Pomona Pitzer University(3)
Duquesne University
Southern Illinois University
Fresno State
University of Redlands (2)
Notre Dame De Namur University
University of San Diego
University of Colorado at Boulder
Colorado College(2)
Cal State East Bay University
Washington State University
Trinity College (Conn)
Leslie University
Willamette
Rochester Polytechnic Institute
Cal State Dominguez Hills
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From the Desk of: Beatrice Schultz
Westface College Planning
It's April!
How many parents of seniors ran into difficulty when filling out the FAFSA? If you did, you're not alone! According to a recent article in Time Magazine, around 45% of high school seniors either stop completing the form or do not bother trying at all. We (as well as the writers as Time) suspect that this relates to the detailed complexity of the form. If you are one of the guilty 45% that stopped part way through, or dread the thought when you will have to face it down the road, give us a call to help coach you through the process.
Plus, I'll be hosting a special workshop event at Woodside High School on Wednesday, April 23rd from 6:30pm to 7:30pm. Everyone is welcome.
During the workshop, I'll reveal important aspects of paying for college, including how to:
- Calculate your Expected Family Contribution (EFC).
- Figure out your Cost of Attendance (CoA).
- Understand your financial aid eligibility.
- Compare state versus UC costs.
At the workshop, I'll also focus on the tough question - "How will you pay for the amount your family does have to pay?"
Beatrice Schultz, CFP� | College & Retirement Financial Planning
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From The NCAA:
April 15, 2014 | ByMichelle Brutlag Hosick
New model provides unlimited student-athlete meals and snacks
Highlights
The Legislative Council approved measures that would:
- Division I student-athletes can receive unlimited meals and snacks in conjunction with their athletics participation,
- Require strength and conditioning coaches to be certified from a nationally accredited certification body,
- Require someone certified in CPR, first aid and arterial external defibrillation to be present at all countable athletic activities,
- Reduce the penalty for a first positive test for street drugs during championships, and
- Require football players to rest for at least three hours between practices during the preseason. Film review and team meetings will be allowed during the recovery period.
The rules are not considered final until the close of the Board of Directors meeting on April 24.
Related Stories
Council Clarifies Academic Misconduct Rules
Council Discusses Recruitment Of Mid-Year Enrollees
Division I student-athletes can receive unlimited meals and snacks in conjunction with their athletics participation, the Legislative Council decided Tuesday. The rule, which applies to walk-ons as well as scholarship student-athletes, is an effort to meet the nutritional needs of all student-athletes.
The provision of meals approved today is in addition to the meal plan provided as part of a full scholarship. Prior to this change, scholarship student-athletes received three meals a day or a food stipend.
Council chair Mary Mulvenna, associate commissioner of the America East Conference, said Tuesday's decisions underscored the commitment to student-athletes.
"Today we took action to provide meals to student-athletes incidental to participation," Mulvenna said. "I think the end result is right where it needs to be."
No action is considered final until the Division I Board of Directors meets April 24.
The adoption of the meals legislation finished a conversation that began in the Awards, Benefits, Expenses and Financial Aid Cabinet. Members have worked to find appropriate ways to ensure student-athletes get the nutrition they need without jeopardizing Pell Grants or other federal aid received by the neediest student-athletes. With their vote, members of the council said they believe that loosening NCAA rules on what and when food can be provided from athletics departments is the best way to address the issue.
Members also voted to:
- Require strength and conditioning coaches to be certified from a nationally accredited certification body;
- Require a school staff member certified in CPR, first aid and arterial external defibrillation to be present at all physical, countable athletic activities;
- Reduce the penalty for a first positive test for street drugs during championships; and
- Require football players to rest for at least three hours between practices during the preseason. Film review and team meetings will be allowed during this period.
The penalty for testing positive for street drugs, including marijuana, will be reduced to half a season from a full season. Street drugs are not performance-enhancing in nature, and this change will encourage schools to provide student-athletes the necessary rehabilitation.
All of the adopted proposals are effective August 1, with the exception of the strength and conditioning coach certification requirement. The council members voted to delay until August 1, 2015 to allow coaches time to achieve their certification without their jeopardizing their employment.
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Recruiting Question
of The Month
Can I play college sports without an athletic scholarship?
The answer is Yes! First of all, NCAA Division III and the Ivy league schools do not give athletic scholarships. So everyone playing there is not on an athletic scholarship. However Merrit and Academic scholarships can make up for the lack of athletic scholarship money.
Then there is such a thing as a Recruited Walk-On or a Preferred Walk-On. This normally refers to a recruited athlete that is given a spot on the team but receives no athletic scholarship money to play at that school.
There is also an opportunity to Walk-On. This is when an athlete has already enrolled in the given school and goes to an open tryout and makes the team that way.
There have been plenty of cases where Recruited Walk-Ons and regular Walk ons have played well enough to earn athletic scholarship money after there first or second year.
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Testimonials
Hi Steve!
I just wanted to let you know what a wonderful fit UCLA has been for me! I absolutely love the campus, my swim team, and the education I am receiving. I am really happy to say that I am sure that I made the right choice in choosing this school. I am definitely looking forward to swimming my sophomore year too! Thanks again for all the help you gave me, I can truly say I would not be here if it wasn't for you.
Rachel Owen
Previous A4A Student Athlete
Graduated Spring, 2013
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Steve,
Thank you for all your guidance and help in assisting my son find his way on to a college campus with a ball in his and a scholarship in his bank account!!
Your attention to detail and your true desire to help him made the world of difference in his life. While Zayn is a smart, strong, quite young man who is silently confident your guidance and coaching helped him to openly and willingly be confident to speak highly of himself, sell himself, and take ownership of his achievements. These are enhanced skills he will take with him throughout the rest of his life.
Your willingness to meet him near his school and job and accommodate his very busy schedule was appreciated. Also your efforts of continuing to check in and make sure he was on track was one of the keys to his success.
Zayn achieved his dream of transferring to a university that would afford him the academic excellence he demanded as well as be a part of a system were he could be a key contributor.
I have to also thank you for all the talks you had with me and your prompt communication throughout the who process. I was often unsettled and concerned about his future and you never gave off a negative or discouraging message.
Your faith in Zayn and his abilities academically and athletically will never be taken for granted or forgotten.
I am envious of your position to help families and student athletes achieve their dreams because I know there is a demand for this. I am now your advocate! I will do anything I can to help you if you ever need it... and will recommend you to everyone I know going through "the process".
Wishing you continued success,
Susan Kirkendoll
Mother of Zayn, Carroll College, Fall 2013
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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- UCLA, Fall 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 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- Cal Poly Pomona, Fall 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- Lesley University, Fall 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 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
Performance Hoops, John Folonis
The South Bay:
Extreme Fitness&Sports(Campbell)
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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