Hallie Swenson, daughter of author Danna, was the very first to earn a full ride scholarship using the techniques Danna preaches. Read more about the story below. Photo by Danna Swenson.
College recruiting can be so overwhelming and so
frustrating! There is so much information out there that it takes months and
months to weed through it all! What is even more frustrating is that most of
the information is all geared toward football and baseball! What about for runners?
How do I know when to start with the College search and recruiting process? Some say as a Freshman and some say not until your Senior year? So when...
If you are researching on the internet, then I can see the confusion. For team sports such as Football and Baseball you do start as a freshman and you almost need to because they start their recruiting list that early. But for runners I think it is important to start your Sophomore year. Even, then I suggest using that year to gather documents and get organized. Most importantly, doing your best to get great grades and run your best! You will be using your times as a Sophomore and your Cross Country times as a Junior in your introduction letters so you want to have a good season as a Sophomore. In my workbook, I show you how to write your introductory email, I suggest that introduction emails be sent out mid Fall to end of Cross Country.
I don't just want to be recruited how can I get a scholarship to run in College?
There is a process to getting scholarship money to run in college. Starting with connecting with college coaches and letting them know what you are doing academically and what times you are running during your high school years. By reaching out to college coaches and staying connected to them, you are showing that you are interested in their program and the school. There is scholarship money in division II schools as well, so even if you think you may not have the times it takes to be recruited at the division I level, try division II. Academically, there are some amazing schools in the division II level! Don't limit yourself! Reach out to those coaches as well! The key to obtaining a running scholarship is to have a system in place to help keep you on track, organized and to help you make important decisions on the school and team.
What do I need to be doing my Junior year? I have been getting recruiting letters in the mail so they must want me?
There are many steps you need to be taking every month of your Junior year. With the end goal of receiving a call after July 1st from a college coach wanting you to come to visit. You will need to start reaching out to coaches during the fall of your Junior year and continue to give them updates along the way. There is protocol as to how much communication and how often, what is and what is not appropriate, so make sure you understand this. If you are going to a large meet you will want to make sure those coaches know you are going there so they can watch you. Start researching each team and each college. There is a lot of work to do, which is why I developed a workbook to guide you. It will help alleviate some of the agony and help keep you organized. As for the recruiting letters in the mail? Reach out to them as well, but know that is not enough, you have to be proactive in your recruiting! I think parents as well as student athletes need to be involved in the recruiting process. Parents guiding and student athletes doing the work.
I was injured during my Junior year but had really good times my Sophomore year, what do I do if I want to still try to get a scholarship to run in college?
You still need to continue to stay in touch with your list of college coaches. If you are injured throughout your season make sure to give them updates on your recovery process. These coaches understand injury and believe that there is a lesson to be learned from injury and how to deal with it, especially at the high school level. Coaches have said learning early on how to listen to your body and understanding the discipline it takes in the recovery process is the key and will help you deal better should it happen at a college level. University of Cal State Berkeley, Coach Chas Davie, said, “ dealing with some of this now will help prepare you better for the rigors of college training”. So my advice to you is to stay connected to these coaches, tell them of your recovery process and what your goals are for competing in the future. If you have no times at all during your Junior year then look forward to having great times during Cross Country your Senior year! Will college coaches still look at you that late in the process? Yes! According to Coach Jeff Messer, Desert Vista High School head coach cross country said, “If you go out and compete against the top athletes and are competitive in the field, they will be able to use that as a measurable parameter for determining your times in specific event. “Stay positive! Stay fit and consistent.”
About the Author: Danna Swenson grew up in a small town of Broomfield Colorado, about 15 minutes outside of Boulder. At age ten she was running in an elementary track meet when the head coach of a then AAU team asked if she wanted to run for their team. She continued running and competing through high school and on to college, where she completed a marketing degree before moving to Arizona with her husband. They had two daughters together, both of who followed in Danna’s footsteps. When her oldest, started looking at college Danna wanted to help her with the process. Even though she had 17 years of advertising and marketing under her belt found the process to be challenging and overwhelming. Danna decided to put her years of marketing and self-promotion to work in order to assist her daughter. Knowing that her times alone might not make the cut, Danna realized the ability to sell one’s self was a vital part of the process as well. With the success of her daughter getting a full ride scholarship, Danna decided to share her secrets, publishing a workbook to help others step through the recruiting process.
<p style="text-align: center;"> <strong style="text-align: center; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">A special thanks goes out to all the coaches and athletes who particpated in this series with me.</strong></p>