"We go to tournaments and showcases. Isn't that enough?"

No it is not. Usually only the bigger schools and local schools go to these events. In all truth the only kids getting noticed at these events  are the "eye candy" and "flashy" athletes. What about the solid everyday athlete who would make a great addition to any of the smaller schools?

If your athlete is the record setter or can jump out of the gym then "Yes!" These athletes will get noticed. 

How about the kid that hit a single, stole second, and scored easily on a rocket off the right field fence? Or the one that made no errors in the game, and made all the routine plays? He clearly can play but his skills are a support and stat-adder to the other athletes. He is not going to get noticed.

How about the swimmer that finishes 8th at the state meet? Dead last in the championship heat. There is a place for this Student / Athlete! It may not be at a D-1 school, but it will still include a college education and fulfilling a dream of playing at the Next Level. 

How about the late bloomer? A defensive back that only starts his senior year because the team his junior year is loaded, limiting his opportunities. He might be 6'2," 185 lbs, 4.65 speed, (small by football standards) but has a great love for the game, great instincts, and the heart to compete. Can this athlete play somewhere? He sure can!

All these athletes and many more like them can be found on our testimonial page. 

Club teams are important for developing skills needed to compete at the Next Level.

However showcases and travel tournaments are not where these athletes are found.

"When should I start my active recruiting process?"

A parent asked me when their Student / Athlete should start thinking about getting recruited. I told them the first day of high school.  Grades are the most important component of getting recruited. The first day of school, the first year of high school cannot be stressed enough. I have seen many athletes lose out on a great scholarship because they could not recover from a poor freshman year. Remember you are a Student / Athlete, not the other way around. To get the most college $$$ out of your athletic ability schools will try to blend academic $$$ with athletic $$$. This is no secret, so hit the books hard and early to give yourself the best opportunity to live your dream of playing at the Next Level.

You should really actively start looking for schools after your junior season of competitive play. You would then have all the statistics and tape you need to send to a potential coach. You should also have taken your ACT and SAT tests by this time and have scores to turn in. Remember you can retake these tests as many times as you want to get a better grade. This gives both you and your potential coach time to process and make decisions.

Getting on the radar is 90% of the battle. Most 4 year coaches like to have most of their athletes lined up before the start of their Senior Season. The senior fall year is so hectic for students they often don't have the time or focus to deal with the demand of life and recruiting at the same time. Fall recruiting is not impossible, but it adds another level of stress to the family and student that can often be avoided. There is nothing worse than going into your senior year and running against the clock with deadlines. It's stressful for everyone!

"WHEN SHOULD I TAKE THE ACT AND/OR SAT EXAMS?"

You should take these tests as soon as possible and as many times as you can afford to take them. You tend to score better the more times you take them because you start to learn HOW to take these exams. It's like anything else in life, "practice makes perfect."

At minimum take them each fall, and if possible spring. We find students do better each time they take it. A 5-6 point swing over 3 years of the ACT can absolutely change where you end up having an opportunity to go and how much money you get.

(FYI: West Coast schools require ACT as general rule and East Coast schools require SAT )

"WHAT DOES IT COST TO USE NLRS?"

We offer multiple entry points. Our packages range from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand. It really depends on how much the athlete and family want to participate in the process. We find it takes about 60 hours to put together a marketing packet for each athlete.
We offer a basic: "Here's how you do it, with a prospective school consult and list." To a comprehensive: "We do it all, we just need some raw data from you." This is your choice we are just here to help.

We offer a 100% guarantee that the phone will start to ring and coaches will be interested in you. What you do with these opportunities is up to you.

Is this a lot of money?

Well compared to one club season and two trips to a "showcase" or big tournament it's quite a bargain. A four month season with travel can easily cost $1500-$4000 or more for one athlete. With zero guarantees the athlete will get noticed or recruited.

Now doesn't NLRS sound like a bargain?