7 Tips for Parents of Student-Athletes

Edited by Jennifer Ledwith |jdledwith@scholaready.com |(713) 553-6557

• With a few exceptions, student-athletes must meet the college’s academic requirements. Do you know if your student is ready? Contact us and schedule a 30-minute appointment and we’ll discuss where your student is and where he or she would like to be.
• Ask your son or daughter if he or she really wants to continue playing sports in college.
• Learn if your child competes in a full or partial scholarship sport.
• Encourage your student-athlete to go to the school that is the best fit — academically, athletically, socially — for him or her.
• On recruiting trips, sit back and let your student lead. Let her question the coaching staff, students, and other university representatives.
• If your student is interested in a certain college, encourage him to attend a sports camp at the school.
• Encourage your student to utilize the resources on campus to solve problems. Some students conflict with teammates and coaches, struggle with coursework, or experience homesickness and want to come home. Every student-athlete will encounter an adjustment to the culture and the environment. Counselors, tutors, and team captains can help freshmen overcome these obstacles.

Sources: Dr. Beth Dennard, Bright Futures Consulting; Ron “Recruitman” Hopkins, HLPTS; Martica Sherman, Trailblazers in Motion; “The Student Athlete’s Guide to Getting Recruited: How to Win Scholarships, Attract Colleges and Excel as an Athlete” by Stewart Brown.