RULE #4: Parents need to create a specific plan and follow it.

This process can be daunting, but the early bird gets the worm. Those who act quickly and prudently have the most choices. Those who wait too long can miss opportunities. Parents should set an example for their child by emphasizing the importance of creating a plan to follow. Use the Recruiting Checklist and set SMART goals: Goals should be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, and Recorded over Time. This will be the roadmap and blueprint for success.

A parent's job is to help the child create and stick to a timeline. Parents should:

• Create a plan to incorporate each element from the Recruiting Checklist into a timeline. Complete the Recruiting Action Plan questionnaire at www.athleteswanted.org for sport-specific steps that will increase a child's likelihood of being recruited. Parents should remember that the overall plan consists of three components:

1. The academic plan that tracks grade-point average, core courses,       

tests, and progress.

2. The athletic plan for goal-setting (specific physical accomplishments to reach recruiting benchmarks) and tracking physical aspects of the child's progress as an athlete, such as height, weight, speed, and strength.

3. The recruiting plan to create the child's resume, make a highlight or skills video, and build relationships with college coaches.

• Research websites and track progress using the Initial Target List and Correspondence Log, both of which can be downloaded at www.athleteswanted.org. Both parents and athlete should be familiar with the NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete and the admissions processes for the athlete's top schools. Again, a parent needs to empower the athlete to take control, make decisions, and initiate research, but as the more mature, experienced person, a parent should make sure the child is meeting deadlines and staying abreast of the recruiting process.

• Narrow the list of potential colleges, reminding the athlete that the first goal is to get an education.

• Make sure the athlete is communicating with coaches. Parents need to remember to use a Correspondence Log to track communication with college coaches.

• Carve time in the athlete's schedule to take unofficial and game day visits with local colleges and colleges of interest.

•  Find an objective and credible third-party to provide an evaluation of the athlete's abilities.

•  Map out the child's core courses and track GPA.

•  Examine the Media Guide of Potential College Programs to realistically examine potential opportunities and set goals. The Media Guide usually appears on a school's athletic website and contains biographies of all the school's current players. The player's biographies reflect clues as to what accomplishments and statistics are necessary to be recruited by a particular program. Parents and athletes should pay attention to an athlete's size, strength, athletic, and academic honors.

•  Help build a skills, game, or highlight video.

• Make sure that the athlete has a positive relationship with high school coaches. Though a high school coach cannot secure a scholarship for an athlete, a high school coach can make an offer disappear. Before making an offer, a college coach will always call the athlete's high school coach.

• When the time comes, make sure the child completes and submits college applications.