College eligibility and Program question

[chineras]

I am a junior tennis player and have just moved back to the US after spending 2 years overseas. I was a 4 star player before I left (I was just entering 16s). I turned 17 in July and started my senior year in high school in the US. (graduating class of 2014) I took about a year off from playing tennis when I was overseas so I have fallen back a little relative to my peers. I have started playing in my section and have done well so far and estimate I am playing at a high 3 star senior level. I am back to practicing 3.5 hours a day and expect to continue improving.

I was in a very tough IB program in school overseas and while I don’t have the best marks I took all of the hardest classes in mathematics, physics, economics, and English. My SAT score is 2050, my freshman year GPA (in the US was 3.77). I am currently in AP Calculus, AP computer science, and AP Physics. They seem pretty easy after the classes I had in Europe.

I would like to play D1 college tennis somewhere with a good tennis program and computer science department.

I have read the NCAA college eligibility site and don’t completely understand all of the rules. I think I have to be in college by the spring semester of 2015 to preserve 4 years of eligibility. My best bet is to develop my game and accumulate some results during the fall of 2014 in order to create interest by coaches.

It seems like most teams are filling out their rosters now which is a problem for me as I don’t have many results yet. The last day to apply for regular admission to most universities is Jan 1 2015. Is my only option to find a coach who would be willing to take a chance and give me a redshit for next year and let me try to play myself onto the team? How valuable are the redshirt spots on their rosters? If I entered a university on Jan 1st would I need to officially have a redshit to preserve eligibility? If another coach decided to give me a chance would I be required to have an academic year in residence if I transferred? Could I play organized tournaments after I entered the university? Could the coach allow me to practice with the team?

Any ideas or suggestions would be welcome.

 

[mikejsb876]

Is my only option to find a coach who would be willing to take a chance and give me a redshit for next year and let me try to play myself onto the team?

What you need to do is find a program with spots. Who knows if you are good enough at the start you might not have to redshirt.

How valuable are the redshirt spots on their rosters?

This question makes no sense. Redshirts are normally for players needing to further develop. Also you dont have to redshirt your first year... you can use the redshirt year for any year. Just know that you have 5 total springs to compete 4 spring seasons.

If I entered a university on Jan 1st would I need to officially have a redshit to preserve eligibility?

Preserve Eligibility? Again that makes no sense. If you entered a program during fall or spring, as long as your grades are high enough to play, you are taking enough credit hours... you will be eligible to play. If you want to Redshirt, that is usually a coach's decision.

If another coach decided to give me a chance would I be required to have an academic year in residence if I transferred?

This depends on if you transfer divisions or conferences. If you decided to leave you would need to ask your coach for a NCAA Release Document, which will allow you to pursue other coaches and universities. Other coaches will not even talk to you without the Release. You can run into problems if your coach decideds not to give you a Release. IF that happens then you will loose a year of eligibility by transfering somewhere else. That wont happen unless you are a dip ***** or your coach is a D0UCHE BAG.

Could I play organized tournaments after I entered the university?

Yes, as long as you are playing as an amateur and not accepting prize money.

Could the coach allow me to practice with the team?

It depends on the coach. He might, He might not.



In conclusion, it sounds like what you need to do is go to a Junior College and play tennis there for two years. You have to Dominate and Excel at the JuCo level. Then after 2 years if you are good enough you can go to a Division 1 school and finish your junior and senior years there.

You might think Im crazy but, its probably the best thing. IF you decide to transfer, you will run into alot of issues including your school classes transfering over (Which will keep you from graduating on time).

Good Luck!