Interested in college tennis(few questions)

[tenacitytennis]

I am looking at playing division 1 college tennis but I dont know how I should get started. Would I email the colleges that I am interested in playing for and send a video of myself hitting,should i call the coach, should i wait to see what offers i get? should this be in junior or senior year when recruiting starts? should i make a berecruited account? I have family out of the country and might play an itf when I am away, would colleges like to see one itf tournament or would they rather see usta national tournaments? I just dont know how to get started into looking for tennis scholarships. how many one star and two star recruits would get into and div1 school. i know its possible because my friend was a one star and played d1 but is it very rare? what are the perks of getting on a d1 school?
Also if you play njcaa for 2 years then transfer how does that work?
thanks
tt

 

[dennis10is]

If you are an American, don't bother. According to all the tennis parents here, only foreigners are playing D1 tennis so lie and tell them you are from an Eastern European country and you are set.

 

[Dream_On]

If you are an American, don't bother. According to all the tennis parents here, only foreigners are playing D1 tennis so lie and tell them you are from an Eastern European country and you are set.

But somehow let them know you dont have to pay international tuition on the bit that you do have to pay for if at all because you dont get to start since everyone knows most international players - the 6 on that start all have full scholarships. oh and dont forget you are not allowed to work on your student visa off campus, so if you have a job currently make sure they pay cash.

 

[tennisjon]

You need to separate the getting into a D1 school, making the team at a D1 school, and starting for a D1 school. Getting into the school has a lot more to do with academics than athletics.

For most D1 programs a 1 star won't be a starter and probably not a 2 star either, unless you are near the bottom of a weaker D1 team. For middle to bottom level D1, you might be able to make the team as a 1 or 2 star, but probably not start. Certainly, scholarships to play tennis will be extremely hard to get at that level unless you go to a really bad academic D1 school that happens to have money.

Personally, I didn't have any stars, didn't make the starting varsity team in high school, but made my D1 team in college after a few tries. I didn't start, although now at 38, I am good enough to start at a mid-level D1 school. Some of the perks we had were extra tutoring available, pre-registering for classes, laundry services when traveling, and also access to trainers and better gyms.

As a college coach, it would be nice to see a video of you in actual competition against an equal-level player. Someone offering you a scholarship will probably go a lot more based on your rankings and tournament experience, which should be on www.tennisrecruiting.net. Feel free to contact the coaches on your own, but as a junior the coach can not contact you without you initializing it.

 

[ClarkC]

Get an account at tennisrecruiting.net (a.k.a. TRN) and read some articles offering recruiting advice. Develop your game and fitness to the max, and play USTA tournaments to get USTA and TRN rankings. Compare your rankings to the players at TRN who have actually gone to a certain college in the past. You will quickly learn to categorize colleges according to what level of recruit actually gets playing time at that school if you compare the TRN past commitments to the stats pages at the school that reveal which player played which position in the lineup. Then you will know where you actually fit tennis-wise.

 

[tenacitytennis]

Ok thanks so far. What about itfs though? Would colleges like that? And can someone explain getting in the d1 team and starting? Should I start calling junior or senior year

 

[Frankenstine]

I am looking at playing division 1 college tennis but I dont know how I should get started. Would I email the colleges that I am interested in playing for and send a video of myself hitting,should i call the coach, should i wait to see what offers i get? should this be in junior or senior year when recruiting starts? should i make a berecruited account? I have family out of the country and might play an itf when I am away, would colleges like to see one itf tournament or would they rather see usta national tournaments? I just dont know how to get started into looking for tennis scholarships. how many one star and two star recruits would get into and div1 school. i know its possible because my friend was a one star and played d1 but is it very rare? what are the perks of getting on a d1 school?
Also if you play njcaa for 2 years then transfer how does that work?
thanks
tt

I would play both USTA/ITF tournaments. You can start contacting coaches during junior year. Most 1/2 star players don't play D1 but it's not impossible. If you are looking for a scholarship it may be quite a bit more difficult. Also, D2 give out scholarships so you may want to check those at. A lot of 4 stars are starting to go to D3 schools in order to get a better education due to the lower amount of time spent on the court/traveling. Keep that in mind too. You are going to college for an education, not to become a pro tennis player. Anyways sorry for nagging, just be sure to put education first and have fun playing wherever you go! Best of luck!

 

[Jonny S&V]

Get an account at tennisrecruiting.net (a.k.a. TRN)

You get this by playing tourneys. They create the account for you I believe (at least, for me they did).

 

[Coach Carter]

Ok thanks so far. What about itfs though? Would colleges like that? And can someone explain getting in the d1 team and starting? Should I start calling junior or senior year

the fact that you do or don't play itf's wouldn't matter much. you need to work hard on your skills and performance in as many usta tournaments as possible and try to improve your usta ranking (which will effect your trn stars). main thing I would suggest is find a school/team that fits your skill level and academic need...then work hard to make that happen.

 

[tenacitytennis]

Mmk thanks does tr take itfs or just usta

 

[Jonny S&V]

Mmk thanks does tr take itfs or just usta

I think both, but you need to play USTA to get a ranking of some type. Unless you're extremely, extremely good for a junior, playing ITFs is not a good idea, IMO...

 

[mojojojo]

...................

 

[tenacitytennis]

So international players all have tennis recruitng... what would be some of the easiest tournaments itf to play in

 

[tenacitytennis]

Also what are some of the weaker d1 school that would be easy to play for

 

[Jonny S&V]

Also what are some of the weaker d1 school that would be easy to play for

To be honest, and I mean this in the nicest way possible: If you have to ask, you shouldn't even be considering it.

 

[andfor]

What is the point is of wanting to play for weak D1 school? Why would a coach at any D1 school want a player that does not know how to get a tennis ranking?

There are some very weak tennis programs at all levels. I've posted them before, you can search for the posts here. Also, you can go on Tennisrecruiting.net and search D1 schools in the Northeast and Mid-west and look at some of the lesser known conferences.

Just one person's advice here. I'd focus on improving my tennis game, how to get a ranking then getting one, and trying to find a university (academic) and tennis program that are a fit for you, no matter what the Division. There are programs out there that will take lesser ranked players who are highly committed and help develop their games. D1 schools are not the place for unskilled tennis players keen on learning the game. D1 is usually for the most accomplished tennis player. Show me a D1 program taking no-stars and 1-stars and full of them on their starting roster and I'll show you a team taking terrible beatings, bordering on criminal. Continuous 0-0 beatings are not necessary. There are programs and appropriate college tennis levels for most all levels of player, for those willing to look.

 

[treeman10]

.............................

 

[tennis5]

I am looking at playing division 1 college tennis but I dont know how I should get started. Would I email the colleges that I am interested in playing for and send a video of myself hitting,should i call the coach, should i wait to see what offers i get? should this be in junior or senior year when recruiting starts? should i make a berecruited account? I have family out of the country and might play an itf when I am away, would colleges like to see one itf tournament or would they rather see usta national tournaments? I just dont know how to get started into looking for tennis scholarships. how many one star and two star recruits would get into and div1 school. i know its possible because my friend was a one star and played d1 but is it very rare? what are the perks of getting on a d1 school?
Also if you play njcaa for 2 years then transfer how does that work?
thanks
tt

Hi, it is exciting to play college tennis, and a good goal to have for the future.

Are you a freshman. sophomore or junior in high school ?

Do you live in the US?

Are you on a high school tennis team?

How long have you played tennis?

Sorry, for asking so many questions, but trying to guide you.

 

[tenacitytennis]

I'm with Johnny^^^ on this one and in reference to your statement above...you have no business in an ITF if you are not dominating at nationals. Another poster tried to tell you that in a nice way as well. There is no "easy" ITF. There are easier ITFs relative to other ITFs - but it's not like they compare to a sectional or most nationals. Besides you wouldn't get in unless it offered a qualifier and you still might not get in that.

Sorta offended by your "find the easy way attitude'....not a player I would look for on my team....there are no shortcuts in tennis, gotta pay your dues with work, practice and wins. If there was an easy way on to a team, the kids that eat and breathe tennis would have found it way ahead of you. But I think they are out practicing right now......

Sorry if I offended you but I was told to start out at easier itfs then work my way up....

 

[tenacitytennis]

Hi, it is exciting to play college tennis, and a good goal to have for the future.

Are you a freshman. sophomore or junior in high school ?
Junior
Do you live in the US?
Live in us
Are you on a high school tennis team?
On a hs team
How long have you played tennis?
Been playing for 10 years
Sorry, for asking so many questions, but trying to guide you.

no prob thanks for helping

 

[tenacitytennis]

What is the point is of wanting to play for weak D1 school? Why would a coach at any D1 school want a player that does not know how to get a tennis ranking?

There are some very weak tennis programs at all levels. I've posted them before, you can search for the posts here. Also, you can go on Tennisrecruiting.net and search D1 schools in the Northeast and Mid-west and look at some of the lesser known conferences.

Just one person's advice here. I'd focus on improving my tennis game, how to get a ranking then getting one, and trying to find a university (academic) and tennis program that are a fit for you, no matter what the Division. There are programs out there that will take lesser ranked players who are highly committed and help develop their games. D1 schools are not the place for unskilled tennis players keen on learning the game. D1 is usually for the most accomplished tennis player. Show me a D1 program taking no-stars and 1-stars and full of them on their starting roster and I'll show you a team taking terrible beatings, bordering on criminal. Continuous 0-0 beatings are not necessary. There are programs and appropriate college tennis levels for most all levels of player, for those willing to look.

lol I don't remeber asking how to get a ranking or saying anything about just begining tennis... but thanks for help and info

 

[andfor]

lol I don't remeber asking how to get a ranking or saying anything about just begining tennis... but thanks for help and info

Sorry for misunderstanding. What is your sectional and national USTA ranking?

 

[tennis5]

Originally Posted by tennis5
Hi, it is exciting to play college tennis, and a good goal to have for the future.

Are you a freshman. sophomore or junior in high school ?
Junior
Do you live in the US?
Live in us
Are you on a high school tennis team?
On a hs team
How long have you played tennis?
Been playing for 10 years
Sorry, for asking so many questions, but trying to guide you.
no prob thanks for helping

===============================

It is great that you have been playing for so long and have such a passion for the game!

First, don't get stuck on D1 schools, you could end up there or at a D3, and be just as happy.

Second, decide what is most important to you.
Do you HAVE TO PLAY TENNIS or are academics more important to you?
Think about that question long and hard, because that will be how you drive the train.

Third, if you answer tennis, don't get stuck on one school, or one area of the country.
Be open.
Look at schools in different locations.

Fourth, it is junior year, the grades are most important and you should be studying for the SAT's right now.

Fifth, playing high school tennis is great. Coaches love a kid with team spirit.
Try to see if you can add some USTA tournaments in now.
Do you have a USTA number. Easy to get on the USTA site.

Sixth, skip the ITF. It is for a junior that is already had some wins in the USTA, or the parents have been banned from the section

Seventh, set up a TRN account.
Attach any local news clipping about your high school team or you as a tennis player in the biography.
If you have won any sportsmanship awards, mention it here.

Eighth, email the coaches.
Look at colleges that match your tennis background.

9th ( hand is hurting now) - Very hard to get a scholarship for tennis, don't focus on that or ask for money.

10th - Think about some tennis showcases. I don't want to advertise for companies, so google and you will see a few.
I know a boy who had nice success with that over his junior summer into senior year ( he also moved up from one star to two).

Good luck.

 

[tenacitytennis]

Sorry for misunderstanding. What is your sectional and national USTA ranking?

Sectional 20 but national I haven't had money to travel very far.

 

[andfor]

Sectional 20 but national I haven't had money to travel very far.

........and what's your TRN rating or how many stars?

 

[tenacitytennis]

bit late but 2 stars