Most kids growing up dream of becoming a college or professional athlete. But the reality of that, according to the NCAA, is that there are currently over 8 million students participating in high school athletics here in the United States, but only 460,000 of those students will play at one of the NCAA schools. But lucky for us, here in South Jordan, lives a man named John W. Scott. He owns and directs Sports America, educating students about their opportunities as a student athlete. Coach Scott and his business partners work hand in hand with college coaches to develop connections between students and coaches. So to give our readers the valuable information they seek, I sat down with Coach Scott, to learn the nitty gritty about becoming a college athlete.

Coach Scott said, “You get one chance to make a first impression, as a college coach, I’m going to look at your paper for ten seconds, and then I’m done. I’m looking at hundreds and thousands of athletes that contact me every year, so you need to do the best you can in all areas. You need to present yourself well and if this is something you really want to do, I think the best advice I could give anybody is to work towards your goals, your goals work towards you.” So put yourself in the coach’s shoes, what will you look for in a player? Are you going to pick someone who spends their nights partying, being disrespectful, getting bad grades and just skating by, or are you going to choose the athlete who carries themself with high regard, respects others, has a professional manor, and works to be their best?

At the bottom of the page on the NCAA rule book, what you’ll read is College Bound Student Athlete. Student comes before athlete, and that’s how college coaches will look at you. The first question the coach will have to consider is, can I get them into my school? Is ther GPA and ACT high enough, because if they’re not, why would I even consider looking at their athletic abilities? Always remember that GPA stands for Get to Play Athletics, and don’t assume you know everything. Being a good enough athlete won’t get you what you want, you have to be willing to chase your dreams in every aspect of your life, unless you really want to ask your parents for an extra $100,000.

If you are serious about becoming a college athlete, this reporter suggests contacting Coach Scott and his collegues at www.ATHLETICQUEST.NET or at (800)467-7885. Besides teaching the ropes of college athletics and how to become one, they’ll teach you the life skills it takes to be noticed by college recruits and future employers, because you’ll get what you deserve, so how hard are you willing to work?