Getting an academic game plan ready
Contributed and written by Coach Scott Laigo-
As we are beginning the school year and getting ready for the upcoming fall sports season. I ask
one question to all present high school student athletes, in any sport or gender. What’s your
academic game plan?
Due to many changes this present year from the NCAA, many HS student athletes might be
already on the path to success, or on the discovery that the changes are already affecting them
and quite honestly they are in trouble. Here is an article I wrote before that can clear these
changes up for you and those involved. http://blogs.seattletimes.com/take2/2014/05/16/ncaa-
eligibility-changes-a-looming-crises-for-prep-athletes/
Like all team athletics, our coaches put a game plan together, to set our path to success or if we
fall or fail to follow the plan. So it’s likewise to allowing your self the success you need to help
put you in a place for post high school athletic competition. A college scholarship for athletics,
statistics show the chances of this happening are very low. But, in order for you to have an
opportunity you must start to think of that plan.
Coach Scott Laigo is a guest writer for NWPR and is doing some amazing work to get kids ready for college!
If you’re in middle school going into high school, or maybe in another year, you have time and
now knowledge to put a good plan together. All universities, colleges that offer scholarships
require you to have 16 core classes with a sliding scale ACT/ SAT score. Quite simply, the higher
the GPA in these classes such as English, math, science and other high school admitted, and
NCAA approved, the lower your qualifying score has to be. The converse for a lower GPA, the
higher the ACT/GPA score. For the 2016 (after August) will be 2.3 GPA for practice only and aid,
2.750 For full competition, with a 900 SAT or a 75 ACT score. What does this mean?
The 2.3 GPA will allow you to be a redshirt freshman with only the ability to practice, the
problem with this unless you’re athletically a “freak” and worth the risk, will coaches at the
higher-level take you. Why? College coaches now have their contracts tied in with APR or
graduation rates for their perspective programs. Why take the risk? Which might cost them
their jobs regardless of their record. The other numbers mean that you would have full
competition for your sport.
So get a plan, know your strengths and weaknesses. Recognize them and make a plan from
there. If you happen to have academic issues, and need special accommodations then make
sure that you work with your counselor, to make sure that ALL of your classes have been
submitted to the NCAA and approved. If you’re a great student, then go along as planned, just
make sure that you have done the 10 Core classes before the end of your junior year. As the
rules read when you start the first day of your senior year, those 10 classes become locked. So
therefore only the summer going into your senior year will be allowed. So fully understand the
implications of not getting the 10 core classes done.
Lastly, there are many tools and resources out there to help. I know many parents say well the
counselor will do this. Do you know that many counselors work with 500 kids on average in the
state of Washington? In California it is a 1000 to 1 ratio. The number one job of a counselor is
to get kids through the social and emotional issues of high school. College placement is second,
so where do you think a student athlete ranks? Quite honestly many counselors really don’t
know the in and outs of the process. Be wary of some of the services, ask questions and ask for
references or talk with other people about their company.
We wish you luck this year in regards to all of your events, tournaments, and other training you
do for athletic self. But, remember no grades, no play. It’s simple as that!
If you would like any more information or have questions please call 206.861.2594 or email
ASDathletics@gmail.com for further information. We are also under our name Academic Sports
Achievement on Facebook, and Twitter @ASAseattle. We have over 22 years of HS sports
experience combined with many levels of college athletics friends of ASA-REC.
