TESTIMONIALS...

By Susie M (WI) My guide! August 17, 2009
Coach Wheeler has written a remarkable book! My daughter, Rachel, has completed a successful junior track season. We were confused and disappointed by the paucity and caliber of recruiting contacts she received, so I needed some guidance. An associate of mine alerted me to the Sports Scholarship Insider's Guide. I purchased the book and we entered a high stakes contest as the book says, "and only the opposition knows the rules". And in our recruiting experience it is obvious; they aren't sharing those rules with parents. The mother of one of her teammates learned that I was devouring the book and asked if she too, could read it. My unfortunate answer was yes. Shortly, I realized that one of the book's most valuable assets is as a ready reference and situational guide. The Goal Setting Chapter for the athlete guided her to learn to set a goal and helped her design a plan of action to achieve it. The Chapter on Questions to Ask is valuable to parents because it brutally defines how little we know of the process and for athletes because it can be handily used during phone calls and visits. The Chapter on Negotiating Skills prepares parents with actual dialogues to use negotiating strategies, devices and tactics that would be the envy of any used car salesman. Four chapters illuminate and candidly explain Division III duplicity in awarding financial aid for athletic ability and teach how to use that knowledge to a parent's advantage. Want to cut to the chase? Find the two "killer questions". I now recognize that her high school coach can't get her an athletic scholarship and it's our responsibility to create the kind of exposure that can. We used one idea from the book and on the shortest of notice a college coach contacted and talked with Rachel at the State Track Meet, as well as generated an unofficial next week.

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