NSR’s Cliff Weeks Conducts Recruiting Seminar in Riverside, Cal.

The following is a re-printing of an article written by Gordon Clemmer for The Riverside Sports Examiner in Riverside, CA, on December 18, 2010. 

The Winning Edge; What does it takes to play at the collegiate level?

Being a standout athlete in high school is no longer a guarantee of playing time in college, let alone the highly sought after scholarship.  Parents and student athletes from throughout Eastern Riverside County gathered Saturday at Desert Sports Center in Palm Desert to learn what it takes to play college sports. 

Michael Butler, owner of Kinetix Health and Performance Center, began the seminar by outlining the importance of diet and nutrition.  Butler discussed the dangers of steroids and human growth hormones as well as over the counter products found in many health food stores.  Butler also warned of the unintended side effects of common energy drinks, which can be found in the backpacks of most high school students. 

As the Director of Sports Performance, Butler has worked with several elite athletes who have realized daily practice with their high school or club/travel team is no longer enough in today’s highly competitive field.  With college tuition rising each year, parents across the nation are looking to give their children every possible advantage in an attempt to secure the ever-elusive college scholarship.  Kinetix offers complete nutritional guidance and support to its students in addition to carefully designed workout programs designed to be sports specific allowing young athletes to maximize their potential.

Next up was Cliff Weeks from the National Scouting Report (NSR).  Weeks and his staff of college scouts roam the fields, courts and courses of Riverside County in search qualified student athletes for colleges nationwide.  Mr. Weeks explained to the eager group of athletes the different divisions (I-III) in the NCAA as well as smaller colleges which are part of a different governing board called the NAIA.  An epiphany to many in the crowd, Weeks explained how colleges begin developing their recruiting prospects by tracking athletes as early as their freshman year in high school.  He spoke of the importance of developing a recruiting plan as early as possible, one which includes the ability to furnish a prospective college coach with all of the information necessary to make an informed recruiting decision.  This includes a player biography listing both athletic and educational achievements as well as coaching evaluations and personal references.  Special emphasis was placed on the importance of video, allowing coaches the convenience of reviewing an athletes ability from the comfort of their office.  Weeks also emphasized; “If you don’t have the grades you won’t be recruited.  College athletes have more requirements than other students.  You’re expected to practice, train, travel and play games all while keeping up with your academic requirements.”

The National Scouting Report is the #1 College Recruiting Company with offices worldwide.  For 30 years they have placed qualified athletes with schools across the United States, establishing a success rate of over 90%.  “We don’t accept everyone” Weeks told the group.  “Colleges use NSR because they know we have scouted the player, interviewed them and their parents and have established they have the ability to be successful at the collegiate level.”

It stands to reason with the rise in college tuition and the importance of an advanced education in the highly competitive workplace that parents are looking for every advantage.  As recent as ten years ago high school students could attend a local state university without the fear of accruing long-term debt.  Unfortunately as state governments struggle and tuitions skyrocket, especially in California, the dream of attending college may never be realized by many qualified students. 

Companies like Kinetix help players optimize their physical abilities as well as teach them healthy lifestyle skills, which will benefit them long after their playing days are over.  Combine these skills with solid academic achievements, a strong work ethic and the right opportunity facilitated by companies like NSR and parents are well on their way to assuring their children’s future.

For more information on Kinetix you can contact Michael Butler at (760) 200-1719 or email at michael@kinetixcenter.com. To find out more about the National Scouting Report contact Cliff Weeks at (760) 238-2267 or email at cweeks@nsr-inc.com.