Summer is here; you just finished another year of school! Check out the information below on what you should be doing right now, this summer, to prepare to go to college and play hockey.

The collegiate process is long and you must be pro-active each year to get into college, let alone play for the school’s team. This effort isn’t difficult but it does take organization and effort on your part (not your parent’s part – they can help, but admissions officers and coaches are looking for you to take the lead and put in your own effort).

Doing well in the classroom is critical when preparing to play NCAA Varsity DI, Varsity DIII or ACHA non-varsity hockey. Moreover, you also have to work hard to market yourself, regardless of your skill level, especially when you live on the West Coast.

So, remember these secrets:

1. Doing well in school (great grades and high test scores) increases your chances and creates more opportunities than doing poorly, since most highly ranked teams belong to the top schools in the US.
2. The student-athletes who plan and market themselves secure a place to play much more often than those who sit back and assume hockey will come to them.

You’ve just completed 8th grade and you are heading to high school! This is an exciting (and maybe scary) time! You have a lot of new things going on–here are a few things to work on this summer and during your freshman year of high school.

Time Management

• Learn to manage your time: figure out how to balance going to school, studying and getting top grades, along with family obligations, socializing with friends, and playing hockey. It is hard at first to do this, but if you start now it will make your future easier on and off the ice.
• Time management is not your parents’ responsibility anymore – it is yours. Take accountability and responsibility for your time – balance it all so you can succeed in each area.
• Know that the top athletes give up a lot (hanging out with friends, going to Prom and other activities) to play collegiate hockey, especially at the higher levels.
• Figure out what level you are aiming for:
• NCAA Varsity DI hockey is very demanding and like a job – it takes the most commitment and sacrifice, but you will have the honor of being recruited and playing at the NCAA DI level. If you aren’t being recruited, but you have the skill, then you need to market yourself better. Time management will be critical for balancing school, work outs and ice time.
• NCAA Varsity DIII hockey is also demanding – it takes a lot of work to get recruited and the commitment is similar to DI; however, it can be even more work to be recruited because while DI teams have bigger budgets for scouting, DIII programs have to rely on your pro-active efforts to get yourself noticed. Again, time management is critical.
• ACHA non-varsity (club) hockey is highly competitive, but typically has a less rigorous and more balanced college life. Of course, you still have to learn to balance your time between school, social activities, hockey and other collegiate experiences. ACHA has DI and DII (depending on the size of school and maturity of program). It is also highly competitive, and teams vie for a National Championship, All American and All Academic awards, and more.
• To be recruited by ACHA teams go to the ACHA Recruiting page athttp://achaconnections.com, click on ‘Recruit Me’, select the Division (Women’s DI or DII – or do both!), enter your information, and check-mark the schools/programs you are interested in (or select all of them!). This is a great way to immediately get on the coaches’ radar.

School – Next year during 9th grade

• Plan to get the best grades you possibly can freshman year—work hard from day one. The majority of the collegiate hockey programs belong to the top schools in the country. The better your grades, the more options you will have, and the better chance of playing collegiate hockey.
• If you don’t do well at first with your grades, recover quickly and show your resilience by managing a challenge.
• Again – you must be able to make all your hockey commitments while simultaneously doing well in school to prove to admissions officers and scouts that you can handle the load in college.
• Plan to take the PSATs (Practice SATs) during your freshman year. The more you practice the SAT, or take a class to learn about this test, the better!
• Start planning your resume (freshman through senior years) – next year you need to write down academic achievements, extracurricular activities, sport involvement (full hockey stats and bio info), volunteer work, internships, leadership examples,  and other activities that set you apart from other student athletes – update this resume over the next  four years.
• Note: volunteering once a year doesn’t count. Admissions is looking for leadership and work in the community consistently over time.

Hockey – Next year during 9th grade

• Freshmen in high school are rarely recruited, unless they are a national stand-out.
• During your freshman year, start looking around at schools for academic programs you might be interested in and see if they have a hockey program. You may want to go to a college hockey camp after your freshman year to get a feel for schools, coaches and players.
• Make sure you attend USA Hockey Washington State Camp (February) your freshman year, and try to make it to the USA Hockey Pacific District Camp (May), with hopes of getting to the National camp – these camps are some of the prime scouting grounds.
• This summer, stay healthy and be active – a variety of sports always help you become a better athlete. If you can get on the ice occasionally it will only help for the coming season. If you intend to try out for a team, make sure you spend a month on the ice in advance to prepare.

Read

• The more you read, the more you will help boost your test scores.
• Attend a summer camp after 9th grade
• Consider attending a hockey camp – either general or skill specific.
• Or, if you have a school you are already interested in, attend a collegiate hockey camp or academic camp in your future field of interest (computers, art, science, etc.).

Start your resume

• Your collegiate resume will include your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, sport involvement (full hockey stats and bio info), volunteer work, internship, leadership examples, and other activities that set you apart from other people.
• Remember: volunteering once a year doesn’t count. Admissions is looking for leadership and work in the community consistently over time.

Schools

• Start looking around at schools based on what you want to major in; then, look at their hockey program. Make a list of your top 30.
• Ask yourself – what type of school do I want to go to? Narrow it down by deciding on: the size of school (small, medium, or large); location (NW, SW, West, South, East, NE, Mid-West, etc.); setting (urban, suburban, or rural); do they offer the major you may want to earn a degree in (Arts, Liberal Arts, Sciences, or Business). Then, find out if they have hockey offered.

Hockey over the summer after 9th grade

• Consider the areas in which you want to improve and get a personal coach or go to a camp to focus on those areas. Consider a collegiate hockey camp so you can visit the campus, hockey program, coaches and team.
• Stay healthy – eat well, exercise and be active this summer; the more athletic you are the better you will do in hockey overall. Consider things that help your game such as core strength training and yoga.
• This summer: Skate. Get on the ice, especially at the end of the summer right before  tryouts or the beginning of the season.
• Note: DI recruiting begins your sophomore year!
• Make sure you attend USA Hockey Washington State Camp (February) your sophomore year, and try to make it to the USA Hockey Pacific District Camp (May), with hopes of getting to the National camp – these camps are some of the prime scouting grounds.

SAT Subject Tests

• Consider taking Subject Tests during the summer.
• These tests are graded on a curve and are not required; however, consider sending in scores for competitive schools if 700+; send to other schools if scores are ≥ 650.

ACT/SAT test prep

• Take the ACT/SAT test prep course this summer.
• Plan to take your first real test between October and January of your junior year.
• Continue to build resume
• Your collegiate resume will include your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, sport involvement (full hockey stats and bio info), volunteer work, internship, leadership examples, and other activities that set you apart from other people.
• Remember: volunteering once a year doesn’t count. Admissions is looking for leadership and work in the community consistently over time.

Schools

• Recruiting begins your sophomore year!
• If you haven’t researched schools, start making your top 20-25 list now.
• Ask yourself – what type of school do I want to go to? Narrow it down by deciding on: the size of school (small, medium, or large); location (NW, SW, West, South, East, NE, Mid-West, etc.); setting (urban, suburban, or rural); do they offer the major you may want to earn a degree in (Arts, Liberal Arts, Sciences, or Business). Then, find out if the school has hockey.
• For ACHA schools: To be recruited by ACHA teams go to the ACHA Recruiting page at http://achaconnections.com, click on ‘Recruit Me’, select the Division (Women’s DI or DII – or do both!), enter your information, and check-mark the schools/programs you are interested in (or select all of them!). This is a great way to immediately get on the coaches’ radar.

Hockey over the summer after 10th grade

• Make sure you fill out prospective player profile online-questionnaire on collegiate websites, and maybe written letters/ emails to coaches (they can’t initiate contact with you) and introduce yourself; later, you will send them your game schedule when your team travels to scouted tournaments.
• During junior year you should update the coaches twice per year.
• Consider un-official visits to schools to see if they are someplace where you want to go. Explore the campus, classrooms, surrounding area and more.
• Continue to work on areas of improvement on the ice.
• Go to a collegiate hockey camp for one of your top school choices this summer. Get to know the school, the campus, the coaching staff, and meet players to see if you really want to go to that school and play for that coach. Pick a different school than you’ve been to before.
• Stay Healthy – eat well, exercise and be active this summer; the more athletic you are the better you will do in hockey overall. Consider things that help your game such as core strength training and yoga.
• This summer: Skate! Consider playing competitive hockey and training on and off the ice over the summer more than other activities so you can go into your junior year at the top of your game.
• Make sure you attend USA Hockey Washington State Camp (February) your junior year and try to make it to the USA Hockey Pacific District Camp (May), with hopes of getting to the National camp – these camps are some of the prime scouting grounds, and this junior year is  your last chance to attend.

Typically, if you want to play DI you’ve already registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center last September. Coaches (DI) can contact you in September, but don’t wait for them to do so. Last January you should have sent your resume, YouTube video and coaches’ info (regardless if you are looking at NCAA DI, NCAA DIII or ACHA).

You should market yourself to school regardless of whether they are NCAA DI, NCAA DIII or ACHA. The harder you work to promote yourself to each level, the more options you will have in the end.

If you aren’t being recruited for a DI program, don’t worry – you can work harder to get their attention or focus on NCAA DIII or ACHA non-varsity teams, with the hopes of getting on their roster next year. But, you have to work hard off the ice to get their attention, apply early to schools, and talk to coaches to increase your chances of being selected for their next year’s roster.

To be recruited by ACHA teams go to the ACHA Recruiting page at http://achaconnections.com, click on ‘Recruit Me’, select the Division (Women’s DI or DII – or do both!), enter your information, and check-mark the schools/programs you are interested in (or select all of them!). This is a great way to immediately get on the coaches’ radar.

TIP: NCAA DI and DIII schools have their rosters set by December or January of your senior year in high school; thus, Early Decision / Action is really important (typically apply in November). Otherwise, you will be wondering why there are no roster spots available at a school you really want to attend or a team you really want to play for next year. This timeline is why pro-active, advanced planning is so important.

June: You should be wrapping up your testing

• You should have taken the ACT/SAT between October and January of last year; however, if not, then finish up standardized testing in June.
• For NCAA DI schools – you must enter code ‘9999’ for the SAT so scores are sent to Eligibility Center.
• Try to avoid testing your Senior year, because it will be more stressful and make applying for Early Decision / Action very difficult, if not impossible.
• Early Decision / Action increases your chances for admissions – although, if you are accepted, then you must commit.
• May – Recommendation Letters
• Ask 2 teachers from your Junior year for recommendation letters (history, English, math, or science) over the summer so they have plenty of time to write them; you will have to give them your final list of schools your Senior year so they can send the letters directly to the school.

June – Eligibility Center

• For NCAA DI schools only: have your high school send a transcript including six semesters of grades to the Eligibility Center.
• Summer – Finish Essays
• Finish your essays this summer – yes! Get them done now while you have time (no school or heavy hockey schedule) so you can more easily apply next Fall.
• Tip: Make sure the application / essay forms you fill out this summer are notfrom last year; check the dates and ensure they are for the year you plan to attend.
• Finalize Your Resume
• Include everything notable from 9th grade up until the present – academic and extracurricular. Include hockey bio, stats, awards, leadership, etc.
• Schools
• You should have your list of schools you plan to apply for complete; ensure that you have:
• A reach – academically and/or hockey-wise (example: DI school or top NCAA DIII school).
• A possibility – academically and/or hockey-wise (example: NCAA DIII school).
• A safety – academically and/or hockey-wise (example: ACHA club program).
• Make note all application deadlines and try to apply for Early Decision / Action.

Hockey over the summer after 11th grade

• If you plan to play hockey in college, really push during the summer to get fit and have a phenomenal senior year on and off the ice (conditioning and on-ice play). Continue with things that help your game such as core strength training and yoga.
• This summer is your final chance to go to a collegiate hockey camp for one of your top school choices. Check out the school, the campus, the coaching staff, and meet players to see if you really want to go to that school and play for that coach. Pick a different school than you’ve been to before.
• Stay Healthy – eat well, exercise and be active this summer; the more athletic you are the better you will do in hockey overall. The more you are on the ice, the better.

School

• Give recommendation writers your college list and resume.
• Edit all essays and, if possible, apply for Early Decision / Action, usually in November.
• Attend college rep visits and College Fair, especially if a tournament is in the local area – it is a great chance to see schools.
• College interviews.
• Send test scores and transcripts to colleges.
• Apply for financial aid and scholarships.
• Decide where to go to college!
• Hockey

July before your senior year – Coaches can initiate contact with you via phone (DI).

• August before your senior year- A coach may ask you for an Official Visit (DI) – where they pay for the visit (for the top recruited players in the country).
• September – Take official visits and compare schools (DI) – school pays for the trip. (If you don’t get asked, then take an un-official visit on your own – you can see go see the school and make an appointment with the coach.)
• October – Re-take tests if you need to improve your scores.
• November – National Letter of Intent mailed first week (DI).
• December – Most DI schools have 75% of incoming class selected and accepted (and DIII is following suit more and more to set their roster for following year – assume the same, especially for the more academically rigorous DIII schools).
• January – If you haven’t received an offer from the top schools, most applications are due January 1 and apply anyway (consider walk-on, or look to your ‘possibility’ and ‘safety’ schools).
• The college process alone takes a great deal of work and planning, and adding a sport to the mix always adds to the complexity; however, if you map it out early and are pro-active to market yourself throughout your high school career, you will end up finding the perfect school and team to play on for your collegiate experience.
• When the 2013 school year begins, we will post another article about what you should be doing during the school year and hockey season – grade-by-grade. Stay tuned and contact us if you have any questions!

Zoë M. Harris in Rhode Island and later switched to ice hockey while at the University of Maine (’88-‘92). She has been a coach and administrator in the sport of hockey for over 20 years, most notably for the University of Washington men’s team (‘98 – ‘04) where the coaching staff were the first females to coach men’s college ice hockey. Zoë co-founded the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Women’s Division (‘00) and served as the Vice President for 4 years where members created the ‘Zoë M. Harris Player of the Year’ award in her honor. She was also recently inducted into the ACHA Hall of Fame (‘14) and received the ‘Builder Award.’ Zoë currently serves on the WWFHA Board. In the real world, she works for a high tech start-up in Seattle as the Director of Product Management