Tom Harris’ Post

This article captures one of the points we try to make with kids all the time: the goalposts have CHANGED for high school kids in the recruiting process. When you're competing against proven adults in the college sports space, the number of slots left for high school kids dwindles at programs that we all see on TV. Does this mean it's harder now than ever to get on a "Power 4" team? Yes. Does this mean that it's even more important now to focus on what college will help you be the best you on AND off the field, rather than basing your success off of who has the biggest offer from the biggest name brand? Also Yes.

College athletes just graduating: Think about how much time, effort, discipline, grit, and self-motivation it took to get good enough at your craft to play in college amongst the best. Then once in college, you had to perform at a certain level in order to keep your scholarship (I had to maintain above a 3.0 gpa or my money was toast and I’d have to go home or take loans out I couldn’t afford). Also think about all the offers you had to choose from and how you negotiated such a major deal/leveraged multiple offers (I was offered $24k/year at the school I wanted, but said I’d get back in a few days because I had other offers to consider. Maybe 2 hours after I left, the coach called with an extra $8k/year, $32k overall and I said let’s do it). Last, what else did you do on top of just practice and games during school? I worked on campus to afford food, was the President of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, and ran a charity volleyball tournament every year. Did these on top of two-a-day practices in offseason and during the season while playing 5 days a week. All of the above has prepared me and you to be high performers in the corporate world who exceed expectations. Be proud of it and leverage it in your interviews coming up!

Great advice for student athletes about realizing opportunities in the NIL era from Regions Bank's John Jordan: "Apply the same type of discipline to your financial fitness as you have for your physical fitness." Follow the link for more insights from the Regions Game Change conference below.

Lucy Valeski from The States Newsroom says that “NIL will probably be on many athletes’ minds when looking at schools. When athletes visit programs, they may weigh how much money a program could offer them, from outside sponsorships to potentially a direct check. Some have speculated that athletic programs will have to spend more money to get and keep the best players.” My 2 big question are how will families navigate this sort of thing and what will actually stand from this ruling? With tons of info out right now from different ADs on how this will impact title IX as well is there going to be an easy solution? The answer is no. There is a lot of work to be done to sort all this out. There is no going back now. It’s certainly a new horizon for collegiate athletics and the college athlete. https://lnkd.in/gWUNqu5N

As the saying goes, "It's not March without the Madness." This time of year is brimming with excitement, anticipation, and unforgettable moments on the basketball court. Take, for instance, the recent matchup between Kentucky and Oakland—a testament to the electrifying energy that defines March Madness. Yet, amidst the thrill of buzzer-beaters and Cinderella stories, there's a quieter narrative unfolding—one that promises to reshape the game come next season : the NCAA Transfer Portal. While the spotlight shines brightly on the thrilling matchups and intense competition of March Madness, the Transfer Portal hums quietly in the background, poised to redefine the landscape of college basketball. With each transfer decision made, the future of the sport undergoes subtle yet undeniable transformation. The competitive balance of college basketball is continuously recalibrated with every player's move. It's easy to get caught up in the numbers—how many athletes have entered the portal, where they might go next—but behind those statistics lies a deeper, more nuanced story. The Transfer Portal isn't just a database of names and destinations; it's a reflection of the dreams, aspirations, and challenges faced by student-athletes navigating the collegiate sports landscape. Our recent newsletter delves into this multifaceted narrative, exploring how the NCAA Transfer Portal has not only streamlined the transfer process for athletes but also inadvertently fueled unrealistic expectations for those that believe the grass is greener on the other side. By simplifying the process, the portal has empowered athletes to explore new opportunities and take control of their collegiate careers. Yet, it has also led some to believe that transferring guarantees instant success—a misconception that overlooks the complexities and challenges of the journey. Read More Here ⤵️

Finding light in the darkness: What are the potential benefits of NIL and the Transfer Portal? I'm interested in learning more about the effects of Name Image and Likeness #NIL and the transfer portal on college athletes. Please drop your thoughts and comments below. In my current role, I’m focused on psychological and social impacts of NIL and the transfer portal on collegiate football athletes as they seek to become pros in the NFL, not only on the selection assessment process (aka Draft) but also on the development of players. As a former collegiate athlete and sports fan, I’m also fascinated by how these two rules are changing the landscape of college sports and higher education. If you’re not familiar with what NIL and the transfer portal are and you care to learn more, I recommend reading this article: https://lnkd.in/gFfSPeYM There are a lot of myths and misconceptions. For example: ❌Athletes can transfer as many times as they want. That’s false. ❌All college football players will benefit and can become millionaires. Nope. ❌Athletic departments and programs are powerless and can do nothing about it. Cap. Here are the facts: ✅NIL and transferring at least once without penalty is here to stay. ✅NIL is currently unregulated by the NCAA. ✅Not all athletes will benefit from NIL. There’s a lot of discussion and debate on all levels and sides of this equation. Most of what I hear and read is negative. In an attempt to be objective and learn more, I’m curious about the potential upside of NIL and the transfer portal. Not only on individual student-athletes and their families but on teams, athletic programs, and schools. Please drop your comments and share related resources below. Keep training your brain to lead, grow, and win from within. See you in the arena. #collegeathletics #sportpsychology #business #mentalfitness #trainyourbrain Stephany Coakley (she/her/hers) Jen Schumacher Ben Freakley EdD, CMPC Sebastian Little Jesse Ackerman Joe Doty Sarah Spradlin

🌟 Our Family's Journey to Empowering Lake Norman's Future Athletes 🌟 Hello Lake Norman Community! It's us, Chase and Allison sharing a bit of our heart and vision behind bringing Mini Athletics to our beloved community. 🏡💕 👨👩👧👦 Our Story: Growing up, both Chase and I were deeply involved in athletics. It shaped our lives, teaching us discipline, teamwork, and the joy of achieving goals. When we started our own family, we dreamed of giving something back to Lake Norman - something we wished we had as kids and something that our little ones, Aubrey and Cayden, could benefit from directly. 🌱 Our Why: We realized the profound impact athletics had on us, not just as athletes but as individuals. This inspired us to create a space where other parents could help their kids succeed both cognitively and physically. We wanted to give children in our community the foundation they need to thrive as athletes and as adults. ✨ Why Mini Athletics? 🏀 Physical Literacy: Mini Athletics offers a structured environment where kids learn essential skills like running, jumping, and throwing, setting a solid athletic foundation. ⚾Cognitive Development: Our program isn't just about physical activity; it's about nurturing cognitive skills, teaching children to follow instructions and enhancing their problem-solving abilities. 🏐Social Skills: We focus on developing positive personality traits like confidence, self-esteem, and communication, ensuring a holistic approach to child development. 🏈Joy and Fun: Above all, we create an environment filled with joy, happiness, and lots of fun, making every session an adventure for your little ones. 👉 Ready to give your child a head start in life? Enroll them in Mini Athletics today! Click the link in our bio to sign up and join our growing family of young athletes and future leaders. Classes will be announced soon! Let's make a difference, one child at a time! Together, let's build a community where every child has the opportunity to shine, both on and off the field. 🌟🏃♂️🏃♀️ #MiniAthletics #LakeNorman #YouthSports #FamilyGoals #PhysicalDevelopment #CognitiveGrowth #CommunityImpact #SignUpNow 🎉👟🏅

With the 2024 college football season right around the corner, the introduction of NIL earnings through bowl games could completely redefine the landscape of post-season college football. The ability to compensate student-athletes utilizing name, image, and likeness could be a game changer regarding retaining talent for bowl games, ultimately, incentivizing more athletes to participate. This model has the potential to not only form a new standard for bowl-season football, but eliminate the roster depletion certain rosters face and fully maximize talent and viewership potential. The Arizona Bowl, and sponsor Snoop Dogg, will likely see many bowl games implement the usage of NIL, providing tremendous benefits for student-athletes, universities, and college football fans all around the world. Read more at the link! #NIL #SportsBiz #LinkedInSports

Like it or not, the wave is coming. High School NIL will be bigger than NCAA NIL. Are we prepare to manage the flood of challenges that come with NIL? What support has been put in place? I hear daily from HS coaches and administrators that they will not support NIL and that it does not affect them. However, we have no choice but to take responsibility to protect and educate our student-athletes against the potential pitfalls of this space. #studentathletes #NIL #collegesports #education The reason * Over 8,000,000 athletes at the HS level * Less regulatory controls * Parents will be involved * Amateur agents and advisors will be everywhere. #nil #education is so important. Learn the basics to make good decisions in supporting your athletes. order my Book: https://lnkd.in/exueMQrH https://lnkd.in/esUHz-gE

Excellent insights from Christy Hedgpeth below.