Recruiting Calendar - August, September: Be prepared.

Preseason football is finally here as practices kicked off around the state at midnight, August 2nd. With the focus shifting toward preparation for the upcoming football season, what does that mean for YOU as a recruit? What is next on the recruiting calendar? Well, I'll tell you. The best thing you can do from this point out is the best thing for your team: get ready for the 2013 football season and work hard to be the best student-athlete that you can be. The month of August is pretty much quiet in the football recruiting world so the best thing you can do is make yourself a better prospect. Work on your character, your skills, and get yourself in the right frame of mind to work on your academics when the school year begins.

That said, next month is going to be important. Here's an outline of what to expect beginning September 1st, which is just a few short weeks away.

September

NCAA recruiting calendar
The fall evaluation period begins Sept. 1. Not exceeding a period of 42 evaluation days (54 for U.S. service academies) (see Bylaw 13.02.7.2) during the months of September, October and November selected at the discretion of the institution and designated in writing in the office of the director of athletics; authorized off-campus recruiters shall not visit a prospective student-athlete's educational institution on more than one calendar day during this period. All other dates shall be considered a quiet period.

So, if the recruiters could be in your school on one of these days, a couple of good ideas would be:

• Be in class. I had a college coach tell me they pulled a kid off of their board because the day they visited the school, he was on a three-day suspension from school for disciplinary reasons.
• Dress to impress; look like an athlete. They are looking for football players, not rock and rap stars. Wear clothes that fit you and accentuate your athletic frame.
• Stand tall. Wear some "tall shoes." That 1/4 to 1/2 inch could be the difference in the first impression you make in person. Don't think they aren't sizing you up.
• Be confident. If you do get the opportunity to "bump" into a recruiter while at your school, look him in the eye when he's talking to you; use a firm hand shake and make sure you're muscles are flexed because he will pat your arm and it's not just a nice gesture; he's checking out the goods.

Big events in September

Junior offers
The NCAA also says that Sept. 1 is the first day institutions can send written scholarship offers to high school juniors. Prior to this date, football prospects can only receive written correspondence in the form of a camp brochure and/or a questionnaire.

Official visits
Sept. 1 also marks the date when seniors are allowed to start taking official visits to campuses.