College Volleyball Recruiting and managing an ACL injury

Hi,

I am a junior in high school that truly loves volleyball. Freshmen year I played JV and the past two years on varsity. I have played club volleyball for 6 years and really want to play at UCSB for college. 

I have already had my surgery and have been doing physical therapy for 3 months. I have a lot of film from my pass high school season and was wondering if I would have the chance to play at a college level after my injury. 

I am out for 9months and really want to get on a volleyball team. Is there any possibility to get a scholarship while I am ineligible to play? Can I still contact coaches while I can't play? Will there even be spots left on the team by the time I am a senior? What do college coaches think about injured players? Do they completely disregard you? Is there anyway to make the team without actually getting a scholarship? Could I get a academic scholarship instead? I am obviously not able to play on my club team this year thus no college coaches can come watch me play.

Lol sorry for all the questions haha

Thanks!

Sent from my iPhone

My apologies for the late response to your questions - Just got caught up in the club volleyball travel and events.

Please allow me to answer your questions, within the body of your email.

Hi,
I am a junior in high school that truly loves volleyball. Freshmen year I played JV and the past two years on varsity. I have played club volleyball for 6 years and really want to play at UCSB for college.

Talent will create your opportunity at UCSB; please be aware that many, many AND many other players also wish to play at UCSB because of its outstanding location and academic reputation.

 

I have already had my surgery and have been doing physical therapy for 3 months. I have a lot of film from my pass high school season and was wondering if I would have the chance to play at a college level after my injury.

ACL injuries are common in volleyball and the surgery has become routine.  If you focus on rehab and are able to return to 100%, which the majority of players do, then your chance to play in college will be determined by your talent level.

 

I am out for 9months and really want to get on a volleyball team. Is there any possibility to get a scholarship while I am ineligible to play?

No, college coaches will not offer a scholarship while you are injured because they cannot take the chance that you may not recover fully.

Can I still contact coaches while I can't play?

You can, but it would be a waste of your time. The best thing you can do is is "disappear" right now from the recruiting view, and focus solely and completely on your rehabilitation.

Will there even be spots left on the team by the time I am a senior?

Spots on the UCSB team are determined by how many players are graduating the previous year, how many players are not returning (quit, transferred, flunked out, got cut, etc), along with what specific positions they are recruiting.  Not every playing position is recruited each year.

 

What do college coaches think about injured players?

If the players rehab fully, and show no residue of the injury, then college coaches don't worry about previous injury history.  If they see signs/symptoms of lingering effects of the injury, then they will be very concerned and evaluate a player accordingly.

 

Do they completely disregard you?

Only if you are not back to 100%.

 

Is there anyway to make the team without actually getting a scholarship?

Of course, you can walk on but walk on spots at name brand volleyball and power conference programs are difficult to obtain.  It will all depend upon if you can make the team better - College coaches bring players into their program which will make their team better!

 

Could I get a academic scholarship instead?

Yes, but this would be dependent solely upon you.  The college coaches/program would have no influence or management of these academic scholarship opportunities.

 

I am obviously not able to play on my club team this year thus no college coaches can come watch me play.

That is why you need to focus on rehabilitation.  Understand that there will be plenty of college volleyball scholarships and roster opportunities after the holidays next year for  Seniors.  Too many families panic and think that when the Junior year is done, all the good or scholarship opportunities are finished.  This is not the case because so much changes from year to year (coaches getting fired, coaches getting hired, players quitting, transferring, getting cut, etc), and all of this change results in scholarship and roster opening for Seniors.

 

Lol sorry for all the questions haha

Apologies for my late reply!

 

Thanks!

You are Welcome.

 

Sent from my iPhone

Sent from my MacBook Air