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So You Want to Play Sports in College; Here’s how.

Do you want to compete in intercollegiate athletics? If so, here's what you need to do.

First, do a reality check. If you are good enough to play basketball in the Big East or football in the SEC, coaches from those leagues and others would be taking so much of your time that you wouldn't have the 5 minutes you need to read this. Ask your coach and other knowledgeable people (not family or friends) which colleges might be interested in your athletic talents. Do some research of your own. Then make a list of possibilities and take it to your counselor to see which colleges might be a good fit for you. And, ask if he or she can add to the list.

Whatever you do, don't weigh athletics too heavily. Academics should always come first...always. Size, location, campus environment, special programs, and other factors should be considered as well. Try to find the "ideal" college for you, not just a place where you can compete in athletics.

Don't make the mistake of failing to consider colleges you haven't heard much about. Until recently, the Rutgers and Louisville football programs attracted no national attention, but look at them now. Have you ever heard of Mount Union? They have a pretty good football program too. Kenyon, a great academic school, has built a dynasty in swimming and diving, Hobart has great lacrosse, and lots of much bigger schools envy the record of little Hartwick College in soccer. And, have you heard about the "giant killer" softball and baseball teams at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette? There are dozens of examples like these.

Remember that there is a lot of financial aid aside from athletic scholarships, and that there are some great athletic programs at the NCAA II and III levels.

Never lose sight of the fact that the goal of leaving college with a good education should come before your athletic aspirations. Unfortunately, there are coaches out there, at all levels, who are more interested in winning games than educating student-athletes. If you suspect that you've encountered one, run, don't walk, in the opposite direction.

Be sure you learn the rules governing athletic recruiting. And, be certain you and the college coaches with whom you come into contact adhere to them strictly. Go to your high school coach if you have questions or concerns.

Too learn as much as possible about the colleges you are considering, be sure to be in touch with admissions offices. They will provide you with much more comprehensive publications and information than you are likely to get from coaches. Coaches, to nobody's surprise, are very focused on athletics, while good admissions counselors are likely to know far more about academics, campus life, student support services, etc.

Don't make the mistake of ruling out colleges in your initial research because of their listed costs. Frequently, students out-of-pocket costs are far lower.

Of course, some coaches are deluged with email and snail mail from high school athletes, so you may not get a quick response when you contact them. Give them a month, and then try again. You may never hear from some of them. Don't take it personally...it just means they are already talking to the folks they want and that they could use a lesson in etiquette.

And, be aware that even the coaches that do respond to you with letters, brochures and emails may not have a serious interest in you or may want to seriously recruit you only if the athletes in whom they are most interested decide to go elsewhere. That being the case, continue to communicate with all coaches who appear to be interested in you until you have and accept a firm offer from a college. It's the best way to protect yourself against disappointment.

After you do commit to a college or university, be sure you contact and sincerely express your gratitude to the coaches who have been communicating with you. It's the right thing to do, and it might help a coach remember you if you later decide to transfer from the first college you attend.

Daniel Z. Kane, now a university dean, has also coached in two sports. You can find lots of helpful information on his websites about college how to get an athletic scholarship , and online colleges .