Want to play sports in college?

Palm Coast Observer
Opinion

Most high school student-athletes have aspirations of playing the sport they love at the next level — college — and perhaps beyond that.

But after playing four years of high school, how do they get to the next step? Getting recruiting by college programs has changed quite a bit over the years. And although there is seemingly some level of program for most athletes who desire to play in college, it’s still difficult to get noticed.

The road to college for athletes is no longer lined with traditional mile-markers. It used to be batting averages, points per game or yards per carry that paved the way for the sports stars. But now, there is one statistic that is carrying the weight on who plays at the next level and who doesn’t. And it’s your grade point average.

They are called student-athletes for a reason.

And because times are constantly changing, Flagler Palm Coast will hold a recruiting seminar to prepare student-athletes and parents for the recruiting road ahead. The seminar will be 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 14, in FPC’s Dining Hall.

“Requirements change, and the recruiting process is constantly changing,” FPC Athletics Director Steve DeAugustino said. “I feel the more informed our parents, students, coaches, councilors and community are, the more beneficial it is for our student-athletes.”

The seminar will provide information on recruiting topics for middle school and high school students and their parents.

“Guiding the college-bound athlete,” a program designed by Rick Wire, president of Dynamite Sports, a Pennsylvania-based corporation, is the father of nine-year NFL veteran Coy Wire. This seminar will provide families with information about the availability of athletic scholarships and the realities of the college recruiting process.

Friday Night Lights ... soccer style
This weekend, West Ham United, of the Barclays English Premier League, will be in Palm Coast. Well, not the full team, but the club’s U16 youth academy will be here to compete in the GIS Cup soccer tournament, which will be held at Indian Trails Sports Complex and Ralph Carter Park.

The tournament begins on Friday, when the West Ham United U16s will compete against the PDA Florida U16/17 team under the lights at 8 p.m. at Indian Trails.

Play will continue Saturday and Sunday, too.

For more, go to https://events.gotsport.com/events/Default.aspx?EventID=33124.