HOW TO LEVEL UP
Former defensive lineman Tim Burris could have used a road map two decades ago when he was trying to navigate what can be a complicated recruiting process.
The obstacles he encountered and lessons he learned en route to a fine playing career at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax convinced him that, even 20 years later, high school kids likely have more questions than answers about their own recruitment path. So he wrote and self-published Signed, a 150-page guide for players in Grades 9 to 12 who want to play football at the next level.
“It’s my passion to help. I wrote the book because the recruiting process in Canada is very grey,” said Burris, who operates Ironwill Football high-performance camps in Calgary. “My email is flooded with parents asking what they need to do, how do they get (their son) a Division 1 scholarship. A lot of people don’t know the route or the opportunities available. There have been a lot of casualties; talented players who have no clue what to do to get to the next level.”
Division 1 schools in the National Collegiate Athletic Association are not the only worthy destination, of course. Burris also plots plans of action for kids who may be more interested in playing U Sports, CEGEP in Quebec, junior or prep school ball in Canada and the U.S.
“If you’re a football player, especially a high school football player, you have the right to know what’s available and how to achieve that goal regardless of your skill level,” he said.
Chapter Four, The Blueprint Checklist, lays out a timeline and descriptions of the personal, academic and research tasks for Grades 9 through 12 that Burris believes will aid in a player’s recruitment.
Throughout the book, he offers insights on topics such as selecting the best method for assembling a highlight video, the benefits of playing on provincial and national teams, and choosing the best summer camps, combines and showcases to attend.
The book is available on amazon.ca at $7.99 for the Kindle version and $20.50 in paperback.