Top talent scouts to stage Rotorua seminar

Scouting service Custom College Recruiting is holding a seminar at Rotorua Boys' High School next month. Photo / File

One of the world's top talent scouting services is holding a seminar in Rotorua next month.

Custom College Recruiting (CCR), specialises in recruiting top talent and is designed to help student athletes across a range of sports maximise their exposure with university coaches in the United States and Canada.

The free seminar, being held in Rotorua Boys' High School's Memorial Hall on August 23, aims to provide attendees with information about what to expect during the recruiting process as well as what is required to pursue opportunities at the college and university level.

CCR's method has helped athletes worldwide obtain more than US$50 million (68m) in scholarship and aid opportunities, including more than US$10m for New Zealand student athletes in the last three years.

Rotorua Boys' High School director of basketball Theo Tait said the recruitment process could be daunting for young athletes and their parents.

"It's a great opportunity, we had them in last year but it was a bit short notice.

"I deal with a few agents because I've looked after a few NBL basketball teams, what I like about this group is they give parents a real insight into the recruitment system.

"With basketball, and guys like Steve Adams, there's a huge influx of kids going to the United States.

"There are a few academies that have set up promising kids opportunities, but they're not established and you can get mixed up over there - a full scholarship is not always a full scholarship."

He said the seminar was for any interested Bay of Plenty athletes, not just Rotorua Boys' High School pupils.

"They'll talk about the whole American environment, the school environment, what you need, what it takes to get to certain schools and what you should be doing now.

"They really target the Year 9 and 10 age group, they actually try and educate and they ask parents if they want to sign their children up for their programme from an early age."

The sports CCR works with include baseball (boys), basketball, diving, field hockey (girls), American football (boys), golf, hockey, lacrosse, rowing, rugby, soccer, swimming, tennis, track/cross-country (athletics), volleyball, water polo, wrestling (boys), softball (girls) and cycling.

The seminar starts at 6.45pm. To register go to www.eventbrite.com/e/rotorua-ccr-recruiting-education-seminar-wednesday-august-23rd-tickets-36018620664.