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SPORTIME / JMTA

College Advisory Service

JMTA Signing Day to some big schools! 

Trying to find the right college or university for a student-athlete, based on that student-athlete’s academic and tennis profile, in an environment that is more complicated and more competitive than ever, can be an overwhelming process.

The complexities include the different recruiting, scholarship and financial aid award guidelines established by the three divisions of the NCAA, and by other groups of colleges and universities, including those in the NAIA and NJCAA. There are rules governing official and unofficial visits, likely letters, early reads, national letters of intent, early decision, early decision 2, regular decisions, gap years, the Academic Index, how and when to reach out to college coaches - and the list goes on.


The good news is that there are more than 6,000 tennis scholarships available from colleges and universities in North America, and thousands more preferred admissions opportunities based on tennis recruiting. What’s more, SPORTIME/JMTA is here to assist! With over 200 directors and coaches company-wide, most of whom played Division I college tennis, and some of whom were college coaches, SPORTIME/JMTA has unparalleled contacts within the collegiate coaching ranks. We use our contacts and our substantial experience in the college placement process to give SPORTIME/JMTA students an edge, as they determine the best colleges for them, procure scholarships and gain admission to the schools of their choice.


SPORTIME/JMTA is very proud to have developed hundreds of players who have received full or partial scholarships or upgrades to top colleges and universities, including Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Brown, Wharton, Wake Forest, University of North Carolina, UC Santa Barbara, Auburn, Tulane, Columbia, Louisiana State University, Elon, University of Connecticut, Middlebury College, and many more, a few of which scholarships have allowed JMTA students to “bank” all four years of full scholarship by attending and playing a minimum of one year. This format is designed for a student who feels ready to take a shot at the pro tour prior to completing four years of college, while assuring the opportunity and wherewithal to then go back and complete his/her education at any time in the future. 

Contact Us:

Jay Harris,
JMTA College Combine Director

(516) 525-0699

jmtacollege@sportimeny.com

College Advisory Packages

JMTA provides basic assistance to SPORTIME and JMTA students approaching college age, to help them identify schools that offer programs particularly well suited to their tennis and academic needs. More comprehensive college placement services, including assistance with detailed correspondence to coaches and follow-up communications, scheduling visits, creating introductory videos and more are available for an additional fee. Our SPORTIME/JMTA College Placement Advisory Service helps our scholar-athletes to navigate the college recruitment process and to procure tennis-based scholarships at some of the finest colleges and universities in the country.Take a moment to review our JMTA Recruiting Service Menu, and contact Director Jay Harris, at jmtacollege@sportimeny.com, with questions or for more information.

Available to all SPORTIME members, as a member benefit, are complimentary advisory services provided at each of our club.

  • An introductory half-hour consultation session with your club’s Director is available to every SPORTIME member who wants to start their college search process. This session will provide a basic framework and timeline for the college recruiting, and will help to map out the opportunities for further assistance available through SPORTIME/JMTA, and through outside tournaments and exposure events.
  • JMTA College Recruiting Seminars – these seminars are run by the Directors of our College Recruiting Service and are held twice a year. Directors will discuss the college search process step-by-step in a group setting, with ample time for Q&A.
  • Recommendation calls by Coaches/Directors – the coaches that know players best are available to make initial outreach calls to college coaches on their players’ behalfs.

A great way to start the process is to schedule a one-hour consultation session with one of our Advisory Service Directors (including former Brown University Head Coach Jay Harris, former University of Buffalo Assistant Coach Jason Shkodnick and former Hofstra University Head Coach, Jason Pasion).

These introductory sessions often begin with a collaborative effort between the Director and the prospective student-athlete around building a“college list”, while then working together to produce initial correspondence to college coaches. Many questions will be answered in the initial session including those centered around the navigation of the college search timeline.

  • This package includes a recruitment video.
  • Players who sign up for this package receive guaranteed admission to our annual JMTA College Recruiting Combine, and a 50% discount on the Combine enrollment fee.

Starting junior year and through the end of the recruiting process, we provide 5, individual, one-hour consultation sessions with one of our Recruiting Service Directors (including former Brown University Head Coach, Jay Harris, Hofstra Head Coach, Jason Pasion, and former University of Buffalo Assistant Coach, Jason Shkodnik). The assigned Director assists with formulating the timeline and framework for your college search process, the creation of your all-important college list, editing written communications to college coaches, making calls to coaches, preparing for interviews with coaches, and more.

  • This package includes a recruitment video.
  •  Players who sign up for this package receive guaranteed admission to our annual JMTA College Recruiting Combine, and a 50% discount on the Combine enrollment fee.

Starting junior year and through the end of that school year, we provide 5, individual, one-hour consultation sessions with one of our Recruiting Service Directors (including former Brown University Head Coach, Jay Harris, Hofstra Head Coach, Jason Pasion, and former University of Buffalo Assistant Coach, Jason Shkodnik). The assigned Director assists with formulating the timeline and framework for your college search process, the creation of your all-important college list, editing written communications to college coaches, making calls to coaches, preparing for interviews with coaches, and more.


Thereafter, during the summer prior to players’ senior years, we provide 5 additional, individual, one-hour consultation sessions, and closely guide players and their parents through the most intense and challenging period of the recruiting process. In addition, we assist in setting up campus visits, in accordance with NCAA regulations if applicable, and we assist in identifying and procuring athletic and academic scholarship funding.

The following are some answers to frequently asked questions - the tip of the iceberg in the context of this complicated and arduous process.

Do tennis players/athletes have an advantage in the college admissions process?

Prospective college tennis players, who have an appropriate track record of competitive tennis success, have a major advantage in college admissions. It is often said that athletes, as a group, have up to a 50% greater chance of being admitted than non-athletes. Many estimate that a high athletic ranking on a prospect’s resume can be equal to 200-300 SAT points! But, in tennis, the key is knowing how to execute on this advantage in the context of the very complicated recruiting process.

How do I get my player started on the college search and recruiting process?

We encourage families embarking on the college search process to contact our team of SPORTIME/JMTA college advisors, so that we can help get the process off to the best possible start within the appropriate time frame. The first step in the college search process is the creation of a “college list”

What are the differences between NCAA Division I, II & III schools, as well as NAIA and NJCAA schools?

The different NCAA Divisions, and the other organizations listed above, broadly group colleges and universities based on their size and on how much funding they allocate for athletics, including for athletic scholarships. Scholarship parameters and availability vary at each Division level. Families need to understand that tennis can be a way to obtain a tennis scholarship, or tennis can be a way to gain preferred admission to a highly competitive college or university, or both.

How many men’s and women’s tennis programs are there in the U.S.?

There are close to 2,000 collegiate tennis programs in the U.S. This is why, with hard work and the right support and guidance, most families will be able to find a great tennis program, at a great college or university, for their tennis playing students. The key is for the recruit’s family to establish clear priorities for the process, whether a four-year tennis scholarship, admission to the highest quality academic institution, the best coaching and competition, or others.

Are Division I tennis programs always stronger than those in other Divisions?

Many misunderstand the differences between the Divisions and assume that the different Divisions identify schools by the strength of their athletic teams. In fact, there is great variety within the Divisions, and there are Division II and III programs that are stronger than many Division I programs.

What is a “club team”?

A club team is typically a “non-varsity” team at a college or university that is run by its recreation or intramural department, in contrast to the school’s athletic department. At many colleges, these club teams are highly organized, travel around the country for matches, and compete for Club National Championships. Club tennis can offer talented and committed players an opportunity to continue to play and compete at schools where they are unable to play on the varsity team.

When should we start working on college applications?

We encourage our players to begin working on their college applications no later than the summer before their senior year, and to have them completed before commitments start occurring in the fall.

When do college commitments take place?

Commitments are being made earlier and earlier each year. Many tennis recruits are now committing to schools during their junior years, with some even committing in the fall of their junior years, a full year ahead of the months when most commitments are still made (September and October of senior year).

For a full list of Frequently Asked Questions, please contact us at jmtacollege@sportimeny.com and we’ll be happy to help.


Best of luck in your recruiting endeavors.


The JMTA College Recruiting Combine, held annual in June, gives prospects access to the country's top college coaches, and gives coaches in-person, "live", access to prospects, along with detailed tennis and fitness performance reporting, to help them find the right recruits for their programs. Match results from the Combine count toward prospects' Universal Tennis Ratings (UTR).

"I loved the overall experience for my son as he got to interact with college coaches, listen to a great panel discussion, and receive some great exposure on the court as many coaches got to evaluate his level of play."

Jay Harris, Director of JMTA College Combine

Jay, a native of Lexington, Ohio, was the Head Men's Tennis Coach at Brown University for eight years prior to moving to New York, in 2010, to join the SPORTIME Team. He was the most successful tennis coach in the Brown tennis program's 100-plus year history, leading the team to its highest ever national ranking, #33, two Ivy League Titles, and seven consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. In 2005, Jay was named the Northeast Region coach of the Year and was a finalist for the National Coach of the Year Award. He coached five singles players and 15 doubles teams to national rankings, including one team that achieved all All-American status.


Prior to Brown, Jay coached at Bowling Green State University where he was named the 2002 Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year after leading the team to MAC Titles in 2000 and 2002. Jay was a successful collegiate player at the University of Cincinnati, graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology. He then earned his Master's degree in Sports Psychology and Sports Management from Miami University, where he also served as an assistant coach for the women's team.

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Thank you for your interest and we look forward to connecting with you.

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