College Soccer Recruiting Tips
Soccer parents and players are looking for strategies that will increase the opportunity of the right people evaluating and offering scholarships.
Seeking information about the college soccer recruiting process is something you must do as a parent or athlete id you are serious.
So I will provide you a tip right away. You need to get an honest evaluation early, so you know what your strengths and weaknesses are. You need to get an evaluation of your physical tools such as speed and athleticism, in addition to your on the field play. These are two different evaluations.
By taking this step, you can develop a plan of action that will put you in the best place when the national signing person starts or when the draft season begins.
Soccer Recruitment Is Serious Business
The soccer recruitment process is a serious business worldwide, American soccer is improving, and true evaluation processes are taking place. Similar to other sports like football, basketball, and now soccer.
I understand as a parent or athlete; you may not be sure where to look for information as there are so many hangers-on, recruiting platforms and such. The most important is starting with someone that will talk with you directly and someone that has a track record of success not only as a coach but as a player, elite player, and evaluator. An expert in any sport can help someone in another sport.
95% of Sports knowledge can serve most sports until you start getting into the nuances of the game, which is the 5 percent where many gains are made by their very very elite athletes.
After getting evaluating, you must then get your information into the hands of specific college coaches that converge with your talent, academic, and athletic goals.
College Soccer Recruiting Questions
When should you apply to college?
When you have all the necessary data required is when you should start. Start applying early.
How important are SAT/ACT scores in soccer recruiting?
Very important for soccer players as you may be required to meed the usual student standards versus a slightly lower standard given to athletes of other sports like basketball or football. Why is this, well football and basketball generate big-time money, the results are more scholarship dollars. Soccer often does not have the revenue of other sports. It should, but often that is not the case.
How do I contact a soccer college?
Through email, phone, text, we do for you by all means available. We make sure they see your data.
Do I need my soccer game video?
You need game film, training film, and film that will showcase you as an athlete and a person.
What is the NCAA Clearinghouse?
The NCAA Clearinghouse provides the ok for student-athlete eligibility. They give the ok based on your past academic and athletic history.
How do I begin the soccer recruitment process?
Start today, start now.
Your Mindset During the Soccer Recruiting Period
- Every soccer athlete will have a different path to success
- Each soccer school and head coach may handle the soccer recruiting process differently for each soccer athletes.
- Be a student…study the schools, study the players, and study the coaching styles
- When evaluating soccer schools, search soccer college campuses you like and can see your self committing to for an extended period even after college.
- Look for a soccer program that has your academic interest
- Seek for a soccer university that has a similar social characteristic
- Choose a school that has a corresponding spiritual ideology
- For example, if you are a Muslim and attend a school that does not allow Muslim prayer anywhere on campus you will feel uncomfortable
- If you are a Christian and the school ideology is very liberal and hostile towards Christians you will feel isolated
Look for a soccer school that has a balanced racial makeup - Search for a soccer school that has a soccer program where you can play, contribute, be developed, and enjoy yourself.
- Be 100% honest with yourself about where you might fit in academically
- Know yourself and take a look within yourself about where you might fit best
- Look within yourself about where you might fit with the coach
- Be committed about your intention of playing collegiate soccer
- During the soccer recruiting process, you must be a great student, and indiscretion can be the difference between getting the opportunity and waiting longer than needed. Everything is possible to overcome, but try to eliminate the mistakes. When you make one get back up.
- Seek academic excelllenceSoccer Schools and coaches also look for great students.
College Soccer Recruiting Must-dos
- Work hard and
- Keep your grades up.
- Be a great student first and a great athlete second.
- Know the school you plan on attending
- Know the rule differences between NCAA Division I and II, NCAA
- Do your game understanding homework and remember to ask questions
The soccer recruiting process is much more successful when the soccer student-athlete is first able to clearly establish reasonable expectations about their athletic commitment to doing the same on a college level.
More Questions to Ask During the Soccer Recruiting Process
Am I good enough to play soccer on a collegiate level? To answer this question, you need an evaluation. You need to be honest about your willingness to compete and improve yourself because your commitment to excellence will is tested.
Can I handle the demands of being a college soccer player? Regardless of what level you play on, the life of a collegiate soccer player is not for the faint. In addition to team activities such as early practices, training, traveling, and the games themselves, you also have to keep up with a full slate of classes and homework that are much harder than what you did in high school. Aspiring collegiate athletes must be fully prepared for several years of this type of commitment, or risk squandering their soccer scholarships.
Which division level should I play at?
With over 1,410 schools currently offering soccer scholarships or soccer programs, high school student-athletes have a variety of opportunities as to where they may play — and on which level. Knowing your ideal level will help your own soccer recruiting process. Talking with a current coach can help you gauge your level of play, along with a college soccer recruiting network such as NCSA. If possible, attending college games in person with a family or a coach can provide a substantial level of insight as well.
Do I need to play soccer on a club level to be recruited? To be blunt, only playing on a high school team is typically not enough to draw the right amount of attention during the soccer recruiting process. The majority of college soccer coaches prefer their recruits to have at least two years of elite club experience, ideally four.
College Recruiting Time Chart
Freshmen Year of High School
Play hard, have fun, enjoy yourself, work hard at practice, and try to get better as the season progresses.
Sophomore Year of High School
- Coaches can only send necessary information and camp information, so don’t be hurt if you write a soccer coach and they do not write you back
- Keep your grades excellent
- Gather a list of possible soccer universities that meet your interests
- Take the PSAT test, Take the SAT, Take the ACT
- Complete your Souletics soccer profile
- Understand NCAA Clearinghouse eligibility requirements.
- Select the right junior year courses for NCAA eligibility.
- Play at the highest level possible.
- Get a record of athletic achievements.
Junior Year of High School
- On September 1 of the beginning of your junior year, college soccer coaches can return the correspondence you sent or after July 1 before your senior year
- Keep your academics up!
- We get soccer coaches updated resume player profiles, send dates of tournaments and league
games. - Organize a system on soccer colleges that send responses or provide feedback
- Rank your colleges based on those that have shown interest and those that are your choices based on fit
- Play in Soccer College Showcase tournaments,
- Attend any soccer recruitment evaluation seminars
- Consider attending the soccer summer camp of a school of interest
- Make unofficial visits to selected soccer schools. This will be at your expense
- Take the SAT or ACT tests.
- Check your academic and athletic status with NCAA Clearinghouse.
- Select the right senior year courses to meet Clearinghouse requirements.
- Communicate in with your high school counselor.
- Get financial form (FAFSA).
Senior Year of High School
- As of July 1, you can talk on the phone with a soccer coach
- If you are a top-level player, phone calls.
- If not, call the soccer coach yourself.
- Send A letter followed by a call and possibly a visit
- Check status with the NCAA Clearinghouse.
- Narrow your search to 3 soccer schools.
- Complete FAFSA form again with necessary detailed data like taxes
- Respond to any and all interest shown by soccer colleges
- Schedule and complete official visits at the school’s expense.
- Meet with the soccer coach
- Continue to communicate with your high school academic advisor
- Keep soccer coaches updated on your accomplishments
Soccer Recruiting Websites
How do you get recruited for soccer?
1. Play for your high school and club team 2. Work on your speed 3. Develop soccer-specific skills like shooting, passing, ball controlling (foot, head, knee, chest) 4. maintain a high school GPA 5. Contact schools that you are interested in 6. Attend camps at the colleges of interest 7. Perform well on the field 8. Attend showcase events and combines 9. Work on combine specific drills
What is the college soccer recruiting process?
The college recruiting process for soccer scholarships is very competitive. Soccer coaches are evaluating athletes early in the pipeline. Sometimes as early as middle school. Soccer has a pay to play pipeline meaning you must pay quite a bit of money to get seen at showcase events and tournaments. So it is critical that athletes and parents align themselves with recruiting and evaluation services that can get exposure for the athlete.
How do you get recruited for d1 soccer?
1. Contact coaches and complete the necessary information. 2. Keep your highlight videos updated 3. Provide college coaches your game schedule 4. Meet the high academic standards 5. Go to College Camps
Is NCSA legitimate?
Yes, NCSA is a legitimate college recruiting service.
What do soccer college coaches look for?
1. An activity like Stay involved off the ball. 2. Be impactful and by always looking for a way to change the game such as scoring defense, an assist, inspiring other teammates, playing multiple positions 3. Staying engage no matter the circumstance or score 4. Playing with passion while maintaining control in difficult situations. 5. Conducting yourself like a professional
Do coaches look at recruiting questionnaires?
Yes, it is a simple way for coaches to get information about the prospective student-athlete.
What is the best college recruiting website?
BeRecruited NCSA