The College Soccer Recruiting Guide Every Player Needs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The college soccer recruiting process is exciting! But can also feel overwhelming for some, as it did for me. There are rules, timelines, different divisions, and a lot of information to figure out. If you're serious about competing in college, it's good to know how it works.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You are not alone and not the first one to feel like this. I'm going to explain how the process works, when to start, the differences between divisions, and what a commitment really means. Also, give a little advice that I was given about what to consider when choosing the right school. By the end, you should feel more confident about taking the next steps.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">How Recruiting Works</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Being a great athlete does matter and good at soccer is important, but it isn't enough. Coaches are looking for the full package athlete. Athletic ability, good grades, strong character, and someone who fits their team culture. That means you can't just sit back and wait for them to find you. You need to take control of your process rather than waiting for a coach to know who you are. Coaches get emails every day so it's important you do what you can to be one of the names that they remember.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Start by making a highlight video, emailing coaches, and getting on their radar. Go to ID camps for schools you're interested in. Be proactive and professional because every email, every conversation, every interaction matters. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">When Should You Start Looking At Schools?</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The process starts earlier than most players think. Below is a quick breakdown so you know what is ahead.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Freshman &amp; Sophomore Year:</strong><br>Focus on grades as they matter, continue to development as a player, and getting your name out there. Make your highlight video and start emailing coaches. Don't be discouraged if you do not receive a personal email back. Coaches at this point can email back with camp information and more of a generic style email.&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Sophomore Year (June 15 for NCAA D1 &amp; D2):</strong><br>After June 15 of your sophomore year, D1 and D2 coaches can start reaching out to you.&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Junior Year:</strong><br>This is the year when a lot of verbal commitments happen. Coaches can text, email, and call you now. It's important to keep updating your video and attending camps to not only meet the coaches but to see what you think about the university or college.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Senior Year:</strong><br>This is crunch time: official visits, scholarship offers, and signing your letter of intent. Make sure you're academically eligible and finishing strong.&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>NAIA and JUCO schools have slightly different recruiting processes and can recruit later. That's good news if you are a little later to the recruiting process or still figuring things out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Differences Between All Divisions </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The divisions offered in college athletics are not all the same. Below is a short brief to explain some of the differences between these divisions.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>NCAA Division I:</strong><br>NCAA Division 1 is known as the top level, most competitive division. It requires a big time commitment, high athletic ability, and scholarships are available. The recruiting process starts early in this division.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>NCAA Division II:</strong><br>NCAA Division 2 is a competitive division. It has been known to be a bit more balance between sports and academics. Scholarships are available in this division for college athletes .&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>NCAA Division III:</strong><br>NCAA Division 3 does not offer athletic scholarships. But even though they don't offer athletic scholarships, they do have great academics and other financial aid options.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>NAIA:</strong><br>NAIA does have competitive programs with more flexible recruiting rules. Although they do not compete against NCAA Division programs throughout their regular season, they can offer good scholarship opportunities.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>JUCO:</strong><br>JUCO is a two-year school that can be a great option to develop your game. Another positive to JUCO programs is that you can save money, and then transfer to a bigger program after you've had two years to continue to improve.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Difference Between Verbal Commitment and National Letter of Intent</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's important to know these two terms and the difference as you are navigating the college recruiting process. A verbal commitment is when you tell a coach you plan to join their program. It's not binding, but most players stick with it after giving a coach their word. A National Letter of Intent is the official signing document. This document means that once you sign, you're locked in with that program. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Advice On Picking The Right School</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I remember when I had offers from schools and felt conflicted on where I should go to school. This is a big decision but it's about more than soccer. The best advice I got when trying to figure out what school I wanted to go to was asking myself some of the questions below.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>How far away from home am I willing to move? One thing you can do to really show yourself the distance is to get a map of the United States. You should put a symbol on where home is for you, and then draw a circle of how far away from home you are wanting or willing to move. Once I had done this, it limited my search but also helped me figure out where I wanted to go. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Does the school have my major?</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Do I like the campus and location?</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>What's the team culture like?</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Will I actually get playing time?</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Can my family afford it?</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As much as it may feel like you are just picking a soccer program to join, you are actually picking where you'll live and learn for four years. It's important to make sure you will be happy on and off the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Final Advice</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I know this process can feel overwhelming. I myself felt overwhelmed and pressure to pick a school when I was in the middle of visiting schools and deciding what is it I wanted to study. But the good news is that you have control. You can start early and put effort into your academics and communication. Coaches notice everything. From how you play to how you carry yourself off the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is a right school out there for everyone. Take your time, work hard, and make the choice that set you up for success as a student, an athlete, and a person. Everyone has a different experience with this process but again, this is an exciting time and you will learn a lot about yourself through this process.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->