For some time I've wanted to write something to everyone in this group, who are going through, or about to start, the College Soccer recruiting process for themselves or their child.
This group is mostly parents, and I totally understand why. If my child wanted to play in College (which I'm sure they will in the future - the oldest is 11), I'd want to understand as much about what's ahead as possible, and navigate the journey as efficient as possible.
But the problem is, I just don't think people are.
I think watching some of the questions coming in, the comments on this group and others, it just comes across as a bit of a minefield. Which honestly, it is.
I'm going to try help you all, and I'm going to say this as honest as I can, and there is ZERO intent to hurt any feelings. As a parent, I just want people to move forward in this journey as stress free as possible.
So lets get started...
Firstly, and this comment is probably aimed at 90% of you in this group.
If you are having to find out how to go through the college soccer recruitment process, this honestly means, your kid is not in the top 25-30% of players available out there.
Those players are typically organically recruited.
You know, the best players, at the best levels. The players who are just known, and can almost sit back and wait for coaches to come to them. Coaches know of all the top players in the country from Sophomore/Junior year (if not earlier).
The best teams, go after the best players. Even some of the not great teams do, and try to shoot their shot.
This may sound obvious, but why am I telling you this.
Quite simply, because I see people talking about schools that will honestly be never interested in them as a freshman.
People say they are being talked to by big schools, but you honestly know if you are being recruited, and most of the time you are just being invited to a camp.
Now, do players from average levels get recruited by top schools. Yes, but honestly, its hardly ever.
Imagine you are a coach. A player plays for a top professional academy, or national team level. Their view on that player will be high from the start as scouting has been done by others because they are playing at the level they are. They are less of a risk, because many people have 'validated' that player.
Now imagine you are playing for a random club, in a random league. Does that mean you are a bad player, no! But that means (according to others) you aren't top level. If you were, you'd know. You'd be invited to national team camps, pro clubs across the world, etc.
These are the sorts of players who should just not waste their time (in my opinion) almost begging teams to take them.
The problem is, people are asking themselves: What do you do if you want to study at a top school but aren't good enough to be recruited?
Honestly, you've got two choices:
1) Go to that school, play Club Soccer, and enjoy your dream school. At best, you may make a name for the club team and they may recruit you to the main varsity team.
2) Take a gamble, and just go into the college soccer system, play and hope that you are going to do well enough to end up at a top team.
The problem we have these days is, College Soccer, has completely changed over the last 5-10 years. There are so many players available domestically and internationally available. There is always someone better than your child.
Before I say this harsh reality, you've got to understand one thing. The vast majority of coaches HAVE to win to keep their job. Long gone are the days of just having a coach, coaching away, with zero pressure for results.
So the harsh reality is, coaches want players who will help them win.
Being in this industry for a LONG time, I've seen recruiting go from, "Yea Chris we'll take him/her, and we'll work on developing him/her". So now, where MANY coaches just ask for 'immediate impact players'.
And they can ask that. Because there's so many of those type of players available worldwide.
I'm not going to get into the whole, "there's too many internationals" thing, as there's arguments for both sides, and honestly its out of our control. This post is designed to give you the knowledge and tools to help your child (or yourself) navigate the college soccer recruitment process effectively.
So what should we do I can hear you asking...
First things first, get some honest neutral advice on what level you are at. Its tough to find that these days because even people who think they know college (and may have been involved years ago), don't know the current landscape.
However, there's usually always someone who you know who could give you that advice. Usually most people have coach at their club who also works in college or has recently.
Whoever it is, ask them to be HONEST!!! No sugar coating. It may hurt your feelings, but it'll save you so much time.
I meant this with as much empathy as possible, if you are having to ask this question, you are not a top recruit available to coaches.
Once you've got that information, now you can figure out a plan.
Before I give you that plan, here is typically what all the levels are asking for these days from High School aged players:
D1 - TOP MLS Next, ECNL, or players from top professional clubs around the world.
D2 (top-mid) - Rarely ask about domestic kids because they can't get the top ones, so they ask for the top professional club players who are getting released.
D2 (low end) - Ask for decent GPA players with a good budget.
D3 - They want top GPA's, high budgets.
NAIA - Rarely ask about domestic kids because they can't get the top ones, so they ask for the top professional club players who are getting released.
Junior College - They want the top players who aren't eligible to go to the NCAA or NAIA. They also want decent budget kids who can fill up their rosters and hopefully make an impact.
I know people will read these and find/know expections. But this is a general statement for each. I can't possibly write 1500 different example requests for each school :)
Next up athletic scholarships...
All high school aged players are UNPROVEN college players. They are a gamble. So many coaches, with the amount of players available worldwide and transfers in college, don't need to take gambles. So big athletic scholarships are honestly rare at 4-Year schools from Year 1.
Imagine it like any job: you go into the role, do well, then you can ask for a pay rise. Thats typically how soccer scholarships work these days.
The high athletic scholarships for players who are typically reading this are given at the Junior College level. But even then, there's not many who have that ability to do so.
So look at this as a situation where you are planning long term. Its not where you start its where you finish.
I always use that phrase, because I truly believe more people need to look at this journey like that.
Earlier today I was reviewing some past clients who were domestic players who ONLY wanted to go D1. Without getting into details, most if not all, played zero to minimal minutes year 1 and 2. Then they wanted to transfer.
I also saw an international player from the middle east, who had the same mindset, so he went to an average D1, didn't play, transferred after year 2 to a D3, and hardly played, and then just quit.
ALL of the players who I checked out, just wouldn't listen to what we advised.
We all know soccer is about opinions, so ours isn't definitive. We get it wrong. But we make informed advice when helping our clients.
Anyway back to you.
So what should you do...
By this point you've asked someone neutral, who knows the system, what levels you are suitable for.
Now you have such powerful information in your hands (if its correct obviously). You can start narrowing down your search.
You should now start looking at schools in those divisions (or maybe its just one), and you need to get on their radar.
As I said before, these divisions are likely NOT to be D1, so you'll get better responses back when emailing coaches.
Emailing for me is old fashioned, but honestly, you have no other way to get to the coaches. They get 100's of emails a week. So prepare to be ignored, but if they like the look of you, they'll typically reply.
So this is what you should do.
Make the subject to the point, but make you stand out (if you can).
If you were a coach, which email subject line would catch your eye more:
1) Striker - ECNL level - 3.5 GPA - High Budget - Available Fall 2025
2) Striker for Fall 2025
The answer is 1. Thats because it already tells a story and gives vital info. If a coach NEEDS high budget players, it'll save him time, and save you time too. It'll stop wasteful communication if its never going to work.
Some coaches may make offers reviewing videos. But many will invite you to their camps, or come watch you playing in events.
At least by this point, you know who's interested, then you can start doing research. That may mean just jumping google maps, having a street-view 'drive' around campus, seeing if its for you. Or even going to visit the school. Or asking people who know about it.
This should help narrow down.
Once you are at this point, the ball is in your court. You should be speaking with coaches, have offers on the table, and then you've got to make the right decision for you and your family.
Oh, highlight videos...
This is easy. You need 3 types of videos in your artillery.
1) A 2-3 highlight video. Leave out the music. Make the first minute a compilation of all your best attributes.
2) 2 x Full Games where you feel comfortable a coach watching you
3) A video from your best full 90 minute game, and just clip ALL your touches, good and bad.
No one needs to look perfect. If you were you'd be at Real Madrid. Just sell you, and if someone likes that, thats what you want.
We are getting to the end.
I hope this has helped at least one of you have a clear picture about things, and there's just a couple more things that are important to add to that foundation of knowledge.
1) New NCAA rules
They are looking to bring in rules to limit rosters. This will make it tougher to get to the D1 level, but there's a trickle down affect where players who may have been D1 level roster players, are no longer, so they go to D2, and so on. Just be open minded that there's more people wanting to play College Soccer than there are roster spaces.
2) Social Media
I'm honestly not a fan of when people create a special Twitter profile, just for recruiting. I personally get followed by about 5 a day. They all look the same. It's a little bit like the email situation. Unless there's something catchy in their bio, then I don't follow back. In regards to social media in general, just be careful what you put on. Coaches search for people online to see what sort of character they have. People share too much. I've seen too many people lose scholarships due to their social media posts.
3) Timeline
This is a tough one, but it really coincides with what I've said from the start. If you are very good, you'll organically be recruited. But the vast majority in the 'normal' category, you need to get the ball rolling as a Sophomore (girls), and Junior (boys). Most mens teams don't really recruit the majority of their players until after their season is finished in the year they are looking to bring you in. For girls, they are more open to get girls on their radar.
4) Watch College Games
This is short and sweet, the vast majority of people who want to play college soccer have NEVER watched a college game. Get out to your local school, whatever the level, and build that knowledge base of understanding the levels. The amount of girls we've told to go watch a D1 game and they've gone "WOW - I wasn't expecting them to be so big, athletic, fast". You'll be surprised at teams across all levels.
To conclude, and I really hope people have taken this in an empathetic way. I just want to help people. I HATE seeing people wasting time. For me it's not a delusion of the player/parent, it's purely an educational thing
College Soccer is different to all the other sports. There are good teams and bad teams in ALL divisions. This isn't basketball and football (American) where the best is D1 without doubt. This is the global game, so coaches can recruit from all corners. Hence why the levels are getting better and better.
Anyway, that was a long letter. If you've got to the end, well done, and hopefully it gives you a clearer idea on your goals!
For anyone who doesn't know who I am, I founded SRUSA, the World's Leading College Soccer Recruiting Agency, so feel free to drop me an email if you are struggling with anything. Always happy to help when I've got a spare 2 minutes. My email is chris@sportsrecruitingusa.com
Thanks guys! Have a good one.
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