A lot of great info on these forums - thanks! I am a newbie at this, so it has been very interesting to read people's insights and experiences. Unfortunately, I'm still unclear on the whole college process when sport is thrown into the mix, so I'm hoping some of you will shed some light.

I have read posts stating that there are opportunities for basically any player to participate in college soccer. But most of the detailed posts seem to be geared to players who are competing for scholarships and top NCAA D1 programs.

What about the vast majority of players out there - who are not on National Championship teams, who are not in ODP, not even playing Premier or participating in college showcase tournaments? How does the college process differ for the silver and silver-elite players, who are not looking for scholarship money, but want to play in college?

How does the college process differ for the silver and silver-elite players, who are not looking for scholarship money, but want to play in college?
Once you know what college you would like to attend you can call the coach. You can send video or even invite him to your game. but the best is to contact the coach. The athelete can basically walk on to a team if the coach decides he's good enough. David Estrada walked onto UCLA soccer team and help lead them to the finals a two years ago. He was just a student with some great skills. UCLA is a difficult program to walk on to, let alone stand out the way he did. But it shows everything is possible. Good Luck, hope your child has a great college experience with or without soccer.

How does the college process differ for the silver and silver-elite players, who are not looking for scholarship money, but want to play in college?[/SIZE][/FONT]

Kids from my kids high school, who never played on "top" teams, are playing soccer in college.

Doesn't matter, although it may be tougher. Get out there and call some coaches.

There are so many college programs out there. If you child is silver/silver elite, and plays in CSL, he will be a value to many teams.
there are a ton of DIII programs that would love a player from So Cal.
I know quite a few DIII's in Virginia and the east that specifically told us how they love the So Cal kids. UC Santa Cruz also has a great DIII program.
Just contact the coach. Send him your schedule and tell him how interested you are. They'll make a point to look at your son. Also, try to get to one of thier games. Email the coach tell him you are coming to watch and would like to say Hi after the match, they'll be stoked that you seriuos enough to come and watch. That will help you evaluate the team, coach, level of play.

In your search for colleges, make certain that these colleges offer the potential majors that your child is interested in. Location, size, cost are further considerations. Soccer should be icing on the cake, especially for the girls who have no ambitions to play beyong college. For the boys however, the choices may have to include a fairly competitive program if they have aspirations to go pro.

Also, on the girls side, verbals are negotiated earlier than the boys. Usually around their sophomore year. This trend started a couple of years ago, which hopefully will reverse. Too many problems surfacing with recruiting such young ones. Players can commit as early as the end of their junior year (early admission).

Many D2 programs offer some money and actually provide a nice balance between soccer and academics. A full college experience can be also be had in D3 and NAIA. Then there are the community colleges, several that have competitive programs and where students can use their success here to springboard to a 4 year D1/D2. This is a nice option for families with limited budgets and students who don't have the the initial academic strength to be accepted to a 4 year.

In researching the soccer programs, determine from the roster how many seniors will be graduating and what positions will be open the year that your child is an incoming freshman. Gives you some perspective on what kind of players/positions the coaches are looking for.

Then at some point, you have to narrow down the choices to no more than 5. Much more than that can be stressful. The communication between player and coach has to start (or better yet, already ongoing). Much of this should be assertive and often. Parents have to make certain that the coaches KNOW whether your child will need financial aid or scholarships in order to attend their school or if your child is willing to walk on. This helps them with their budget plans for the season.

Unofficial visits can be tremendously helpful to narrow down the choices, if affordable. The officials can then be used to further solidify the decision.

There is much to navigate in order to produce a successful result for your child. To help yourself and child, it is best to start the research as early as possible. Get your player to actively participate in the research and communication, which is difficult. However, with the right approach, you can reach the decision together much easier if you arm yourselves with as much information as you can. It does all work out in the end.

Good luck!

Thanks all. Great info.

Btw, I didn't mention - I have a daughter who is a sophomore now and who prefers to stay in Calif. for college. (Which is fine with me!)

We have already started talking about different schools, but so far she is limiting herself to only a couple choices. The challenge is to keep her open to other schools that are good academic choices, yet still offer soccer as an option in addition to a quality education.

Thanks all. Great info.

Btw, I didn't mention - I have a daughter who is a sophomore now and who prefers to stay in Calif. for college. (Which is fine with me!)

We have already started talking about different schools, but so far she is limiting herself to only a couple choices. The challenge is to keep her open to other schools that are good academic choices, yet still offer soccer as an option in addition to a quality education.

My dd as a freshman had about a dozen schools she was interested in...by her sophomore year she had it narrowed to about 6. Start of her jr. year she had it down to three....and she committed in the fall of that year. She e-mailed everyone of those coaches as a freshman, letting them know she was interested in their programs.
She is very fortunate as she is attending the college she picked.
When it got down to the final three..one in Oregon, one in Northern Cal. and the one she ultimately chose..we had a discussion about where to go. I told her that soccer can end in one play, to choose the college that if soccer was no longer possible, where would she like to be?
Good luck! There are many very good possibilities avalible....

Once you know what college you would like to attend you can call the coach. You can send video or even invite him to your game. but the best is to contact the coach. The athelete can basically walk on to a team if the coach decides he's good enough. David Estrada walked onto UCLA soccer team and help lead them to the finals a two years ago. He was just a student with some great skills. UCLA is a difficult program to walk on to, let alone stand out the way he did. But it shows everything is possible. Good Luck, hope your child has a great college experience with or without soccer.
Cobi Jones was a "walk-on" at UCLA.

Cobi Jones was a "walk-on" at UCLA.

Benny Feilhaber

If you are a player who isn't exactly competing for scholarship dollars or even national letters of intent then the situation is much different. Since teams aren't competing over you, you'll want to identify schools that fit you academically, as most are saying, and athletically. Once you've chosen a nice fit, send video(s) to the coaching staff, e-mail all the coaches, invite them to games. Basically, what you're looking to do is show well enough so that the coach will want you to come to tryouts and expect good things. Then, with that, you can go to tryouts with the confidence that if you play well you will make the team. Not a bad situation for a player who wasn't recruited, right?