Recruiting Tips for College Soccer

[Arsenal03]

This post is for the parents of Sophomores/Juniors/Seniors who are in the midst of the recruiting process. Since Texas Shoot Out is over, July 1 is soon upon you (Juniors), and many of you will soon be packing bags for Surf Cup, I thought this would be a good time for this post. Several friends and I have been through this process, with pretty good results. There are many things that I now know that I wish I knew then. Over the last few years I've seen several posts on this subject and most are first-rate and sincere. Here are some thoughts for you parents/players who are in or are about to approach this incredible experience:

General principles:
1) Colleges recruit by position. Review of rosters (graduating positions, general stats- goals vs goals against) will give you some insight as to obvious need and, perhaps, more subtle need. While a college will always be happy to have a player from the Regional ODP team or a National championship club team, if they don't "need" the position, there is likely to be less interest, little or no money, and the amount of playtime may be a factor (at least in the first year or two). It is a fact that members of National championship teams are going to college with little or no scholarship money and will wait to earn play time.

2) Like it or not, here are some other truths:
Forwards will always be in the greatest demand. Goals matter-- alot. However, to be in demand in college, you need to be able to score, period. Finishers are highly valued. Indeed, some coaches recruit for only offense. If you can score, like Amy Rodriguez, for example, you will be in high demand and you will be offered alot of scholarship money. Be sure to have collected your stats and make sure you can verify them.

If you are a midfielder, you'd better be very, very good at a few things-- such as scoring or setting up goals (assists). Speed is key in your role, as is fitness. However, midfielders are "a dime a dozen." So, if you are a midfielder, be sure to understand your strengths and be able to articulate them (and demonstrate them on the field).

If you are a great defender, you not likely be scouted as highly, nor offered much money unless you are willing to go to a college that is a) struggling because it is new; B) replacing a poor-performing coach and/or defense; and/or c) just starting a women's soccer program. Defense is, in many programs, not a priority. Often a midfielder will be converted to a defender.

If you are a Goalie, many of the same principles of the Forward and the Defender apply. First, you have one primary job: to stop goals. You must be very, very good at that. Second, while there are 10 positions on the field that need players, there is only one GK in the net. Sheer statistics limit your opportunities considerably. Third, like the defender, the best opportunities will be offered by programs with the same challenges as those for Defenders.

3) If you have a handful of colleges which can provide a good education in your chosen major, and the soccer part is the "next" thing you need to figure out, consider whether you want to play all four years, play probably two years, or consistently battle, week to week, to get picked for the weekly travel team (travel teams are limited to 18 players, per NCAA rules). If you sincerely want to play for one of the top 40 soccer programs in the nation, can you really train five days per week and never play-- and can you do that for two years? If that thought makes you uneasy, you need to re-consider your choices for a soccer program.

4) Playing soccer in college is HARD. The field is bigger. The game is "bigger" and more physically demanding. Remember, each girl on the field was recruited, so each has multiple strengths.
One college game is the equivalent to two or three club games. Travel can be exhausting. There are many, many more distractions at college than at home.
Your studies are considerable and... you are on your own. While the program will offer tutors and other support services (use them!) you will be solely responsible for being on top of your academic deadlines, and still being prepared for a game. Other than your own uniform, you will have to do your own laundry, pack your own bags, remember your lucky tape roll or whatever else your parents currently help with before a game. If you forget your shin guards- you don't play. If you forget to pack your cleats- you don't play. You will never appreciate your parents more than at the end of your freshman year of college.

Important Notes:
Once you leave your club life, you won't be under the microscope of Coast Soccer League anymore. Most people will not hear much about you unless you are winning a major award at your college the next year. In fact, the truth is that your family and your closest friends will be the only people that will know (and likely care) about your soccer accomplishments in college. When you leave Coast Soccer League, the League will go on, and you will be a part of a great history that makes Southern California soccer as good as it is. In many ways, this is a good thing. Your life in college will be what YOU make it, including how you feel about your college and your teammates.
However, this is an area of decision-making that is often swayed by well-intentioned parents. Try not to limit your choices to only those schools who are in the PAC-10 or who made the Final Four of the NCAA Championship. If a college shows interest in you, especially if they offer your major of choice, can offer you any money, you can be a starter or start by your sophomore year, you LIKE the girls you meet on your recruiting trip, and you like the campus... then carefully and sincerely consider the school. You may miss out on a fantastic opportunity and a tremendous college experience.

Enjoy this moment- understand and appreciate the privilege of playing soccer at any college - and make the very best of it. It's your life.

[KeeperKeeper]

Thank you from the parent of a soon-to-be Junior. B) I printed it out...

[chulavistadad]

I was involved in some academic consueling for athletes while a graduate student.

For female soccer scholarship recipients there is the additional expectation that they will be high academic achievers. Generally only golf scholarship recipients have college GPAs comparable to female soccer athletes. And a lot of the ladies are in difficult undergraduate majors.

My point is your are a high school soccer playing girl competing for a college scholarship acceptable grades are not enough. They are looking for scholar atheltes who will bring up the sports department GPA and graduation rates up.

[salt]

I am always discouraged when I read/ hear that colleges are not focused on female defensive players. I am also encouraged when the focus remains on grades. We will see.

I know several Div 1 Assistant Coaches. They recruit to their needs which includes defenders. An effective Sweeper is as good as Gold, as is a Keeper.

I'm sure there are Coaches who prefer attacking strength and will place their limited resources there. There is no sense in scoring 3 goals per game if you are giving up 4 goals. A program worth attending is drawing in the best skilled soccer players with some specific position strength but also the ability to adapt to varing formations and positions. To not do so is a program that will 'roller-coaster' by season, or will replace players each season losing any sense of identity.

[Blondie]

This is somewhat college/soccer related. The new SAT's are required starting with the graduating class of 2006. Most juniors to be seniors have already started their searches and/or recruiting process.

The class of 2006 is the first group of students to take the new SAT's and I was wondering what the averages are across the country? I believe the new perfect score is 2400. It is difficult to ascertain at UC schools the minimum for entrance requirement as they are still using the old SAT admission standards.

If any of your sons/daughters have recently taken the new SAT's, how did they do? Did they think it was hard, or too long (4 plus hours)? Did they enjoy the new essay section?

I ask because most of my child's friends have not taken it, especially the soccer friends who have already been offered "verbal" committments by colleges. They don't need to take it as they are already in. And, I would like to see if these kids are on track with their scores, or is this test way too difficult for the average student? Thanks.

[Yellow Card]

Originally posted by chulavistadad@Jun 21 2005, 11:02 AM
My point is your are a high school soccer playing girl competing for a college scholarship acceptable grades are not enough. They are looking for scholar atheltes who will bring up the sports department GPA and graduation rates up.

This should be true of all scholarships - not just womens. Unfortunately, college sports (especially on the mens side) has become all about sports and not at all about college.

[chulavistadad]

Originally posted by Blondie@Jun 22 2005, 07:04 AM
This is somewhat college/soccer related.* The new SAT's are required starting with the graduating class of 2006.* Most juniors to be seniors have already started their searches and/or recruiting process.*

The class of 2006 is the first group of students to take the new SAT's and I was wondering what the averages are across the country?* I believe the new perfect score is 2400.* It is difficult to ascertain at UC schools the minimum for entrance requirement as they are still using the old SAT admission standards.

If any of your sons/daughters have recently taken the new SAT's, how did they do?* Did they think it was hard, or too long (4 plus hours)?* Did they enjoy the new essay section?

I ask because most of my child's friends have not taken it, especially the soccer friends who have already been offered "verbal" committments by colleges.* They don't need to take it as they are already in.* And, I would like to see if these kids are on track with their scores, or is this test way too difficult for the average student?* Thanks.

I already have a daughter at a UC school. The second one took her PSAT and I have to say I was unhappy that her scores were too high. She started thinking about Stanford and Duke. I was thinking UCLA or UCSD. The third one is the one still playing club soccer.

In any case if you savings and disposable income puts you in the UC range my advice is to focus upon class rank and passing Advancement Placement Tests.

My understanding is that UC schools no longer accept additional grade points from Honors class. THey adjust your GPA upward only for AP classes.

More importantly there are so many good students applying to UC campuses a primary way of distinguishing yourself is by how many AP tests you pass. At some UC's a '3' is a pass at others you need a '4' or a '5'.

Simply the kids who take the most AP courses and pass the most AP tests are the ones most favored at the UC schools. Your normal SAT scores count a lot more out of State where the quality of your high school is an unknown.

Everybody has different priorties, but in my world a UC education is worth every penny.

Here is secret for you. Think about having your high school upperclassmen take summer courses at a community college that impresses colleges. And if you have the money (I do not) attending a summer program at a major university is also impressive.

One final piece of advice. Female soccer players are like male baseball pitchers. In both cases, about half of best potential ones are ruined by injuries. I would put more emphasis on a girls brain than her ACL.

[Arsenal03]

I'm glad to see the responses here; all feedback from folks who have gone through this is always good and should be valued.
I did want to address the comments about defenders, however. Based on three years of watching some extremely good Premier defenders get passed over by many colleges (or picked up, but not offered much money), I dug a little deeper in my own research.
Yes, an outstanding sweeper/defender who is tall, fast, technically sound and physically strong will get the eye of a college coach (e.g. Tim Jepson, now of Duke; Courtney Hooker, now at Cal). However, that being said, most colleges have some good wings that aren't getting the assists or forwards that aren't scoring any more (but both have some speed). Think Brandi Chastain on the World Cup level, think Kendall Billingsley on the local (UCLA) level. They are still fast, sound players, and offer physical strength. They are moved to the back, period. UCLA did not recruit defenders for the last two years in a row, despite losing the senior ones. Midfielders were pushed back.

Along those lines, I know of a solid defender from a National Championship team who finally chose to be a walk-on at a Pac 10 school- where she will be in line behind seven other listed defenders. She had great offers from "lesser" Div I schools, but the parents weren't comfortable with that picture. Nothing better came along, so, long after others had signed their Letters of Intent, she "committed" to the college. IMHO, that's sad.

Money and time goes to getting the scorers on board. If your daughter/son is a defender who can score (outside left or right back) or racks up the assists, well that puts you in a different place.Again, my caveat is this is about getting money and being a starter as a defender on a Div I team. If neither of those things is an issue, then all of this is a moot point.

Do I agree with that philosophy? No, but I see it all of the time- on our own ODP, on Premier teams, on the U-whatever teams, and in college. Just take heed and set your expectations correctly.

As to grades- so very true. Never more truer with the increased focus on graduation rates and team GPAs by the NCAA. I believe that schools will depend on women's sports to enhance the graduation rate (sorry, guys, but it's true). Too, be careful of the school that is soooo happy to have your 4.0 GPA on the team, offers no money, and she rarely, if ever, plays. Reminds me of a residency requirement on a club that keeps local girls on the roster (who rarely play) to meet that city residency/field usage requirement.
That being said, if you are a scorer and are "known," whatever your GPA and/or SAT, you WILL get into the school. You will be surrounded with tutors and will be highly supervised. Three years ago a young lady (a forward) had to take the SAT four times before passing with the minimum score of 800. The Div I University (a good name by the way) required that she make the minimum score before they could hand her the scholarship and acceptance letter. She is a better student now, so it worked out well for both parties.

There are many of these stories and each of us likely knows at least one. Sharing helps everyone.

I am reading all your helpful and so timely posts with great interest. I too have a son who is a rising junior. Played ODP PDP high profile team, etc. My biggest concern right now is his refusal to put any effort on looking at any other college other than his first and only choice. He does have the grades and will be taking the new SAT this October.

How does one get junior to get serious about realistic options? He seems to feel very strongly that he WILL get into his university of choice. I am more practical.

Heeelp!