This is a guide for anyone who is interested in exploring college soccer opportunities. Use this as a general reference -- but also speak with other coaches and adults who have experience with the recruiting process. We strongly recommend talking with your High School coach(es) and WCS's DOC/coaches about your unique path.

YOU Drive the Conversation

First and foremost -- If you want to play soccer in college, you need to do the heavy lifting! Contrary to popular belief, college coaches won't come knocking down your door. Being active, getting involved, communicating proactively and leading the charge are absolutely necessary!

Do Your Research

What are your interests outside of soccer? What are your longer-term career and life goals? Have you identified your career-related aptitudes?

Learn to Love Email!

Email is a critical tool for college coaches to communicate with prospects. Most high school-aged students don’t rely on and/or engage with email the same way as adults. Email is a must for players to adopt into their communication process.

Be Realistic About Your Abilities and Goals

Choosing the right level of play is critical for your individual success:

• DI SOCCER is like a full time job. Multiple hours of training each day, constant travel and events, high level expectations. DI soccer is generally for NPL/ECNL players who are considering a career in soccer at some level, domestically or internationally. [Full and partial scholarship opportunities available]

• DII SOCCER is also very committed. Perhaps slightly less than DI but still with high expectations and competition. Daily training and travel are a major part of the DII regimen. [Partial athletic scholarship opportunities available]

• DIII SOCCER is a competitive level of soccer for players who are striving for a more balanced work/life/school schedule. [No athletic scholarship opportunities available]
• NAIA & Junior College programs are slightly lower level with greater flexibility for the student athlete.

Where to Begin?

These are steps you can take today to get your journey started.

✅ Build a 'Soccer Resume': Include pertinent details such as recruiting profile, current high school, current Club, recent achievements (team and individual), academic stats, etc. Most colleges now use a "recruit questionnaire" intake form that can be found on their school's athletics page.

✅ Register for Credible Recruiting Websites: Examples include  CaptainU and ScoutingZone

✅ Create Video Highlights: Ask your parents/friends/coaches to help record your games to gather playing time highlights. Highlights don't necessarily have to be goals or big plays, but can focus on solid stretches of play throughout games. Focus on your strengths -- use video to let coaches know who you are on the field and how you contribute to a game. Video highlights will differ by position and should be kept as brief as possible.

✅ Attend ID Camps: ID camps are generally hosted by college programs and are used to evaluate players in a mixed group setting -- much like ODP tryouts at the youth level. ID camps can be one or multiple days and generally cost ~$100-300 to join. Be thoughtful and do your research before registering and attending, as not all ID camps are created equal. When in doubt, ask for advice!

✅ Build a List of Schools: Create a list of schools based on academics, athletics, social/environment, cost, location, etc. Start with a long list and narrow as you go.

✅ Create a Communication Plan: Establish a communication plan with short-list schools (email, phone, recruiting profiles, ID camp, campus visit). College coaches want to hear from you, and sometimes you have to be persistent!

✅ Socialize Your Game Schedules: Invite schools/college coaches to see you play by sharing HS and Club game schedules and livestream links.

When to Begin?

Freshman, Sophomore & Junior Years

• Attend college fairs, ID camps, clinics and start to read college literature – social media is a good start to follow colleges/soccer programs online
• Develop a list of colleges in which you would be interested -- consider academics, cost, soccer, geographic location, school size, specialty schools (large list to begin)
• Start to make a soccer resume documenting your educational, soccer and extracurricular qualifications; create an edited video of you playing
• Register and take SAT/ACT, use the prep courses if you require them to get a good score

Junior & Senior Years

• Improve your GPA, take or retake ACT (NCAA will accept the highest score)
• Email college coaches; email is the best way to start communications – follow up can be text or a call
• Update your resume and send it along with soccer schedules; get a coach recommendation letter – market yourself, don’t wait for them to contact you!
• Narrow your list to 3-5 schools you are very serious about – continue to communicate with them, attend their ID camps, contact admissions
• Visit the colleges – consider the academic programs, atmosphere, the percentage of students who graduate, climate, distance from home, enrollment size, cost per class, halls of residence, campus activities, athletic facilities and talk to athletes and non athletes. See teams play and meet coaches face to face

A Parent’s Guide to Communicating With College Coaches

It is important for parents to be involved with the recruiting process but parents must not be overbearing. The prospect should be the primary point of contact – coaches are recruiting prospects, not parents. Coaches want to learn about the prospect and the prospect needs to be able to independently demonstrate that he/she is interested in the school and soccer program. Parents must allow the prospect to communicate with the coach and develop a rapport. The biggest mistake parents make is not allowing the prospect to engage with the coach.

• Phone Calls: Parents should help with the planning of making phone calls and documenting outgoing and incoming calls. Parents can help prospects by rehearsing outgoing calls. Parents can also help draw out a calendar to schedule outgoing calls and document incoming calls.
• Emails: Review the materials the prospect is sending, but let the emails come from the prospect's accounts. It is recommended to copy parents on all emails. Parents should be aware of developments and the process.
• Recruiting Materials: Parents can research ways to effectively put together cover letters, resumes/input questionnaires, YouTube highlights, etc. for the prospect. Parents can help proof these documents.
• Know NCAA Recruiting Rules: NCAA doesn’t give you any leniency for ignorance. You really need to do your homework and the best place to start is to learn the NCAA rules. If you are uncertain of something you can always contact the NCAA for more information.
• Final Decisions/Money Matters: Parents need to be involved in the recruiting process when final decisions and money matters are being discussed. Unless the conversation is purely financial, make sure the prospect is part of it!

Building a 'Soccer Resume'

Compile the below details to share with college coaches via recruiting questionnaires, emails and/or other methods:

• Name & contact details (email, cell, etc.)
• Video highlights link (YouTube)
• HS graduation year
• Parent(s) names & contact details
• Club, club coach, playing level
• High School & HS coach
• Position/2nd position
• Soccer achievements (i.e. recognitions and awards, highlighted stats, championships, etc.)
• GPA, ACT/SAT score & subjects of interest
• Player profile link and social profiles

REMEMBER: Coaches/programs will search for and find your social profiles -- this is more reason to be responsible and thoughtful about what you're sharing online! Your online persona is your real life persona.