| You don’t have to make the Olympic
| |
| | educational and soccer qualifications.
|
| Development Program or be an all-star
| |
| | Include the video footage.
|
| selection to play on a college team ...
| |
| | Send your package to each head soccer
|
| if you are realistic about yourself and
| |
| | coach on your list.
|
| the colleges you want to attend. There
| |
| | Spring Of Junior Year
|
| are hundreds of college soccer teams and
| |
| | Summer Before Senior Year
|
| lots of kids playing college soccer who
| |
| | Take the SAT and ACT if you have not
|
| were simply solid high school players -
| |
| | already done so. When you sign up for the
|
| not stars.
| |
| | ACT or SAT use code 9999 to have your
|
| Your first priority must be finding
| |
| | scores sent directly to the NCAA
|
| colleges which will provide you with the
| |
| | Clearinghouse.
|
| education you want and need. But unless
| |
| | Register with the NCAA Clearinghouse.
|
| your educational requirements limit your
| |
| | You must pass certain high school core
|
| choices to just a few schools, if you
| |
| | courses and score a minimum score on
|
| were good enough to play soccer on a
| |
| | either the SAT or ACT test in order to be
|
| premier level club team and start on your
| |
| | certified to participate in NCAA Division
|
| high school varsity as a sophomore or
| |
| | I or II athletics as a college freshman.
|
| junior, you can probably find a college
| |
| | This must be done in the month of May in
|
| soccer program where you can play.
| |
| | their Junior year. The fee to register
|
| One word of caution here - stay away from
| |
| | is $27 and the booklets with the form
|
| the "pay-me-first" recruiters that are
| |
| | inside are available in most high school
|
| out there making promises to kids that
| |
| | guidance offices. Your counselors can
|
| they have no intention or possibility of
| |
| | obtain registration materials, at no
|
| fulfilling. Their sales pitches may
| |
| | cost, by calling the clearinghouse at 319
|
| sound good on the surface but doubtless
| |
| | 337-1492. A list of instructions,
|
| will only leave you hurting and poor.
| |
| | questions and answers and approved core
|
| There are a few things you should
| |
| | courses is on-line at NCAA Clearinghouse.
|
| consider before deciding to play college
| |
| | If you have particular questions about
|
| soccer:
| |
| | the NCAA Clearinghouse, please write to:
|
| The life of a college player is very
| |
| | NCAA Clearinghouse, P. O. Box 4044, Iowa
|
| regimented. That is you get up early, go
| |
| | City, IA 52243-4044.
|
| to work out, go to class, go to practice,
| |
| | Keep a list of all the college soccer
|
| go to study hall, go to bed, and then
| |
| | coaches who respond to your package.
|
| start over. There is time for "college
| |
| | Keep notes on your conversations with
|
| life" but not nearly so much as a normal
| |
| | coaches, if any.
|
| student.
| |
| | No response from a top choice? Resend
|
| You must be prepared to sit the bench.
| |
| | your material
|
| This is probably the most difficult
| |
| | Make unofficial, unannounced visits to
|
| transition that a star high school player
| |
| | 10-12 schools you are most interested in.
|
| can make. Unless you are lucky enough to
| |
| |
|
| go to a team that has no one else to play
| |
| | Keep playing on as many good teams as you
|
| your position, you are going to have to
| |
| | can.
|
| bump someone out of their position in
| |
| | Division 1 prospects - make the ODP pool
|
| order to play your freshman year and that
| |
| | team if you can.
|
| is very hard to do. The older players
| |
| | Find out your high school schedule; send
|
| are going to get first shot at their
| |
| | it and test results to college coaches.
|
| positions and if they are good you may
| |
| | Narrow list of top choices down to
|
| not get a shot until they graduate. That
| |
| | maximum of 10-15 schools.
|
| is why it is really important to look for
| |
| | Follow all of the NCAA's recruitment
|
| a team that NEEDS someone at your
| |
| | rules.
|
| position.
| |
| | During Senior Year Season
|
| College ball will be a big transition.
| |
| | Set goal to improve your GPA.
|
| Many kids are not able to handle it. And
| |
| | Be a varsity impact player - starter for
|
| it is not for everybody.
| |
| | sure, captain, all-league or all-star,
|
| Now, if you're still interested here's a
| |
| | etc.
|
| roadmap to help you find your way to that
| |
| | See as many of the college teams you like
|
| college team of your dreams:
| |
| | play as you can - meet coaches. Decide if
|
| Freshman/Sophomore Years
| |
| | there are coaches you like ... and
|
| Get your grades up. They must be 2.0 or
| |
| | coaches you don’t like. It is important
|
| better in solid college prep curriculum.
| |
| | that you get a feel for the coaching
|
| Do some academic planning, making sure
| |
| | techniques of the coaching staff. The
|
| you take all of the right college prep
| |
| | coach is going to be a different person
|
| courses and get prepared for the SATs.
| |
| | from the one you see when she/he is
|
| Take any Advanced Placement (AP) courses
| |
| | recruiting you and you need to know that
|
| you can handle.
| |
| | you can handle her/his coaching methods.
|
| Find a good club team & play year round
| |
| | Talk to players, watch games, and try to
|
| Aim at making high school varsity as a
| |
| | read between the lines. Remember,
|
| sophomore
| |
| | college ball is going to be different
|
| Try out for ODP - the Olympic Development
| |
| | from high school - they have to win to
|
| Program ... but, don’t worry if you
| |
| | keep their jobs so there is going to be a
|
| don’t make it.
| |
| | lot of pressure on them (and
|
| In the tenth and eleventh grade get
| |
| | correspondingly you) to perform.
|
| somebody to shoot video footage of you in
| |
| | Analyze the style of play of the college
|
| games. This will go in your packages you
| |
| | teams - where would you fit in?
|
| send out to coaches.
| |
| | Decide if there are coaches you like ...
|
| Junior Year
| |
| | and coaches you don’t like.
|
| (The Most Important Year)
| |
| | Which schools did you like? big, little,
|
| Make sure your grades are good ..
| |
| | rural, city, etc. which programs?
|
| somewhere between 2.5 and 3.5 will get
| |
| | After Senior Season
|
| you in most schools.
| |
| | Pick 5-7 schools, send applications.
|
| Take the PSAT as soon as possible. Take
| |
| | Send senior season package to college
|
| the SAT and ACT also, if possible.
| |
| | coaches where you have applied.
|
| Start on the high school varsity
| |
| | Keep in touch with admissions departments
|
| Make the best club team you can - one
| |
| | and college soccer coaches.
|
| where other D1 - (Division 1) prospects
| |
| | After January 1st, fill out all financial
|
| are playing is preferred.
| |
| | aid documents.
|
| Make the best travel team you can - one
| |
| | Continue to follow up with admissions
|
| where other NCAA D1 - (Division 1)
| |
| | offices, financial office & coaches until
|
| prospects are playing is preferred. You
| |
| | decisions are made.
|
| can only prepare for college ball by
| |
| | Review any new possibilities that present
|
| playing against the best competition you
| |
| | themselves (sudden interest from a
|
| can find. A very fast speed of play and
| |
| | different coach, etc.)
|
| a very physical style of play are the
| |
| | Review all offers of admission and
|
| hallmarks of college soccer. You won't
| |
| | financial aid.
|
| generally find that in local competition.
| |
| | Revisit or make formal visits to 3
|
| Seek out the best competition you can
| |
| | schools you are most interested in.
|
| find.
| |
| | Pick the school with the best
|
| Play year-round on as many teams as you
| |
| | combination: education, financial aid,
|
| have time for.
| |
| | right soccer program for you.
|
| Begin studying colleges for educational
| |
| | For a club, I suggest that you collect
|
| interests and soccer program.
| |
| | all the packages prepared by the players
|
| Develop a list of 50-75 schools which
| |
| | (their resumes and educational summaries)
|
| serve your educational needs - where you
| |
| | and put them into book which you can have
|
| could play.
| |
| | available at tournaments and showcase
|
| Have somebody shoot video footage of you
| |
| | events in case a college coach scouts
|
| in games.
| |
| | your team.
|
| Prepare a package documenting your
| |
| |
|
