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