Here are the most common recruiting questions and their answers:
1. How do I make college coaches aware of me? How do I market myself?
A) Become the best player you can be. What type of player you are is more important than how you market yourself.
B) Don’t wait for coaches to contact you. Start the process by sending an email to colleges you might be interested in attending.
C) Send your resume or profile along with a Highlight Video. If you have video of a full match you can include that too. (Make sure to indicate your jersey color and number!)
D) You can call a coach after sending an email to follow up. Be prepared to leave a voicemail.
2. When does the recruiting process begin?
A) This varies by school and by division. Division I colleges start to look at Boys during their Sophomore year of HS. Girls often start in the Freshman year. The summer after Sophomore year through the summer after Junior year is the biggest recruiting window for most colleges.
3. What is the difference between NCAA Division I or Division II etc.?
A) Division I schools have a bigger athletic department and usually offer more scholarships. Division II schools may offer athletic scholarships, but they are more limited in how many. Division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships.
NAIA schools follow different rules and may offer more scholarships than Division I. They tend to be smaller schools, but this varies.
4. How do I get a scholarship and how many are available?
- A) Divison I men’s soccer teams are allowed up to 9.9 soccer scholarships. These are based on performance.
Division II men’s soccer teams are allowed up to 9.0 scholarships.
NAIA men’s soccer teams are allowed up to 14 scholarships. - B) Most colleges provide much more money for Academic or Need based scholarships. Most colleges will also bundle Academic, Need, and Athletic scholarships together.
5. How can I tell if a school is a good fit for me?
A) Do some research online. Read about the school and the soccer program. Then contact the coach and ask questions. Visiting a college campus is the best way to see if it feels good for you. Every campus looks beautiful in their pictures. Walking around campus and walking in the main buildings will give you a much better perspective.