GREATER FORT LAUDERDALE SOCCER

College Recruitment Process Timeline 

If you are interested in playing college soccer, there are certain facts that you must understand before you begin the process. 

In a fully funded NCAA Division I women’s soccer program, there are only 12 full scholarships available at any point in time.  Therefore, in programs with 20-30 players, most of them are only receiving partial scholarships, if they are on scholarship at all.  It is only in the most special cases (US National team/regional teams caliber players) where a sizeable scholarship might be given.    NCAA Division II and NAIA programs also offer scholarships, but at even lower levels in most cases.  NCAA Division III programs do not offer athletic scholarships, but will often work very hard at providing academic assistance to interested players with the necessary grades. 

Unless you are participating in the upper levels of the Olympic Development Program (ODP), it is unlikely that any major college coaches will come to you.  You need to take the initiative and contact the coaches and schools you are interested in. 

Beginning with that perspective, it is important to follow these three simple rules in selecting a college or university: 

1.  Be sure that the school you are interested in attending offers the major that you are most interested in pursuing, and that it is academically challenging enough for your needs.

2.  Be sure that the size, location, distance from home, and social environment of the school you are      interested in is comfortable for you for the next four to five years.  If soccer were to be taken away from     you for any reason, would you be happy staying there and completing your education? 

3.  Does the school you are interested in offer a soccer program that you believe you can participate in at a level of your choosing.  You may want to be an impact player immediately, an impact player later in      your career, a role player, or just a part of the team.  This however, must be the final part of the equation, NOT the first. 

You will have your education and your degree for a lifetime, but soccer will not last forever.

Chasing the Dream

    The following is an adaptation of a guide offered by the University of Kentucky soccer program.

 Sophomore Year

This is a great time to make initial contact by letter and/or e-mail with the schools you are interested in attending.  Initial contact should be made through conventional mail, with updates through e-mail and/or letters.  It is never too early to start!  Players should begin to formulate a list of 10-12 schools, varying in division and level of competitiveness (dream big – but be realistic also).  Division I and II schools can only respond to the introductory letter with a general questionnaire and/or summer camp brochure.  By making contact, it lets the prospective school know of your genuine interest.  It is also recommended that your follow up on this initial contact with schedules  (high school and club), tournament updates, recent awards, academic awards/scores, etc.  Update as often as you would like! 

Your introductory letter should stress your interest in and awareness of the specific program.  Personalize each letter, and remember – it’s okay to be creative!  This is done by reviewing that team’s past successes (i.e. season record, tournament bids, player awards, etc), which demonstrates you are well researched.  It should also highlight your own personal and/or team successes, both high school and club.  Also include in the letter a complete resume’ and any pertinent high school/club schedules.  A request for further information about the soccer program and the college or university as well as summer camps should be made at the closing of the letter. 

It is also recommended that you take as many unofficial visits as possible to many different types of schools.  You have an unlimited number of unofficial visits.  Most coaches are more than willing to meet and talk.  Campus tours can usually be arranged through the admissions office and/or visitor’s center. 

Sometime during the sophomore year, it is also recommended you enter the NCAA Clearinghouse.  See the NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Athlete, in your high school athletic department and/or guidance department, for further details.  It is also wise to evaluate your core courses and grade point average at this time. 

Junior Year 

As of September 1^st of your junior year, prospective student-athletes may begin to receive letters, media guides and other soccer/university information from college coaches, faculty members and students (not boosters).  Your “Top 10” list will vary from week to week or even day to day.  Therefore, it is a good idea to continue your research and recruiting.  You must also begin to research the academic side of schools in great detail.  Your recruiting should  continue along the same lines as your sophomore year but with some more focus and deliberateness.  Even though the high school season coincides with college soccer season, you should watch as many women’s college games as possible.  I can’t stress this enough!  Continue to request further information as well as take unofficial visits. 

I strongly encourage you to take your ACT/SAT tests during the fall and as many times as you can.  Don’t wait until the fall of your senior year.  Most academic packages from colleges are put together in the fall of your senior year based upon earlier scores and early deadlines.

Senior Year

As of July 1^st of your senior year, you may receive phone calls from coaches of both Division I and II schools.  Coaches are limited to one phone call per week.  Messages don’t count as a phone call.  If your parents speak with the coach about the university and/or soccer program, that phone call will count for that week even if they did not speak with you directly.   Letters, emails, faxes, etc. are unlimited.  Also, beginning your first day of class, you can begin official visits.  You have five official visits total.  Official visits are by invitational only, however.  Official visits are expense paid visits.

Miscellaneous Resources:

HIGHLIGHT TAPES and CD-ROMs:

Highlight tapes aren’t a necessity but can be a useful tool if done properly and professionally.  However, they tend to be very expensive in production, very time consuming, and costly in distribution.  They can be used to generate interest in those schools you are most interested in, like your top five.  It is a personal choice.

RECRUITING SERVICES:

The majority of services or resources offered by recruiting services are things you can do yourself with some time and hard work.  It’s a personal choice.

SUMMER CAMP:

Somewhat expensive, but very productive and useful, summer camps provide you with an opportunity to get “an insider’s view” of the prospective coaches, facilities, and campus.

ON-LINE RESEARCH AIDS:

www.socceramerica.com

www.collegesoccer.com

www.soccerbuzz.com

www.womensoccer.com

www.soccerlocker.com

www.soccerinfo.com

www.ncaa.org (rules and explanations)

GOOD QUESTIONS TO ASK ABOUT YOUR COLLEGE

When you meet the coach (or even potential teammates), they’ll at some point ask you if you have any questions.  Make sure you ask some.  In addition to those you come up with , here are some good ones you might not have thought of.

 YOU NEED TO ASK THE COLLEGE COACH AND TEAMMATES..

 1.  How many hours a day will athletics and other responsibilities keep me from my studies?

 2.  May I choose my major and attend classes required in my major even if practice conflicts?

 3.  What percentage of scholarship athletes graduate in four years? Five years?

 4.  Is free tutoring available?  How do I arrange for this service?

 5.  Do I like and admire this coach?  What do the players say about him/her?  Is he/she returning?

 6.  Can my athletic scores and records and times qualify me for this team?

 7.  Does this college environment (size of town, living arrangements, students) appeal to me?

 8.  Can I afford the personal costs of attending here (travel back and forth, etc., fees, tuition, room and board)?  If they offer a partial or full scholarship, how can it be terminated?

 9.  What is the varsity team composition – year in school, transfers, red shirts?

 10. What is the attitude on campus toward athletes?  Professors’ attitude?

 11. Will I live in a regular or an athletic dorm?  How many in a room?

 12. How many classes will I miss due to athletic commitments, travel, etc.?  Can I make up tests before or after an absence?

 13.  What accident/health insurance does the school offer athletes?  What is the procedure for injuries?

 14. What is the academic expectation to keep the scholarship or eligibility?

 15. Are my scores and high school academic record adequate to project success at this college?

 16. How many hours a day to most students study at this college?