HAPPY NEW YEAR!

This is the time of the year where high school seniors could be in the middle of the stressful process of selecting a college. It can be even more stressful if you plan to play a sport. This is the main reason the focus of this post will be the college recruiting process for soccer players.

The most important thing about this process to remember is: THERE IS A COLLEGE FOR EVERYONE! As a current college coach, I can guarantee that no matter your skill level, there are programs out there that will add you to their roster. I am not saying these programs are going to win national championships but the opportunity to be a college soccer player is there for everyone. Hopefully, this post will shed some light on the process. All you have to do is just figure out where you fall in the timeline and you can go from there.

Since the high school seniors are making their decisions or at least pretty close, I will start with them. By this point in the calendar, the player themselves should be on top of every decision and deadline. Do not let mom or dad make decisions without you knowing. Part of becoming a college athlete is defined by how self-sufficient you become. If you have made your decision and your coach has given you off-season workouts, you need to figure out how it fits into your schedule, not your parents. No college coach wants to hear that you’re not prepared because your mom or dad forgot something. Right there, is a red flag that a coach might be able to trust you. Make sure you are in constant contact with the school you have chosen to attend. From placement tests, room and board issues, financial aid, orientations, etc. you need to know all of this information.

The next thing to mention goes to everyone, no matter the grade. You need to be organized and understand time management skills. This is a very complicated and time-consuming process if you are not organized. You are going to feel extremely overwhelmed with applications, lots of emails and phone calls, current practices and games with your team, etc. Not to mention, you still have to get good grades while you’re in high school. Developing study skills, time management skills, and just being organized will go a long way to helping you become self-sufficient through your college career.

Now, the soccer preparation aspect. Take this seriously and make the proper commitment to the process. This is not just for the seniors reading this. Proper preparation can make the difference when it comes to showing up for college preseason. You could be one of 15-30 new players attending preseason. You need to separate yourself from the group and the best way to do that is to develop good habits beforehand. Perfecting your technique on the ball, improving fitness, and studying the game can all be done by yourself. If you have made a choice on where you are going to college, ask your coach for their workout routines and follow it to a tee. If it is easier than expected, push yourself to do more. No coach will ever be upset with you if you run the mandatory 3 miles faster than expected.

The other reason why preparation is so important is that for most of you, college preseason will be a new level of stress on your body. This means the chance of injury is always greater. Taking the necessary precautions and developing muscle strength, flexibility, and proper warmup/cool down methods will decrease any risks by a lot. This is another example of being self-sufficient in the coach’s eyes. Any player who understands what their body needs and takes care of it shows a coach that this player is serious about not just making the team, but playing hard for a long time.

There are tons of websites for players and their parents regarding this process. Our goal at PASCO is to help anyone beginning or in the middle of this process find the best way for them. The one thing that cannot be found on any website is the information from the current players on the college roster. It is extremely important for any recruit to speak with the current players because that is where you will get the most honest answers. Coaches, administration, and even alumni are all trying to sell you on their school. Colleges are a business and part of the recruiting process revolves around the tuition you are paying. The more money being paid to the school means better things for the group I mentioned. The current players are very rarely affected by the next incoming class except from an on-the-field standpoint. This is why speaking with current players will usually get you the most honest answers regarding the coach, the program, and the school itself.

Here are a few websites that I feel are important and should provide some good information for anyone interested in playing college soccer:

PASCO CAP Program and Valuable Links – https://www.pascosoccer.com/cap/

PASCO CAP Program Timeline – https://www.pascosoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/College-Process-Timeline.pdf

Renee Lopez Coaching – https://rlopezcoaching.com/coachs-insight/parents-should-not-contact-college-coaches/

How to Prepare in High School for College Soccer – https://www.wikihow.com/Prepare-in-High-School-for-College-Soccer

Beast Mode Soccer – https://beastmodesoccer.com/7-tips-to-prepare-for-your-preseason/