Lane 1: Academics

• Make them a top priority
• Stronger grades will offer more options
• Potential to earn academic aid
• In college you will be a student-athlete (must be able to balance both responsibilities)
• NCAA Eligibility Center – to compete in DI or DII, must meet the NCAA course requirements.

Lane 2: Soccer Development

• Must be your passion..HAVE FUN playing!
• Be coachable
• Spend time on the ball away from practice
• Always compete (practice too)
• Fitness & Nutrition (fuel yourself, get appropriate sleep and take care of your body with age appropriate fitness and recovery)

Lane 3: College Process

1. Take an inventory of your academics and soccer

• a. Utilize your club coach and/or trainers for feedback on your soccer abilities.
• b. Establish a data point of where you are with your academics and soccer to build an effective plan moving forward in identifying potential best fits universities and soccer programs.

2. Do your homework!

Research university and soccer program websites

• Establish academic profiles of your schools of interests.
• Review profiles of players, coaches bio, history of program, current rankings, etc.
• Utilize Topdrawer, US News Best Colleges, United Soccer College Rankings, etc.

This research will allow you to better familiarize yourself with school/programs of interest as well as provide you great information to personalize your communication to said schools at appropriate time.

• Campus Visits – Unofficial Visit

Essential to gain a first-hand feel for the campus, area, students, etc.

• Unofficial Visits – meeting the coach, players, and other athletic support staff when NCAA rules allow and coach provides the opportunity.
• Watch college soccer in person and online streaming. Important to “see” what the next level looks like and the level you aspire to play at.
• Talk with current or former college players to gain insight into what they experience(d) as a college soccer student-athlete.

3. Determine Criteria

As you research colleges online, make visits to campuses, talk with coaches, etc., you’ll begin to formulate what is important to you in your decision-making process.

• Region of the country; school size, academics, coaching staff, opportunity to play, cost/scholarship, proximity to home, players on the team, competitiveness of program, etc.
• Take notes on your schools/programs of your target list. This list is fluid and will be amended based on your academic profile, soccer ability, criteria and a coach’s corresponding interest in you.

4. Understand ALL your options

There are a spectrum of levels to play college soccer (DI, DII, DIII, NAIA & Junior College)

347 D1 Women’s Soccer Programs
265 D2 Women’s Soccer Programs
441 D3 Women’s Soccer Programs
188 NAIA Women’s Soccer Programs

It is about what fits YOU. The success of your college experience is not defined by the “name” of the university or the “Division” of the soccer program, but how well it “fits” YOU.

• Think about if you would attend the school even if you didn’t play soccer or were not able to play.

5. Be PROACTIVE

“Recruiting is a player driven process” – YOU must take ownership of the process.

Send introductory email

• Personalized to the school/soccer program
• Academic and soccer resume
• Highlight link
• Club coach/trainer contact info
• Upcoming game/tournament schedule

follow up regularly with academic and soccer updates as well as personalized messages relative to their soccer program

Initiate phone calls to personally introduce yourself and express interest in their program.

• Follow all programs on Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date with the program
• Make communication PERSONAL
• List of schools is fluid and the process is ever changing so keep going!