College Soccer Recruiting Tips

If you are starting the college soccer recruiting process or are in the middle of it right now and aren't sure about what you need to do, don't stress. There is a ton of information available on the internet, and even more resources are accessible to anyone going through the recruiting process.

So, what exactly do you need to do during the recruiting stage? Below, I will outline four ways to capture a school's interest and give yourself the best chance of getting into your school of choice.

Create a Highlight Video

The number one thing I strongly advise every player going through the recruiting process to do is to create a highlight video. There's a good chance that the schools you are interested in are not in your backyard.

While a recruiting highlight video may not guarantee you a scholarship or a spot on the team (although there is a small chance that it could), it can be a powerful tool if edited effectively to showcase your best moments.

Unlike some other sports, college soccer isn't as analytically driven, and coaches are less concerned about rankings. They are more focused on watching a player and assessing if they fit their college's playing style. Many colleges face budget constraints, making it difficult for them to attend every event. Consequently, some college coaches heavily rely on recruiting highlight videos to decide which events to attend. Thus, creating a compelling recruiting highlight video is crucial for gaining attention and showcasing your skills.

My advice would be to attach your highlight video directly to your email when sending out showcase schedules, expressing general interest, or outlining your plan to attend an upcoming college ID camp. If the video aligns with what the coach is looking for in a recruit, they are more likely to pay additional attention to you when you make contact. Any way you can make yourself stand out before they watch you play is extremely valuable.

If you're unsure where to start with your recruiting highlight video or what game footage to include, consider reaching out to someone who can create a professional highlight video. Tekkers Media, for instance, specializes in soccer-specific highlight videos and can help you create a video that you can confidently share with college coaches.

For more information or how to get your highlight video started head to Tekkers Media

Attend College ID Camps

Creating a highlight video is a crucial step, but it's not enough on its own. We also encourage all recruits to attend college ID camps.

Before randomly selecting ID camps, make a list of schools you're interested in. Conduct thorough research to identify camps where multiple schools of interest will be attending, and make an effort to attend those. Watching a player in person is a must for a coach before making a final decision. Instead of waiting for schools to come to you, take the initiative and go to them.

College ID camps differ from typical summer camps. They usually run for 1-2 days and offer a great opportunity for you to get to know the coaching staff while showcasing your skills in front of coaches. Attending camps longer than 4 days is unnecessary since most coaches can assess a player's suitability within 1-2 days.

Each school typically hosts 1-2 college ID camps each year, and they will release the list of attending schools leading up to the dates. Keep an eye out for ID camps on your shortlist of schools and make a concerted effort to attend them throughout your recruiting process. Make sure are camps run by the University not third parties unless a handful of your schools of interest are attending.

You can find schools easily by searching specific schools or head to NCSA “Find Soccer Camps” to help out with your search for upcoming ID camps.

Reach Out to Colleges Before Showcases

Another effective way to increase your opportunities to play in front of schools of interest is to proactively reach out to programs you're interested in before attending an ECNL Showcase or any major showcase event. This applies especially to showcases where numerous college coaches will be present. In your email, be clear and concise. Let them know the upcoming game schedule for the tournament and include a brief, personalized statement about why their school is of interest to you. Additionally, consider including your player profile information or your highlight video, both of which are ideal.

Reaching out in advance gets your name on their radar when college coaches are planning which games to attend. They might already be planning to watch another player in your game, and making them aware of your interest in their school can lead to a more thorough evaluation during the game.

When you attend these national showcases with hundreds of coaches in attendance, don't simply expect them to find you. Be proactive and reach out to them. This leads to my final tip for the recruiting process.

Be Proactive

The last piece of advice may seem obvious, but it's crucial: be proactive! Don't wait around for coaches to discover you. There are plenty of ways to get noticed. Above, I've outlined three effective methods for gaining additional exposure, but ultimately, you'll need to take the initiative and reach out to schools. Start early and be persistent in your approach. There is a school out there that's the right fit for you. If things don't fall into place immediately during the recruiting process, don't get discouraged