College Soccer Recruiting Timeline

The recruiting process and timeline for college soccer vary significantly between men’s and women’s teams, as well as between Division 1 and NJCAA programs. Regardless of the perspective, it is evident that the recruiting process is never identical. However, there appears to be a commonality across the board: coaches are increasingly willing to recruit at a later stage in a youth player's development. This trend is particularly noticeable in men’s soccer. Several factors contribute to the continued extension of the recruiting timeline, despite the consistency of NCAA recruiting rules. These factors include the demand for players, changes in the landscape with the transfer portal, limited scholarships, physical maturity, and the evolving structure of MLS Academies. These elements collectively reshape how players are recruited and the associated timelines.