Playing Soccer in College: Soccer Recruiting Roadmap (Part 1)
- Soccer Unleashed
- Jun 17
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 30
Guiding your child toward college can be overwhelming, especially with all the pressure to do things "right." It's easy to get lost in the recruiting maze and question if you're on the right track. But with the right strategy, you can navigate this process confidently, and help your soccer player achieve their goals without losing your mind (or theirs!).
We'll share tips and resources to help you get your player recruited by college scouts and find the school that is not only an athletic fit, but an academic one as well. Here's part one, of a two part blog, which focuses on what to do during Freshman and Sophomore Year to play soccer in college. View Part Two (Junior & Senior Years) here.
Freshman Year: Lay the Foundation For Playing Soccer in College
Think of freshman year as setting the stage for playing soccer in college.
Focus on Academics. While college coaches are looking for amazing athletes, they are also highly interested in their academic achievements. Freshman Years' GPA has a large impact on Senior Year GPA. If your child does poorly Freshman Year, it's a long, hard road to raise the grade later.
Review the required NCAA core courses before choosing classes to ensure your player will be eligible to go play for a Division I or II college.
Create and maintain an account on the NCAA Eligibility Center website. This provides an ID number that coaches often ask for.
Play at the highest level possible, but always keep development in mind. Playing with and against talented players facilitates develop and draws in more scouts. Currently, many believe ECNL (for girls) and MLS Next (for boys) are the top for being recruited by college coaches, but there are other paths to playing soccer in college.
Create a social media page (we recommend Instagram) for your player and begin posting game and practice footage. Store this footage for later when it's time to create highlight reels for college coaches. We also recommend posting non-soccer activities that demonstrate leadership, volunteering, clubs, and their character. Coaches like to have a full picture of the player they are recruiting to ensure well-rounded and fit into their team dynamics.
Begin researching potential schools. Be sure to look at colleges at different levels of play (NCAA Division I, II, III, NAIA). Research their academic programs, class sizes, culture, enrollment requirements and more. Learn about their soccer program and coach. Be realistic about the players' skill level and look for the best overall fit. Academics should be a top priority. Make sure to not only include top schools, have three second level choices, and two to three safeties.
At this point, DI and DII coaches can't contact your player directly, but they can send general info or camp brochures. However, your player can start reaching out to them to make the initial contact, attaching their Soccer Profile (see below), which is a great way to show initiative.
Resource: Overview of Competitive Youth Soccer Leagues from Beast Mode Soccer
Sophomore Year: Building a Player Profile
Keep focusing on academics - grades are important.
Create a highlight reel - but make sure it's impressive. The highlight reel, in addition to a Player Profile (see next bullet), is often a college coach's first impression of your player.
Research mistakes people make when making a reel. Here's one option.
Keep the reel short, 3 to 5 minutes, include about 20 clips.
Show the best plays first so they are hooked quickly and keep watching.
Add a brief circle around your player at the start or each clip so the coach knows who they are on the field. Sharing their jersey number is not enough.
Show variety of plays from tackles to passing and directional touches and from making runs to taking shots. Show the field, not a close up of your player. A coach wants to see how they read the field.
Don't include distracting music or graphics.
Develop a Soccer Player Profile / Resume. Create a one page overview about your child. Include contact info (player and parent), academic achievements including GPA, high school and club stats, position, jersey number, and link to a highlight reel (and social media pages).
Proactive Outreach. This is where your player steps up. They should start sending personalized emails to coaches at schools they're interested in. Emphasize why they like that specific program, attach their profile and highlight reel, and be sincere. Follow up after tournaments!
Strategic ID Camps & Showcases. Some camps are not worth your time or your money. Research which college coaches are attending to be sure you're getting in front of the coaches for the schools you're interested in. Playing in big, high-profile club tournaments where scouts are known to attend is also key. Access a free listing of ID Camps/Clinics here.
NCAA Rules Update: On June 15th after sophomore year, coaches are now able to begin contacting Division I and II recruits. This is when college coaches can officially start calling, texting, emailing, and even making verbal offers. This is when you'll really feel the recruiting process in motion.
The Bottom Line: Your Player's Journey to Play Soccer in College
The truth? There’s no magic formula — but there is a smarter way to approach the journey.
The college soccer recruiting process takes time, effort, and a lot of heart from both you and your player. It’s not a sprint — it’s more like a marathon. And while no path is guaranteed, having a clear plan makes all the difference.
So, start planning today, use the resources available to you, and most importantly, keep nurturing your child's passion for the game. After all, that's what it's all about, right?
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