Let’s put together a scenario. You find a school you love. The academics are strong, the campus is beautiful, and you can picture yourself playing there.
Then you open the soccer roster.
“They have two center backs graduating before I get there. I’m a center back. That must mean they’ll need me!”
I understand the thought process. For a long time, counting graduating players was a common way to try to figure out a program’s recruiting needs.
But especially in Division I (this even applies to Division II and III), you cannot build your school list around assuming that just because a team is losing a certain position, they will need to replace that position.
Transfers, international recruiting, players’ remaining eligibility, and roster management (the ‘mathing’ of scholarships included) all affect who a program needs and when. Roster limits at Division I schools participating in the House settlement add another consideration. Two graduating center backs do not automatically equal two openings for high school center backs.
So how do you figure out whether a school might realistically recruit you?
You will have to look a little deeper and one of the best places to start is with the player rosters and bios.
Where is the current roster coming from?
Look beyond names, grad year and positions. Where did these players grow up? Are they mostly from the same state or region? Are they coming from all over the country? Are there several international players?
You are looking for trends.
A roster with a lot of local players may suggest that the staff has strong relationships with nearby clubs (potentially smaller recruiting budgets to travel) regularly recruiting at those events. A roster with players from several countries may suggest that international recruiting is an important part of how that program builds its team.
Geography can be especially useful when researching programs with a more regional recruiting footprint. But do not assume that every smaller school, D2, or D3 program only recruits locally. Read the bios and see what that particular program is actually doing.
If you live across the country, that does not mean you cannot be recruited there. It does mean you need to think about how a specific coaching staff is going to see you play and see you play often.
Playing at the events they are recruiting at, attending ID camps, sending emails and film are all obvious ways to increase your odds of getting seen, but nothing is a guarantee.
What clubs and leagues did they play in?
This is one I really want families to pay attention to.
If you play in the GA and almost every player on a college roster came from an ECNL club, that is useful information.
It does not prove that the coaching staff will never recruit a GA player. But it should make you ask where they spend their recruiting time and which events they attend.
A school can be a great fit on paper, but if its coaches are never at your events, then you either need to find a way to have them see you play in person (usually an ID camp isn’t enough) or move on.
Look at multiple recruiting classes, too. One player from a particular league might be an exception. A consistent pattern across several classes tells you more.
The same applies if you play ECNL RL, GA Aspire or DPL and are researching a roster made up almost entirely of ECNL and GA players. That deserves an honest conversation about the level of the program and how your individual ability compares.
Your league does not tell your whole story, but the recruiting patterns of the schools on your list should help guide where you spend your time.
What experience did those players have before college?
Keep reading.
Do several players have youth national team experience, either with the U.S. or another country? Were they invited to national identification events? Selected for ECNL or GA awards or all-star opportunities?
One player with that background is different from a roster full of them.
If you are looking at a top program in any division and many of its players arrived with significant national or international experience, that gives you some context for the level of player the staff is recruiting.
That does not mean you need an identical résumé. Players develop at different times, and recognition is never a perfect measure of ability.
But if your experience looks very different from nearly everyone on the roster, that school may belong in your reach, and likely unrealistic, category.
Of course there are always exceptions, but plan on being the rule and not the exception.
WATCH THE TEAM PLAY!
Bios give you background. Watching games helps you understand what that background looks like on the field.
I have worked with too many players who add schools to their list and I ask “have you ever seen the team play?” and they say “no.” How are you going to evaluate if you have the potential to play for a program that you haven’t ever seen play?!
Watch the players in your position. How quickly do they make decisions? How comfortable are they under pressure? What are they asked to do defensively? How much ground do they cover?
Try to watch a full game rather than only highlights. You will learn much more from the moments between the goals and assists.
Lastly, get an outside opinion. It can be difficult to evaluate your own level objectively. A coach who knows your game and understands the college level can help you make sense of what you are seeing, and be ready for realistic and honest feedback.
Pay attention to who is on the coaching staff
If you are a 2028 graduate or younger, remember that the staff recruiting you today may change before you arrive.
Look at how long the head coach has been there, recent staff changes, and the team’s results over several seasons. Public contract announcements can provide context, but they cannot guarantee that a coach will stay.
One head coaching change at the top can create a ripple effect. A coach takes a new job, their previous school needs a replacement, assistants move, and other positions open up.
With those changes can come different recruiting priorities, club relationships, and playing styles.
You cannot predict every coaching move, but you can make sure you are learning about the school itself, too.
Would you still want to attend if the coach who recruited you left? Would you still have the option to?
Dream big, but be realistic
You can absolutely have ambitious goals for where you want to play. I want players to be excited about their options, but I also want you spending your time, energy, and money on programs where there is a thoughtful reason to believe you could fit.
Read the bios. Watch the games. Look for patterns. Ask questions.
The more you understand a program, the better you can decide whether it deserves a place on your list.
If you would like assistance with the college soccer recruiting process, please contact us!
