An overview of important considerations for the student-athlete who wishes to play college soccer. Prepared for 2012 SD Soccer Association AGM& Workshops in conjunction with panel discussion by college soccer coaches. Updated March 11, 2013.

1. SO . . . YOU WANT
TO PLAY
COLLEGE SOCCER?
Updated March 11, 2013

3. Know Your ABCs…..
• NCAA – National Collegiate Athletic Association
(Divisions I, II & III)
• NAIA – National Association of Intercollegiate
Athletics
• NJCAA – National Junior College Athletic
Association (Divisions I & III)
• NCCAA – National Christian College Athletic
Association (Divisions I & II)

4. NCAA Division I
• How Many Schools: There are 205 men's soccer
programs in Division I, including powerhouses like
Notre Dame, Indiana and Akron. There are 324
women's programs, including titans like Stanford,
North Carolina and Penn State.
• Scholarship Count: Women's soccer is allowed 14
scholarships. Men's soccer is allowed 9.9 scholarships.
• Scholarship Breakdown: Scholarships can be full or
partial rides at the Division-I level, but with rosters
exceeding 20 players, they are used carefully.

5. NCAA Division II
• How Many Schools: There are 204 men's
programs, and 258 women's programs like
powerhouses in Division II soccer. Men’s
powerhouses include Saginaw Valley State & Simon
Frasier. Women’s are West Florida & UC-San
Diego.
• Scholarship Count: Women's soccer has 9.9
scholarships to work with. Men have nine
scholarships.
• Scholarship Breakdown: Partial rides are common
in Division II soccer, as coaches can distribute the

6. NCAA Division III
• How Many Schools: Division III soccer consists of 408
men's programs and 434 women's programs. Powers
include Messiah, Ohio Northern and Loras for the men
and Emory, Messiah & Wheaton for the women.
• Scholarship Count: Athletic scholarships are not
offered or allowed in Division III athletics.
• Scholarship Breakdown: With no athletic
scholarships, students often find financial aid or
academic scholarships to assist with costs while
playing soccer.

7. NAIA
• How Many Schools: There 198 men's programs
in the NAIA and 198 women's programs.
• Scholarship Count: Both men's and women's
soccer are allowed 12 scholarships per team.
• Scholarship Breakdown: Partial scholarships are
common. Strong students who meet certain
academic criteria can receive aid without it
counting toward the program's limit.

8. NJCAA Division I
• How Many Schools: There are 146 men's soccer
programs at the junior-college level and 132
women's programs.
• Scholarship Count: Men's and women's soccer
are allowed 18 scholarships at the junior-college
level.
• Scholarship Breakdown: Many scholarships at
the junior-college level are full rides, but partial
rides are common, too.

9. NJCAA Division III
• How Many Schools: There are 81 men's
programs in NJCAA Division III, and 67
women's programs.
• Scholarship Count: Much like Division III four-
year schools, D-III schools at the junior-college
level do not offer scholarships.

10. By the numbers….programs
Division Women's Men's
NCAA Division I 324 205
NCAA Division II 258 204
NCAA Division III 434 408
NAIA 198 198
NJCAA Division I 132 146
NJCAA Division III 67 81

11. Athletic scholarships maximum..
(Not all schools are fully funded…)
Division Women Men
NCAA Division I 14 9.9
NCAA Division II 9.9 9
NCAA Division III - -
NAIA 12 12
NJCAA Division I 18 18
NJCAA Division III - -

12. The Recruiting Process
• Myth:
“Schools will recruit me!”
• Truth:
Most players/parents end
up recruiting the school

13. The Recruiting Process
• Myth:
“Walk on players never get anywhere.”
• Truth:
Some walk-on players can end up with
more scholarship money than “regulars”!

14. The Recruiting Process
• Step 1 – Research Schools
– Size and location, academics
– Quality of soccer program, coach, roster size and
grade breakdown
• Step 2 – Make List of Potential Schools
– Include a few long shots, but majority of realistic
choices
• Step 3 – Contact Coach
– e-mail is usually most effective
– Inform coach of schedule for high school or club
– Be sure to put jersey number, jersey colors, potential
positions, field number, and opponent

15. The Recruiting Process
• Step 4 – Set up a College Visit
– Official Visit – Paid for by the school
• Allowed only five
• Can start after July 15 going into Senior year of h.s.
– Unofficial Visit: Paid for on your own
• Unlimited
• Can take anytime
– Alert the coach that you are coming and request
meeting
– Tour the campus, meet with admissions, etc…

16. The Recruiting Process
• Step 5 – Follow up
– Let the coach know what you thought of
the visit and if you’d like to continue to stay
in contact
• Step 6 – Rank Visits
– Keep a personal reflection after each visit

17. Recruiting Rules for D1
• A prospective student-athlete can call coach at
anytime
• Coach can’t call a recruit until after July 1 of
senior year in high school, then only once a week
• A prospective student-athlete can e-mail coach
at anytime, but coach can’t return e-mail until
prospect’s junior year
• Parent/Player shouldn’t approach college coach
at a showcase or tournament.

18. Recruiting Rules for Everyone Else
• A prospective student-athlete can call or e-mail
coach at anytime
• D2 Coach can’t call a recruit until after July 1 of
junior year in high school
• Less restrictions for D3, NAIA & NJCAA
• New rule – coach can text you
• Parent/Player shouldn’t approach college coach
at a showcase or tournament.

19. When to Start the Process
(FEMALES)
• Process much earlier than males
• DIVISION I LEVEL
– Evaluation = Freshman or Sophomore Year
– Commitments = Sophomore or Junior Year
• DIVISION II LEVEL
– Evaluation = Sophomore or Junior Year
– Commitments = Junior Year, Early Senior Year
• DIVISION III LEVEL
– Commitments = Senior Year
• Signing Period = Early February

20. When to Start the Process
(Males)
• Pressure to decide early not as great as girls
• Identification starts during junior year.
• Start visiting schools during junior year
• Signing Date the same as females (Middle of
February)

21. How to Gain Exposure
Club vs. High School
High School for local coaches
Club just easier access and majority of the time is an
overall higher level
College Showcases
Team profiles
ODP
Camps (summer, winter, identification)
Visits, E-mails, Phone Calls
Recruiting Services

22. What to Send to Coaches
• 1 page profile sheet usually sufficient
– High school name & phone number
– Your cumulative GPA & class rank
– Desired major (if you have one)
– ACT/SAT scores
– Your NAIA/NCAA Eligibility Number
– Any honors or AP classes you have taken
– Contact Information – email address, home
mailing address, home phone, cell phone

23. What to Send to Coaches (cont)
• Contact Information –
– Your email address & home mailing address
– Your home phone & cell phone
– Your parents’ names & phone numbers
– Your high school/club/ODP coaches names, phone
numbers & email addresses
– Your school contact information, including mailing
address & phone number
– Your guidance counselor name & contact info

24. What to Send to Coaches (cont)
• Positions you play
• Your physical characteristics – height &
weight, 40-yd dash time w/ & w/o ball, mile
time, vertical jump, long jump
• Relevant stats for offensive players & GKs
• Videos – include a link to highlight film
– Most effective if coach hasn’t seen you play
– Not necessary, unless coach asks for them
• Schedules – be sure to include jersey number,
colors, field location, opponent

25. Coach Smith,
Hello, my name is Jane Doe and I play for the U17
Mockingbird Valley Soccer Club team. My graduation year is
2013. My jersey number is 17 and I play either outside back
or outside midfield. I am interested in your school and
soccer program and would like for you to come to one of my
games if you are going to be attending either of these
tournaments. My team will be wearing white or green. I am
going to be in Raleigh, NC for the showcase, Friday
November 30 - Sunday December 2. My game times are as
follows:
Friday 11/30/07 - 11:50am vs. Internationals, Field #2
Saturday 12/1/07 - 1:40pm vs. Dynamo, Field #5
Sunday 12/2/07 - 9:20am vs. CASL, Field #2

26. Additional Information
• School Applications – some are more complex
than others! Don’t procrastinate…..
• Meet deadlines – there are others waiting for your
spot and your scholarship money!
• Early applications are best – especially for
scholarship purposes
• Reference Letters from High School Counselors –
give them time to get them done and follow up.
Don’t wait until after high school graduation!

27. Role of the Parent vs. Player
• Coaches like to communicate with the player
rather than the parent
• Player should be the one contacting the
coach, arranging visits, etc…
• On a visit, important the player talks to the
coach and not just the parent; should come
with a list of questions

28. Scholarships
Fair Question to a coach: “Do you see me as a scholarship
player?”
Majority of soccer players are not on an athletic “full-ride”
Athletic Scholarship is a year by year agreement, not a four year
agreement
Most scholarships are increased before decreased

29. Important Things to Know
• FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student
Aid) – Should be completed right after Jan 1st
of senior year. Most schools require FAFSA to
be considered for any scholarship – including
academic.

30. Important Things to Know
• NCAA Eligibility Center (Formerly known
as the Clearinghouse) – register to
confirm eligibility in junior year if playing
D1 or D2. Cost is $60
• NAIA Eligibility Center (New in 2011) –
register to confirm eligibility at end of
junior year if playing NAIA. Can also
complete a student-athlete profile. Cost
to register is $65

31. Resources on Soccer605 (continued)

32. Resources through Soccer605

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