Your questions answered on recruiting

Your questions answered on recruiting
by TopDrawerSoccer
December 1, 2021

In the runup to National Signing Day, we promised to answer any of your soccer-related recruiting questions in tandem with our partners at IMG Academy and their soccer program.

You asked, and below, IMG Academy College Coordinator for Girls Soccer / U17 Girls Coach, George Van Linder answers a variety of user-submitted questions.

Q: My son plays for an MLS Academy U19 team. I was figuring he would have offers by now but nothing. I am wondering if we have done everything right? He has been communicating with several coaches and texting/calling with about 6-8 coaches, all in Division I. Is there any particular reason that at least one of the 6-8 coaches he has been texting/calling has not made an offer yet? One of the schools even told him he is their #1 prospect at that position. I guess I am just wondering if we did not do something right.

A: If he has been communicating with that many coaches, a good question to ask would be, “What is the timetable for you to make decisions on who is on your roster for next year?” Tell the coach you are very interested in their program, but if there isn’t room you want to explore other options. You may be a junior in high school, and it isn’t time to extend an offer. If you are a senior, this is an appropriate question to ask. 

Q: Is [Signing Day] the only day you can sign to play college soccer if you are in the Class of 2022?

A: No, that begins the time period so you can sign any day after that day up to August 1st, 2022 (Division I and II). Division III doesn’t have scholarships to sign, so each Division III school is different.

Q: How do you get more exposure to coaches even if you live in a very small area?

A: There are several ways to try and get more exposure in the soccer landscape. You can start by trying to find a bigger club team and join them or at least see if you can go to tournaments with them as a guest player. Another option is to search for College ID Camps with several schools represented that you think would be a good fit for you. You can also check your state soccer association and see about joining the ODP, or Olympic Development Program. Last but not least, create a highlight tape, and email it to college coaches.

Q: How do you know what level you should be playing at (DI, DII, DIII, etc)?

A: There are several different methods to accomplish this. Your club coach can help you speak with an experienced coach to get a sense of your level. By attending a college ID camp, you can speak to the college coaches and ask them what schools you should target. And, if you go to a big tournament and only Division II coaches contact you afterwards, that could be a helpful sign. 

Keep in mind there are great teams at EVERY level, so it is not so much the level but it is the team at that level. College coaches don’t want players who can just make their team, they want players who can make their team better. Think about that as you are thinking about schools.

Q: I'm a freshman and want to get my name out there. How do I do that?

A: You have some time, but it is good that you are proactive. Try to join the highest level club team you can play on. Make sure that they are going to several college showcase/tournaments. Look for good summer camps to attend, such as IMG’s, or ID Camps to attend. Don’t just go to any camp or every camp; pick one that works for you. 

Also, consider joining ODP if your club team doesn’t have a lot of visibility. Men’s college coaches start really looking later in a player’s junior year (generally). Women’s college coaches tend to look at players at a slightly younger age, maybe even during sophomore year.

IMG Academy’s experts also gave the following insight that may be beneficial as you prepare for a future Signing Day or while you navigate your own college recruitment journey:

You can only sign if you are receiving an athletic scholarship, no matter the dollar amount. Some schools, such as Ivy League programs, don’t have athletic scholarships, so those student-athletes can’t sign on Signing Day. Other players may receive various types of aid through academics or need-based aid, and they can’t sign either. Also, sometimes a college coach can only offer money their junior or senior year in college, so a player wouldn’t be able to sign on signing day either.

Fun fact: there are more Division III college soccer programs than at any other level. Therefore, as you may have guessed, they make up the largest group of college soccer players or former college soccer players. Yet, many high school players discount Division III schools, but for many, they may be the best option for everyone involved.

To learn more about the recruiting process or about IMG Academy’s offerings, register for a free account with TopDrawerSoccer where you can learn more about their soccer development opportunities.

Did you know NCSA offers free college recruiting resources? As the official college recruiting services partner of IMG Academy, you also have access to their tools to help you manage your recruiting journey, make connections, and get recruited. It’s all available when you click here!

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