When it comes to soccer player recruiting tips it’s important to know when to start and the order. Some soccer parents are having their kids promoted on social media at 9 years old. This is not necessary – at all. There’s not a college or pro coach on the planet that cares how good you are at that age. On the contrary, there are high school players with big talent who don’t promote themselves enough or the right ways.
A good time to start promoting your talent
Learning is different from promoting…
If your goal is to play college or even pro, you should start learning the different schools and educating yourself in 8th grade.
Do research in where schools are, how many of them are there, the difference of D1, D2, D3, NAIA, Junior College.
By 9th grade start to promote by making good highlight videos to send to the schools you’re interested in.
For most players, 11th grade and even 12th is when players are committing.
The top 100 players in America are committing sooner, but that’s less than 1%. Therefore, don’t let the process stress you out.
Your time will come – keep working hard and stay patient!
Many players are making highlight videos, but most and I mean most of them are not quality videos.
Learn what coaches want to see in your highlights.
Again, most high school soccer players are committing their Junior or Senior years. Some people will say it’s too late to get scholarship money your senior year, but I have seen players get 50-100% scholarship. You can too, but you have to be persistent.
It’s not easy for the student or parents, but you can do it.
P.S. You don’t need a thousand dollar camera…
Showcase tournaments
One of the best soccer recruiting tips is playing in showcase tournaments, BUT know that some showcases don’t even have coaches on the sidelines.
If the kids are in 9th grade, not many coaches are watching compared to 10th – 12th.
If you don’t play on teams that are competing in these, see if you can guest play for another team.
College soccer programs in America
Number of men’s and women’s programs in 2023:
- D1 men’s have 208, D2 has 206, D3 415, NAIA 188, Junior college 217
- D1 women have 333, D2 has 265, D3 440, NAIA 188, Junior college 181
Note: These numbers change each year, as teams move up or down, come and go.
The biggest difference is women have a considerable amount more of D1 and D2 schools.
Division 2 doesn’t offer as many scholarship opportunities as D1.
D3 does not offer athletic scholarships, but does academically. 
Persistence is one of the best soccer recruiting tips
Keep communicating with the coaches. They want to know who really wants to go to their school.
So many kids are sending highlights and schedules, which makes it hard to keep up.
If you only reach out 1 or 2 times you’ll be overlooked by the players who are contacting 7-8 times.
Knowing your personal brand
Your brand is not what you think, but what others think.
Many pro players think their brand is one thing while most everyone else sees them a different way.
Example: The arrogant yet talented player who constantly has meltdowns because they’re not getting the ball enough.
Some athletes see themselves as the best, while everyone else sees a good player, but the antics outweigh the talent.
Learn how to build a strong personal brand
Knowing your true identity builds confidence
Your identity is knowing who you are regardless of what others think. True identity is remembering you’re unique, loved and have a purpose in life, so look forward to the future, not in the past.
Nowadays people and society have lost their identities more than ever.
Don’t think you have to act or believe what the world tells you. Know what is truth and what is made up.
Social media might be the worst thing for a kid. So much of what you see is not real… If you use it, don’t compare yourself to others and don’t let it consume your time.
So in short, don’t compare yourselves with others.
Instead work hard, don’t give up in your dreams, help others by encouraging and sharpening them and being yourself – not trying to please other people, but respecting them.
Put skills training in highlight or no?
One year I went to the coaching conference in Philadelphia and interviewed over a dozen college coaches. Some were top coaches like Randy Waldrum, Paul Ratcliff and Anson Dorrance.
All but one of the 15+ coaches said they wouldn’t care to see video of players doing skills training.
The main thing coaches want to see is actual game film of you playing against good competition. They don’t want to see you playing against low quality teams.
Rachel was being recruited to other schools, but after sending this to Penn State and North Carolina, both were interested.
You have to be persistent!
Our Most Popular Posts:
- 3 ways to strike the ball with power
- How to boost confidence in soccer
- 8 best 1st- touch drills
- Expert dribbling tips
- Goal side defending
Follow @GFTskills on Social Media
