SO . . . YOU WANT

TO PLAY

COLLEGE SOCCER?Updated November 9, 2013

• 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)

• 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.

• 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 money to as many players as they wish.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

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.

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

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

- -

(Not all schools are fully funded…)

Myth:“Schools will recruit me!”

Truth: Most players/parents end up recruiting the school

Myth:“Walk on players never get anywhere.”

Truth: Some walk-on players can end up with

more scholarship money than “regulars”!

• 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

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…

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

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.

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.

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

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)

Club vs. High SchoolHigh School for local coachesClub just easier access and majority of the

time is an overall higher level

College Showcases Team profiles

ODPCamps (summer, winter, identification)

Visits, E-mails, Phone CallsRecruiting Services

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

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

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

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 #5Sunday 12/2/07 - 9:20am vs. CASL, Field #2

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!

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

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

• 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.

• 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

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