Preparing for and Playing College Soccer
The following notes are for the benefit of college bound Blackhawk players.
Areas of Focus
A. Your college options and the decision variables to consider when selecting a college.
B. What you need to do in order to play college soccer.
C. What it takes to be a college soccer player.
D. What it’s like to be a college soccer player.
Scholarships – The Myths and the Facts
A. Myth 1 – Every player is getting a scholarship. Fact – Less than 5% of all soccer players get an athletic scholarship (not like football).
B. Myth 2 – They are 4 years in length. Fact – They are 1 year contracts, renewable annually.
C. Myth 3 – They can not be taken away or reduced. Fact – They can be revoked or reduced for a variety of reasons, including performance.
D. On the positive side: They are also routinely INCREASED.
Your College Options & Decision Variables to Consider When Selecting a College
A. College Options
NCAA Div I, II,III (No Athletic scholarships Div III) NCAA Div I Max Men – 9.9 Women – 14
NAIA – Different organization, rules, academic requirements and age restrictions
NJCCA – junior colleges
B. Decision Variables in the College Selection Process
1. Soccer Program
a. Level of play
b. Schedule (collegesoccer.com)
c. Team history/success
d. Style of play
e. Needs
f. Scholarship
g. Team/player commitment
h. Facilities
i. Academic support for athletics – tutoring, advising, etc.
2. Academic Requirements
a. GPA
b. ACT/SAT
c. Course Curriculum
d. Majors
3. Social Environment
a. Is there campus life/housing?
b. Is it a primary commuter school?
c. Is it the #1 party school in America?
4. Size
a. Big School – 20,000 – 40,000 students; Big Classes – 100-150 students
b. Small School – 3,000 – 10,000 students; Smaller Classes – Avg 25 students
5. Location
a. Close to home/Far from home
b. Warm climate/Cold climate
c. College town/College IN town
d. Close to beach
6. Cost
a. Private/Public
b. In state/Out-of-state
c. Academic scholarships
d. Financial Aid
What you need to do in order to play college soccer
A. Develop yourself academically – opens more doors
1. Take as many CORE courses as possible – 14 is minimum going to 16 in 2008
2. Develop good study habits early on
3. High school GPA transcripts start your FRESHMAN year
4. Prepare for ACT/SAT exams – New SAT (essay)
5. Register with Clearinghouse – after junior year
B. Develop yourself athletically
1. Play for a club that will develop your skills
2. Continue to work on your own technically
3. Participate in ODP teams
4. Attend a couple of college camps
5. Play for a competitive team that will expose you to some major tournaments
6. Play for a club that rotates it’s coaches every few years
7. Play for a club/team where your coach is well known among college coaches and has a solid reputation
C. Realistically assess your abilities
1. Academically
2. Athletically – watch games
D. Send out resumes at beginning of junior year/end of sophomore year
1. Include academic and athletic profile
2. Denote graduation date
3. On-line profiles are big advantage
E. Find a college that has a need for your type of player
F. Parents and player evaluate colleges based on all factors
1. Role of parents – guide child through the process and keep in mind all variables, but don’t make the decision for them.
What it takes to be a college soccer player
A. Excellent physical characteristics
Must excel in at least on physical area – speed, size, strength, endurance
B. Possess the necessary technical skills to perform your primary job
1. Forwards – finishing, back to goal, creating your own chances, moving w/o the ball
2. CMF – Vision, speed of play, passing, defending
3. Outside mids – speed, 1 v 1 ability, crossing
4. Centerbacks – 1v 1 defending, strong, fast, good passer, heading
5. Outside backs – speed, 1 v 1 defending, good long service
6. Goalkeeper – decision maker, communicator, good with feet, shot stopper
C. Possess and excellent work rate
D. Be able to make decisions quickly and play with fewer touches
E. Be able to play when games are tight
F. Must be responsible on and off the field – coaches get fired
G. Be able to work with and care for your teammates – you’ll be around them 24/7
H. Must be extremely competitive
What it’s like to be a college soccer player
A. It’s very time demanding
1. Train 5-6 days a week – practice, games, weights, travel, training room
2. Academic workload – study hall, papers, exams, group projects, advisor appt
B. It’s physically demanding
1. 20 games in 12 weeks
2. Not much rest or time for injuries
3. Style of play is very physical
C. Every game is important – similar to state cup or regional games
D. It is more result oriented – coaches get fired for winning and losing
E. Speed of play is much faster than club
1. Less time in midfield
2. Better defending
3. Better athletes
F. Very few easy games
1. Virtually every game is close
2. Must be able to play in tight games
3. Must concentrate on every game
G. Spring season can be long
1. A lot of practices, few games
2. Still working 5 days a week
3. Intense strength training and speed development
H. You will get closer to your teammates than any other teammates you’ve ever had
I. You have greater responsibility and accountability than on any other team prior to college
1. Everybody knows you and who you play for
2. Accountability on and off the field
J. It’s the absolute best time of your life
Conclusion
A. Be proactive throughout the process
B. Strive for the highest level
C. Take advantage of the opportunity