The transition into college is an exciting and nerve-racking idea for young adult and their parents alike. This section is designed to assist the players and their family in this transition. Whether you are looking to continue playing at the next level or just to continue your education, I hope these various links and bits of advice will help make the transition a little easier.

For those players who want to play at the collegiate level the recruiting process can be a quite confusing and intimidating situation. The NCAA has many rules that both the recruiter and player must abide by. Any questions that you might have can be answered on the NCAA Recruiting page. It may be useful to familiarize yourself with the glossary found on the right side of the page.

NCAA Recruiting

When does the process start?

Soccer Recruiting Timeline

It is important to remember that when deciding on a college to select, that players should take a number of criteria into consideration . The athletic program should not be the only deciding factor when making your decision.
 
Playing at the collegiate level you become a "student-athlete" and the order of these words is pertinent. You are first and foremost a "student" at the school and must maintain the school's agreed upon GPA in order to continue being an athlete. Staying on top of your schoolwork and practice requires time management and organization of priorities.

When you have some colleges in mind that you are interested in, it is important to visit the campus and get a feel for the environment. The size, location and atmosphere of a campus can be deciding factors for the success of the player.

Once you've decided on a college you are interested in, both academically and athletically, you still have to be able to qualify and be accepted. Your GPA and SAT or ACT scores determine whether you will be accepted to that school. Certain schools require that you take both tests; some only require one or the other.

SAT

ACT

Colleges SAT Scores

 
Besides being accepted to the school that you've chosen, you will need to register with the NCAA Clearinghouse to verify your eligibility.

NCAA Clearinghouse Eligibility

Once you have done that,  It is very important you proceed with applying for financial aid to help assist in the cost. You will need to sign up with FAFSA and fill out the required information. This form needs to be filled out by the beginning of each year January through March.  FASFA will let you know what grants and loans you qualify for. And it's a first come basis.

FAFSA

There comes a time in every player’s soccer career when he or she needs to decide how seriously they want to pursue soccer. At some point, every youth soccer player will be asked the question: do you want to play soccer in college? If being a collegiate student-athlete is something that a youth player wants to pursue, then sacrifices may have to be made, and starting early in the recruiting process is the key.

Pressures to get discovered typically mount as players get older and begin high school soccer in the ninth grade. The trade-off is usually between club soccer and relying strictly on the high school soccer program. What is going to get you noticed? While the cost of choosing club soccer over high school sports can be tough, if playing soccer at the collegiate level is your ultimate goal, then it is a sacrifice that will have to be considered.

There are several reasons why club soccer is so important if you want to play college soccer. First, as a rule, club soccer is more competitive than high school soccer, and consequently, athletes who play club soccer are generally more committed players than those who do not. Second, college coaches do most of their recruiting from tournaments which club soccer teams attend. If you are not competing at those tournaments, then it is difficult for a coach to see you play and ultimately recruit you. Lastly, the experience gained from playing soccer at a competitive level will help mold you into a more desirable college prospect. The earlier you start, the better it is for coaches to see you at tournaments and showcases throughout your high school career.

Playing college soccer is not for everyone, but if your goal is to play college soccer at a D1, D2, D3 or NAIA, then you need to start early to help make sure that you are maximizing all of your opportunities and getting the most out of every club season.