College Soccer Guidance For High School Players And Their Parents

So you want to continue playing soccer in college?
Here's How:

You Don't Have To Make The Olympic Development Program or Be An All-Star Selection To Play On A College Team...If You Are Realistic About Yourself And The Colleges You Want To Attend. There Are Hundreds Of College Soccer Teams And Lots Of Kids Playing College Soccer Who Were Simply Solid High School Players--Not Stars. Your First Priority Must Be Finding Colleges Which Will Provide You With The Education You Want And Need. But Unless Your Educational Requirements Limit Your Choices To Just A Few Schools, If You Were Good Enough To Play Soccer On A Premier Level Club Team And Start On Your High School Varsity As A Sophomore Or Junior, You Can Probably Find A College Soccer Program Where You Can Play.

Freshman/Sophomore Years:

1. Get Your Grades Up--Must be 2.0 Or Better In Solid College Prep Curriculum

2. Find A Good Club Team & Play Year Round

3. Aim At Making High School Varsity As A Sophomore

4. Try Out For Olympic Development Program...Don't Worry If You Don't Make It.

Junior Year (This Is The Most Important Year):

1. Make Sure Your Grades Are Good...Between 2.5 and 3.5 Will Get You In Most Schools

2. Take The PSAT As Soon As Possible...Take The SAT and ACT Too If Possible

3. Start On The High School Varsity

4. Make The Best Club Team You Can

5. Play Year-Round On As Many Teams As You Have Time For

6. Begin Studying Colleges For Educational Interests and Soccer Program

7. Develop A List of 50-75 Schools Which Serve Your Educational

Needs--Where You Could Play

8. Prepare A Package Documenting Your Educational And Soccer Qualifications

9. Send Your Package To Each Head Soccer Coach On Your List

Spring Of Junior Year/Summer Before Senior Year:

1. Take The SAT And ACT If You Have Not Already Done So

2. Keep A List Of All The College Soccer Coaches Who Respond To Your Package

3. Keep Notes On Your Conversations With Coaches, If Any

4. No Response From A Top Choice? Resend Your Material

5. Make Unofficial, Unannounced Visits To 10-12 Schools You Are Most Interested In

6. Keep Playing On As Many Good Teams As You Can

7. Division I Prospects--Make ODP Pool Team If You Can

8. Find Out Your High School Schedule; Send It And Test Results To College Coaches

9. Narrow List Of Top Choices Down To Maximum Of 10-15 Schools

During Senior Year Season:

1. Set Goal To Improve Your GPA

2. Be A Varsity Impact Player--Starter For Sure, Captain, All-League or All-Star, etc.

3. See As Many Of The College Teams You Like Play As You Can--Meet Coaches

4. Analyze The Style Of Play Of The College Teams--Where Would You Fit In?

5. Decide If There Are Coaches You Like...And Coaches You Don't Like

6. Which Schools Did You Like? Big, Little, Rural, City, etc. Which Programs?

After Senior Season:

1. Pick 5-7 Schools, Send Applications

2. Send Senior Season Package To College Coaches Where You Have Applied

3. Keep In Touch With Admissions Departments And College Soccer Coaches

4. After January 1, Fill Out All Financial Aid Documents

5. Continue To Followup With Admissions Offices, Financial Office & Coaches Until Decisions Are Made

6. Review Any New Possibilities That Present Themselves (Sudden Interest From A Different Coach, etc.)

7. Review All Offers Of Admission And Financial Aid

8. Revisit Or Make Formal Visits To 3 Schools You Are Most Interested In

9. Pick The School With The Best Combination: Education, Financial Aid, Right Soccer Program For You.

Regards Jim MacQueen Akron, OH