Excerpts taken from Newsletter article on Air Capitol
Soccer Association web site:
http://www.acsa-soccer.com/page.php?page_id=1407
As a Division I college
coach at the University of Michigan, I used to frequently get asked, “Did you
see me play at the tournament?” or, “Have you ever seen me play?”
Unfortunately, the answer that I sometimes had and the one that most colleges
coaches may give is “no” for both questions.
The reason for this disconnect is a common misunderstanding about the recruiting
process. Most high school student-athletes incorrectly assume that they will be
“discovered” by a college coach – something that you might see in a
Hollywood-produced movie! Because they believe this to be “the way it
works,” they make little or no effort to contact coaches at college programs
that interest them. My message is: Don’t take that chance!
We have all seen what it is like at a major tournament. There are hundreds
sometimes thousands of players competing all day and weekend. It is inevitable
that even the most diligent coach may miss some great prospects especially the
“diamond in the rough”.
Another common statement that I still often hear today is, “No one contacted
me. They didn’t like me”. These players quickly get discouraged and begin to
give up the dream of playing in college.
What is more likely to have happened is that you were not on a coach’s
“watch list” so they didn’t see your game. Most college coaches go to
tournaments with a specific list of players to watch. This list usually consists
of top blue chip players, players who have been recommended by someone the coach
trusts and, players that have contacted the program themselves.
High school players who dream of playing at the next level need to do their
homework and do some legwork to become a recruited student-athlete. This
includes understanding their ability level and then choosing the colleges that
are an appropriate fit. The legwork is to contact these schools, make an effort,
and create a connection with the coaching staff. This is a critical beginning in
a long, involved recruiting process.
At clinics, camps and tournaments, I often meet high school athletes who have a passion for their sport and have dreams to play in college but are not necessarily the blue chip player on their team. Often times they are discouraged believing that there aren’t opportunities for them to play at the next level or earn a college scholarship. Does this sound like you? If so, you may be surprised to learn that being a part of a collegiate team and receiving a scholarship is more attainable than you think. You do have to work at it though, and the first step is to develop a strategy and a comprehensive plan of action. Most college recruiting services you’ll find simply mass e-mail your information to college coaches…and not much else! In my opinion, that step is just the beginning. If you understand your level of talent, position yourself correctly, and build the right relationships, then your dream of playing in college can come true.
If
you’ve made a commitment to be a student-athlete it can exponentially increase
your chances of getting admitted to the school of your choice. Most all of the
Division I schools -- with a few Ivy League exceptions -- have the ability to
help a student-athlete get into school. Many of these colleges have “slots”
that are given to anyone the coach chooses. Other colleges will lower either the
SAT or GPA requirements or both for the student-athlete than the regular
student. The bottom line is this: if the coach wants you to be a part of their
team, he or she will help you through the admissions process. Even Division III
schools that are without athletic scholarships have the ability influence their
admissions process.
Understanding each school, their process, and their bottom line athletic
requirements can make a substantial difference in your chances of being admitted
to your dream school.