We routinely observe potential university athletes at high school and club events. This is a common practice among university coaches representing colleges at every level of the game. No doubt we get more “bang for the buck” at high profile club events, as this presents an opportunity to observe loads of players during the course of a tournament or showcase event. However, there are a few things to consider.

National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), and National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) programs often lack the financial resources which provide larger programs an opportunity to travel extensively in search of major club events across the U.S. These smaller programs frequently rely heavily on local club and high school events as a source of their recruitment population.

Several basics steps to gaining exposure:

1. As the player matures and approaches his junior year he should identify several programs representing a variety of levels which meet his academic and athletic requirements. A good source of information is the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and Adidas® College Soccer Scoreboard. The scoreboard is available online at nscaa.com/naranking.php. Here players can research university-level soccer programs. He should also visit www.petersons.com/. This is a great resource for researching the various U.S. college programs.

2. The potential college athlete should begin communications with potential college coaches by the summer before his junior year. Keep in mind, NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA, and NCCAA programs each have very different and very specific recruiting guidelines. These regulations govern how the recruitment process will be facilitated, when and how often the coaching staff will be able to contact the potential athlete, and how scholarship monies will be administered. You can visit the association’s website for specific information.

3. It is a great idea to have a highlight video and playing resume ready for dissemination. The video should include 15-20 minutes of playing highlights, and perhaps 30 minutes of a competitive match. This will give college an opportunity to see the potential athlete at his best, and also provide valuable input on items such as positioning, communication, movement off the ball, and similar items.

4. Potential college athletes should begin to narrow their list of potential university programs and look to attend several college camps during the summer of their junior year. Make certain the coaching staff has received your highlight video and resume prior to attending this event. The potential college athlete should quickly introduce himself to the coaching staff upon arrival. The communication process has already begun- make certain the coaching staff knows who you are and associates the player with his video and resume.

5. The regulations governing official college visits will vary from one association to the next. The potential college athlete should look to visit his top choices as his senior year approaches.

6. High school athletes looking to participate at the university level should attend combines and showcase events at every opportunity. It is also a good idea to provide your season and tournament schedule to potential university coaches. If we happen to be in your area we might swing by a club or high school event.

7. Include recent camp or end-of-season evaluations with your resume.

While there is no sure fire way to get recruited- following these guidelines will surely increase the potential university athlete’s potential of finding a program.
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Jeffrey L. Whitaker
Director of Goalkeeping
North Oklahoma City Soccer Club
www.penaltyarea.com