Need advice from College players

[sHperacLu]

My first day of D3 college ball, back in 1995, we had to run 2 miles in 12 minutes or else we weren't going to be able to take part in the first practice of the year. Obviously, missing the first practice was not the impression that I wanted to make as an incoming Freshman.

I made that 2 miles in 11:49 and threw up on the track immediately afterward. But I practiced, damn it!


Obviously, the coach has noticed this, and took note of your ambition and your desire to play. I'm sure you became one of his favourites! :rolleyes:

[kebzach]

Obviously, the coach has noticed this, and took note of your ambition and your desire to play. I'm sure you became one of his favourites! :rolleyes:

No, not really. :) I spent the season as the 2nd string goalkeeper and played in just 6 games.

[Jc18star]

I think a lot of this also depends on where you are playing D3 soccer, if it is a school like Messiah (undefeated national champs last year) who can tool up most mid level D1 programs your fitness and your first touch are going to be the most vital things you need to have sorted out.

Once you get out of the top 15 national rankings D3 gets pretty average all the way down to outright bad (we are talking worse than high school) and there the ability to even juggle a ball two or three times will be all you need to step on the field.

Also with the comment earlier about how fitness and one touch play to avoid getting leveled is more vital than skill and knowledge of the game in US college soccer, it find it out right sad that it really comes down to that but it is partly because many college players including upper level D1 players are not skilled players, they are just guys that can run all day and have had it drilled into their heads that you can't be creative with the ball and if someone is then you either break their leg or knock them over.

It all goes back to the way the game is taught to kids in this country, "everyone must have an equal amount of the ball" "no showboating" "pass first, shoot second" "you can't try and beat 2 players with the ball", all those are common things taught to kids learning the game here due to coaches not knowing/playing the game themselves, or not understanding how to nurture true talent. It's easier for them to tell a kid to run five miles or teach them to kick someone in the legs than demonstrate a series of foot skills they can't do anyway.