Getting Recruited

[RevFan]

My brother-in-law is a sophomore gk in Connecticut and is interested in playing D-1 soccer. I havent seen him play very many games, but from what I'v heard this is not a lofty goal. What should he do to get raise interest and get his name out there?
I advised him to start videotaping all of this games so that he can create a compilation to send coaches.
Is it worth going through a recruiting agency?
Should he try going to soccer camps outside of CT to network with other coaches around the country?

I tried doing a search so if something like this has already been posted, I apologize. Any help would be helpful, thanks!

[allsport132000]

My brother-in-law is a sophomore gk in Connecticut and is interested in playing D-1 soccer. I havent seen him play very many games, but from what I'v heard this is not a lofty goal. What should he do to get raise interest and get his name out there?
I advised him to start videotaping all of this games so that he can create a compilation to send coaches.
Is it worth going through a recruiting agency?
Should he try going to soccer camps outside of CT to network with other coaches around the country?

I tried doing a search so if something like this has already been posted, I apologize. Any help would be helpful, thanks!

I don't know anyone who has used a recruiting agency, although I know some kids who have hired professionals to shoot their videotape. Up to you. For a goalkeeper, the coach may prefer to have a single game - not highlights of several games - to show how the whole game goes. For this purpose, you'll want to think about picking one of the toughest games, because the more action your GK gets, the better he shows. You don't want a game where the defense never lets him touch the ball - boring!

BTW, sending the video now might be a bit soon if he's a sophomore, junior is about right.
See if he has a preference for where he wants to go to school. If he can, narrow down to top few choices at all. Then when he is going to any tournaments near those schools, send a note to the coach and invite him to watch a game. (You can usually find coach or asst coach emails on the college web site.) Keep it brief: just say you are interested in the school and hope there will be an opportunity for the coach to watch you sometime. List specific game time, date and location if known - you don't want to make them do a lot of work to find you.

If you do not plan any games/tournaments that might be convenient for the coach to watch you, ask if you may send a videotape and if there is any format the coach prefers. And then follow the instructions. Right now, you just want to open the lines of communication. Remember, there are many things that a coach cannot do, as far as contacting prospective players, but you may send the coach information if you wish. For example: telephone calls may not be made with a prospect or the prospect's relatives or legal guardian(s) prior to July 1 following the prospect's completion of the junior year in high school. Thereafter such telephone contact is limited to once per week. that's just an example of one of many ncaa rules governing coaches approaching high school student/athletes.

This link has some common misconceptions about college scholarships in soccer, and may be useful:
http://www.decatursports.com/college/recruiting_misconceptions.htm

When you actually apply to colleges, most will have a place where you can state if interested in Varsity sports, and name the sport. That will get the formal ball rolling if it hasn't happened already during the Junior year. When you visit colleges in the selection process, be sure you set up a meeting (in advance) with the soccer staff so they know who you are.

When initiating contact with a soccer coach, the email you send should include a very simple page or section like this:

Player Resume
Player NAME (yours)
Address and
home Phone Number
cell phone
Email:

ACADEMICS

High School:

Graduation: Class of YEAR
GPA/ 3.5* GPA (4.0 Scale)
*insert your own gpa

SAT/ACT/PSAT: (list scores, if you haven’t taken yet, put n/a
or date will take)
ATHLETICS

High School Soccer: NAME Your High School, City/State

Team: Note if Division or Conference Champs and year
Note if state champs and year

Individual: # years varsity soocer
Any awards, such as All State or
All-Conference and year
note if captain, or MVP, etc. and year

Postion(s) played:

Club Soccer: NAME Your Soccer Club
(Premier, elite, etc) Division- CSYSA*
*or whatever your affiliation is

Coach: NAME HERE

REFERENCES

Coaches, contact names and phone, etc. -- you can list a couple if you have more than one.
List HS coach as well as club coaches.

(Note: let your coaches know you are listing them as reference.)

You can list anyone who would be a good source of information, but primarily, if you are sending to a soccer coach, you want to include SOCCER folks, not your scout leader, English teacher, etc. You'll need those for getting INTO college, but not nec. for playing soccer and generating interest.

Best of luck to you and your BIL.

[EJDad]

Lots of great information from Allsport- I would disagree on one point. Get the information out now. Sophomore year is perfect. This gets you on their radar early and gives them the summer before your junior year to see you play. This allows you to schedule unoffical visits in your junior year when school is in session. For many, junior year is to late- they have their lists made up.

[Treece]

Sophomore year? Ouch. Guess I better pay attention. I have a freshman!
Thanks for the good info.

[Smashfoot]

The best thing for your brother-in-law is play for a club team that goes to top tournaments where college coaches congregate.

I am not a big fan of unsolicited videos. I am a big fan of emails and letters, followed up by a phone call. It is hard to reach college coaches by phone in the off-season, because they can't call a sophomore back, but he should keep trying. If he reaches the coach and he wants a video, then send one.

Depending what level of player he is, starting as a sophomore may or may not be productive. Top-level players do begin recruiting as sophomores. Mid level players don't really get recruited much until they are juniors. But coaches do go to tournemants before the junior year, so there is no harm in trying.

He should look at the web sites of colleges he is thinking about attending and see if the players on the team are similar to him in terms of accomplishments. Some teams are almost all national or regional team players, and if he is not that, then it is very hard to get recruited by such a school.

For goalkeepers, particularly good ones, the timing has to be right. Many schools like to bring in a starting goalkeeper every two years. They may have more on the roster, but if you look at the credentials, not all are equal. If you only have one starter-quality keeper, he may get injured. To have 3 starter-quality goalkeepers potentially means wasting scholarship funds on someone who won't play.

So for a current sophomore, he wants to look for a situation where they recruited a top keeper this year. Then they will be ready to bring in another in 2009.

I have never known of anyone using a recruiting service. However, it would be useful if his club or HS coach could give him some input as to what level of play in college would be appropriate. IF his club coach can't do this, he should find one who can.

[allsport132000]

Depending what level of player he is, starting as a sophomore may or may not be productive. Top-level players do begin recruiting as sophomores. Mid level players don't really get recruited much until they are juniors. But coaches do go to tournemants before the junior year, so there is no harm in trying.



Thanks for the feedback about sophomores. I have one - he plays "up" a year so his team is going to many showcases this season as they are mostly juniors and a couple young seniors. I have been having him stay out of the limelight because I thought it was too soon --- but he's a striker/middy not a keeper. We may start being more active this season.