INTRODUCTION
Many times parents and players are seeking information on the college soccer and recruitment process. They are not sure where to turn for information. There are so many questions to ask. When do I apply to College? How important are test scores? How do I contact a college coach? Do I need a video? What is the NCAA Clearinghouse? How do I begin the recruitment process?
WHAT ARE THE DIVISIONS OF THE NCAA?
Division I
Division I member institutions must sponsor at least seven sports for men and seven for
women (or six for men and eight for women) with two team sports for each gender.
Division II
Division II institutions must sponsor at least five sports for men and five for women, (or four
for men and six for women), with two team sports for each gender, and each playing season
represented by each gender.
Division III
Division III institutions must sponsor at least five sports for men and five for women, with two
team sports for each gender, and each playing season represented by each gender. There are
minimum contest and participant minimums for each sport.
UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION
WHAT IS NAIA?
*The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has different eligibility
requirements for student-athletes.
WHAT IS THE NJCAA?
*The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) is the governing body of
intercollegiate athletics for two-year colleges.
Contact us: for further information by email info@dbglobalsports.com / or by (630) 201-0948 (via text message)
Many times parents and players are seeking information on the college soccer and recruitment process. They are not sure where to turn for information. There are so many questions to ask. When do I apply to College? How important are test scores? How do I contact a college coach? Do I need a video? What is the NCAA Clearinghouse? How do I begin the recruitment process?
WHAT ARE THE DIVISIONS OF THE NCAA?
Division I
Division I member institutions must sponsor at least seven sports for men and seven for
women (or six for men and eight for women) with two team sports for each gender.
Division II
Division II institutions must sponsor at least five sports for men and five for women, (or four
for men and six for women), with two team sports for each gender, and each playing season
represented by each gender.
Division III
Division III institutions must sponsor at least five sports for men and five for women, with two
team sports for each gender, and each playing season represented by each gender. There are
minimum contest and participant minimums for each sport.
UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION
WHAT IS NAIA?
*The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has different eligibility
requirements for student-athletes.
WHAT IS THE NJCAA?
*The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) is the governing body of
intercollegiate athletics for two-year colleges.
Contact us: for further information by email info@dbglobalsports.com / or by (630) 201-0948 (via text message)
FAQ: WE CAN HELP!!, We have the right tools to prepared you...
When does the recruiting process start for men’s soccer?
Athletes who want to get a jump on the recruiting process should be ready to get started by sophomore year of high school. In NCSA’s survey of D1 men’s soccer coaches, 74% reported that they began evaluating talent in 10th grade and 22% began evaluating talent in 11th grade. Student-athletes looking to play ball in college should be in contact with coaches by sophomore year of high school if they want to get the jump on securing a college roster spot. By junior year, many men’s soccer coaches will have their rosters filled.
Starting the recruiting process: Setting expectations
The process of how to get recruited for college soccer starts with research and self-evaluation. To reach their goals, athletes and parents need to figure out what’s attainable for them athletically and academically. We include some questions to ask before embarking on the recruiting process.
Am I ready for the demands of being a college men’s soccer player?
Regardless of division level, playing college sports is a major time commitment—and that’s why college coaches make it a priority to evaluate recruits’ commitment. There will be early practices, training sessions at odd times and plenty of travel—all in addition to classes and homework. Before student-athletes take the next steps in their recruiting process, they need to be certain that they’re prepared to take their game to the next level and are ready to manage the demanding schedule of a collegiate student-athlete.
Am I good enough to play college men’s soccer?
The college soccer recruiting process is competitive, and athletes need to evaluate their own skill set while projecting how much they can improve by freshman year of college. To do so, they’ll need to loop in their professional and a frank conversation about their skill level and future potential.
What division level is right for me?
Even though there are thousands of available roster spots across the Division 1, Division 2, Division 3, NAIA and junior college levels, earning one is no easy task. Potential recruits must do a fair amount of self-assessment and confer with their current coach/professional to determine the level of competition that’s right for them.
Do I need to play club soccer to get recruited?
Simply put, playing high school soccer is not enough to get recruiting attention from most colleges. Men’s soccer is a sport where club teams are incredibly influential, and college coaches expect that their recruits have club soccer experience. Coaches also do a large portion of their recruiting at club soccer tournaments and showcases, which offer access and exposure for those playing club soccer. To play at a high level in college, athletes need at least two years of experience playing for an elite club, and four years of experience is more common.