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Post by footy on Dec 31, 2017 14:15:45 GMT -5
Talk to me about recruited and un-recruited walk-ons. My son really wants to play soccer in college but I think he should have a plan B. Thanks!
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Post by spectator on Dec 31, 2017 22:24:55 GMT -5
Question - does he have his heart set on a specific school that he wants to attend and walk onto the team or is he being recruited?
Example -if he wants to attend a school like North Carolina (D1 Runner Up in 2017 College Cup) the likelihood of becoming a scholarship walk on is pretty slim unless he's been seen and/or recruited by that level of school already. Not to say it can't happen, it's just not as likely and play time would be hard to come my. On the plus side, most large schools like UGA and the like have club soccer so kids who have played during their primary school years can continue to play the game - for fun.
Walking on to a smaller D1 or D2 school is more likely but the main focus should be does he want to attend that school whether he plays soccer there or not.
Recruited walk ons have had contact with the coach and probably have attended ID camps or been seen by the coach before but there are no more $ scholarship slots available so the coach may invite the player to be a rostered athlete (walk on) with intentions of giving money sophomore year as spots/funds become available. The invited walk on may or may not live in the same dorms as the scholarship athletes and will be on the team but may not play much or travel at first. In a nutshell, the invited walk on is someone the coach likes and sees potential fit for the team later on.
At any school, students can express an interest in 'trying out' for a spot if available. Happens a lot in football at D1 schools and there's always the feel good story about the kid who walked on as a freshman then goes on to be the superstar by the time he's a junior or senior - but that's not the norm. But if the school has an open tryout, anything is possible. If that student makes the roster, they are part of the team and can earn scholarship money if they get to play. Operative word - IF - harder for a walk on to get play time over scholarship athletes but it's possible.
What year is your son now? The sooner you can start looking at schools the better chance he'll have. There are plenty of D2, D3 and NAIA schools with strong soccer programs and exceptional academic programs as well. NAIA has the most money since they're not paying into NCAA and D3 has no athletic money but can have some pretty lucrative offers based on academics. D1 and D2 have money for athletic and academic and can work with you on that.
Best of luck - it's a crazy fun journey navigating visits, recruiting and decisions but it's an exciting thing for your kid!!
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Post by footy on Jan 1, 2018 9:54:09 GMT -5
Thanks! That is very helpful. No specific schools in mind but the whole process seems very tricky in that the schools he likes may not need someone who plays his position for the year he graduates. Kid is a HS junior and would really like to play at a good academic D3 school. He wants the experience of playing and traveling with a team so it sounds like trying to walk-on is probably not a great option. He is not interested in club soccer, but is college club soccer really that bad? I hear some teams travel and are pretty competitive. Maybe he needs to find one of those if playing varsity doesn't pan out.
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Post by soccerfan30 on Jan 1, 2018 11:16:05 GMT -5
Footy- what level does your son play at? I'm an assistant college coach as well and can direct you accordingly. Feel free to PM me.
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