Post by soccerg4 on Apr 8, 2019 22:22:14 GMT -5
As we all navigate the soccer landscape of getting our kids in as a College Soccer Player, one thing my experience has taught me is that there is no one good source for info on what to do and what not to do to maximize the chances your kid lands at the best college for that kid. There is the mom & dad network, but you have to know what to ask and more important parents willing to provide answers. I propose we start a Q & A discussion on our collective experiences in an effort to share and help others. I will start with a series of questions, in the hopes that others with more experience will chime in and iron out better answers and suggestions.
I will start by saying the process starts much earlier now. If you wait till your junior year of HS it might actually be too late, especially on the girls side. Parents, we need to become pseudo-agents for our kids to help them show well. There is a timeline of things you should do as a freshman, sophomore, junior and a senior to make sure you're on track to maximize your chances of being offered a good and apropos soccer scholarship.
Remember there are different options and accompanying requirements for NCAA div. 1 offers 9.9/team; div. 2 offers 9/team; div. 3 doesn’t officially offer athletic scholarship but can offer academic scholarships; NAIA offers 12/team and of course JUCO offers 18/team;You need video, stats and a soccer resume. Create a Player Profile that summarizes the player – Sample: bit.ly/2WsdUNa
To start the conversation, here are some questions I wish I'd known earlier:
Grades, PSAT, SAT, ACT?
Create a college timeline?
Showcases and College ID Camps?
Should I call, text, email or visit a coach?
What is the clearinghouse for the NCAA/NAIA?
Soccer resume & profile, what should be included?
Registration with NCAA/NAIA, creation of profiles?
Should you pay a coach, oops I mean use a recruiter?
What classes should I be taking to meet NCAA eligibility rules?
What should you be doing during 1st/2nd/3rd/4th year of High School?
How many scholarships are available in college(div 1, div 2, div 3, NAIA, JUCO)?
Feel free to chime in with your opinions, ideas, suggestions and experiences...FG