By Kim Smith

Soccer players continue to emerge from remote towns and bustling cities around the US, playing on high school, club and ODP (Olympic Development Program) teams in hopes of one day breaking into the college game. As a former soccer player at the University of Virginia I’ve learned that everyone’s path to becoming a student-athlete is different and along that line there exists an abundance of opportunity for soccer players within the NCAA and NAIA with 1,183 women’s programs and 994 men’s programs.

Pamela Kalinoski, former University of San Francisco Women’s Coach and forward at UNC (’88 – ’91) encourages you to think about what kind of college experience you want.  “What factors will be the basis for your decision? Academics, location, the coach, money, size of school?”  Once the framework of the desired school/experience is sketched, put together 20 schools that are of interest, then contact the coaches beginning your freshman or sophomore year. 90% of those coaches will send you a questionnaire. Kalinoski suggests keeping the answers simple and concise. “Coaches are busy. Let us know in what showcase you’re playing in, the field and jersey #.”  Upon return of the questionnaire, your name will be put into the system and most importantly on the school’s radar. Coaches can’t contact you until the summer before your senior year, but you can take the initiative in visiting the school and keeping coaches updated on your progress.

Exposure is a key factor in the recruiting process. ODP, tournaments and showcases are where college coaches draw from – Texas Shootout, Nomads in San Diego, Las Vegas Shootout, Disney Showcase in Orlando and WAGS just to name a few. Showcases are becoming more prevalent as their emphasis doesn’t rely so much on the results, as they do on your performance on the field. Because coaches are more inclined to play everyone, a showcase is a great opportunity to guest play on an outside team. Coco Kleinart, UCLA soccer player (’05-’08) says, “With the help of my coach, I guest played on other teams at bigger tournaments with better teams.”

Travis Connell is men’s & women’s coach at WWU – photo credit: Dan Levine

In addition, college soccer camps offer opportunities to gain exposure. Not only are you seen by the coaching staff and coaches from other conferences, but you experience the school, its environment, and you meet/play against the players from the team working the camp. Travis Connell, Men’s and Women’s Soccer Coach at DIV II Western Washington University, has a one day camp in addition to his summer camps, that offers an opportunity for kids to come on campus and get coached by the staff, learn about the school and the team. “Camp is a great way to make a final decision,” says Connell.

Whether recruiting at tournaments, showcases or camps, coaches look for different characteristics in players.  Anson Dorrance, UNC Women’s Soccer Coach is all about speed.  Kalinoski looks at the player’s level of fitness, their fundamentals, work ethic and most importantly, leadership. Connell, takes a different recruiting approach, “The athleticism and talent is easier to evaluate. What’s difficult is character. What we love to see are kids in adversity and how they react – how they interact with teammates and coaches when things aren’t going well, how they perform when they are losing, or if they just made a mistake.”

Being realistic as to whether your level of play compliments the college game is important. Fortunately, there’s the convenience of college matches in the fall season to help you assess. Even if your school of interest is located in another state, there is a chance that they will be traveling to play at a nearby area. Getting to know the college game from the sidelines and meeting the players, you can better determine if it’s a match. “It’s important to remember that you are researching the school as much as the coaches are researching/recruiting you,” says Kalinoski.

As an advocate for yourself, it’s important that you continue to build your references. Many college coaches rely heavily on their coaching connections at the club or high school level to recommend players. Coco Kleinart’s coach Stephanie Rigamat played at UCLA and contacted Head Coach Jill Ellis.  Kleinart went on the first of her 5 official visits and committed. “My official visit overlapped with 2-3 other recruits. I was able to get a feel for the girls in my class. If you don’t like the players, you’re not going to enjoy playing for 4 years.”

For those of you who are being recruited, there are athletic/academic scholarships available. At Division I schools, there are 14 full scholarships for the women’s programs and 9.9 for men.  Division II has 9.9 full scholarships for the women’s soccer program and 9 for the men’s.  Division III schools don’t offer athletic scholarships, but they do have academic scholarships for those who qualify. For NAIA schools, there are 12 full scholarships for the men’s and women’s soccer programs. If you are not being recruited, there is the walk-on option. To some degree, most coaches are willing to let a player come in and try out because it’s not costing them anything.

UCLA’s Coco Kleinart – photo credit: Danny Harrington

Once you’ve narrowed down your schools and are taking the initiative to contact coaches, it’s important that you continue to focus on growing as a player. “Not only is it important to advocate for yourself, but you have to get better as a player,” says Western Coach Travis Connell.  “A lot of kids plateau as juniors and seniors instead of continuing to improve. It’s a skilled sport and you have to work hard. The game at the college level is faster, stronger and more athletic. You have to prepare your body for a different level.”

As you decide which college’s 26-player roster your name will be on, it’s important to remember that it’s your choice.  After all, it will be your 4-year experience.

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*Are you looking to play at the college level?  If you have questions for Kim or any of our coaches, players, or mentors, you can leave them below in the comments section.  You may also send emails to alex@onelovesoccer.com.  We will be selecting some of your questions to publish in future Q&A posts.

About the author:  Kim Smith was a four-year starter and All-ACC forward at the University of Virginia.  She continued her career professionally with the FC Winds in Japan,  1FC Saarbrucken in Germany and in the W-League for the Raleigh Wings.  Upon retirement, she entered into coaching at the club and high school level.  Holding a USSF National “C” license, she is currently entering her 8th season as the soccer director and coach of the Varsity Girl’s Soccer Team at Palisades Charter High School.