10 things: Recruitment advice from a college coach

[MakeAPlay]

MAP, do you have any insight into UCLA's recruiting process, in terms of what can get a kid from being "on their radar" to being actively recruited? I understand each graduating class from a recruiting perspective has their own needs, in terms of how many players get signed based on players graduating and other factors, so I guess what I'm asking is... If it's early in the process and the kid is on the radar, what can move them into a place where they actually get some $$.

Part of getting actively recruited by that particular school involves staying in touch with the coaching staff, performing well when they come watch on multiple occasions, getting and being open to the feedback from the coaches as to what the player needs to improve upon and enacting that feedback. Finally, performing well in their positional camp helps alot (unless of course if your kid is a Fleming or a Pugh that just jumps out). They typically are going to have 3-4 prospects in mind at any particular position and they typically are going to offer their top 1-3 prospects depending upon that particular classes positional needs. Also how they rank a player based upon their observations might not necessarily be how TDS or some of the other player rankings rate a player. Most of the domestic players currently on the team got offers their sophomore year (sometime between the summer prior to the sophomore year and the summer prior to junior year) although there are some notable exceptions.

A good way to know if your player is transitioning to active recruitment is the frequency of coaches watching your player play (in my experience they will come to every major showcase and watch at least part of every game and watch some league games). They will also make it clear to your team manager/coach and/or whomever is handing out player profiles that they are coming to see your player. Also the communication with your coach will be frequent and quite specific and detailed (it will likely include requests for your player to call them at specific times).

I hope that helps.

 

[Dubs]

This is very helpful. Thank you. She is currently in the situation you describe, in terms of frequent communication with coaches from a few schools. Some of which she is interested in and some she is not really. I'm trying to figure out how we get the others she's interested in in the same cycle as the ones that are coming to see her on a regular basis. We have showcases coming this week and next month, so hopefully she can show well and create some real interest. The part you mention about their particular positional needs in her grad year is important feedback we'll need to keep in mind. Thanks again!

 

[mirage]

Part of getting actively recruited by that particular school involves staying in touch with the coaching staff, performing well when they come watch on multiple occasions, getting and being open to the feedback from the coaches as to what the player needs to improve upon and enacting that feedback. Finally, performing well in their positional camp helps alot.........

A good way to know if your player is transitioning to active recruitment is the frequency of coaches watching your player play (in my experience they will come to every major showcase and watch at least part of every game and watch some league games). They will also make it clear to your team manager/coach and/or whomever is handing out player profiles that they are coming to see your player....

Just want to add for schools that are far away.

While everything above by MAP is true, if you're looking at schools that's at a significant distance, they will not come see the player multiple times, if at all. However, they do request a entire game videos (in addition to on the field time markers - e.g. started, out at 35.07, back in at 40.033 and so on - never miss a chance to promote the player by noting the highlights of the game by the player in minute markers on the video also). If you kid is in DA/ECNL playoff or showcase, then its easy - they all are there and will see the player. In other words, they have to manage their travel budget wisely so keep that in mind. The value of their ID camps becomes more significant for those fly-away distance schools.

The other thing is the communication between the club and college coaches. Some coaches don't reach out to the club coach early on, if at all (only one of my kid's recruiting coach reached out to the club coach and was contacted at the very end of the process as a formality to confirm rather than an early filter - he was recruited by 4 schools). They all did have a regular contact with my kid throughout the process via text, emails and phone calls.

 

[Dubs]

Thank you for that. My daughter want's to stay pretty close to home. Only a few schools on her list that are within 1-2 hour flight. I believe those schools will be represented at the showcases we're doing. Hopefully our team will be in playoffs/finals etc... certainly would make things easier.

 

[jojosoccer]

Lots of very good information.
Club coaches are a huge help, so make sure your club is reaching out to the college coaches. It seems like The Blues get a fair share of players to UCLA. Do they have a direct line or something?
I know UCLA freshman with 4.0+ GPAs that were recruited, but do not play much.
My daughter chose a very good academic Midwest D3 school @ $49k a year. With all the academic scholarships we ended up paying $6000 a year. Excellent education and loving D3 soccer.

 

[CopaMundial]

Lots of very good information.
Club coaches are a huge help, so make sure your club is reaching out to the college coaches. It seems like The Blues get a fair share of players to UCLA. Do they have a direct line or something?
I know UCLA freshman with 4.0+ GPAs that were recruited, but do not play much.
My daughter chose a very good academic Midwest D3 school @ $49k a year. With all the academic scholarships we ended up paying $6000 a year. Excellent education and loving D3 soccer.

Did she target that school or did they come after her? Just curious, because there's a lot that goes into play in this decision and love to hear success stories.

 

[jojosoccer]

She researched the school and reached out to the College coach.
Her club has college program advisors that gave her info about the college coaches and anything they knew about that school. They strongly urged her to consider this school, mostly because of the coach.
The Midwest coach saw her play in LV and the communications started from there.
Her club coach typically makes calls for the players upon request. He also texts coaches before showcases.
Yes, being from So Cal made her very desirable.

 

[jojosoccer]

In addition, she has friends that stayed to play in So Cal D1 D2 & D3. We noticed they did not get the same scholarships that my daughter did. I’m guessing desirable sunny So Cal schools probably have more players to chose from. Her other friends at out of state schools also did very well on their financial packages.
My daughter wanted a change, she wanted to have all 4 seasons and meet new friendly Midwest people. She likes wearing cute boots, scarfs and sweaters for a few months....her college coaches are good and she is grateful her club had some insight and different schools to think about.

 

[MakeAPlay]

Lots of very good information.
Club coaches are a huge help, so make sure your club is reaching out to the college coaches. It seems like The Blues get a fair share of players to UCLA. Do they have a direct line or something?
I know UCLA freshman with 4.0+ GPAs that were recruited, but do not play much.
My daughter chose a very good academic Midwest D3 school @ $49k a year. With all the academic scholarships we ended up paying $6000 a year. Excellent education and loving D3 soccer.

The Blues don't have a direct line to UCLA, however, they do get a fair share of good players. UCLA tries to get the best SoCal players to go along with the best international and out of state players so I wouldn't say that playing for any particular club gives a player an edge. My player for most of her club career played for a middle of the pack ECNL team (with a GREAT coach!) and she has started every game of her college career. With regard to the 4.0 GPAs not playing much, most of the players on UCLA's team were 3.7+ in high school and were star players on their club teams. Once you get on campus it is the Hunger Games and every minute on the pitch is earned in every training session, practice and finally games. For the most part the best 18 are going to play and there are several positions that have players that are going to suck up 80+ minutes so the opportunities at those positions are limited. The good news is that the coaching staff will play the players that give them the best chance to win regardless of whether they are freshman or seniors. If a player is looking at UCLA or Stanford they just have to realize that they are looking at joining an all-star team so they better really love the school.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Banana Hammock]

In addition, she has friends that stayed to play in So Cal D1 D2 & D3. We noticed they did not get the same scholarships that my daughter did. I’m guessing desirable sunny So Cal schools probably have more players to chose from. Her other friends at out of state schools also did very well on their financial packages.
My daughter wanted a change, she wanted to have all 4 seasons and meet new friendly Midwest people. She likes wearing cute boots, scarfs and sweaters for a few months....her college coaches are good and she is grateful her club had some insight and different schools to think about.

Now that the first year is behind her, can you give an update?

 

[jojosoccer]

Still loving D 3 soccer. Her D 3 school
has small class sizes 18:1, and her rigorous academic schedule works out well with her soccer schedule. She combines work/study to give her scheduled study time near the soccer Complex. She was able to join a few clubs and even a sorority ( the sorority understands that soccer comes first, especially in the fall). That helped a lot her first year when she was homesick for the first 2-3 weeks.
We are noticing our little soccer playing focusing on academics more than we ever have seen before.
That’s probably maturity, but also the academic environment she is now in.