This document provides information for students interested in playing college soccer. It outlines the various divisions of college athletics that offer men's and women's soccer programs, including NCAA Divisions I, II, and III, NAIA, and NJCAA. For each division, it lists the number of schools that have men's and women's soccer teams, the number of scholarships allowed, and how scholarships can be distributed. The document then provides guidance on the recruiting process, including researching schools, contacting coaches, scheduling visits, and following up. It notes some differences in the recruiting rules and timelines between men's and women's soccer and between divisions. The summary concludes with tips on creating an athlete profile, applying to schools, and maintaining

1. SO . . . YOU WANT
TO PLAY
COLLEGE SOCCER?
Updated November 9, 2013

3. •
NCAA – National Collegiate Athletic
Association (Divisions I, II & III)
•
NAIA – National Association of Intercollegiate
Athletics
•
NJCAA – National Junior College Athletic
Association (Divisions I & III)
•
NCCAA – National Christian College Athletic
Association (Divisions I & II)

4. •
How Many Schools: There are 205 men's soccer
programs in Division I, including powerhouses like Notre
Dame, Indiana and Akron. There are 324 women's
programs, including titans like Stanford, North Carolina
and Penn State.
•
Scholarship Count: Women's soccer is allowed 14
scholarships. Men's soccer is allowed 9.9 scholarships.
•
Scholarship Breakdown: Scholarships can be full or
partial rides at the Division-I level, but with rosters
exceeding 20 players, they are used carefully.

5. •
How Many Schools: There are 204 men's programs,
and 258 women's programs like powerhouses in
Division II soccer. Men’s powerhouses include Saginaw
Valley State & Simon Frasier. Women’s are West
Florida & UC-San Diego.
•
Scholarship Count: Women's soccer has 9.9
scholarships to work with. Men have nine scholarships.
•
Scholarship Breakdown: Partial rides are common
in Division II soccer, as coaches can distribute the
money to as many players as they wish.

6. •
How Many Schools: Division III soccer consists of
408 men's programs and 434 women's programs.
Powers include Messiah, Ohio Northern and Loras
for the men and Emory, Messiah & Wheaton for the
women.
•
Scholarship Count: Athletic scholarships are not
offered or allowed in Division III athletics.
•
Scholarship Breakdown: With no athletic
scholarships, students often find financial aid or
academic scholarships to assist with costs while
playing soccer.

7. •
How Many Schools: There 198 men's
programs in the NAIA and 198 women's
programs.
•
Scholarship Count: Both men's and
women's soccer are allowed 12 scholarships
per team.
•
Scholarship Breakdown: Partial
scholarships are common. Strong students who
meet certain academic criteria can receive aid
without it counting toward the program's limit.

8. •
How Many Schools: There are 146 men's
soccer programs at the junior-college level and
132 women's programs.
•
Scholarship Count: Men's and women's
soccer are allowed 18 scholarships at the
junior-college level.
•
Scholarship Breakdown: Many scholarships
at the junior-college level are full rides, but
partial rides are common, too.

9. 
How Many Schools: There are 81 men's
programs in NJCAA Division III, and 67 women's
programs.

Scholarship Count: Much like Division III
four-year schools, D-III schools at the juniorcollege level do not offer scholarships.

10. Division
Women's
Men's
NCAA Division I
324
205
NCAA Division II
258
204
NCAA Division III
434
408
NAIA
198
198
NJCAA Division I
132
146
NJCAA Division III
67
81

11. (Not all schools are fully funded…)
Division
Women
Men
NCAA Division I
14
9.9
NCAA Division II
9.9
9
NCAA Division III
-
-
NAIA
12
12
NJCAA Division I
18
18
NJCAA Division III
-
-

12. 
Myth:
“Schools will recruit me!”

Truth:
Most players/parents end
up recruiting the school

13. 
Myth:
“Walk on players never get anywhere.”

Truth:
Some walk-on players can end up with
more scholarship money than
“regulars”!

14. •
Step 1 – Research Schools
–
–
•
Step 2 – Make List of Potential
Schools
–
•
Size and location, academics
Quality of soccer program, coach, roster size and
grade breakdown
Include a few long shots, but majority of realistic
choices
Step 3 – Contact Coach
–
–
–
e-mail is usually most effective
Inform coach of schedule for high school or club
Be sure to put jersey number, jersey colors,
potential positions, field number, and opponent

15. 
Step 4 – Set up a College Visit




Official Visit – Paid for by the school
 Allowed only five
 Can start after July 15 going into Senior year of
h.s.
Unofficial Visit: Paid for on your own
 Unlimited
 Can take anytime
Alert the coach that you are coming and request
meeting
Tour the campus, meet with admissions, etc…

16. 
Step 5 – Follow up
 Let the coach know what you thought of
the visit and if you’d like to continue to
stay in contact

Step 6 – Rank Visits
 Keep a personal reflection after each visit

17. 



A prospective student-athlete can call coach at
anytime
Coach can’t call a recruit until after July 1 of
senior year in high school, then only once a
week
A prospective student-athlete can e-mail coach
at anytime, but coach can’t return e-mail until
prospect’s junior year
Parent/Player shouldn’t approach college
coach at a showcase or tournament.

18. 




A prospective student-athlete can call or e-mail
coach at anytime
D2 Coach can’t call a recruit until after July 1 of
junior year in high school
Less restrictions for D3, NAIA & NJCAA
New rule – coach can text you
Parent/Player shouldn’t approach college
coach at a showcase or tournament.

19. 
Process much earlier than males

DIVISION I LEVEL



DIVISION II LEVEL



Evaluation = Sophomore or Junior Year
Commitments = Junior Year, Early Senior Year
DIVISION III LEVEL


Evaluation = Freshman or Sophomore Year
Commitments = Sophomore or Junior Year
Commitments = Senior Year
Signing Period = Early February

20. 



Pressure to decide early not as great as girls
Identification starts during junior year.
Start visiting schools during junior year
Signing Date the same as females (Middle of
February)

21. Club vs. High School
High School for local coaches
Club just easier access and majority of the time is
an overall higher level
College Showcases
Team profiles
ODP
Camps (summer, winter, identification)
Visits, E-mails, Phone Calls
Recruiting Services

22. 
1 page profile sheet usually sufficient







High school name & phone number
Your cumulative GPA & class rank
Desired major (if you have one)
ACT/SAT scores
Your NAIA/NCAA Eligibility Number
Any honors or AP classes you have taken
Contact Information – email address, home
mailing address, home phone, cell phone

23. 
Contact Information –






Your email address & home mailing address
Your home phone & cell phone
Your parents’ names & phone numbers
Your high school/club/ODP coaches names,
phone numbers & email addresses
Your school contact information, including
mailing address & phone number
Your guidance counselor name & contact info

24. 




Positions you play
Your physical characteristics – height &
weight, 40-yd dash time w/ & w/o ball, mile
time, vertical jump, long jump
Relevant stats for offensive players & GKs
Videos – include a link to highlight film
 Most effective if coach hasn’t seen you
play
 Not necessary, unless coach asks for
them
Schedules – be sure to include jersey

25. Coach Smith,
Hello, my name is Jane Doe and I play for the U17
Mockingbird Valley Soccer Club team. My graduation year is
2013. My jersey number is 17 and I play either outside back
or outside midfield. I am interested in your school and
soccer program and would like for you to come to one of my
games if you are going to be attending either of these
tournaments. My team will be wearing white or green. I am
going to be in Raleigh, NC for the showcase, Friday
November 30 - Sunday December 2. My game times are as
follows:
Friday 11/30/07 - 11:50am vs. Internationals, Field #2
Saturday 12/1/07 - 1:40pm vs. Dynamo, Field #5
Sunday 12/2/07 - 9:20am vs. CASL, Field #2

26. 
School Applications – some are more complex
than others! Don’t procrastinate…..

Meet deadlines – there are others waiting for
your spot and your scholarship money!

Early applications are best – especially for
scholarship purposes

Reference Letters from High School Counselors
– give them time to get them done and follow up.
Don’t wait until after high school graduation!

27. 


Coaches like to communicate with the player
rather than the parent
Player should be the one contacting the coach,
arranging visits, etc…
On a visit, important the player talks to the
coach and not just the parent; should come
with a list of questions

28. Fair Question to a coach: “Do you see me as a scholarship
player?”
Majority of soccer players are not on an athletic “full-ride”
Athletic Scholarship is a year by year agreement, not a four
year agreement
Most scholarships are increased before decreased

29. •
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal
Student Aid) – Should be completed right
after Jan 1st of senior year. Most schools
require FAFSA to be considered for any
scholarship – including academic.

30. •
•
NCAA Eligibility Center (Formerly
known as the Clearinghouse) – register
to confirm eligibility in junior year if
playing D1 or D2. Cost is $60
NAIA Eligibility Center (New in
2011) – register to confirm eligibility at
end of junior year if playing NAIA. Can
also complete a student-athlete profile.
Cost to register is $65

39. Questions
&
Comments