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Men’s College Soccer: NCAA, D1, D2, D3, NAIA, NJCAA. What’s the Difference? Part 2

To participate in Division I or Division II athletics, students must register and be certified by the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse. Students can get information on registering on the NCAA website at http://www.ncaaclearinghouse.net/.

NCAA Division III schools are generally the smallest in the NCAA, although some larger schools, such as New York University, are in DIII. Many of the four hundred twenty schools are private and high quality. The competition level of D III schools varies widely. Catholic University, Kenyon College, Transylvania University, Amherst, and Messiah College are examples of DIII schools.

Men’s College Soccer: NCAA, D1, D2, D3, NAIA, NJCAA. What’s the Difference? Part 1

Several organizations govern college athletics. These groups establish the rules for sports programs at the schools that belong to their associations. They also run championships and establish eligibility requirements for the student athletes attending member schools.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is the oldest and largest national sports organization in the United States. This is the group many think of when considering college sports. The schools in the NCAA range from the largest universities to small colleges. They are grouped into three divisions.

Marketing Yourself as a Soccer Player

Things to Consider if You’d Like to Play Soccer in College

If you’re hoping to play soccer in college, there are many things to consider beyond the general characteristics (large, small, urban, rural, etc.) of the school. At some point you’ll want to speak to the coaches at schools on your list, but you can check out many aspects of the soccer programs prior to contacting them. This will help you further winnow the list of schools you’re considering.

Marketing Yourself as a Soccer Player Soccer College Recruitment

For Younger High School Players

If you’re a high school soccer player and want to play in college, start planning early, as early as your freshman year. It might seem like you have plenty of time before you need to think about college, but the months will go by quickly. There are things you can do, even before entering high school, that will get you started on your college search and position you so that you can best promote yourself as you enter your junior and senior years.

Marketing Yourself as a Soccer Player Soccer College Recruitment

College Recruiting Tips for Scouts & Players

Are you trying to get scouted? If you are, you probably have a lot of questions. Below are some of the basic questions and points that are often over-looked and forgotten about in the recruiting process. Educate yourself in the rules, regulations and procedures of the recruiting process and you will benefit greatly from it.

Soccer / Football Opinion Soccer College Recruitment

Important Questions Regarding D1, D2, D3 and NAIA Soccer

If your goal is to one day play College soccer there are a number of questions you should ask yourself before embarking on this journey. Knowing the answers to these questions will help you target the schools and area you’d like to play. In the end, it will make things a lot easier and clearer for yourself.

Marketing Yourself as a Soccer Player Soccer / Football Player Motivation Soccer College Recruitment Soccer Player IQ

What Are the Chances of Walking On?

If you want to play soccer in college, obviously the best situation is to be recruited by a top school, but sometimes it doesn’t work out that way. Whether due to injury or not getting in front of the right coach, some players just don’t make a connection with the coaches at a school they want to attend, yet they want to play soccer in college.

In that case, the player might try walking on.

What Does “Walking On” Mean?…

Marketing Yourself as a Soccer Player Soccer / Football Player Motivation Soccer College Recruitment Soccer Player IQ

9 Things to Know About Athletic Scholarships

Athletic scholarships drive college searches more than they should. Some parents seem to think the money they’ve “invested” in training, teams and travel should come back to them by way of college scholarships.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the reality. Athletic scholarships should not drive the college selection process and it’s important to understand the advantages—and disadvantages—of receiving them.

Marketing Yourself as a Soccer Player

Dallas Cup: THE Showcase Tournament

As with many things in life if you want something, go get it. As one of my university professors once said “if you want change, you have to change yourself or your situation. You’re crazy to expect better results if you’re doing the same thing over and over again.” With that being said there are many soccer tournaments in North America that are great venues to participate in as a player that will expose you to the best players and top scouts around.

Marketing Yourself as a Soccer Player Soccer College Recruitment

Things to Consider When Choosing a College

Colleges and universities come in all sorts: small and large, compact or spread out, rural, suburban, or urban, a close community or one with little interaction outside the classroom, and more or less academically rigorous. The choices are almost endless.

Without some way to eliminate some from your list, the number of schools you’re considering might be impossibly long. But even if you aren’t sure what you want in a school, a desire to play soccer can help narrow your choices. After all, there will likely be a limited number of schools where you match the coach’s criteria, and if you want to play, your best bet is at a school where the coach is interested in you.