By Lisa Meyers
Of all of the words of wisdom that he has heard from college coaches, Chris Krause, CEO and founder of The National Collegiate Scouting Association (NCSA), can paraphrase what he hears most often when talking soccer, "I start recruiting my players in 7th and 8th grade, I have never met a parent who said their child wasn't good enough to play at the Division I level, and I have never recruited a parent."
The first reality is that the recruitment process starts at a very young age. Youth soccer players that are going to play at big name Division I schools are already getting noticed in 7th grade. But that does not mean that they are the only ones who need to start thinking about recruiting when they are 13 years old.
Parents must realize that most college bound soccer players are not going to play at the Division I level. Division II and III programs account for about 70% of NCAA men's and women's soccer programs; and this does not include NAIA schools and Junior Colleges. Every year thousands of student-athletes compete for a limited number of Division I scholarships, but there are also many fantastic opportunities to play, receive a great education, and earn scholarship money at other levels.
The third reality is that coaches want to hear from the prospects they are recruiting, not from their parents. Coaches want to know that the student-athlete is truly interested in their school, and is not being manipulated by an over-zealous parent. The recruiting process is a learning experience for the entire family, but the student-athlete must take initiative, as it is their future on the line.
