By Adrienne Treado
By spring of junior year soccer players should have a good idea about what division of soccer they may play in college. One’s potential can be gauged from letters, emails and phone calls and current coach relations. While some student-athletes may feel comfortable and satisfied, many players with Division I aspirations are unsure of where they stand.
By May all Division I coaches will attempt to finalize their 2009 recruiting classes. These coaches identified their top recruits years ago, and these prospects have already visited, met with the current team and are considering, or have already accepted, offers. At this point Division I coaches may look for one or two more players to finish their roster, but for the most part they have committed a majority of their scholarship money for 2009.
Because some roster spots remain, emails are still being sent to 2009 grads. A smart coach is going to keep their tier II recruits around until they are positive that they have secured all of their top recruits. Keep in mind that there are many tier II recruits still in contact with coaches, but are considered “tier II” because they have not received an offer yet. If you coaches tell you, “Let’s keep in touch,” or “Update me on how your season is going,” it is time to figure out what the coach really thinks.
Here are some great questions to help you narrow down the most serous coaches:
Are you still recruiting your 2009 class?
Am I still being considered for a roster spot? If so, what do you need from me?
How many other players am I competing against?
Where am I on your list of 2009 recruits?
If a coach has seen you play and evaluated you, they should be able to answer all of these questions. The last question, “where am I on your list of 2009 recruits?” is the most important question to ask.
Do not be discouraged if you are not being recruited by a Division I program. Instead, focus on colleges/universities that are interested in you, heavily recruiting you, and where you will make an impact as a freshman. Most importantly, make sure you are upfront and ask questions, so you don’t get lost in a gray area of recruiting.
