I see it over and over and over…I can’t believe how many prospects think Division I is the only route and they cast off great options in search of something that isn’t going to happen for them.
In my opinion, there is an unhealthy, and often unrealistic obsession with trying to be or thinking you can be a Division I soccer player/student-athlete.
They are worried about the Instagram post and that as the best player from their area, they should be Division I. Too worried about what others will think.
They have no idea what their truth is. They have been told time after time that they can achieve anything and they are the best. They don’t understand where they fit in the college soccer landscape. To find a good fit, you need to know your truth and very few high school athletes in subjective sports like soccer understand this. Understanding where you are in the grand soccer landscape is hard. Most kids play in a certain area and don’t have the chance to compare their level of play to the greater world of soccer. Self-assessment is hard for every human in every endeavor, not just soccer. I will say this, one easy way to assess your level of college soccer is to understand who is recruiting you. If NCAA Division III schools are the ones calling, you are likely a Division III player. But many of those I chat with, get a lot of Division III calls but wonder when Division 1 will call!
They don’t understand the stratification of college soccer. Look, not all Division I schools are created equal.
In women’s college soccer, all four schools in this year’s Final Four are from the ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) and of the final 16 teams left in the NCAA Tournament this year, all were from Power 4 conferences. Of the final 32, 29 of the 32 were from those conferences. If you aren’t from the Power 4, are you really playing Division I or is it more like Division I-AA?
Big Ten, ACC, SEC rule!
There is an even larger gap between these top teams and Division II/Division III/NAIA and JUCO levels of play. Also, at the other levels of college soccer it seems like it’s the same teams competing for championships every year. There is a gap between the haves and have nots at every level.
On the men’s side, I’d say it is different. Some of the top teams in Division I men’s soccer are from “mid-major” universities. Ones you rarely hear about in other sports can compete for national championships. Marshall and Denver are regularly two of the top teams. Additionally, there are Division II, Division III, NAIA and even JUCO teams that can beat some lower Division I teams in men’s soccer.
Also, in Division III, both for men’s and women’s soccer, the top teams are usually from the elite academic schools or from the larger state Division III schools. Look at this year’s Final 4’s and between men’s and women’s soccer. Seven of the eight teams are from “high academic” Division III’s with huge endowments and the other is a state, public Division III.
I see many kids and families turn up their nose at NCAA Division III. Maybe they know a kid from their club or high school that plays at a bad Division III. They clump all Division III into the same category. Trust me, like Division I there are the haves and have-nots. The top Division III programs are FOR REAL in both men’s and women’s soccer and many can compete at a super high level.
Another consideration I think is overlooked by prospects and their families is “Will you play in big games?”
I recently had a former client that told me he wants to transfer from his Division II school where he has started for two years. I asked why, and he said he wants to go somewhere that plays in big games. Level doesn’t matter to him, he is sick of winning five games a year and not making the conference tournament and he realizes there is good soccer at every level. Big games and competing for championships is fun and memorable. You get one shot at this, so if this is important to you, make sure you are finding schools that will help you be in this position.
So what are college coaches looking for?
1. Are you extremely talented on the ball?
2. Are you a warrior? (Fearless and brave in the tackle/air and going forward)
3. How athletic are you?
4. How fast are you?
5. What is the level of competition around you? Are you proving it at the highest level and, if not, are you completely dominant?
These are all difference makers that college coaches look for. It’s one reason college coaches look to find transfers or international players over high school soccer players. International players tend to come in with better ball skills and soccer IQ. Older players with college experience understand the trials of the college game and how to play at that level.
I was with a few Division I coaches last week watching a game. We were talking about a particular player and the one Power 4 Division I coach said, “I wonder why that kid has never played in MLS Next? If he really was going to have a chance with us, he needs to be in an MLS Next environment, playing with and against higher-level players daily.”
That being said, I do think you can make it to all levels of play from any environment if you are good enough, but if you really want to to play Division I, playing in the highest level leagues can give you a better shot (MLS Next, then ECNL for boys and ECNL, then GA for girls). If you are not in one of these leagues it will be more difficult to get a realistic Division I look, but it can happen if you are very dominant AND you have the right advocates. Additionally, college soccer coaches, for the most part, have limited recruiting budgets. That is why at many schools, most of their recruits come from more regional/local areas and is also why the MLS Next and ECNL events are so popular recruiting events. College coaches can attend one event and see so many players that might be capable of their level versus going to smaller events and seeing very few, they get more bang for their buck by going to these events. I am friends with college coaches and in the next few weeks, every one of them is going to some combination of the MLS Next, ECNL and GA events to recruit.
I tell you all of this as it is important to know how challenging recruiting is right now. Timelines have changed for college coaches. On the boys side, many 2025s are still uncommitted as college coaches are seeing how things go in the transfer portal. Just a few years ago, so many would have already been committed. Male 2026s are just starting to get evaluated. This is way later than in previous years too.
On the women’s side, Although early recruiting is still very popular, one way the transfer portal has changed things is coaches don’t often know their recruiting needs until very late and recruiting never seems to be over. It used to be that a coach knew they would be graduating a certain number of student-athletes in a given year so they would be recruiting the next classes based on those graduating or leaving their program.
Watch my webinar from earlier this fall about MASSIVE CHANGES IN COLLEGE SOCCER RECRUITING.
Now, with the transfer portal, student-athletes are coming and going every year, a trend that we didn’t see in years’ past. This has turned into a game of “musical chairs” and a coach may not know their recruiting needs as early as they once used to. Because of this shift, I’ve been seeing opportunities pop up for players later in the timeline than I used to.
Don’t forget on top of all this, NCAA I college soccer for both men and women is limiting roster sizes to 28 starting next year. Many men and women will be cut from rosters and looking for a new “home” and this will trickle down to all divisions.
Recruiting and landing at a great fit school is harder than ever. Get over the Division I or bust mentality. Find a great fit that meets what you are looking for athletically, academically, socially and financially.
A few simple truths to help you know your truth!
If you think you are a Division I recruit but getting no Division I interest, you need to go where you are loved. I can’t say enough about this. If a college coach wants you in their program, you are way more likely to have a better experience than at a place where you had to force yourself on a roster.
I will be hosting a college coach Q&A webinar on Sunday, December 22 at 8 pm. I will have college coaches from every level on this panel and it will be open for any questions about the college soccer recruiting process. All are welcome.