Thoughts on the State of NCAA Soccer Recruitment from a College Coach
As an American soccer parent, I do worry about opportunities for my kids.
I understand the concerns brought up in this X post.
And yes, 22-year-old freshmen from top European academies are a unique issue in NCAA soccer.
I get it.
But that's what the NCAA allows. If a coach wants to keep his job, he has to find a way to win. Adding an early-to-mid 20s player from a top European academy or with multiple season of low-level professional experience is one way to add top college talent and help the program win games.
We just witnessed a D1 final between Vermont and Marshall. What other NCAA sports would give us that type of matchup?
Look at NCAA football. There's so little parity. The better the facilities and funding, the better the team.
Soccer coaches must find alternative measures to compete and win.
If it comes down to the coach keeping his job and supporting his family by winning with internationals or "giving a chance" to a lower-caliber domestic student, he's going to do what it takes to keep his job and support his family.
I get it.
As we say on the soccer field, "take what the game gives you."
These coaches have and are within their rights to do so.
Marshall knows they can't compete with Clemson, UNC, Ohio St., and the like for the best domestic players, so they don't try to. Why recruit a low-to-mid caliber player from the top American leagues when they can sign players from top academies across the globe?
Win or lose your job. That's the position they're in.
Again, I'm an American soccer parent. I sympathize with the concerns and do think about how the current structure will impact my own sons.
But until the NCAA takes action on an age restriction, I can't expect coaches to risk their careers recruiting lesser talent, even if my sons eventually fall into that category. So long as coaches are playing by the rules, I can't blame them for finding alternative ways to approach recruitment. If that's what it takes to keep their jobs, they should take those measures. Anyone blaming the coaches would do the exact same thing in their business environment. No one proceeds through their career in a way that leads to a lose of employment and opportunities. Demanding that coaches put their livelihoods at risk is hypocritical.
For those of us with kids in the American youth soccer setup, we have to adapt to this reality. Until the NCAA changes the rules, we have to figure out how to navigate the college soccer scene like we would a career.
As a parent, this is where I might encourage a gap year if my child is getting genuine D1 interest but is falling just short. We might even look for 3rd-5th division pro opportunities abroad to preserve amateurism.
Another piece of advice is for Americans to stop turning their noses up to D3. If D1s aren't recruiting you, you're not a D1 player. If you're waiting until March-June to make a commitment to a D1, even if the offer does arrive, you're player 27 or 28 on a 28-man roster. Even if they are recruiting you but you're not getting minutes for two or three years, is that what you want? I doubt the 1,000+ players in the transfer portal enjoyed that experience.
Find a program where you can 1) get minutes, 2) develop, and 3) position yourself for an upward transfer (if that's your end goal). Who knows, you may fall in love with the D2 or D3 program that "gives you an opportunity."
D3's top ranked team, Mary Washington, played a fairly even game against Virginia, a seeded team in the D1 national tournament. As the D1 level continues to target older internationals, transfer portal players, and JuCos, American high schoolers have to adapt with the times. They'll find that starting at a lower division and excelling there may be the pathway to offers at higher levels.
D1s need either a 1) top talent out of high school or 2) a proven, experienced college player. If you're neither of these, the D3 route, the right D2 reserve program, and JuCo are your best options.
At D3 and JuCo, you'll at least be on the field putting numbers to your name. That, in addition to updated highlights are crucial for D1 opportunities. With D3s playing D1s and D2s, you'll also have film across divisions.
D1s need either a 1) top talent out of high school or 2) a proven, experienced college player. If you're neither of these, the D3 route, the right D2 reserve program, and JuCo are your best options.
At D3 and JuCo, you'll at least be on the field putting numbers to your name. That, in addition to updated highlights are crucial for D1 opportunities. With D3s playing D1s and D2s, you'll also have film across divisions.
This is merely a prediction, but I do think the standard of play between all three NCAA divisions will start to level out. Sure, top D1s and D2s will always have the advantage, but on the whole, we'll see more competitive games across divisions.
I've already written about Pfeiffer vs Clemson, which was a spring game between the D1 runner-up and the D2 champion. You can watch that Virginia vs Mary Washington game yourself on the ACC Network. This season, we at Pfeiffer (a D3) went 1-1 at Pfeiffer against D2 teams while outshooting them 30-10.
As players from the USA's top youth leagues trickle down to D3, we'll see greater parity across the board. We'll see more players start in D3, develop for a couple of seasons, and then move to D1s and D2s.
The path to the top is muddled.
As players from the USA's top youth leagues trickle down to D3, we'll see greater parity across the board. We'll see more players start in D3, develop for a couple of seasons, and then move to D1s and D2s.
The path to the top is muddled.
Either throw your hands in the air and ignore the opportunities in front of you because they're not the ones you dream of or understand that the path to fulfilling your dream requires a detour or two.
And that's life.
I've worked with the USMNT, USWNT broadcasts, run an analysis department for a team in Spain, consulted clubs at the EPL, MLS, A-League, Allsvenskan, USL levels, and top D1s, and have my USSF B license, yet I'm a D3 assistant coach. I could throw my hands in the air and complain that I "just need an opportunity" or I can continue developing a skill set that sets me apart while improving my network.
If you're a parent reading this, I'm sure your career path has some similarities to mine. Why is it that our children should be immune from a similar struggle or work to find a way to navigate the environment they're in? The options are quitting or finding a way to make it work (maybe even from year-to-year).
Just like the coaches, "take what's given."
American high schoolers, please, don't limit yourself to a few options that are either unattainable or will fail to provide the experience you want. Find the right fit, get some playing time, and develop your craft. Do that at any collegiate level and see what opportunities open up for you. You'll have to prove you're the talent you say you are, but have an amazing year and you'll find opportunities at a higher level.
And who knows...maybe you'll love the lower-division school you started with. As many portal signings discover, the grass isn't always greener on the other side.
While my sons aren't high school-aged athletes yet, I am using my position to figure out multiple pathways to navigate the college game. If they 1) want to play college soccer and 2) have the talent to do so, my goal is to help them find a fit that best aligns with the experience they want.
And if the path they want isn't initially available...we'll take a detour, take what's given, and commit to the process that unlocks the they opportunities desire. Whether or not they reach those goals, I do hope they'll learn from the experience and see that the lessons mirror development. They'll learn and be better for it.
It's up to you whether you take what's given or prioritize other interests.
Just know, opportunities are there.
It's up to you whether you take what's given or prioritize other interests.
Just know, opportunities are there.