Your Pathway To College Soccer

• NCAA Website
• NCAA Soccer Rule Book
• NCAA Recruiting Resource
• NCAA Eligibility Center
• NCAA Eligibility Resource
• NCAA High School Academic Requirements
• Future Student Athletes
• National Letter of Intent (NLI)
• Do’s and Don’ts of Recruiting
• NAIA Eligibility Center
• NJCAA - Junior College

What is a contact?

A contact occurs any time a college coach says more than hello during a face-to-face contact with a college-bound student-athlete or his or her parents off the college’s campus.

What is a contact period?

During a contact period a college coach may have face-to-face contact with college-bound student-athletes or their parents, watch student-athletes compete and visit their high schools, and write or telephone student-athletes or their parents.

What is an evaluation period?

During an evaluation period a college coach may watch college-bound student-athletes compete, visit their high schools, and write or telephone student-athletes or their parents. However, a college coach may not have face-to-face contact with college-bound student-athletes or their parents off the college’s campus during an evaluation period.

What is a quiet period?

During a quiet period, a college coach may only have face-to-face contact with college-bound student-athletes or their parents on the college’s campus. A coach may not watch student-athletes compete or visit their high schools. Coaches may write or telephone college-bound student-athletes or their parents during this time.

What is a dead period?

During a dead period a college coach may not have face-to-face contact with college-bound student-athletes or their parents, and may not watch student-athletes compete or visit their high schools. Coaches may write and telephone student-athletes or their parents during a dead period.

What is the difference between an official visit and an unofficial visit?

Any visit to a college campus by a college-bound student-athlete or his or her parents paid for by the college is an official visit. Visits paid for by college-bound student-athletes or their parents are unofficial visits.

What is a National Letter of Intent?

A National Letter of Intent is signed by a college-bound student-athlete when the student-athlete agrees to attend a Division I or II college or university for one academic year. Participating institutions agree to provide financial aid for one academic year to the student-athlete as long as the student-athlete is admitted to the school and is eligible for financial aid under NCAA rules. Other forms of financial aid do not guarantee the student-athlete financial aid.

The National Letter of Intent is voluntary and not required for a student-athlete to receive financial aid or participate in sports.

Signing an National Letter of Intent ends the recruiting process since participating schools are prohibited from recruiting student-athletes who have already signed letters with other participating schools.

A student-athlete who has signed a National Letter of Intent may request a release from his or her contract with the school. If a student-athlete signs a National Letter of Intent with one school but attends a different school, he or she will lose one full year of eligibility and must complete a full academic year at their new school before being eligible to compete.

What are recruiting calendars?

Recruiting calendars help promote the well-being prospective student-athletes and coaches and ensure competitive equity by defining certain time periods in which recruiting may or may not occur in a particular sport.

1. Research the School and Program

• Academic Offerings: Look into majors of interest, academic rankings, and class sizes.
• Soccer Program: Review the team’s history, current standings, and coaching philosophy.
• Campus Life: Research extracurricular activities, student clubs, and campus traditions.
• Financial Aid & Scholarships: Know what financial aid and scholarship opportunities are available.
• 2. Prepare for Meetings
• Coach Meeting: Schedule time with the head coach and/or assistant coaches.
• Be ready to discuss your soccer background, position, and goals.
• Prepare a list of questions (see below for suggestions).
• Admissions Meeting: Set up an appointment with the admissions officer to understand the application process.
• Financial Aid Meeting: Schedule time with the financial aid officer to explore scholarships and aid options.

3. Documents to Bring

• Player Resume: Include academic performance, soccer achievements, and extracurricular activities.
• Highlight Video: Share video footage of your best performances.
• Unofficial Transcript: Bring a copy of your high school transcript to give coaches a snapshot of your academic performance.
• SAT/ACT Scores (if applicable): Have these on hand in case they’re required for academic evaluation.

4. On-Campus Experience

• Campus Tour: Schedule a tour with admissions or the soccer coaching staff.
• Visit academic buildings, dorms, dining halls, athletic facilities, and the library.
• Class Visits: Sit in on a class to get a feel for the academic environment.
• Dining with Players: Have a meal with current soccer players to ask about their experiences both on the team and on campus.
• Check Facilities: Tour the weight room, locker rooms, and practice fields to see the team’s facilities.

5. Questions to Ask the Soccer Coach

• What is the team’s roster size? How many players travel to away games?
• What position do you see me playing, and who will I be competing against for that spot?
• What is your coaching philosophy and training style?
• What do you expect from players in terms of conditioning, training, and academics?
• What is the team’s schedule for the fall and spring seasons?
• How many hours per week are spent on training, games, and team meetings?
• What is the team’s academic support system for athletes?
• How many seniors are graduating, and what are the chances of earning playing time in my first year?
• Will I be redshirted, and what is the process for that?
• Do I need medical insurance, and what happens if I get injured?

6. Questions to Ask Current Players

• What is the team culture like?
• How do players balance academics and soccer?
• What’s the biggest challenge of being a student-athlete?
• What does a typical day look like during the season and off-season?
• Are there any academic resources or tutoring available for athletes?
• How accessible are the coaches and staff?
• What’s the team’s relationship with the academic departments?

7. Questions to Ask the Admissions Office

• What academic programs are most popular among athletes?
• What’s the graduation rate for student-athletes and soccer players specifically?
• How does the school support students with academic or personal challenges?
• Are there internship or career placement opportunities for athletes?
• How much financial aid is available, and how does it apply to athletes?
• How does the school handle scheduling conflicts between academics and athletics?

8. Checklist for Post-Visit

• Send a Thank You: Email the coach and admissions officer thanking them for their time.
• Reflect on the Visit: Review your notes, impressions of the school, and feedback from the coach and players.
• Follow Up: If you're seriously considering the school, maintain communication with the coach and admissions team.

This checklist will help you prepare thoroughly for your college soccer visit, making sure you ask the right questions, present yourself professionally, and get the most out of your visit.