DD plays ECNL on a top ranked team. Her friend also plays ECNL but on a bottom ranked team. Her friend went to a showcase and did well and coaches seem to be interested in her. But, she belong to a poor team that has a terrible record. |
These coaches have seen hundreds of players on all manner of teams. When you are providing information to the coaches on the sidelines they come and go and they don't ask or seem to care a wit about the score of the games. Does the friend have talent? Can she contribute to the program and help them win soccer games? That is what they want. If a coach can't evaluate that...what are they doing coaching college soccer? |
Coaching and showcases. Records don't mean everything. That is proven every year by the bottom-tier ECNL teams (performance-wise) and their track record of sending players to college programs (whether or not they had a huge role in it is up for debate).
Your DC needs to be proactive in their own recruitment. Maybe her friend is more proactive than she is. Maybe her friend also is better than your DD. Do you know if your DD's friend was already in contact with coaches that were in attendance so they know she's interested in their programs? What |
They can only recruit players, not teams. You can be a great player on a team that struggles to win if the team has poor quality in other positions. You can also be a poorer quality player on team that wins many games if they are in a weak conference and not facing talented defenders. |
Seems like she found a team she can shine on. Is your dd getting recruited? If not, is this just bitterness on your part? |
Parents are so caught up[ on ECNL or being on the right team. The only thing that ECNL offers is a platform. Now if a coach or club is known to produce high-level players every year, then that would help but if you play for BRYC but can light-it-up on the field and do son in a showcase, you will attract the attention of top coaches. The only difference between that players and a player on McLean or FCV is that the college coach will vet the kid closer, i.e. more visits to games. |
We watch a lot women’s college soccer and follow two teams in different conferences(both d1). So what I have noticed is coaches recruiting the same type of player to replace successfully players who leave.
They will replace the big athletic fullback with another big athletic fullback. They like a certain size and speed at each position, want one technically skilled playmaker, need a 6 who can provide x and y, etc. These coaches are not changing their system to fit any player. The coach can see a player and project them in to their system. They really do not care about the record of the team. They do like all what teams selections and awards. They want a player who stands out. If you are on a first place team or a bottom place team you have to stand out. It is not a rising tide floats all boats thing. |
I'm sure it helps being in a higher league, but it's not mandatory. Our non-ECNL club has five D-1 commits this year on the boys side along with others going D-3. Being in ECNL doesn't automatically get you scholarship either. I see some surprisingly average players on some good ECNL teams. Some kids are just along for the ride, while the core players are doing the heavy lifting. You get this at every level. |
A league presents a platform for recruiting. At the high end, ECNL is big enough and draws enough talent to virtually guarantee that you will be seen by college coaches, assuming your player is proactive in making contact in advance to show interest. Since ECNL draws so many coaches, you may also get speculative looks from coaches looking at other players and noticing yours. Lower level leagues offer fewer built in showcases and less natural draw so your player will have to work harder to get those looks.
The team can really impact your recruiting. Any player will perform better when surrounded by players of similar or higher capability. You can't show your stuff if they can't get the ball to you reliably. The more competitive your team is, the easier it is for a coach to evaluate you critically. This is why HS isn't a great recruiting venue for soccer. The speed of play is too slow, and the skill level too varied to present a reliable challenge. If your team is in a travel league where the pace of play is slower, your player may stand out more, but coaches will be less able to evaluate his/her ability to make quick decisions under pressure. |
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Colleges recruit the player not the team you play on. |
I've been through the entire process and have a scholarship athlete.
1. You are the biggest advocate for your kid. Your 15-17 year old player has no real world experience. Understand your kids talent level and have real conversations with them to identify the approopraite program where they may want to go to school and play. Only YOU and your KID can answer that question. 2. ECNL is the top league for girls. What it shows the college is that you're kid is able to compete at a level that acts as the main player pool for D1 players. It allows colleges to properly evaluate you player. 3. However, ECNL will not get your kid recruited. Your kid will get themselves recruited by contacting the appropriate school and performing well info front of them when the spotlight is on. 4. The college coach will contact your club coach before the reach out you. If your coach doesn't vouch for your kid (behavior issues, etc.) it's over. In summary - most important thing to do is have an HONEST conversation based on Academic and Athletic talent and then start emailing the coaches. Get on their radar staring 8th and 9th grade. 3. |
Thank you! that is helpful. Even in the 8th grade? Are the ID camps at targeted schools worth it? |
I ever felt that random ID camps got my kid on anyones radar. - it may be fun to attend for experience - but to get recruited, your player needs to be evaluated multiple times to show their true level. The only ID camps I thought were meaningful where the ones where the college coaches reached out to our club coach and showed interest. That meant that they saw my kid at a showcase (or highlight video) and liked what they saw. I then used the ID camp as a second opportunity to be seen and evaluated. Her 8th grade year - I put together a highlight video and emailed it to every college we identified based on her academic and athletic talent level. Her 9th grade year - I emailed them a new highlight video and showcase schedule Her 10th grade year - I did the same thing and attend the ID camps of schools interested Her 11th grade year - Committed We emailed and showed interest to over 40 schools. We made at least 4 highlight videos Cast a big net. But first and foremost - Have an HONEST discussion and identify the schools! It has to start there. Then stay in constant contact with updates. You want them to know your kids name. |
Good stuff! I''l be using this as a blueprint! |