Roster Caps at 28 - has it changed your recruiting process?

[Anonymous]

My DD is 2026 plays ECNL for one of the clubs in DMV. With the roster cap in place for D1, colleges are severely cutting their recruits from high school and de-committing players this spring and summer. Watch the movement in the transfer portal in May. Coaches are cutting existing players and the trickle down to D2, D3 will begin this summer if not sooner. Any 2025, 2026 or 2027 family feeling the change? How are you managing expectations? And for those players 2026s verbally committed, have you had reassurances from the coach? And for all those parents with U-littles, pay attention. Things have changed! Playing in college, especially hopes of D1, have absolutely changed.

[Anonymous]

It is going to have a very big trickle down effect on recruiting and that has already started. DD is the class of 2026 and has had two schools tell her that were it not for the expected roster caps, they would have already offered her. But both schools have existing rosters over the anticipated cap of 28 and will have to make cuts accordingly. One of those two schools even said that they may not be able to take any players in 2026 because they don't have many upper classmen on the rosters now. One of her other favorites schools is an east coast D3. She does have an offer from them but they told her that they can't absolutely guarantee that that won't change in the coming months. The House vs NCAA settlement is really going to screw over a lot of players (already playing in college as well as HS players who worked hard with the hope of having the opportunity to do so).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is going to have a very big trickle down effect on recruiting and that has already started. DD is the class of 2026 and has had two schools tell her that were it not for the expected roster caps, they would have already offered her. But both schools have existing rosters over the anticipated cap of 28 and will have to make cuts accordingly. One of those two schools even said that they may not be able to take any players in 2026 because they don't have many upper classmen on the rosters now. One of her other favorites schools is an east coast D3. She does have an offer from them but they told her that they can't absolutely guarantee that that won't change in the coming months. The House vs NCAA settlement is really going to screw over a lot of players (already playing in college as well as HS players who worked hard with the hope of having the opportunity to do so).

SAME happening to our family. Truly sand slipping from through fingers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD is 2026 plays ECNL for one of the clubs in DMV. With the roster cap in place for D1, colleges are severely cutting their recruits from high school and de-committing players this spring and summer. Watch the movement in the transfer portal in May. Coaches are cutting existing players and the trickle down to D2, D3 will begin this summer if not sooner. Any 2025, 2026 or 2027 family feeling the change? How are you managing expectations? And for those players 2026s verbally committed, have you had reassurances from the coach? And for all those parents with U-littles, pay attention. Things have changed! Playing in college, especially hopes of D1, have absolutely changed.

I didn't know college's were recruiting soccer players from high school

Is that for girls only?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD is 2026 plays ECNL for one of the clubs in DMV. With the roster cap in place for D1, colleges are severely cutting their recruits from high school and de-committing players this spring and summer. Watch the movement in the transfer portal in May. Coaches are cutting existing players and the trickle down to D2, D3 will begin this summer if not sooner. Any 2025, 2026 or 2027 family feeling the change? How are you managing expectations? And for those players 2026s verbally committed, have you had reassurances from the coach? And for all those parents with U-littles, pay attention. Things have changed! Playing in college, especially hopes of D1, have absolutely changed.

I didn't know college's were recruiting soccer players from high school

Is that for girls only?

Seriously? Why do you think the girls talk vastly outpaces boys talk. College soccer for US girls is a huge industry and yes almost every recruit comes from HS (or the portal of course).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD is 2026 plays ECNL for one of the clubs in DMV. With the roster cap in place for D1, colleges are severely cutting their recruits from high school and de-committing players this spring and summer. Watch the movement in the transfer portal in May. Coaches are cutting existing players and the trickle down to D2, D3 will begin this summer if not sooner. Any 2025, 2026 or 2027 family feeling the change? How are you managing expectations? And for those players 2026s verbally committed, have you had reassurances from the coach? And for all those parents with U-littles, pay attention. Things have changed! Playing in college, especially hopes of D1, have absolutely changed.

I didn't know college's were recruiting soccer players from high school

Is that for girls only?

Seriously? Why do you think the girls talk vastly outpaces boys talk. College soccer for US girls is a huge industry and yes almost every recruit comes from HS (or the portal of course).

College coaches and scouts go to HS games over Club games for girls?

[Anonymous]

Don’t be obtuse. The term HS here is referring to the age and a player who is not currently on a college roster. But, of course, you know that!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t be obtuse. The term HS here is referring to the age and a player who is not currently on a college roster. But, of course, you know that!

+1 - thanks I thought that was assumed

[Anonymous]

I have a son. Yes, he has pretty much thrown in the towel. He’s class of 26 and already knew it was unlikely given the number of international players and the portal. But now he’s seeing stronger players than him receiving zero D1 interest. His coach who deals with lots of recruitment has sent the message to his players that D1 for boys is over unless you’re USMNT level.

[Anonymous]

We were just at a D3 school and learned they are taking 10 freshmen next year (and have only 5 seniors). I'm 100% certain this is because they are now able to grab higher caliber players because of the trickle-down effect.

[Anonymous]

I think if kids are dying to play at big D1 schools, they need to consider starting elsewhere and playing the transfer portal after first or second year. So many schools are now just relying on it to create their teams and are no longer interested in developing players.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t be obtuse. The term HS here is referring to the age and a player who is not currently on a college roster. But, of course, you know that!

How would they know you meant HS age and not HS soccer?

Boys are also HS age before college so saying HS is redundant

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think if kids are dying to play at big D1 schools, they need to consider starting elsewhere and playing the transfer portal after first or second year. So many schools are now just relying on it to create their teams and are no longer interested in developing players.

You expect college teams to prioritize developing 18-22 year olds in soccer

You better showup developed and ready to perform

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think if kids are dying to play at big D1 schools, they need to consider starting elsewhere and playing the transfer portal after first or second year. So many schools are now just relying on it to create their teams and are no longer interested in developing players.

You expect college teams to prioritize developing 18-22 year olds in soccer

You better showup developed and ready to perform

Are you suggesting there's no improvement over 4 years?

Yes, you show up ready to perform, but it's also expected that you will learn and grow during the time you are at college. The point is, many schools figure they can just take upper classmen and get players at they peak, rather than take them as freshmen. Some schools aren't doing it this way, but many are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think if kids are dying to play at big D1 schools, they need to consider starting elsewhere and playing the transfer portal after first or second year. So many schools are now just relying on it to create their teams and are no longer interested in developing players.

You expect college teams to prioritize developing 18-22 year olds in soccer

You better showup developed and ready to perform

Are you suggesting there's no improvement over 4 years?

Yes, you show up ready to perform, but it's also expected that you will learn and grow during the time you are at college. The point is, many schools figure they can just take upper classmen and get players at they peak, rather than take them as freshmen. Some schools aren't doing it this way, but many are.

As they are in every other NCAA sport.