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

[Anonymous]

It was really tricky for my 2026 daughter, as she wanted to reclassify and join the 2025 class. Some schools were open to it, and some couldn't make it work partly bc of roster limits. Luckily, one of her top schools lost a player in her position to the pros, so she filled that spot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It was really tricky for my 2026 daughter, as she wanted to reclassify and join the 2025 class. Some schools were open to it, and some couldn't make it work partly bc of roster limits. Luckily, one of her top schools lost a player in her position to the pros, so she filled that spot.

Why did she want to reclassify?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Only 10??

My son’s D1 school only took 3 Freshmen last year (and one was a transfer- not a true Freshmen).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:2026 DD - things have totally slowed down. She's been playing ECNL since U13 - this is all she wanted and all ECNL told her she was destine to have. She's given everything. I'm not sure it's going to happen now. Really bad timing. The school fit is priority now, not the soccer fit. D1s are cutting then grabbing from portal. D3s are hoping to catch good players. D3 will probably be a better fit for the majority of players. D1s had average 8-10 recruits per GY, now it's like 4-5. Brutal. And if you do make it, the cuts will continue, the portal will always threaten and cut throat seasons in college if you're not at the top of the roster. 2026s have it the worst, but 2027s beware. Don't over shoot your conference. Find the right conference. Portal open May 1. We'll see what happens. I think the boys side will struggle with the influx of international players. Hope I'm wrong.

Now you know how the boys feel- lol. My son’s school only took Freshmen last year and had 8 seniors and 5 5th year/grads on the team. They just take experienced players out of the portal and freshmen recruiting is minimal to none.

[Anonymous]

^ only took 2 freshmen

[Anonymous]

Ouch -two Freshman. Is the timeline for boys still high school senior year? Girl's recruiting year is heavy Junior year, but I'm thinking it will trickle into Senior year. I wonder if that will be the trend?

[Anonymous]

Once the 2020 5 year kids roll out things will get back to normal. The covid 5th year inflated the transfer portal and messed with the rosters for incoming freshman. It will get back to normal soon. A 28 roster is a huge roster

[Anonymous]

On the boys side, D1 for HS is almost out of the question. They are using the portal to stack teams with existing D1 or seasoned D2/D3 players. Most top D3 teams in conferences like NESCAC are getting a ton of MLSN/ECNL top players and some internationals.

Keep in mind, the boys have less D1 options on top of that.

[Anonymous]

https://www.soccerwire.com/soccer-blog/house-v-ncaa-settlement-college-soccer-coaches-prepare-for-paradigm-shift-in-recruiting/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://www.soccerwire.com/soccer-blog/house-v-ncaa-settlement-college-soccer-coaches-prepare-for-paradigm-shift-in-recruiting/

On the girls side, the bottom 3 or 4 girls are not recruits anyway, they are legacy, political, academic adds for practice...should not affect the real recruits getting money that will play.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Once the 2020 5 year kids roll out things will get back to normal. The covid 5th year inflated the transfer portal and messed with the rosters for incoming freshman. It will get back to normal soon. A 28 roster is a huge roster

Wrong. The 2025 class was the first class where the 5-year kids rolled out, and that class was greatly affected (verbal offers rescinded, etc.). Just like the 2026s. It will settle into a new normal (assuming the judge approves the settlement as it currently stands), with smaller recruiting classes, for the 27s or 28s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Once the 2020 5 year kids roll out things will get back to normal. The covid 5th year inflated the transfer portal and messed with the rosters for incoming freshman. It will get back to normal soon. A 28 roster is a huge roster

No. You have 5 years to use your 4 years of eligibility from the day you enroll at a college.

Still plenty of 5th year/grads that didn't play Freshmen year. And a ton of portal kids.

Gap years and coming in older are a big deal at top academic schools. My kid could have played at his Ivy if he did the gap year--but we didn't want him sitting around a year.

[Anonymous]

Read this, it hurts:

https://www.soccerwire.com/soccer-blog/house-v-ncaa-settlement-college-soccer-coaches-prepare-for-paradigm-shift-in-recruiting/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Once the 2020 5 year kids roll out things will get back to normal. The covid 5th year inflated the transfer portal and messed with the rosters for incoming freshman. It will get back to normal soon. A 28 roster is a huge roster

No. You have 5 years to use your 4 years of eligibility from the day you enroll at a college.

Still plenty of 5th year/grads that didn't play Freshmen year. And a ton of portal kids.

Gap years and coming in older are a big deal at top academic schools. My kid could have played at his Ivy if he did the gap year--but we didn't want him sitting around a year.

Today, there's 4 in 5 for eligibility, but the NCAA is considering ditching medical redshirts and others and implementing a 5 in 5 rule which will further compound the recruiting problem. Play up to 5 seasons in 5 years. Yeah, more athletes sticking around to roster capped teams. Just google "NCAA 5 in 5" and there are numerous articles.

Life was just so much easier when boosters were just handing our brown paper bags of cash to the footballers and hoopers and life went on for the other sports. Ugh. Not an easier time to be a soccer recruit.

[Anonymous]

https://www.on3.com/nil/news/house-v-ncaa-settlement-judge-plans-deny-agreement-roster-limits-not-phased-in-claudia-wilken/