Anonymous
Post 12/12/2021 12:40     Subject: How does your team/league really impact college recruiting?
I love when parents say, "I'm not going to help them - I'm going to let them learn on their own"

Go for it - less competition. However, I'm going to help mine.

Just like the new kid at work. Im not going to let them learn the hard way - I am going to help.

What's the point of knowledge and experience if you keep it to yourself.
Anonymous
Post 12/12/2021 12:14     Subject: How does your team/league really impact college recruiting?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote: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!


This is not a blueprint, it's very helpful but 100% POV of a parent vs. player. The Juxtaposition between 'her' vs. I is cringy.



Adults using the word "Gringy" is "Gringy" - log off your TicTok account and rejoin the rest of us.

Parents - take a very active role behind the scenes to assist in getting your kid recruited. Do not rely on anyone else.


So at what point in the process did your kid actually do herself? What did she actually learn about composing and sending emails and maintaining communication with coaches?

Will you do this for her jobs too?


Glad you asked -

Here is what I did to assist my teenager in the process:

1. I taught her about colleges and the many different options available
2. I learned about her interest and life desires
4. I helped build a list of colleges
5. I helped gather a list of emails
6 I helped draft an introductory letter
7. I helped make the highlight video
8. I taught her about debt
9. I paid The club fees
10. I drove her to practices and games
11. I made showcases the family vacations.

Here is What she did -

1. Play soccer since the age of 6
2. Train 4 times a week since the age of 9
3. Play ten months out of the year since 13
4. Batltle and overcome injuries and stress
5. Miss out on activities
6. Balance a school load with a high GPA
7. Perform in front of 60 coaches at showcases
8. Battle kids who were bigger,faster, stronger
9. Deal with being cut from a top team at a young age
10. Spark college interest
11. Have hour long conversations with college coaches in her room.
12. Deal with a recruiter staring at her knowing she's not playing well.
13. Get lectured by her coach
14. Weigh offers that could impact the next 60 years of her life.
15. Make a choice and commit

My kid got herself recruited - I just helped in the facilitation.

Parents - there is nothing wrong with helping your kids - just don't get in the way and try to take over. Coaches are recruting the player - not you - if you send off bad vibes you can hurt your kids chances.
Anonymous
Post 12/12/2021 11:39     Subject: How does your team/league really impact college recruiting?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote: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!


This is not a blueprint, it's very helpful but 100% POV of a parent vs. player. The Juxtaposition between 'her' vs. I is cringy.



Adults using the word "Gringy" is "Gringy" - log off your TicTok account and rejoin the rest of us.

Parents - take a very active role behind the scenes to assist in getting your kid recruited. Do not rely on anyone else.


So at what point in the process did your kid actually do herself? What did she actually learn about composing and sending emails and maintaining communication with coaches?

Will you do this for her jobs too?
Anonymous
Post 12/12/2021 11:06     Subject: How does your team/league really impact college recruiting?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote: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!


This is not a blueprint, it's very helpful but 100% POV of a parent vs. player. The Juxtaposition between 'her' vs. I is cringy.



Adults using the word "Gringy" is "Gringy" - log off your TicTok account and rejoin the rest of us.

Parents - take a very active role behind the scenes to assist in getting your kid recruited. Do not rely on anyone else.
Anonymous
Post 12/12/2021 10:49     Subject: How does your team/league really impact college recruiting?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote: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!


This is not a blueprint, it's very helpful but 100% POV of a parent vs. player. The Juxtaposition between 'her' vs. I is cringy.



Your 15-16 year old child has no real world experience. Who should guide them? The streets?

In order to properly assist your child, YOU must take a very active roll and answer these question:

1. What are my finances - This will help determine the school list (in state - out of state - private).

2. Will I set up my child to take on massive debt?

3. What degree does my child wish to obtain?

4. What level does my child truly play at?

Moving on - most parents would benefit from understanding that there are 340 D1 soccer programs for girls. The vast majority of kids playing ECNL will move on to play for schools with programs ranked between 50 and 300. The key is to find the sweet spot where your financial needs and your child's interest and talent intersect. When you find that school, it goes on the list to target.

5. Rankings: https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/soccer-women/d1/ncaa-womens-soccer-rpi

Personally, I always found programs ranked between 100 - 200 to be the sweet spot.

6. Once you identified the schools (should be between 20-40) , use Google and pull up the soccer roster and get all the coaches emails. Send an introductory email with the highlight tape that YOU or YOUR child created (Most likely you) - Be sure the reel is under 3 minutes and shows her very best to spark interest. This will be the first blip on their radar. Follow up with showcase schedules and additional highlights throughout the process. Have your child tell their coach the schools being targeted.

7. If athletic scholarship money is being sought, make sure you are targeting schools where your child will have an immediate impact. Most ECNL kids can find some money (if not all) from programs in the 100-200 ranking.

8. Almost all athletic scholarships will be partial (25, 35, 45, 60, 75, etc). The full is usually obtained when you add academic money to cover the deficit.

9. Remember - no need to target a school where your kid doesn't have the grades to gain acceptance (Be honest)

10. Just because you saved enough money to cover the full cost of college doesn't mean you should just throw it away. Maybe it makes more sense to have your kid play soccer on scholarship at a "lower" school and then use the saving to pay for grad school.

Take from it what you will









2. What do ridiculous question to ask a teenager - but can be useful to facilitate the process.
3. Based on the above answer, use Google and do your own research on the school - then Google their soccer program to see if it's a good fit




Anonymous
Post 12/12/2021 07:31     Subject: How does your team/league really impact college recruiting?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote: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!


This is not a blueprint, it's very helpful but 100% POV of a parent vs. player. The Juxtaposition between 'her' vs. I is cringy.



Ooh, look at the big brain on Brad trying to use a big word ... and doing it incorrectly.
College recruiting is a tortuous and unique one-off process never to be repeated. Very little is lost and alot gained by parents taking an active role in it. It may be the last thing you and your child truly do cooperatively.
Anonymous
Post 12/12/2021 00:31     Subject: How does your team/league really impact college recruiting?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote: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!


This is not a blueprint, it's very helpful but 100% POV of a parent vs. player. The Juxtaposition between 'her' vs. I is cringy.

Anonymous
Post 12/11/2021 10:28     Subject: Re:How does your team/league really impact college recruiting?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Well -- my kid was actually recruited from her high school play. She was playing club of course, but where we were girls high school played in the Spring so coaches had time to go to high school games. When the coach from her college came to a game I figured that it was not going to work, because he left about 10 minutes into the game. Turns out he liked the way she ran the warm ups as the high school coach worked and could not get to most games until just before the start. Basically the coach knew the level of play, and really recruited "leadership".


Most certainly not D1


MAC

Oh. You just wanted to be insulting. Got it. There’s a name for people like you and it refers to a part of a person’s rear end.


You are aware that you wrote that your players D1 coach traveled from out of state (at least four hour drive) to watch your her warm up at a high school game and then left - and basically that's how she got recruited. Right?
Anonymous
Post 12/11/2021 10:00     Subject: Re:How does your team/league really impact college recruiting?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote: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.

LOL no. Experience soccer people can ID quality players very quickly even when playing with less skilled players. Speed of play is a combination of technical skill and soccer iq/vision. It is very easy to determine who has the speed of play to play at the next level.


Bollocks. College coaches have told us flat out that they need to see games against like competition. Speed of play can only be demonstrated when challenged. That's one of the reasons why HS soccer is not good for recruiting.


Not true. If it was true college coach would get nothing from watching travel soccer games because the overall speed of play is slow…much slower vs college and loads slower vs the pros. Speed of play is easy to see even against lower competition. It’s a combination of technical skills, touch, vision, weight, pace and soccer iq. Can you receive and pass the ball with one or two touch under pressure? Does the player release the ball within 2 second or less after receiving? Do the passes continue possession or lead to turn overs? That is speed of play.

Now athleticism and how fast a player is can be hard to determine against lower competition. A player who has above speed or athleticism against lower competition can seem pretty good but against like competition will disappear. Though if you are in a top league even the lower table teams have decent speed and athleticism. Enough to get a feel for the players. That is not the case in a high school league.


Lol. You're talking about identification, I am talking about evaluation.
Anonymous
Post 12/11/2021 06:27     Subject: Re:How does your team/league really impact college recruiting?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Well -- my kid was actually recruited from her high school play. She was playing club of course, but where we were girls high school played in the Spring so coaches had time to go to high school games. When the coach from her college came to a game I figured that it was not going to work, because he left about 10 minutes into the game. Turns out he liked the way she ran the warm ups as the high school coach worked and could not get to most games until just before the start. Basically the coach knew the level of play, and really recruited "leadership".


Most certainly not D1


MAC

Oh. You just wanted to be insulting. Got it. There’s a name for people like you and it refers to a part of a person’s rear end.
Anonymous
Post 12/10/2021 23:49     Subject: Re:How does your team/league really impact college recruiting?
Anonymous wrote:Well -- my kid was actually recruited from her high school play. She was playing club of course, but where we were girls high school played in the Spring so coaches had time to go to high school games. When the coach from her college came to a game I figured that it was not going to work, because he left about 10 minutes into the game. Turns out he liked the way she ran the warm ups as the high school coach worked and could not get to most games until just before the start. Basically the coach knew the level of play, and really recruited "leadership".


Most certainly not D1
Anonymous
Post 12/10/2021 23:38     Subject: Re:How does your team/league really impact college recruiting?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote: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.[/quote]

LOL no. Experience soccer people can ID quality players very quickly even when playing with less skilled players. Speed of play is a combination of technical skill and soccer iq/vision. It is very easy to determine who has the speed of play to play at the next level.


Bollocks. College coaches have told us flat out that they need to see games against like competition. Speed of play can only be demonstrated when challenged. That's one of the reasons why HS soccer is not good for recruiting.


Not true. If it was true college coach would get nothing from watching travel soccer games because the overall speed of play is slow…much slower vs college and loads slower vs the pros. Speed of play is easy to see even against lower competition. It’s a combination of technical skills, touch, vision, weight, pace and soccer iq. Can you receive and pass the ball with one or two touch under pressure? Does the player release the ball within 2 second or less after receiving? Do the passes continue possession or lead to turn overs? That is speed of play.

Now athleticism and how fast a player is can be hard to determine against lower competition. A player who has above speed or athleticism against lower competition can seem pretty good but against like competition will disappear. Though if you are in a top league even the lower table teams have decent speed and athleticism. Enough to get a feel for the players. That is not the case in a high school league.
Anonymous
Post 12/10/2021 23:34     Subject: How does your team/league really impact college recruiting?
Exposure is critical. Whether self-promoted (ID camps) or showcases, exposure is critical.
Anonymous
Post 12/10/2021 22:21     Subject: Re:How does your team/league really impact college recruiting?
Well -- my kid was actually recruited from her high school play. She was playing club of course, but where we were girls high school played in the Spring so coaches had time to go to high school games. When the coach from her college came to a game I figured that it was not going to work, because he left about 10 minutes into the game. Turns out he liked the way she ran the warm ups as the high school coach worked and could not get to most games until just before the start. Basically the coach knew the level of play, and really recruited "leadership".
Anonymous
Post 12/10/2021 21:47     Subject: Re:How does your team/league really impact college recruiting?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote: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.[/quote]

LOL no. Experience soccer people can ID quality players very quickly even when playing with less skilled players. Speed of play is a combination of technical skill and soccer iq/vision. It is very easy to determine who has the speed of play to play at the next level.


Bollocks. College coaches have told us flat out that they need to see games against like competition. Speed of play can only be demonstrated when challenged. That's one of the reasons why HS soccer is not good for recruiting.