How to Play Soccer in College

Many soccer players dream of playing in college. Attaining that goal requires research, exposure, dedication and focus. It’s about being willing to work hard, maintain grades, and commit 100 percent to the team.

Things You'll Need

  • Good soccer skills
  • Brief soccer resume'
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Instructions

    • 1

      Be realistic. You may think you are the next David Beckham, but there are a lot of great soccer players your age, most of them applying to schools, too. Know your strengths and capitalize on them. Know your weaknesses and work to correct them.

    • 2

      Research colleges. After narrowing down your college choices by major, location, student body size, and cost, check out the soccer team. College websites usually have extensive information about their teams. Read about the players, coaches, and their records from prior seasons. This will help you decide if you are a good fit for the team.

    • 3

      Write a brief soccer resume’ for yourself. Include positions played, teams participated on, special skills, camps attended, recognitions or awards received, and several reliable references.

    • 4

      Contact the college coaches via email or letter, introducing yourself and stating your interest in the college. Include your contact information and the resume’ that you wrote. Many college teams have online recruit questionnaires. Fill them out before you contact the coaches. Ideally, you should contact the coaches no later than your junior year of high school.

    • 5

      Participate on a club soccer team that plays year round. The ideal place to be seen by coaches is at college showcase tournaments, where high level club teams participate.

    • 6

      Play soccer as much as possible. If your team is not playing one weekend and you want to play, research other teams and join them as a guest player.

    • 7

      Get yourself filmed playing games. Often, college coaches do not have a large budget for travel. Having a tape of your performance gives coaches an opportunity to see you in action. Make sure that the tape is good quality and that you are clearly identified. Also, ensure that your performance on the tape is exemplary. Send the tape at the coach's request only.

    • 8

      Attend college soccer camps. Many of these summer programs are run by the college coaches. This is a good way to get seen by them.

    • 9

      Maintain good grades. Remember, education is the number one goal in attending college. Attend mandatory study halls and work hard. Earn your degree.

    • 10

      Stay positive. You may not get accepted into your first choice of colleges. There is quite a bit of competition out there. Keep at it until you find the college to which you belong.