College Soccer Assistance Program
This program is designed to assist any FCX high school player that has the desire to go on and play college soccer. There are many opportunities for soccer players, in college, and we are here to help guide you in the right direction and educate you on the process of college recruiting.
YES scholarships are out there, but should not be the only reason for choosing a school. We look at 5 areas when evaluating a school & it’s soccer program:
1 – Academics 2 - Size 3 - Cost 4 – Location 5 – Athletics
College Soccer Varsity Programs (2006 - 2007 numbers)
NCAA Division 1 * Men’s programs – 199 Women’s programs – 308
NCAA Division 2 * Men’s programs – 156 Women’s programs – 208
NCAA Division 3 ** Men’s programs – 393 Women’s programs – 411
NAIA * Men’s programs – 208 Women’s programs – 213
Junior College Soccer (2 divisions) Division 1 * / Division 3
* These programs have the abilty to offer athletic scholarships, if the funds are available to their program *
** Regardless of what you’ve heard, all D3 schools are NOT allowed to offer any type of athletic scholarship – just academic scholarships and need-based aid can be offered **
Keys to effectively getting yourself recruited:
1 - Take the time and write / email the school yourself. College coaches prefer a more personal approach to getting a player’s name out to them. It show’s that you’ve taken the time to prepare a playing / academic resume, for their viewing, and that you’ve researched the school a bit.
2 – Please keep your player resume to no more than one page if at all possible. FCX does make player profile sheets for each and every one of our senior class players. We can also make one for juniors, if they want to start the process early.
3 – Please make sure to PROOF-READ your letters to each college you write. Nothing is more embarrassing than having a different school name on a letter to a program you really have a strong interest in.
4 – Know the NCAA rules: (a) – Coaches are only allowed to call back seniors players only (one time a week) / (b) – You can call or email a coach as often as you’d like (refer to #1 though) / (c) – ONLY seniors are allowed to make OFFICIAL vists to colleges and you are only allowed 5 of those / (d) – You can make as many UNOFFICIAL visits as you want to any school.
5 – Really think it over if you plan on using a recruiting service. They tend to be rather costly and don’t do much to really personalize your interest in the school. They also tend to do mass mailings which most college coaches tend to ignore.
6 – We are providing a service through YOUR club team. No one knows you better as a player than your coaches and we do have some personal connections with college coaches throughout the country to help point you in the right direction so don't be afraid to ask questions!
Websites to help make the search a little easier:
1 - www.ncaa.org Goes over any rules or regulations that the NCAA imposes
2. – www.ncaaclearinghouse.net All players looking to play D1 / D2 must register with the NCAA Clearinghouse ** Regardless if you’ve been accepted to a D1/D2 school, the NCAA has the ultimate say on if you are eligible to play college soccer, based off your high school transcripts and test scores (either ACT www.act.org/ SAT www.collegeboard.com)
3 – www.nscaa.com Go to the Adidas College Scoreboard link (right column) and then you can do your search.
4 – www.soccerbuzz.com For women’s soccer programs ONLY. Good info for women soccer players
5 – www.naia.org This is very similar to NCAA D1 / D2, but governed by a different collegiate athletic associaton.
7 – www.soccerratings.com Provides you with info on where a program of your interest is nationally ranked
8 – www.collegenet.com A search engine for colleges and universities. Gives you a link to school’s website.
9- www.d3kicks.com For men’s and women’s DIII programs similar to Soccer Buzz.
