How to Get Recruited for College Soccer: A Step-by-Step Guide

The college soccer recruiting process: what athletes get wrong

The biggest mistake high school soccer players make is treating college recruiting as something that happens to them rather than something they actively drive. College coaches do not have unlimited time to find every talented player in the country. The athletes who get recruited are the ones who combine talent with visibility, academic readiness, and proactive outreach.

College soccer recruiting starts earlier than most athletes expect. D1 programs identify top prospects as early as 9th grade. By the time you are a junior, many of the early commitment spots at top programs are already filled. Starting late is the most common reason qualified athletes go un-recruited.

Step 1: Start your recruiting profile and NCAA registration (Freshman Year)

Before you do anything else, build your digital recruiting profile and register with the NCAA Eligibility Center. These two actions are the foundation of everything that follows.

• Build a complete athlete profile on a platform like Underdog that includes your position, club team, graduation year, GPA, athletic stats, and a highlight video link.
• Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center at eligibilitycenter.org. Track your core course credits every semester.
• Identify 20-30 target colleges across D1, D2, D3, and NAIA that match your soccer level and academic interests.
• Begin attending ID camps at programs you are interested in. Many D1 programs host overnight and day camps — these are the highest-value ways to get on a coach's radar.

Step 2: Build your highlight video from club and MLS Next games (Sophomore Year)

Your sophomore year is when your competitive club record becomes meaningful to college coaches. Prioritize playing time in quality competition and begin building a position-specific highlight reel from game footage — not training.

MLS Next players have a significant advantage here: the competition level is recognized nationally, and showcase events like MLS Next Play are attended by college coaches from every division. If you play in MLS Next, make sure your profile specifies your club and includes footage from MLS Next league play.

Step 3: Reach out to coaches directly (Junior Year)

Junior year is your peak evaluation year. After September 1 of junior year, D1 college coaches can contact you directly. But do not wait for them to reach out — send your first emails before that date.

Email outreach works when it is specific and personalized. Include your recruiting profile link, your position, your graduation year, and one sentence about why you are interested in their specific program. Generic emails are easy to delete.

• Send profile links to all 20-30 target programs by the start of junior year.
• Attend 2-3 college ID camps and one major showcase (MLS Next Play, ECNL Showcase, or college-attended event).
• Follow up after any coach attends your games — send a thank-you email within 24 hours.
• Track your outreach in a spreadsheet: school, coach name, date contacted, and response status.

Step 4: Campus visits and final decision (Senior Year / Early)

If a program is seriously interested, they will invite you for an official or unofficial campus visit. Use these visits to evaluate fit — training culture, academic resources, team chemistry, and your relationship with the coaching staff all matter for long-term success.

Understand the difference between official and unofficial visits under NCAA rules. Official visits (expenses paid by the school) are limited and typically come later in the process. Unofficial visits (you pay your own way) can happen at any time.

What soccer coaches evaluate beyond your highlight video

Your video gets you noticed. Here is what seals the deal:

• Fitness and athleticism relative to your position.
• Attitude and coachability — coaches call your club coach. Make sure what they hear matches what coaches see on film.
• Academic record and eligibility status.
• Communication quality — how you respond to emails and phone calls signals how you will operate in a college program.
• Your profile completeness — coaches trust athletes who keep their information current and professional.