The college recruiting process can raise many questions. Some are obvious, while others may be less so.

Every prospective student-athlete and their family has their own version of a  learning curve to adjust to the process. Depending on when that process begins as well as what an athlete’s goals are, both personally and athletically, every recruiting process can be unique while posing similar questions.

IMG Academy soccer coach George Van Linder answers four important questions that can help shape a player’s recruiting process and overall athletic journey to the next level. 

1. How do coaches go about building their teams?

College coaches have a philosophy of how they play that will give them success in their league. They develop this philosophy based on many factors: the type of school they have vs. their competitors is one way. Recently a college coach from a strong SEC school came to watch our teams play at IMG Academy. We have one elite player on the team that several schools are chasing. This school had no interest in that player. There was another high-level player who was not getting the same attention, but they fit the philosophy of that school. As a high school player, it is important to consider if a school “plays” the way that you play. 

2. What do top recruits have in common?

College coaches don’t want players who can make their team; college coaches want players who can make their team better. Maybe you are good enough to make your favorite college team, but that coach doesn’t necessarily want a player that is as good as what they have; they want one who is better than what they have on the roster now. I recently heard of a top lacrosse player who was the fastest player on her nationally-ranked ACC team all four years she was there. It is clear to see what that player brought to that program. Try and find the right program where you have a specific skill or ability that makes the team better.

3. What key factors help a coach predict success?

This can be different for each sport. However, when examining a player’s ability to compete in the highest level of college soccer, a driving factor is athletic ability. That doesn’t mean a player who isn’t the fastest, tallest or strongest won’t be successful at the next level, of course. I know of a current high school soccer player and she is very good, yet when top colleges come to watch her every single one has questioned whether she will be fast enough for “their level.” So, athleticism is the obvious answer here. There is certainly a good team out there for a player like that, but it may not be that “big name” school that she is looking for only because she is just a half-step slower than the elite and great in all other areas. 

4. What are some myths of college recruiting?

Often people are amazed at how many good college teams there are that they may not have heard of before. As an example, this year Marshall University won the men’s NCAA Division I National Championship. They defeated several big name schools along the way, yet most high school athletes might not even know what state Marshall University is in (West Virginia). On the women’s side, Santa Clara University is another program that beat bigger -name schools to win the NCAA Division I Women’s National title. They don’t play in a Power 5 Conference, yet they showed that they can beat most if not all Power 5 schools on any given day. Don’t discount Division II or III schools; there are a lot of very good teams out there - you just have to find the one that is right for you. 

To learn more about the recruiting process or about IMG Academy’s offerings, register for a free account with TopDrawerSoccer where you can learn more about their soccer development opportunities.

Did you know NCSA offers free college recruiting resources? As the official college recruiting services partner of IMG Academy, you also have access to their tools to help you manage your recruiting journey, make connections, and get recruited. It’s all available when you click here!

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