JUNE 15th...

Since the most recent round of NCAA rule changes, June 15th has become a milestone date for Division I and II College soccer coaches and recruits! It signifies a move into the next step of the recruiting process and it's a big one! For those who don’t know, Division I and II coaches are unable to have any communication with student-athletes until this date (outside of sending questionnaires and camp information). So the recruiting process really jumps forward here.

The recruiting process is or should be full of fun, excitement, and overall a great experience. Enjoy getting to see some schools, meet some great people, and maybe buy a t-shirt or two on your visits! However I know there is some anxiety with the process leading into June 15th…rest assured if you want to play soccer in college there is a place for you! Trust me when I tell you, your parents have way more anxiety about the process and how it is going to work out for you than you do! Parents, they always have and always will just want the best for you!

A few thoughts:

1. While we (college coaches) contact the group of players who are our “top recruits” on June 15th, not all players that end up in our program are on that initial list. That top list is always changing. Players coming off it, players being added, and sometimes things just happen late. Which brings me to my next point…

2. You control your process and your timeline. So many times when I see one player from a particular club team commit, the domino’s tend to fall quickly on that same club team way too fast! Yes you might get the offer at the school you want and commit early. That’s amazing, good for you! But just because your teammate got the early offer he/she wanted doesn’t mean you need to take the early offer you may not really want because you are feeling some peer pressure!

I encourage you to not just take an offer because the coach pressures you to. In the last 5 years we have had two players, two VERY GOOD players see a deadline come and go. And I mean like 7-8 months later they ending up accepting our offer and coming. 1) They did get a little lucky we still had money available. 2) They communicated very well and very professionally throughout the process. For that reason (as well as being great soccer players) we still really wanted them to be a part of our program if we could make it happen. We want good people and good soccer players in our program. Culture combined with talent is everything!

3. Deadlines - We all approach the recruiting process differently. There will be coaches who hit you with an early offer and also with a quick deadline! Sometimes as early as before you leave campus! My kid WILL NOT be committing to one of those schools I can promise you that. Why? I don’t get that. Recruits need to see different schools, different cultures, different environments to make an educated and healthy decision. I wonder how many kids who had those quick deadlines end up in the transfer portal? Many deadlines come with a couple weeks or a month. I get that, coaches need to know, cause if you are not coming we need to be able to make that offer to the next kid before she commits to another school! And some won’t come with deadlines at all. Communicate your timeline and other visits you have set up. That helps manage OUR expectations and gives you more control over YOUR process.

4. MOST IMPORTANTLY. If June 15th comes and goes and you really don't see any interest, THAT. IS. OK. It’s still early. Keep working hard, keep marketing yourself, stay on your grind, and working to be the best version of you you can be! You know what, often that kid, the one things didn’t come easy to, ends up having the most successful and enjoyable college experience!

Lastly. Did you know - a recent NCAA rule change allows you to now take more than 5 official visits, AND schools can now pay for parents transportation (flights). Game changer for you…

Thanks for reading!

The Recruiting Dad