In the landscape of collegiate men's soccer in the United States, there exists a diverse array of programs across various divisions, each offering unique opportunities and challenges for aspiring athletes.

In the realm of Division I men's soccer, there are 205 programs, each equipped with 9.9 scholarships, though many players do not receive athletic scholarships. Notably, approximately 37% of Division I players are recruited internationally.

Division II boasts 202 men's soccer programs with 9 scholarships per team. Division II schools often offer a less rigorous academic profile, allowing student-athletes to balance their athletic pursuits with other interests. Around 22% of Division II players are recruited from outside the United States.

In Division III, 408 programs thrive without athletic scholarships. These institutions, characterized by high academic standards, offer student-athletes the chance to excel both academically and athletically. Division III athletes have more flexibility to explore diverse interests beyond their sport. The international player percentage in Division III is notably lower compared to other divisions.

Junior Colleges (JUCO) present a pathway for aspiring collegiate athletes with 217 men's soccer programs offering up to 18 scholarships. JUCO programs serve as a stepping stone for many future Division I and Division II athletes, providing opportunities to refine skills and compete against collegiate-level opponents.

Participation in collegiate men's soccer is highly competitive. Merely 5.7% of male high school soccer players transition to college soccer. In the 2022 academic year, out of 454,324 male high school soccer players in the United States, only 44,259 continued to play soccer at the collegiate level. Thus, playing collegiate soccer at any level is a remarkable achievement.

"To be successful in college, students need to be prepared for college coursework. In Division I and Division II, the NCAA sets academic initial-eligibility standards that take into account GPA, standardized test scores, core courses taken in high school and the grades earned in those core courses. Division III schools hold student-athletes to the same overall standards for the institution in which they’re enrolling.

All student-athletes also must meet the unique acceptance requirements of the college or university they plan to attend (which may exceed NCAA standards)."

Source: NCAA.org

Irrespective of your desired college soccer destination, meeting and upholding academic standards is paramount. Both the NCAA guidelines and the specific requirements of your chosen institution are crucial benchmarks. Exceptional soccer prowess alone cannot secure admission; academic eligibility is essential. Without the requisite grades and qualifications, admittance becomes unattainable, regardless of your athletic abilities. Moreover, maintaining academic standards post-enrollment is equally critical. Failure to meet these ongoing requirements could jeopardize your status as a team member, impacting your ability to play collegiate soccer.

Here are some more useful links from NCAA.org to help explain the educational eligibility process for college soccer:

GPA  |  Educational Resources  |  Division I Eligibility Requirements  |  Division II Eligibility Requirements  |  Test Scores

"The life of a student-athlete is not for the faint-hearted, think early mornings, late nights, and limited time off. The physical and mental exhaustion that college athletes are subjected to, really tests just how much you love your sport.

Morning

5:30 AM – It’s dark, cold, and wet outside, yet it is time to get out of bed and psych yourself up for the morning weights session (Tip: chug water and coffee before leaving).

5:45 AM – You are walking across campus, as you head towards the weight room; you would much rather be in bed, but know that you must put the work in.

7:00 AM – It is over. You feel good now, and ready to tackle the rest of the day. It was not as bad as you thought it would be. Now, time for a light snack before the fun starts, soccer time.

8:00 AM – Finally, the ever-so-familiar sensation of your studs grazing the turf as you jog onto the field, filling your lungs with the crisp morning air.

8:15 AM – Warmup done. Time to get some touches on the ball.

10:00 AM – Practice finished. You feel great, yet exhausted. It feels like it’s been a whole day already, but it is only just starting. The cleats are left in the locker for the following day.

10:15 AM – Breakfast time + an informal debrief about practice with teammates.

Afternoon

11 AM – 3 PM: Class. Now that your body has been through all of its excursion for the day, it’s your brain’s turn. (Tips: Caffeine is highly recommended to help make it through this portion of the day. Grab a quick lunch whenever you have time between classes).

3:30 PM – Treatment time for any aches, pains, or niggles that you are currently suffering from.

Evening

6 PM – Dinner. Time to refuel after your busy day, while spending time with your friends and teammates

7 PM Onwards – Free time, the best part of the day. This could consist of several things, depending on what you have going on, from an evening of crammed studying, completing last-minute homework assignments, or simply hanging out with your teammates and enjoying some well-earned downtime

9:30 (Recommended) Bedtime – At the risk of sounding like a parent, it is critical that you go to sleep at a decent hour, to allow your body to repair itself after a strenuous day, as well as prepare yourself for the same again tomorrow.

This schedule is based on what I have experienced at different schools, but it is important to remember that it can vary from school to school. The constant reality everywhere is how time-consuming the life of a college soccer player is, and this is without considering the time constraints of a possible part-time job.

The moral of the story is that playing college soccer is less of a hobby and more of a full-time job. You have to be all in and put in the hard yards every day. If you learn to enjoy the grind, then this will be a thoroughly enjoyable experience."

Source: College Soccer Insight

"The college soccer recruiting process is competitive, and athletes need to evaluate their own skill set while projecting how much they can improve by freshman year of college. To do so, they’ll need to loop in their current coach and have a frank conversation about their skill level and future potential...

Regardless of division level, playing college sports is a major time commitment—and that’s why college coaches make it a priority to evaluate recruits’ commitment. There will be early practices, training sessions at odd times and plenty of travel—all in addition to classes and homework. Before student-athletes take the next steps in their recruiting process, they need to be certain that they’re prepared to take their game to the next level and are ready to manage the demanding schedule of a collegiate student-athlete."

Source: NCSA College Recruiting

"Even though there are thousands of available roster spots across the Division 1, Division 2, Division 3, NAIA and junior college levels, earning one is no easy task. Potential recruits have to do a fair amount of self-assessment and confer with their current coach to determine the level of competition that’s right for them. A third party such as NCSA can also help in setting proper expectations."

Source: NCSA College Recruiting

The John Jay Soccer Program has a rich tradition of propelling players to Division I, II, III, and NJCAA College Soccer Programs across the Northeast. Presently, the coaching staff is actively collaborating with high level Junior College programs, aiming to secure further collegiate soccer opportunities for graduates of the John Jay Soccer Program. These initiatives not only provide avenues for playing at an elevated collegiate level but also offer prospects for earning scholarships.

“DI or bust” Just how many times have you heard that from prospective student-athletes? Yet, if they were willing to look past this outdated take they could experience all the joys that college soccer has to offer.

My NAIA school would comfortably beat my former NCAA DII school, yet it is considered far more prestigious to wear the NCAA badge on your sleeve. People turn their noses up at the mere mention of the NAIA, totally disregarding the fact that the standard of players at top schools in this division is largely equal if not better than that of the top DII schools.

I look back on my time at junior college with great fondness. The facilities weren’t great and we didn’t have an abundance of high-tech equipment, but that didn’t matter as the environment was brilliant and it was a great grounding moving forward. Playing junior college soccer truly encompasses the sort of grind mentality that is key in the world of soccer.

I would especially recommend JUCO to international students coming to play college soccer as freshmen, as junior colleges are far cheaper than four-year universities. Playing time is generally more accessible at junior colleges due to the absence of upperclassmen, this benefitted me greatly, as a skinny eighteen-year-old I would have struggled badly if I had to compete against a fully developed man for a starting spot. Getting any sort of playing time in competitive matches at this level is far more beneficial than playing in JV matches for a four-year university.

The level of coaching across these levels largely depends on the individual school, but it would be naïve to assume that JUCO attracts the lower level coaches, as my coach has been the most influential on my soccer career thus far, in addition to being the best qualified.

In my experience, the one major difference between the NCAA and the other two divisions was the emphasis on being an athlete, by this I mean that there was a strong emphasis on the weight room, almost as much as the Soccer itself. There are pros and cons to strongly prioritizing weight training. We used to do weights right before soccer practice, which I found to be detrimental to my performance in practice due to increased fatigue.

Weight training was far more prevalent than any sort of tactical coaching or video analysis on what we as a team or individuals could do better to improve our overall game. This was deeply frustrating as I prioritized my development as a soccer player far higher than the development of my athleticism. The lack of actual coaching on show verged on embarrassing

Take all of this information with a pinch of salt, as I can only comment on what I have experienced. But remember to think more carefully before quickly dismissing the prospect of playing NAIA or JUCO soccer, simply because you are put off by the nametag."

Source: COLLEGE SOCCER INSIGHT

"The recruiting process for college men’s soccer is very competitive. About 7.9% of high school men’s soccer players go on to play in college, and only about 1.1% go on to play for a Division 1 school. In addition to having athletic talent and good grades, it’s essential to take the recruiting process seriously... However, keep in mind that every recruiting journey is a little different, from athlete to athlete and from school to school. Athletes need to remember to stay proactive and not wait for coaches to find them.

Athletes and parents who want to get a jump on the recruiting process should be ready to get started by sophomore year of high school. In NCSA’s survey of D1 men’s soccer coaches, 74% reported that they began evaluating talent in 10th grade and 22% began evaluating talent in 11th grade. Student-athletes looking to play ball in college should be in contact with coaches by sophomore year of high school if they want to get the jump on securing a college roster spot. By junior year, many men’s soccer coaches will have their rosters filled."

Source: NCSA College Recruiting

Here are some more useful links from NCAA.org to help explain the educational eligibility process for college soccer:

Recruiting Calendar  |  Recruiting - Eligibility Center  |  Choosing a College

"While this men’s soccer recruiting guide is a thorough resource for student-athletes looking to make their way onto a college roster, there are also several websites that offer pertinent information on the college recruiting process. From club soccer tournament rankings to college recruiting news, websites such as GotSoccer, Top Drawer, Soccer Wire, US Youth Soccer and US Club Soccer can offer helpful tips."

Source: NCSA College Recruiting

There is no one, single way to go through the recruiting process. It is a different experience for every single player. Please let the John Jay Soccer Coaching Staff know any way that we can guide or assist you in the process!

Unlock Your Soccer Future: Insights from Coach Stewart Flaherty

Here is a valuable resource for aspiring soccer players aiming to catch the eye of college coaches! Here, Coach Stewart Flaherty, with 26 years of coaching experience across all three NCAA divisions and professional leagues, shares his expertise on getting noticed in the competitive world of college soccer recruitment.

Learn the art of showcasing your skills effectively through Coach Flaherty's guide to creating an attention-grabbing highlight reel. Coach Flaherty breaks down the importance of versatility in soccer and provides tips on how to showcase your adaptability to catch the eye of recruiters depending on where you play on the field, and what your strengths are.

With a wealth of coaching experience at various levels, Coach Flaherty brings a unique perspective to the recruitment process. His proven track record in identifying and developing talent provides invaluable insights for players aspiring to play at the collegiate level. Whether you're a high school player with dreams of playing at the next level or a parent supporting a young talent, these videos will equip you with the knowledge and strategies to navigate the competitive landscape of college soccer recruitment.

By Position

• As a Goalkeeper

• As a Center Back 1

• As a Center Back 2

• As a Fullback

• As a Forward

By Skill

• Pressing as a Forward

• Passing Out from the Back

• Movement Between the Lines

• Directional First Touch

As an athlete you have undoubtedly been on the receiving end of countless emails inviting you to college campuses throughout the United States to participate in ID Camps hosted by the Coaching Staff of your favorite school.  Understandably, athletes get excited about all of the seemingly interested schools reaching out to them and some decide to stretch their own financial resources to attend multiple camps. Without diving too deep into the business of College ID Camps, let's take a look at what it means to receive an ID Camp invitation.

First, it 100% means that your email address is part of an Email Campaign and the sender is tracking Analytics.  Meaning, he/she is able to track if the email was delivered successfully, left unread, read, or if any links were clicked.  All someone needs is an email address to send an email and sometimes that is all coaches have.  If the email says "Greetings (Your Name)" instead of only "Greetings" then you know they have both your name & email address. Because ID Camp invitations vary from school to school it's sometimes impossible to know if there is a genuine interest behind the email you receive without finding a way to speak directly with the coaching staff (more on this in a future blog post).  There is a very real chance they don't have your name, grad year, club team, or even know what state you live in.  This is because the primary purpose of all ID Camps is to earn the coaching staff money and the secondary purpose is to identify players.  

The bottom line is: Athletes can take this Email Campaign/Analytics tactic that Coaches use & use it right back on the coaches. If done properly Athletes can gain massive insight into which schools are opening the emails they send, and which schools have clicked the link to view their highlight video. Knowing this information can help decide how to approach a phone conversation with a coach, or which person on the coaching staff has been reading their stuff.  It could even possibly tell help determine if it's worth attending an ID Camp!    

Email campaigns are an effective way to reach out to college coaches and control your own narrative. However, it is important to track the success of your email campaigns in order to make sure that you are getting the most out of them. By using analytics, you can measure the performance of your email campaigns and make adjustments accordingly.

Analytics can help you understand how many people opened your emails, clicked on links, or took action after receiving your emails. You can also use analytics tools such as Bitly which is free to track how many people visited a specific page after clicking on a link in an email. This will help you understand if people are actually taking action after receiving your emails or not. I highly suggest using a Bitly link as your highlight video URL.  (I have no affiliation with Bitly, but I used Bitly links in everything I did as a college coach because it was free and simple)

Source: Play College Soccer

In this episode, the 'Inside College Soccer' Podcast dives into crucial and challenging topics that hold paramount significance for aspiring players seeking recruitment in college soccer. 

"This Special Episode features brings together some of our most experienced staff to talk about all things College ID Camps. SRUSA's Don Williams is joined by Joe Cleary, Andre Luciano, and Steve Rollins.  Some of the subjects covered include Third-party ID Camps, School ID Camps, and what to do when you go to an ID Camp."

LISTEN TO PODCAST EPISODE HERE

"There is no denying the crucial role highlight videos can play for many student-athletes in their recruiting process. College coaches are extremely busy; it would be impossible for them to travel the country to evaluate every potential recruit. Highlight videos are a chance to get student-athletes in front of coaches and give them an unbiased look at their skills and abilities. It’s a fact that online recruiting profiles that include a highlight video receive more than 10 times as much traffic as those without one. A great highlight video is one of the most important things to include in your recruiting profile to garner some serious attention from college coaches.

After you’ve collected enough footage, it’s time to start editing. The goal is to put together a video that showcases what your student-athlete can do, as this is one of the main ways coaches evaluate a potential recruit. Here are some tips for putting together a great highlight video:

• Include the right highlights. Depending on your sport, coaches will be looking for different types of footage. For example, it’s important for basketball and football videos to show in-game footage, but sports like baseball and softball should focus more on technical skills.

• Keep your video short—about three to five minutes. If a coach wants to see footage of a whole game, they will request it.

• Showcase your best clips first. Sometime coaches won’t watch more than the first 20 or 30 seconds of your video. If you start out strong, you have a better chance of capturing their attention.

• Use freeze frames and/or spot shadows. Right before the action begins, freeze the video so the coach can see what has been set up. Then, add a circle or arrow to identify your student-athlete.

• Vary the skills you showcase. While it’s impressive to be able to drain three-pointers, if your whole highlight video only shows that one skill, you’re not showing that you’re a well-rounded player. Include footage of other important aspects of the game such as playing defense.

• Include footage from before and after the play. Coaches aren’t just interested in the execution; they want to see how you react and communicate during gameplay.

• Make sure the quality of the video is high. You might have made an amazing catch, but if the camera is shaking and you’re out of focus, you’re more likely to be looked over. Coaches are making split-second decisions when they watch highlight videos. Don’t give them any reason to stop watching.

• Keep it simple. There’s no need to include special editing effects or music in your highlight video. The fewer frills, the better.

• Provide detailed information along with your video. The first frame of the video should include your name, school, jersey number, position, graduation year and contact information. You can also add sport-specific measurements such as height, weight, etc.

Video editing is tricky, and while the software that makes creating highlight videos is more accessible today than ever, something this important is often best left in the hands of professionals. There’s skill and technique involved, and the stakes are high for your student-athlete."

Source: NCSA The Importance of Highlight & Skills Videos

It is absolutely crucial to have a highlight video to send to prospective college coaches. What the video should contain ultimately depends on what position you play, and what you are trying to show the coaches. Check out the next section on specific skills coaches are looking for from each position.

Don Williams, Co-Founder of Sports Recruiting USA (SCRUSA) , does a great job outlining exactly what he is looking for when looking at a highlight video of a high school player looking to get recruited, for several different positions. When putting together a highlight video. Without going into each position: Players need to take what they do best, what separates them from everyone else, & hit the coach hard with that in the 1st 30 seconds! Maybe it’s smashing shots, vicious tackles, crazy speed on recovery runs, towering headers, massive switches with both feet, etc., you get the idea.

From there players need to demonstrate proficiency in all aspects of the game.

• Passes of 10, 20, 40, 60+ yards with both feet, falling & driven balls

• Winning 50/50 challenges on the ground & in the air.

• 1st touch

• Ability to read the game & break lines

• Ability to play in tight spaces

• Tackles

• Finishing

• Assists

• Recovery runs

• Set Plays Etc.

Basically any & all movements required from our game All of that boiled down to 3-5 min Then include 1-2 full match links! I will glean what I need from full matches For keepers, it’s the same but with the skill sets required for their position No music. No slow motion. No sped up film. No text explanation of what we are watching. No closeups. Film from elevated positions. If all goes well, we will get a player on the phone & figure out if they fit our program & how to see them play in person!

When the 1st 4 clips of a Center Back are:

• A fantastic tackle.

• A header that makes a statement.

• A set play header finish

• Outside Back gets beat and you race over to save their bacon (Big bonus points if you win the ball and immediately connect into the attack)

I'm sticking around to see what's next.

--------------------

When the 1st 4 clips of a Winger are:

• Beating a defender and zipping away to the byline for a driven cross and assist.

• Zooming back to get on Defense and making a tackle.

• Getting on the other end of a cross and finishing.

• Beating your opposing Winger and connecting the ball with a teammate with a progressive pass.

I'm in for the long haul of the next whatever minutes. #ShowMeMore

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When the 1st 5 clips of a Forward are:

• Header goal.

• Banger driven goal from outside the box.

• Slotted back post goal.

• Volley of 1/2 Volley goal

• Creating a goal in tight spaces (Big bonus points for demonstrating speed and quickness in any situation)

• 
  

I'm excited and I'm sticking around. Show coaches lots of goals and assists from a variety of situations, and defending from the front to shape the field into smaller, manageable sections, and coaches will pay attention.

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When the 1st 4 clips of an Outside Back are:

• Assist.

• Creative movement in tight spaces

• Goal.

• Good tackle.

You've got my attention.

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When the 1st 5 clips of a Defensive Center Midfielder are:

• A 50/50 challenge header won and handled with authority.

• A banger 30 yard driven ball to the left winger with your left foot to their left foot.

• A banger 30 yard driven ball to the right winger with your right foot to their right foot.

• A speedy wall pass to a goal (YouTube Franz Beckenbauer).

• A 50/50 tackle that the other players want none of.

I want to know more!!!

--------------------

When the 1st 4 clips of a Box-to-Box Center Midfielder are:

• Controlling a sequence and rhythm that leads to a scoring chance (vital that you play with both feet)

• A true banger goal from outside the box

• A genuine (not lucky) assist.

• A good middle of the field tackle that gets us going to goal.

I want to know more, like now.

--------------------

When the 1st 4 clips of a Goalkeeper are:

• Flying upper corner right hand.

• Flying upper corner left hand.

• Coming for a cross in traffic and you're the only one challenging for the ball that's left standing (and holding the ball)

• Coming for a cross in traffic and you gather it, but get knocked down, still holding the ball.

I wanna see what else this keeper brings to the table.

--------------------

Additionally, he adds the following insights on clips for Highlight Videos:

"Please don't forget when you're selecting clips for your college highlight film that there are 3 main moments you need to show us: when we have the ball, when they have the ball, transition from one to the other. So many players leave out 1 or more of the 3 moments."

"When you're showing attacking clips and your soft shot or cross ends up easily in the opposing Keeper's hands, that's not a highlight, it's a turnover."

"If I can't tell who you are? Delete. If the video shakes? Delete. Blurry? Delete. Fat and slow opponents? Delete. 17 clips of an inside of foot pass? Delete. Bore me early? Delete. Too many safe, negative passes? Delete. I've only got 24 hours/day."

Source: Sports Recruiting USA

You can see from the above that coaches are looking for clips that make you stick out from other players, show you playing your absolute best, and demonstrate that you are valuable in all facets of the game. Most of the above highlighted moments include technical ability with the ball to create and/or finish scoring opportunities, regain possession of the ball through strong individual and/or team defending, or displaying an elevated level of talent or ability with the ball. No where does he recommend trying to beat 3 defenders via the dribble only to turn the ball over, or over-committing and/or fouling defensively. There are no coaches, at any level, interested in seeing players do this.

"Often when social media and college recruiting pop up in the news, the articles tell cautionary tales of recruits who have lost an offer or a scholarship because of poor social media choices.  

However, social media, when used properly, can be an effective recruiting tool. In fact, recruits can use the power of social media to contact coaches, show coaches what kind of recruit they are and even gain the attention of college coaches who weren’t previously recruiting them."

Source: NCSA College Recruiting

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"High school soccer players should create a professional Instagram account specifically for college coaches. There are two primary reasons for creating social media profiles for college recruiting:

• To showcase your soccer skills. 

• To prove to college coaches that you can be a positive role model and a team player. 

College coaches do not want to see your vacation photos, your latest outfit, or your embarrassing moments. Put those on your “finsta,” and make those moments private.  If a college coach searches your name, they should immediately find your dialed-in soccer account, not the account you use to impress your friends."

There is no one, single way to go through the recruiting process. It is a different experience for every single player. Please let the John Jay Soccer Coaching Staff know any way that we can guide or assist you in the process!

What Types of Content Should You Share

• Videos of training sessions. Make sure to caption videos explaining what you’re posting. For example, if you’re posting showing you 1v1 with a defender, you might write something about ball control, throwing the defender off balance, protecting the ball, or timing.

• Photos or videos showing you are attending events and showcases. Coaches want to see that you’re attending the most competitive events available to you, so players attending a competitive ECNL or National League events might document the scene at these events.

• Videos of your home workouts. Prove to college coaches that you’re putting in work on and off the pitch. Maybe this means a video of you practicing your footwork with a ball and wall. It might be basic, but it shows you are committed to the game.

• Year in review videos or slideshows. Compiling videos of your best moments from the past year can be helpful in resurfacing your best moments, the ones that you might want to feature on highlight videos.

• Trick shots. Since you won’t be showing how you can kick a ball into a basketball goal on your official highlight reel, social media is a good place to highlight the cool things you can do and show off a little bit.

• Strength training. Show coaches that you are researching ways to improve your technique and make yourself a better player through exercises and drills.

• Team photos. Coaches are looking for team players. It might seem cheesy, but showing team photos after big games or after long tournaments is a good opportunity to prove that you are grateful for the experience and do not take your teammates for granted."

Source: Traceup.com: How to Use Social Media for College Soccer Recruiting

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"Summertime is normally a time for taking a break, recharging, and getting ready for the big year ahead. While there are elements of truth to this as it pertains to youth soccer, the summer is usually a busy time for players. Between ID camps, off-season training, college visits and summer leagues, there’s a lot going on!

Here are some key tips on how to keep your social media fresh during the off-season.

Make sure to do a postseason recap: It’s tough to talk about the end of a soccer season, especially if it does not go as expected. But as difficult as it may be to sift through video and photos, and talk about the end of the year and the previous season, it’s a necessary exercise. First, from a recruiting perspective, colleges want to see recent game footage of you. Even if the final result may not have gone to your liking, you should review the game film and share the best aspects of it. It’s also important to talk about the season as a whole and discuss where things went well and end them on a hopeful note.

It’s OK to take a break from soccer: The youth soccer calendar is a real grind and it takes a toll on a players body and their mind. But there seems to be this notion that breaks are bad and the sheer number of players posting videos of their off-season training, ID camps, and summer league games seems to point to the idea that the season never stops. It does and that’s OK.

While it may seem counter-intuitive to take a break, taking some time off to regroup and recharge is a vital part of the overall process. There is the physical aspect (injuries take time to heal and even if one is not seriously injured, the nicks, bruises, and knocks all add up) but there is also the mental aspect as well. Especially when results don’t go the way we expect, there is this reaction to immediately ramp up again. But sometimes the best thing to do is step back and rethink how one can get better and do it with a fresh set of eyes.

It’s important to note that the idea of taking time off isn’t linear. Given how packed summer schedules are ones break from the game might not happen until say July or August. That’s OK too! It doesn’t really matter when one takes time off just that one does do it. Players aren’t robots."

Source: SoccerWire.com: College Soccer Recruiting & Social Media

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"The growth and proliferation of technology and social media has had a profound effect on the college recruiting process. Most aspiring student-athletes as well as the coaches they are trying to impress have a presence on a multitude of social media platforms including: Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter. Coaches are becoming more social media savvy and, in addition to large numbers of coaches watching and identifying you at Future 500 ID Camps, will probably check your social profiles to gain a better understanding of your character and personality while they are evaluating you. As a result, it is critical that you make sure your social media accounts are appropriate and reflect positively on you! Here are 6 Do’s and Don’ts to help you out during the college recruiting process:

1. Do follow & subscribe

Follow and subscribe to College Programs that you are interested in on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube. Many college programs have a strong presence on social media, so following their pages can be a great way to get to know them better and keep track of how their seasons are going. Use the information that you get from social media to personalize the emails that you send to college coaches. For example, start your email with “Hey Coach K, great win over UNC the other day!” Short, personalized lines like this make your emails stand out by showing a coach that you care about their program.

2. Do post and engage

Don’t let the fact that college coaches may see your profile discourage you from using social media altogether; go ahead and post about the things that you’re interested in or cool experiences that you’ve had. Coaches aren’t expecting you to post pictures of yourself studying for the SAT or being inducted into the National Honor Society. They want to see a picture of the huge fish you caught when fly fishing or that awkward family photo from your fun family vacation. Overall, coaches will hop on social media to get a better idea of who you are as a person and make sure that you’re staying out of trouble.

3. Don’t be offensive or inappropriate

Not only should you never post distasteful or inappropriate pictures of yourself, but you shouldn’t like, comment on, follow, or be tagged in any offensive posts. Hopefully you know what qualifies as inappropriate, but we’ll spell it out for you just in case: don’t associate yourself with anything related to drugs, alcohol, sex, racism, or foul language. College coaches want mature, coachable players on their teams, and it is a big red flag for them when a prospective student-athlete is inappropriate and immature on social media.

4. Don’t be confrontational

Coaches are looking for mature student-athletes that are respectful and coachable. If you have an issue with friend, relative, or classmate, don’t hash it out with them on social media. Talk to them in person and resolve the problem privately. Conflict is often unavoidable with team sports, and coaches want players that can handle tough situations in a healthy, mature way.

5. Don’t be arrogant

There is a difference between promoting yourself and being arrogant. There is nothing wrong with posting a short video of your recent game-winning goal…that’s awesome. But adding a caption like “Had to put the team on my back again” comes across as conceited. College coaches don’t want to deal with wannabe superstars, they want hard working players that put the team above themselves in all circumstances.

6. Do Clean Up Your Accounts

Before you begin engaging with the college recruiting process it is important to backtrack through your various social media accounts to ensure that there is no offensive or inappropriate content. Coaches are unlikely to dive too deeply into your past, but might scroll through content from the last few months. Delete any content you wouldn’t want the coaches to see before you are on their radar.

Social media can be a great tool to help the coach get to know you, and also for showing your legitimate interest in a program. It is important to be conscious of your social media presence while going through the process. Follow the Do’s and Don’ts above to give yourself a great social media presence to complement your other recruiting efforts."

Source: Future500IDCamp: SOCIAL MEDIA & COLLEGE RECRUITING: 6 DO’S AND DON’TS

Mason Amorim

PACE UNIVERSITY

Carson Durkin

PACE UNIVERSITY

Lucas Arouca

DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY NEW YORK

Myles McKenna

ITHACA COLLEGE

Connor Howe

SUNY PLATTSBURGH

Erik Popp

SUNY ONEONTA

Grant Bryant

FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY (CLUB)

Jordan Dixon

UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA (CLUB)

Oliver Broun

SUNY PURCHASE

Joey Moore

UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON

Zach Rabadi

MARIST UNIVERSITY

SUNY ONEONTA

Ryan Kieser

MOUNT SAINT MARY COLLEGE

Jake Murray

SUNY FREDONIA

Billy Moore

ALFRED UNIVERSITY

Cole Horos

MOUNT SAINT MARY COLLEGE

Ray Troche

COLLEGE OF SAINT ROSE

Alberto Molina

UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND

SUNY NEW PALTZ

John Hallgren

SAINT PETER'S UNIVERSITY

Brian Fornelos

SUNY BROCKPORT

Conor Ludwig

KEENE STATE UNIVERSITY

Austin Morizet

WINGATE UNIVERSITY

Dan Koenig

ALFRED UNIVERSITY