New England Top 100 Showcase

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My kid is committed to a Division 1 program and has a decent combination of athletic and academic money. She'll be starting her journey in August. No jealousy here....trust me.

As you get deeper into the process, the amount of folks looking to get into your pocket becomes insane. Club soccer is very expensive and so is the travel. Many people also fall into the ODP trap which throws further gas onto fire. There are also professional recruiting services, private trainers and three dozen folks that will gladly video your games for a handsome fee.

When you start speaking with college coaches (which happens when your kid actually starts getting recruited and invited onto a few campus(s) you'll quickly learn that most if not all strongly discourage the cattle call mixed events. They are impersonal and not ideal for either party.

Recruiting is a two way experience. Schools/coaches are looking for players that are interested in that school and are the right fit both academically and athletically. That's almost impossible to figure out at an event with dozens of schools because the coach won't be able to interact with your player.

Players on top club teams that travel to Jeff Cup, PDA, FL etc simply don't need these events. Exposure comes from the kid reaching out to coaches to draw them to the events and then follow up at their on campus recruiting events.

I agree 100% with what you wrote here, as we are in the recruiting process right now. We do not do the big college mixed-college ID camps. Never. This one is different in our eyes. It’s OK if we disagree about that.

[Unregistered]

My kid is committed to a Division 1 program and has a decent combination of athletic and academic money. She'll be starting her journey in August. No jealousy here....trust me.

As you get deeper into the process, the amount of folks looking to get into your pocket becomes insane. Club soccer is very expensive and so is the travel. Many people also fall into the ODP trap which throws further gas onto fire. There are also professional recruiting services, private trainers and three dozen folks that will gladly video your games for a handsome fee.

When you start speaking with college coaches (which happens when your kid actually starts getting recruited and invited onto a few campus(s) you'll quickly learn that most if not all strongly discourage the cattle call mixed events. They are impersonal and not ideal for either party.

Recruiting is a two way experience. Schools/coaches are looking for players that are interested in that school and are the right fit both academically and athletically. That's almost impossible to figure out at an event with dozens of schools because the coach won't be able to interact with your player.

Players on top club teams that travel to Jeff Cup, PDA, FL etc simply don't need these events. Exposure comes from the kid reaching out to coaches to draw them to the events and then follow up at their on campus recruiting events.

First reasonable and logical post here on a thread that is otherwise being bombarded by "know it all U14 parents" or folks feeling like they've been left behind in the club soccer scene.

Clubs should actually hold Q&A sessions and have the U18 parents and players meet with the players and parents getting started in the process. It might save everyone some time and stress.

Yes, college coaches generally DO NOT prefer these large events. They attend themselves quite frankly because they are poorly paid and this is another stipend to supplement their income. They are almost always given the list of attendees which certainly helps their own recruiting efforts.

Coaches really can't interact at all with players at these events. Its not only an NCAA issue but there is professional courtesy within the coaching world that they all abide by. As the previous poster eluded to, a good outcome will be a personal invite to their own ID clinic.

People marketing youth soccer are very careful to paint a picture if exclusivity. "invite only, "elite", Top 100,

My advice would be to establish a budget for college recruiting. ID clinics are great. Gives your kid a chance to see a campus, meet on the staff and players of the program and get a glimpse as to what life might look like at that school. Traveling to that school also demonstrates huge interest to the Coaching staff. The large "for profit" events simply don't accomplish this.

I'd encourage folks to lay off the "you're jealous, your kid didn't get invited nonsense. Try to make an informed decision.

[Unregistered]

First reasonable and logical post here on a thread that is otherwise being bombarded by "know it all U14 parents" or folks feeling like they've been left behind in the club soccer scene.

Clubs should actually hold Q&A sessions and have the U18 parents and players meet with the players and parents getting started in the process. It might save everyone some time and stress.

Yes, college coaches generally DO NOT prefer these large events. They attend themselves quite frankly because they are poorly paid and this is another stipend to supplement their income. They are almost always given the list of attendees which certainly helps their own recruiting efforts.

Coaches really can't interact at all with players at these events. Its not only an NCAA issue but there is professional courtesy within the coaching world that they all abide by. As the previous poster eluded to, a good outcome will be a personal invite to their own ID clinic.

People marketing youth soccer are very careful to paint a picture if exclusivity. "invite only, "elite", Top 100,

My advice would be to establish a budget for college recruiting. ID clinics are great. Gives your kid a chance to see a campus, meet on the staff and players of the program and get a glimpse as to what life might look like at that school. Traveling to that school also demonstrates huge interest to the Coaching staff. The large "for profit" events simply don't accomplish this.

I'd encourage folks to lay off the "you're jealous, your kid didn't get invited nonsense. Try to make an informed decision.

For those players who have opted not to go the DA or ECNL route, this is a great opportunity for their player to get on the radar of some big programs they are interested in, that they don’t normally get attending their NPL showcases. Getting a personal invite to their ID camp, might precisely be the outcome desired.

[Unregistered]

For those players who have opted not to go the DA or ECNL route, this is a great opportunity for their player to get on the radar of some big programs they are interested in, that they don’t normally get attending their NPL showcases. Getting a personal invite to their ID camp, might precisely be the outcome desired.

ID Clinics are open to anyone....NCAA rule.

No need to pad someone else's wallet to the tune of $360 for the right to drop another $125.

Bypass the for profit event. Put together a great intro email expressing interest in the school, show up and bring your "A" game.

[Unregistered]

ID Clinics are open to anyone....NCAA rule.

No need to pad someone else's wallet to the tune of $360 for the right to drop another $125.

Bypass the for profit event. Put together a great intro email expressing interest in the school, show up and bring your "A" game.

Who is paying $360? The showcase is $250. And it will be great competition, with great college coaches that she doesn’t normally play in front of and I don’t feel like paying airfare/hotel to do just yet. Again, worth on it on our end. We have also done what you have suggested above with success. As the other poster said, the two are not mutually exclusive. You do you, and we will do us, thanks.

[Unregistered]

Fools Gold

[Unregistered]

My kid is committed to a Division 1 program and has a decent combination of athletic and academic money. She'll be starting her journey in August. No jealousy here....trust me.

As you get deeper into the process, the amount of folks looking to get into your pocket becomes insane. Club soccer is very expensive and so is the travel. Many people also fall into the ODP trap which throws further gas onto fire. There are also professional recruiting services, private trainers and three dozen folks that will gladly video your games for a handsome fee.

When you start speaking with college coaches (which happens when your kid actually starts getting recruited and invited onto a few campus(s) you'll quickly learn that most if not all strongly discourage the cattle call mixed events. They are impersonal and not ideal for either party.

Recruiting is a two way experience. Schools/coaches are looking for players that are interested in that school and are the right fit both academically and athletically. That's almost impossible to figure out at an event with dozens of schools because the coach won't be able to interact with your player.

Players on top club teams that travel to Jeff Cup, PDA, FL etc simply don't need these events. Exposure comes from the kid reaching out to coaches to draw them to the events and then follow up at their on campus recruiting events.

The only time I'd recommend a mixed event is

1) your kid is just starting and wants to get their feet wet/see where they stack up. Just make sure no schools they really want will be there

2) a small school your players wants that doesn't do ID events or goes to your showcases will be there. Not every good player goes to the better showcases or may have even had the misfortune to have been injured. Even then make sure it's the head coach going, not the assistants (it's almost always the later).

Otherwise save your money for the on campus ID events at schools that are a good academic and soccer fit.

[Unregistered]

For those players who have opted not to go the DA or ECNL route, this is a great opportunity for their player to get on the radar of some big programs they are interested in, that they don’t normally get attending their NPL showcases. Getting a personal invite to their ID camp, might precisely be the outcome desired.

Ok but this is an invite only event(supposedly). How will kids not on the radar get an invite to an event so that they can then get on the radar?

[Unregistered]

Ok but this is an invite only event(supposedly). How will kids not on the radar get an invite to an event so that they can then get on the radar?

They may be on the radar locally, but not with out of state colleges because their club teams do not partipate in the bigger showcases.

[Unregistered]

Ok but this is an invite only event(supposedly). How will kids not on the radar get an invite to an event so that they can then get on the radar?

You can pay another $160 for a smaller clinic to get an invite to the larger one.

Beachfront in Nevada. Dumbass parents.

[Unregistered]

This thread is case study in how much profit is still available in the youth soccer business.

A D1 coach from Mass gets canned from her job. Rather than apply for jobs in her field, she starts a "consulting business"

First order of business is to create a fabricated exclusive recruiting event. Pick off names from easily accessible ECNL, DA lists. Add in the obvious like National Pool, Regional ODP and ID2 kids and you have a great starting point. Now that the "elite tag" has been applied you've created demand for the event.

You capitalize on the demand by offering another pathway into the event. A smaller event for another fee that might give you access for the larger event. $160 of the smaller 90 minute with the goal that you might be given the opportunity to attend the larger event for $250.

These Elite prospect camps are nothing new to this area. Kids have been getting invites for the last 10 years. They are held up in Mass and we have even had a few in North Branford.

[Unregistered]

This thing has the same level of exclusivity as the Girl's Developmental Academy in CT.

If your check clears and you have some cleats you can go. Start up business. Trust me they are leaving any money on the table

[Unregistered]

This thing has the same level of exclusivity as the Girl's Developmental Academy in CT.

If your check clears and you have some cleats you can go. Start up business. Trust me they are leaving any money on the table

I'm saving my money for the Captain U....Gold Package!

[Unregistered]

You can pay another $160 for a smaller clinic to get an invite to the larger one.

Beachfront in Nevada. Dumbass parents.

That was my point. A fool and his money...

[Unregistered]

This thread is case study in how much profit is still available in the youth soccer business.

A D1 coach from Mass gets canned from her job. Rather than apply for jobs in her field, she starts a "consulting business"

First order of business is to create a fabricated exclusive recruiting event. Pick off names from easily accessible ECNL, DA lists. Add in the obvious like National Pool, Regional ODP and ID2 kids and you have a great starting point. Now that the "elite tag" has been applied you've created demand for the event.

You capitalize on the demand by offering another pathway into the event. A smaller event for another fee that might give you access for the larger event. $160 of the smaller 90 minute with the goal that you might be given the opportunity to attend the larger event for $250.

These Elite prospect camps are nothing new to this area. Kids have been getting invites for the last 10 years. They are held up in Mass and we have even had a few in North Branford.

You hit the nail on the head. As soon as the "elite" tag was applied, the salivating began. Too bad Singer isn't around for this. Top bribes for invites would be applied almost immediately. I don't think it's just soccer that gets to exploit the wallets anymore, I think it's most sports. Have an "elite" camp and they will come (and pay handsomely).