D3 Recruiting

[Unregistered]

Can someone breakdown an approximate recruiting timeline for D3 soccer? Is it essentially a year behind D1?

[Unregistered]

The D3 schools can and will talk to your kid as early as they show interest but things won't heat up until the fall of their senior year. In this area the NESCAC schools typically set the pace and that centers around the early action dates.

[Unregistered]

Our kid's conversations with D3 began during junior year and heated up heading into the summer between junior and senior year. It was a done deal by August. That was unofficial, of course, until the early decision acceptance letter was mailed, just as all verbals at any division are unofficial until LOI or admissions acceptance letter.

[Unregistered]

First question is whether it is girls or boys? I assume we are talking about girls, who tend to have an earlier time-line for all recruiting. Next question is about the program? There are probably 100+ D3 programs in New England and New York. That is about 3 times more than D1 and D2 combined. There are also some HUGE dfferences between these programs. So to try attempt to create some sort of uniform time-line (or process) for the entire division is absolutley impossible. Even schools in the same conferences will be very different. For example, the sublte (and often not so subtle) differences between some NESCACs is considerable. The one consistent is that there is no athletic money available in D3, and despite the constant assertion that many D3 schools use need based FA and academic based grants as a way to "compete" with D1 programs... don't believe it. The fact is that no D3 programs make much of an effort to compete with D1 schools for recruits. That doesn't mean that there aren't many players in D3 who would contribute at D1. However, these players have chosen to pursue the D3 opportunities either because they were passed over by D1 programs or they simply decided that D1 wasn't for them. This does mean that most D3 recruiting is initiated by the player and that it tends to start much later than what you see with D1 schools. The lack of contact rules also means that there is far less use of intermediarries in the process. Whereas most D1 recruiting begins with the school contacting the club coach to expess interest in a particular player, almost all D3 recruiting begins with the player contacting the college coach about their interest. I would certainly reccomend that any player interested in a particular D3 school contact the coach as early as possible. But I'd avoid the use of blanket/form e-mails, especially too early - like before spring of the Junior year. Ultimately you will need to be seen and evaluated, and for many programs this must be done prior to try-outs so that you get invited to pre-season camp. Most D3s have no problem using HS as the venue to evaluate a player. That includes coming to a game or watching tape. But most will gladly come to a showcase event or even a MAPLE game. If you are going to send a tape, ask the coach what they want. Most want the full game and not a player specific highlight reel ... BUT ASK FIRST!! Information about a particular school and program is your most important ally in the recruiting game. This is probably even more important in D3 because the division's programs are SO diverse.

[Unregistered]

First question is whether it is girls or boys? I assume we are talking about girls, who tend to have an earlier time-line for all recruiting.

Why assume that? Why is that always assumed on this board?

[Unregistered]

Our kid's conversations with D3 began during junior year and heated up heading into the summer between junior and senior year. It was a done deal by August. That was unofficial, of course, until the early decision acceptance letter was mailed, just as all verbals at any division are unofficial until LOI or admissions acceptance letter.

Pretty much the same here.

[Unregistered]

Great perspective and feedback...thanks!

One last questions: one poster said "done deal" in August before senior year. What is the communication that made it a "done deal"? And with no scholarships, what "legal document" reserves a place for your kid on the team?

Said another way, in the Globe all-scholastics yesterday, many kids "were recruited" to play for D3 school XXXX. With no $$ to give, is it really recruitment?

[Unregistered]

RECRUIT = To enroll or seek to enroll (in a college)

[Unregistered]

nfWWJZ

Our kid's conversations with D3 began during junior year and heated up heading into the summer between junior and senior year. It was a done deal by August. That was unofficial, of course, until the early decision acceptance letter was mailed, just as all verbals at any division are unofficial until LOI or admissions acceptance letter.

Were they scouted personally scouted by the coach or asst? How many times? Venues? Was your club coach contacted by the college coach?Did you submit a game video? Your child was encouraged to apply early D because of selective admissions or to show commitment to the coach? Sorry for so many questions but Aug deadline is not so far away!

[Unregistered]

But isn't D3 verbals risky? What guarantee does the kid have she will have a spot on the team. At least at D1 and D2, there is a binding "piece of paper".

[Unregistered]

Personally scouted by head and assistant coaches. Several times. Big-time showcases and State Cup after that. No video because not necessary after showcase exposure. Spoke with club coach. Encouraged to apply early. Early read by admissions looked good. No legal guarantee other than word of coach. Same as true for any division until that February LOI for scholarship players. That LOI doesn't come until after all the applications have been completed. Filling out one application was an added benefit of early decision. Ask any senior, and he'll tell you that.

[Unregistered]

Personally scouted by head and assistant coaches. Several times. Big-time showcases and State Cup after that. No video because not necessary after showcase exposure. Spoke with club coach. Encouraged to apply early. Early read by admissions looked good. No legal guarantee other than word of coach. Same as true for any division until that February LOI for scholarship players. That LOI doesn't come until after all the applications have been completed. Filling out one application was an added benefit of early decision. Ask any senior, and he'll tell you that.

Perfect, Thanks.

NESCAC school?

[beentheredonethat]

But isn't D3 verbals risky? What guarantee does the kid have she will have a spot on the team. At least at D1 and D2, there is a binding "piece of paper".

All verbals are risky, but if your kid is truly being "recruited" then there shouldn't be any issues unless they show up and are not ready to play at that level. Essentially what you are questioning is the integrity of the coach. It is not outside the realm of possibilities for a coach to lie so you had better know the situation your kid is walking into and form an opion on what type of person that coach is. Realistically you are the only one who can make the read whether or not you trust them. Keep in mind that the expectations in college sports are very different from those in high school or club. No matter what level your kid plays at, there will be an expectation that they put work into their body and their game. If they don't they won't continue to play, no matter what level it is.

[Unregistered]

Perfect, Thanks.

NESCAC school?

My daughter was recruited by several NESCAC schools (she will be a senior at one of them next year). She did not get recruited from showcases or tournaments, since her team, while a D1 Maple team (back when only one MA team played in the Region I Premier League) was not a top team and did not get in to the major showcases. She got recruited after attending the Penn, Yale, and Brown summer camps before her senior HS year, since each had several NESCAC coaches assisting. She had contacted the coaches to tell them she was interested the spring of her junior HS year.

In each case, the coach asked about her grades and SATs. Both were very good (4.0, and 1500/1600 SAT), so she was encouraged to apply early decision. She did so to her first choice, and was accepted. She played about half of each game her first two years, and started last year, when she was 2nd team All-NESCAC. There were a lot of recruits her year, and all of them applied early decision and were accepted. The coach said that she used two "tips," but even these players were fairly strong academically (1300-1400 SATs).

[Unregistered]

My daughter was recruited by several NESCAC schools (she will be a senior at one of them next year). She did not get recruited from showcases or tournaments, since her team, while a D1 Maple team (back when only one MA team played in the Region I Premier League) was not a top team and did not get in to the major showcases. She got recruited after attending the Penn, Yale, and Brown summer camps before her senior HS year, since each had several NESCAC coaches assisting. She had contacted the coaches to tell them she was interested the spring of her junior HS year.

In each case, the coach asked about her grades and SATs. Both were very good (4.0, and 1500/1600 SAT), so she was encouraged to apply early decision. She did so to her first choice, and was accepted. She played about half of each game her first two years, and started last year, when she was 2nd team All-NESCAC. There were a lot of recruits her year, and all of them applied early decision and were accepted. The coach said that she used two "tips," but even these players were fairly strong academically (1300-1400 SATs).

Sounds like your daughter would have been accepted without soccer on her resume. Do you believe the coach had any signficant influence on her being admitted?