nescac

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I don't necessarily agree - a coach will add a quality walk on but they'd really have to stand out and add something to the team. All squads have enough practice cones and bench warmers and don't need more. Coaches know all the Covid crap that went down really hurt this year's class. Possibly there could have been an injury that kept the player out for a long period. That said assuming the player is local it wouldn't have been hard for a local coach to come watch a game or practice if they'd been invited.

Never say never, don't be disappointed if it doesn't happen.

What does that have to do with a coach trying to recruit a player who shows no interest in their program?

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What does that have to do with a coach trying to recruit a player who shows no interest in their program?

Different poster and I don't think the dad said that? I think he said they had the other two offers but wound up at the NESCAC school. I agree with above coaches that know this last year was anything but normal both for athletes and regular students. At most campuses you couldn't even take a tour. Lots of reasons why kids end up where they do. If a player could be starter material why not? Bench warmer no chance. It's D3 FFS. No one cares, the rosters in general are mediocre, there's no $ involved. If it is Wesleyan they already have a big roster, lots of D3 schools do.

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I don't necessarily agree - a coach will add a quality walk on but they'd really have to stand out and add something to the team. All squads have enough practice cones and bench warmers and don't need more. Coaches know all the Covid crap that went down really hurt this year's class. Possibly there could have been an injury that kept the player out for a long period. That said assuming the player is local it wouldn't have been hard for a local coach to come watch a game or practice if they'd been invited.

Never say never, don't be disappointed if it doesn't happen.

I believe it's true that a player needs to show SOME kind of interest in order for a program to offer $, but when a program is reaching for someone that they know to be looking at higher level schools you'd be surprised at what they'll dangle.

For instance: "...are looking for an elite player at the xyz position, and xyz is clearly among the top handful of players in the country at that spot. We are holding a full scholarship for the right player, and xyz is our #1 target. If we can get her on campus to meet the team and get to know the school, we're confident that she'll be excited to become a xxxx." Sure, the kid could visit school and act like an azz and screw up the deal, but we got a few communications early on in the process that were just like this. It's not an offer, to be sure, but I can see how hopeful parents can perceive it to be one.

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Different poster and I don't think the dad said that? I think he said they had the other two offers but wound up at the NESCAC school. I agree with above coaches that know this last year was anything but normal both for athletes and regular students. At most campuses you couldn't even take a tour. Lots of reasons why kids end up where they do. If a player could be starter material why not? Bench warmer no chance. It's D3 FFS. No one cares, the rosters in general are mediocre, there's no $ involved. If it is Wesleyan they already have a big roster, lots of D3 schools do.

I'm assuming it was the dad who said "you're correct, there was no interest in the first 2 schools. still doesn't deter "their" interest." This implies that the coaches at those two schools pursued and offered this player a verbal commitment without the player showing any interest in those schools. As others have said, it is very difficult to believe that a player with the academic ability to be in the mix at a NESCAC school has Merrimack or St Anslem on their radar at all, let alone enough to be recruited by their soccer coaches.

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I believe it's true that a player needs to show SOME kind of interest in order for a program to offer $, but when a program is reaching for someone that they know to be looking at higher level schools you'd be surprised at what they'll dangle.

For instance: "...are looking for an elite player at the xyz position, and xyz is clearly among the top handful of players in the country at that spot. We are holding a full scholarship for the right player, and xyz is our #1 target. If we can get her on campus to meet the team and get to know the school, we're confident that she'll be excited to become a xxxx." Sure, the kid could visit school and act like an azz and screw up the deal, but we got a few communications early on in the process that were just like this. It's not an offer, to be sure, but I can see how hopeful parents can perceive it to be one.

Pretty hard to believe that programs like Merrimack and St. Anslem are in a position to be recruiting the "top handful of players in the country at that spot".

[Unregistered]

I believe it's true that a player needs to show SOME kind of interest in order for a program to offer $, but when a program is reaching for someone that they know to be looking at higher level schools you'd be surprised at what they'll dangle.

For instance: "...are looking for an elite player at the xyz position, and xyz is clearly among the top handful of players in the country at that spot. We are holding a full scholarship for the right player, and xyz is our #1 target. If we can get her on campus to meet the team and get to know the school, we're confident that she'll be excited to become a xxxx." Sure, the kid could visit school and act like an azz and screw up the deal, but we got a few communications early on in the process that were just like this. It's not an offer, to be sure, but I can see how hopeful parents can perceive it to be one.

Plenty of players getting "interest" that doesn't turn into offers. But what I don't find credible is a coach giving an offer to a player with zero interest.
Its one reason why they startbwith a broader list and work their way through it. Not every player they want will be interested, can't get admitted etc (notnin this case). A coach may pursue a player they want for awhile but if they don't get any love back will quickly move on. To get to an offer stage there has to at least some reciprocal interest, a campus visit even if its fake interest or the school is at the bottom of their list. Just like coaches shouldn't string athletes along, neither should athletes string coaches along. If you genuinely have no interest thank them for reaching out out and that's it. Move on.

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Plenty of players getting "interest" that doesn't turn into offers. But what I don't find credible is a coach giving an offer to a player with zero interest.
Its one reason why they startbwith a broader list and work their way through it. Not every player they want will be interested, can't get admitted etc (notnin this case). A coach may pursue a player they want for awhile but if they don't get any love back will quickly move on. To get to an offer stage there has to at least some reciprocal interest, a campus visit even if its fake interest or the school is at the bottom of their list. Just like coaches shouldn't string athletes along, neither should athletes string coaches along. If you genuinely have no interest thank them for reaching out out and that's it. Move on.

Agree. The only way an "offer" comes to a player with no interest is if the college coach was also their club coach or perhaps a family friend where the offer comes outside of the normal recruiting process.

Of course, recruiting at the very top level of college soccer may have coaches pursuing the country's top players to join their programs. But this does not happen once you get outside the top 10-20 college programs, and certainly not at the level where Merrimack and St Anslem are.

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Coaches giving unsolicited offers to players they haven't even talked to on the phone? Let alone the player hasn't visited or expressed even tepid interest? Pretty unlikely.

Coaches taking a quality walk on? Possible. All depends on how good the player is.

If you’re hoping for a walk on spot reachb ut to the coach well ahead of time, send film etc . Don't just show up, pre sell yourself.

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I can see a nescac coach saying- I saw you play and am in interested in talking to you about our school/ program. Thats about it. Pretty much happened to my son. He wasnt to interested in the school initially(end of sophmore year). Later on, they reached out again. Multiple phone calls, admission read that was a yes, then asked for financial read. And it went like this- Oh you need aid? I cant do a read but if you were a full pay kid, I'd take you BC I know you can play here...... So Nescac will target prep bc they know there is $. Good luck going NESCAC needing aid. They have 2 slots. Any early NESCAC commit is most likely rich and paying a ton of $.....

Oh... and who wants to go to Merrimack? Why? so many better options out there.

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I can see a nescac coach saying- I saw you play and am in interested in talking to you about our school/ program. Thats about it. Pretty much happened to my son. He wasnt to interested in the school initially(end of sophmore year). Later on, they reached out again. Multiple phone calls, admission read that was a yes, then asked for financial read. And it went like this- Oh you need aid? I cant do a read but if you were a full pay kid, I'd take you BC I know you can play here...... So Nescac will target prep bc they know there is $. Good luck going NESCAC needing aid. They have 2 slots. Any early NESCAC commit is most likely rich and paying a ton of $.....

Oh... and who wants to go to Merrimack? Why? so many better options out there.

But as said above that coach didn't give your kid an offer without a conversation starting up. If your son had taken a pass on even talking the 2nd time, that would have been the end of it.

Totally agree on Merrimack. there's other low ranked D1 programs with better academics. Certainly many strong academic D3s.

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Pretty hard to believe that programs like Merrimack and St. Anslem are in a position to be recruiting the "top handful of players in the country at that spot".

Merrimack? St. A’s? They don’t get the best NPL MA kids.

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But as said above that coach didn't give your kid an offer without a conversation starting up. If your son had taken a pass on even talking the 2nd time, that would have been the end of it.

Totally agree on Merrimack. there's other low ranked D1 programs with better academics. Certainly many strong academic D3s.

You are totally correct. No offer without conversation. They reached out one time very early and we didnt respond bc it wasnt right(to early for us). 2nd time was maybe to late but it wasnt meant to be. We had another D3 school roll out the red carpet for us.

People on this forum compare club college placements. Reality is those comparing have ZERO clue on how it works. My son was fortunate to realize early on that grades matter and he didnt want the sport to be a "job". A kid, boy or girl, that has grades, and can play, with some effort will find a great college fit. D1 or 3, who really cares? If your going to college it better to be to get a job/life.

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beer flu

Merrimack? St. A’s? They don’t get the best NPL MA kids.

the st. a's coach is a NPL coach.

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You are totally correct. No offer without conversation. They reached out one time very early and we didnt respond bc it wasnt right(to early for us). 2nd time was maybe to late but it wasnt meant to be. We had another D3 school roll out the red carpet for us.

People on this forum compare club college placements. Reality is those comparing have ZERO clue on how it works. My son was fortunate to realize early on that grades matter and he didnt want the sport to be a "job". A kid, boy or girl, that has grades, and can play, with some effort will find a great college fit. D1 or 3, who really cares? If your going to college it better to be to get a job/life.

Boys absolutely need the full package - soccer skills and grades. With 100 fewer soccer programs and internationals taking a lot of spots, having any weaknesses can really hurt you. A lot of boys are late bloomers and figure out the grades piece late. Not insurmountable but definitely more challenging.

Grades and scores cannot be emphasized enough. A good player with good grades will have many more opportunities

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Pretty hard to believe that programs like Merrimack and St. Anslem are in a position to be recruiting the "top handful of players in the country at that spot".

My point has nothing to do with Merrimack or St A's. I'm simply saying that programs shooting for players occasionally do make "blind" offers - or appear to be.