Recruiting Services

[Guest]

Don't be fooled by recruiting service!

Of course they want you to take your time so you can go running to them when you realize it’s too late and you should have gotten after it early! (The recruiting process starts early!)

Of course they’ll sell you on all college divisions since they know their best bet for you will be through their email “network” at D2, D3, NAIA & JC. (You can email schools yourself and call it network too ).

Of course they don’t think social media works. Why use free ways to promote yourself to schools when you can pay them to do the same. (Use social media. It’s free and coaches are paying attention. Their advice is just OLD)

Of course they think playing for top club initials doesn’t matter in college soccer. (Because anyone not playing in those initial should contact them $$ and yet their staff goes to the big time initial tournaments )

You should ask the recruiting services how many of their kids transfer, or receive playing time. Ask them for that stat. Because the truth is NO ONE knows if the school is a “Right Fit” until you’re on roster and have gone through a year of college soccer. And you don’t need to spend $2,500 to find out for yourself.

You don’t need recruiting services! Do it yourself! Spend the $2,500 where college coaches will be. Send your own emails

[Guest]

Sounds like someone got scammed by a recruiting service!

[Guest]

This has been covered many times. There are no short cuts to recruiting. Just about everyone except a few top players have to put in the work. They have to research schools and programs that are good targets, they have to compile a resume and brief recruiting video, reach out to coaches, keep in touch with coaches etc. Some paid recruiter that knows virtually nothing about you isn't going to help you land a good fit, you are.

[Guest]

Sounds like someone got scammed by a recruiting service!

Probably a MFA parent who paid their bogus recruiting fees.

[Guest]

As mentioned in the other threads when this comes up, there is someone offering a service to do something you can do yourself. All depends if you have the knowledge, tools, and time to do it. If you don't, whether that be cleaning your house, mowing your lawn, credit card reduction, recruiting, changing your oil, etc there will always be someone who will take you money. Personally, I felt the one we spoke to was a scam, because it was too salesy for me. However, I know of some who used them to help with video editing, which is time consuming, and some other things (not totally sure what else) and I suppose it may have worked out OK. We (D and I) spent a lot of time doing the legwork that could've been farmed out, especially if you were a parent who didn't understand the process. So, I can plausibly see why they exist.

Or, another way of looking at it is through PT Barnum's eyes....

[Guest]

does your club assist you with this? our club coach does.

[Guest]

does your club assist you with this? our club coach does.

Some club coaches will but they are not fully committed to helping you only they is another players you have to done some of the work

[Guest]

During the QA at a top D1 women’s soccer IID camp a parent asked the coach what they thought about the NCSA recruiting service. The coach responded that when it comes to recruiting services there are good and bad ones. If you’re good I’ll find you they said. With that said it surprised me when one of the girls on the player panel said that her family used the NCSA recruiting service during their recruiting process and that it helped them.

[Guest]

It may get you name, video, profile out to more coaches….so if you must play to afford going to college it may get you to some no name, low academic D1. This came from a high quality college coach

[Guest]

College coaches recruit in this order:

1. Club showcases
2. ID camps

Live in Person is Always Best! Then you have option 3-

3. Email Game film, highlights, etc.

Like it or not, it’s Pay to play. ID camps get you seen and yes you have to pay. Additionally ID camps provide extra income for college coaches, especially their assistants who need it. College soccer doesn’t pay as well as people might think. So they play the system the best way they can.

“You want me? You better be at a showcase I’m at or at an ID camp I’m at.” -college coach

So that response is standard, especially at the D1 or elite D2, D3 and NAIA schools most everyone wants.

The only schools that don’t usually give those standard responses are schools that usually NEED recruits every year and they’re not getting a lot of interest.

You’re competing against thousands and thousands of kids around the country and world. It’s pay to play. You go to them. You find opportunities they will be at.

And if you’re referring to high school games? No, despite what HS coaches would love for you to believe. High school soccer is an amazing and rewarding experience but when it comes to college soccer recruiting, it’s club soccer over HS soccer every day of the week.

You’re putting in the work, don’t give up, get after it!

Trust the Process!

[Guest]

Your club’s relationship with the college goes a long way. Hence pick a club with a depth and breath of relationships. Problem with the process is so many clubs and players looking for an in or $$$. Waters down the process. What you also see on the college roster pages is all the accolades that players bring…national id camps, etc… top college coaches look for rich resumes.

[Guest]

does your club assist you with this? our club coach does.

Their main job is to 1) give you guidance on soccer programs that may be a good fit 2) make or receive phone calls from college coaches. If your club isn't doing that you should run to ine that does. Really the rest is up to you. Plus a coach womt know anything about whats a good academic fit, what your education goals are etc. Start with a big list of academic targets then see if the soccer might be a fit also.

[Guest]

We signed up for a free trial and I poured over what seemed like every possible school. It was a single source to get school's contact info, academic ranking, size, etc. onto a single spreadsheet. Saved us a little work.