Soccer season can feel like a pretty big deal when you’re in college. Whether they love the game or not, kids turn up in their droves to watch their team from the stands. For the players, those games can feel a lot like being on top of the world, with the whole school cheering them on. Unfortunately, this is where the dream dies for many of those players.
In truth, while you need to be good to play at the college level, not a lot of college players are ‘good enough’ for professional play. Only 1.4% of college players are ever picked in the Major League Soccer Draft. This statistic can come as a major blow for young players who dedicate their all to the game. But, experts are increasingly wondering why college players are so commonly overlooked.
In large part, of course, soccer is simply a tough game to break into. Recruiters on the field are looking for a range of skills, including technically sophisticated play, teamwork, and the ability to score. Just because a player is ‘performing well’, doesn’t mean they’ll portray the skills that scouts are necessarily looking for.
So, does that mean college soccer is a waste of time? Not necessarily. In this article, we’ll consider the issue from all angles, asking when college soccer is useful, whether there are better avenues, and what players can do to improve their chances of success.
The Benefits of College Soccer
The statistics might be bleak for advancing to the professional soccer level from college beginnings, but that’s by no means to suggest that college soccer doesn’t provide plenty of benefits.
At the very least, college-level soccer players get a feel for the real game, including playing on a professional-sized pitch with an official size 5 soccer ball and a pretty decent opponent at their backs. Other benefits of playing soccer at this level include –
- Skill development: Pro soccer players need to perform at a high technical level, and college coaches can oversee this skill development. During college games, players can develop self-discipline, vital skill areas, and even the teamwork that all professional players should display.
- Potential scouting: While college-level scouting doesn’t happen often, it does happen. College students are in with a shot at the MLS SuperDraft tryouts and are more likely to get scouted by international teams that value experience.
- Educational benefits: Whether you’re playing college soccer alongside your studies, or are specifically specializing in the sport, a degree can always be useful for following alternative paths where necessary, including coaching, teaching, or commentating.
Successful College Soccer Stars
College-level play does create stars, even if professionals are currently worried about low scouting figures. Just a few of the college players who have gone on to make real ripples in the game and play for the most famous US soccer clubs include –
- Jordan Morris
- Jack Harrison
- Ashley Hatch
- Cyla Larin
- Wouter Verstraaten
These players have played for teams including Seattle Sounders and New York City FC to name a few. For players like Jack Harrison, pro opportunities even came from the MLS SuperDraft itself.
Understanding the Problem With College Soccer Picks
As mentioned, skill certainly comes into why many college soccer players don’t go pro. But, as hard as the sport is to break into, a lot of this problem ultimately comes down to pure numbers.
As mentioned, only 1.4% of college soccer players get picked in the MLS SuperDraft. That’s a low figure in itself, but it’s made worse by the fact that only 46.7% of those players end up signing a contract. That’s because the MLS draft only allows 89 picks.
This is madness compared to something like the scouting process for the NFL, where scouts will pick thousands of college players each year. From those, the NFL has a minimum of 256 picks. Which is obviously way better odds.
So, why are MLS pick numbers so low? In large part, it’s because soccer clubs prefer to opt for players from esteemed academies, who tend to compete at a much higher level than normal club teams. High-profile academies like the IMG Academy in Florida are famed for their comprehensive programs, elite coaching, and state-of-the-art facilities. Places also tend to be fully funded for promising young players.
So, does this mean all keen soccer players should skip college and opt for academies instead? Not necessarily. In truth, while academies have led to the discovery of top players like Brendan Aaronson, they leave very limited options for players who aren’t scouted, as opposed to college degrees that are applicable to even unrelated fields.
Can College Players Improve Their Odds?
While the odds for professional soccer pursuits post-college aren’t great, the majority of experts still state that college soccer is never a bad choice. When speaking of his own college soccer experiences, NCAA Silver Award winner, Darren Eales, said ‘“It was a feeling of pride that I got a degree from an Ivy League institute like Brown. It’s really special.”.
So, how can college students improve their chances at a professional soccer career without compromising on their ability to enjoy their college journey? A few top tips to bear in mind include –
# 1 – Select the Right College Soccer Level
There are different levels of college soccer, and each one plays to different skills and aspirations. Making sure you advance to the right level to get yourself scouted and also hone your abilities, is key to overall success.
Levels to consider include –
- Community college soccer: Playing soccer in a community college can be a great stepping stone or starting point for budding players looking to explore basic skills, but scouting opportunities typically aren’t possible for players who don’t later transfer to a larger institution.
- NAIA college soccer: The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is a governing body for small college athletics programs, which offers budding students the ability to compete for athletic scholarship places.
- NCAA divisions: The National Collegiate Athletic Association is the main collegiate athletic organization in the US, which can be further split into three divisions that are –
- Division I: The highest level of collegiate soccer, best for potentially professional players.
- Division II: A balanced approach to athletic achievement and academic career.
- Division III: A focus on overall college experience, rather than athletic priorities.
# 2 – Don’t Lose Sight of Academic Achievement
Many college athletes make the mistake of neglecting their academic achievements, but academia plays a large part in soccer professionalism. Regardless of what you’re studying, soccer recruiters seek well-rounded, high-achieving individuals. This is why all colleges have set GPA requirements of around 2.3 – 2.2 for athlete eligibility. Standardized SAT and ACT scores can also play a huge role in securing soccer scholarship funding, meaning that students who continue to prioritize both studies and play stand a far better chance at developing to the pro level.
# 3 – Build Your Soccer Resume
Don’t assume you can secure a soccer career through the quality of your play alone. Like your fellow students, you also need to sell yourself through a resume. Unlike your fellow students, your resume needs to prioritize some pretty specialist focus areas. This will be your best way to retain the interest of recruiters who have seen you play or to stand out in the MLS SuperDraft.
Things to add to your soccer resume include –
- Soccer-related achievements: Recruiters value real soccer experience, so make sure to include a list of all your soccer achievements, including any awards, notable performances, or winning goals.
- A brief soccer history: A soccer recruiter doesn’t need your life story, but they will want to know information including which teams you’ve played for, how long you’ve been playing, and even what interested you in the game in the first place.
- Highlight videos: While the stuff on paper does matter, the best way to boost your soccer CV is to add highlight videos of your best gameplay across things like goal scoring, ball control, and even teamwork. This is what will showcase exactly how you perform on the field and could work alongside your written resume to secure a pro spot.
# 4 – Avoid Injuries at all Costs
While it may seem less obvious, it’s also worth noting that maintaining peak physical fitness is key to professional soccer recruitment. You may feel like your skills are worth taking a risk for, but if a recruiter with limited picks sees even one health-based red flag in your history, they’ll quickly start looking elsewhere.
Unfortunately, avoiding injury isn’t always easy when you need to get out there and play on such a regular basis, but there are steps you can take to keep yourself healthy, including –
- Ensuring off-peak training
- Taking regular breaks
- Resting and recovering where necessary
Conclusion
Is college the best way to break into pro soccer in the US? Perhaps not but, as the professionals state, it’s also never a bad route to take. With dedication, health, and a top-notch soccer resume, there’s no reason you couldn’t be one of just 1.4% of college players who make it to the big time.
