I assumed soccer was like basketball in that the time colleges see players is when they are playing club ball. No?

 

I've heard they find the players at club level, but recruit/scout from both. There is an element of physicality and team pride that are involved in HS soccer that is not displayed in club play. If a player is being recruited by a certain college, they have a pretty good idea whether the kid has the tools. Instead HS soccer shows if they can bring the intangibles that cant be seen in club.

I assumed soccer was like basketball in that the time colleges see players is when they are playing club ball. No?

 

I can tell you that there were at least 5 college assistants at the Trinity @ CovCath game earlier this year.

 

By and large, yes, you're correct. However, like basketball, when a free night and a high level H.S. game cross paths, they certainly will head out for a look-see.

I assumed soccer was like basketball in that the time colleges see players is when they are playing club ball. No?

 

if you're lucky, you may catch a local D1 coach at a high school game maybe once a year. Unless that coach is extremely interested in a player and they had already contacted eachother. Club is where the top players are recruited by colleges, where they're playing the top competition. Most college coaches could care less about anything being related to high school soccer. Some are even against it, due to chances of injury against first year players.

There are two aspects of soccer requirement that are distinct. First, of course is talent identification. If not all then most of the statement made about club based recruitment is correct in that it is almost exclusively through club competition (e.g. College Showcases, State/Regional) and school managed ID camps where prospects are identified. Secondly, there is the actual recruitment process where mutual interest is shared. On the part of players, it's emails to coaches giving updates on schedules (club OR HS) as well as attendance to ID camps of specific schools and both unofficial and official recruitment visits. On the part of the coaches they will be actively showing interest via, text, calls, well run on-campus visits as well as other such as short chats after games attended.

 

It's this last point of which from my experience dealing on both sides of the recruitment process where HS ball almost (though there are exceptions) exclusively comes into play. As mentioned above college coaches who are already actively recruiting a player or players on a HS team have been in attendance. Case in point, I caught the second half of CCH/HHS game and after speaking with a couple of the HHS coaches I know and heading out I notice 2 schools speaking with Day. Where they there to identify any unknown talent and noticed him? Highly unlikely. I'm sure they were schools who have already been in contact with him and came to show their level of interest. Just using that for example purposes. Could another player be seen and "identified" sure although very rarely would a recruitment process start by a college coach attending a HS game IMHO.

From the recruiting process that I have been dealing with my son most D1 and D2 colleges only are interested in the kid's freshmen and sophmore year in high school (how much playing time and productivity). Otherwise they could care less about high school soccer due to the lack of overall talent that most high school teams possess.

I've heard they find the players at club level, but recruit/scout from both. There is an element of physicality and team pride that are involved in HS soccer that is not displayed in club play. If a player is being recruited by a certain college, they have a pretty good idea whether the kid has the tools. Instead HS soccer shows if they can bring the intangibles that cant be seen in club.

 

I think you are over valuing the role HS soccer plays in the typical recruiting process. If you have seen kids competing for a State Cup Title, a Regional Championship, or on a National Stage there is no need to bring intangibles into the discussion.

 

I have witnessed just as much team pride in Club as HS soccer, in some case, even more. I also think the physicality that many see in HS is because of the wide variety of skill that is seen in most matches. This does not usually occur in Club, or College, because the skill level tends to be much higher.

 

My thought is that they would prefer to view a potential recruit playing at the higher levels (Club), not HS, so they can get an idea of how they perform against the better competition. The kids playing high level Club are the ones they will be competing against at the next level, I would think that is who you want to compare them against.

A college coach's presence at a HS game is IMO mostly to communicate interest to a particular player... everyone wants to feel wanted. That's the type of intangible (like a good overnight visit at the school) that can influence a kid to choose one school over another.

I've heard they find the players at club level, but recruit/scout from both. There is an element of physicality and team pride that are involved in HS soccer that is not displayed in club play. If a player is being recruited by a certain college, they have a pretty good idea whether the kid has the tools. Instead HS soccer shows if they can bring the intangibles that cant be seen in club.

 

Have you seen many high level club games? So you think the element of HS physicality is what the college coaches are looking for? The physicality is the HS game is the last thing a college coach is looking at. HS physicality has almost nothing to do with playing good soccer but way more to do with this is the only "skill" a lot of HS players have. High level club games require every player to be very physical, but in the right way, not being a bull in the china shop.

 

And apparently you haven't seen high level club games at the State Cup, Regional, or National events. There is a tremendous about of club pride on display. One of the best scenes is watching one club team (all of their players in club gear) sit together along the sideline and root on their club teammates at these events.

Or when the same club plays each other in the tournament (especially the finals).....

Most D1 or D2 schools aren't remotely interested in high school soccer. If they have already been scouting a club player they might check them out at a high school game. There is no comparison between a top level, hand picked club team and a high school team. Even a good school with a traditionally strong soccer program pales in comparison to a good club team.

I know Alex Enzweiller(#4 Holy Cross)got an offer, can't remember from whom. No idea if he accepted

From a parent who has been there.....to play high level D1 soccer you need SPEED and quickness first. Then skill and soccer IQ. If you lack any one of these...you will not be recruited by the elite

From a parent who has been there.....to play high level D1 soccer you need SPEED and quickness first. Then skill and soccer IQ. If you lack any one of these...you will not be recruited by the elite

 

Very accurate. I would add size (with very, very few exceptions) and athleticism if you want to see the field. For some reason D1 coaches recruit players but then never play them. Many D1 rosters have 30+ players but most only go 14-15 deep in the games.

Take a look at some the past couple of years' D1 recruits/signings (and these are not your Elite D1 programs) from NKY, some players not getting any or very little minutes. Tough decision but if you're selecting a school because of the soccer program with the goal to be one of the 14-15 players seeing the field, take a long hard look. Seen a lot of players take that D1 roster spot, never see the field, stick it out one year and call it quits. That D2 or D3 school with excellent academics likely would have been a lot better choice.