Join your high school soccer team and a local competitive team if possible. If the schedules conflict, examine the benefits of each program. Club teams have the ability to play in prestigious tournaments that are attended by many college scouts. High school teams give you a daily chance to hone your skills and earn league awards and recognition. Soccerlens writer Jason Davis believes some high school coaches are able to dedicate more personalized instruction for each player than club team coaches. Whatever the case, the more organized soccer you play, the more chances scouts have to see you in person.
Try out for regional or national development programs. These programs, such as the Olympic Development Program, are composed of the top players of the area. You play in games against tough competition, gain exposure to college coaches and create more connections on the soccer scene that can lead to future opportunities.
Attend college soccer camps. Find a camp at a college in your area or a college you are interested in attending. These camps give you a chance to work directly with college coaches. If they see potential, they may continue scouting you in future games.
Have a friend or relative videotape your games. Put together a highlight reel that displays your best plays and strengths on the soccer field. It is impossible for college coaches to watch every prospect in the country in person. Creating a tape brings your talent to them, making it easy for them to evaluate your abilities.
Send a copy of your soccer tape to as many interested coaches as possible. Include a soccer resume with your stats, awards, accomplishments, contact information and a list of upcoming tournaments where coaches can watch you play.
Immediately notify an interested college coach if you want to attend that school. College scholarships and roster spaces can fill up quickly. Arrange a meeting with the coach to learn more about the program. See if the college is the right fit for you.