So you want to play college soccer?

Don't Lose A $140k Scholarship for a 140-Character Tweet + Stop Training To Pass a Preseason Soccer Fitness Test And Train For The Game and more...

July 17, 2024

In Today’s Edition:

In the Gym: Erica Suter delves into the world of soccer fitness testing, emphasizing the myriad of crucial elements players should focus on before embarking on lengthy runs and striving to ace a seemingly insignificant fitness evaluation.

Social Media: Social Media: Don't Lose A $140k Scholarship for a 140-Character Tweet

Recruiting Videos: Six tips for creating the perfect highlight video

Need help? Join the College Soccer Network: We are currently reviewing qualified players and will be only accepting FIVE candidates for July. Join us for a FREE 30-Minute consultation and explore your college pathway. Book your meeting today!

Stop Training To Pass a Preseason Soccer Fitness Test And Train For The Game

This blog was originally published by Erica Suter on Girls Soccer Network.

Full disclosure: I never jogged two miles around a track.
I hate long distance running, so I avoided it like the plague during my 20-year soccer career.I’m proud to say I hardly did any long distance work. I guess I turned out okay. This isn’t to boast, but rather, to prove a point thatsoccer players don’t need to do long distance runs to reach a high level. The extent of my long distance running was basically sprinting a mile in under 6 minutes. I just wanted to get it over with, and I wanted it to be intense and actually push my lactic threshold.Too, I used to have competitions with my college soccer teammates at Johns Hopkins University who could sprint a mile the fastest.We would text each other, “I got a 5 minute and 55 second!” or “I got a 5 minute and 41 second! Beat you! HA!”

It actually made mile runs fun because we felt we were actually reaping the benefits of going at such a high intensity.My best mile time was a 5 minute and 40 second. To say my legs felt like they were going to fall off after, is an understatement.

Don't Lose A $140k Scholarship for a 140-Character Tweet

Social media can be a very powerful tool for student-athletes IF it is used in the right way. Most high school student-athletes, and sometimes younger, are connected to social media via Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, and Tumblr. They follow their favorite athletes and teams, as well as friends, family, coaches and teammates.

Social media accounts can be a very effective communication tool, but only when used in a respectful way. It is very important for student-athletes to be aware that college coaches are continuously looking at the social media accounts of their recruits, and to know that whatever they post on social media (public or private) is on the internet forever for people to see.

Casey urges all student-athletes to think critically before they post to social media: "Could I tell my parents about this? My coach? Am I doing something disrespectful?"

Most likely, if you have to question what you are posting, you shouldn't do it.

Read the full article here

Recruiting Videos: Six tips for creating a highlight video

Photo by Keagan Henman on Unsplash

Having a professional highlight video can be one of the best ways to attract the attention of a college coach. You want to have a video that shows off your athletic ability and skills in a short period of time. We have broken down some key features you should keep in mind when learning how to make a highlight video. 

1. TAKE QUALITY VIDEOS

Before recording your highlight video, make sure the phone or camera you are using provides high quality resolution so coaches can easily recognize you (typically 720p or 1080p quality videos are your best bet).  

Also make sure that your videos are taken with minimal shaking and that the video is recorded horizontally. Using a standard video camera tripod or phone tripod will provide you with the best results. 

Read the full article here

Join the College Soccer Network: Your Guide Through the Recruiting Process

Navigating the college recruiting timeline can be incredibly confusing. Misinformation spreads quickly, leading to poor decisions and, ultimately, frustration and disappointment. One persistent myth is that if it’s the spring of your junior year and you haven’t heard from any coaches, your chances of playing soccer in college are over. That’s simply not true.

If you're a junior, it's crucial to get moving. Even if you’re a first-semester senior, there's still time to make an impactful recruiting pitch. While some opportunities may have passed, there are still plenty of doors open.

When should you start? The earlier, the better, but it’s never too late to take action. Our College Soccer Network offers comprehensive support and guidance throughout the entire recruiting process. We’re here to help you understand the timeline, avoid common pitfalls, and maximize your opportunities to play soccer at the collegiate level.

We are currently reviewing qualified players and will be accepting 5 qualified candidates for the month of July.
Interested? Book your FREE 30-Minute consultation and explore your college pathway.
Simply send an email to [email protected]

About: Steve Coxon College Soccer Network

Steve has 20 years of college-level experience, 17+ years in D1 as the Head Recruiter. He has facilitated more than $30 million in college scholarships.

Location - Connecticut, USA