'So You Want To Play College Soccer?' - When Parents Should Avoid Talking to College Coaches?

In Today’s Edition

• When Parents Should Avoid Talking to College Coaches?
  

• Kickstart Your Journey: Send Your Recruiting Video to Every College Soccer Coach in the Nation!
  

• Ten Things No One Tells You About College Recruiting!
  

• State of College Recruiting in 2025: Opportunities for Uncommitted Players.
  

When Parents Should Avoid Talking to College Coaches?

Should Parents Talk to College Coaches?

College coaches across all sports agree that parents play a significant role in the athletic recruiting process. NCSA’s 2019 State of Recruiting report found that on a scale from 1 to 10, coaches ranked the impact of parents on an athlete’s recruiting process as 8. While it’s true that a strong support system–including parents–can help athletes navigate the ups and downs of their recruiting journeys, it’s important not to get too involved because “negative sideline behavior and helicopter parenting can scare away coaches.” The best things a parent can do are to provide support and encouragement, avoid taking the lead in interactions with coaches and allow their student-athlete to be the one to shine.

Does this mean parents shouldn’t talk to college coaches?

Not so fast! Parents can talk to coaches throughout the recruiting process–but they should also know when to speak up, and when to let their child lead the way. We’ve broken down when parents should and shouldn’t talk to a coach, what topics to stick to and how to encourage a student-athlete to speak up.

When Parents Should Avoid Talking to College Coaches?

Introducing yourself to a coach, whether in person or via phone, email or DM is a great way for the student-athlete to make a great first impression. However, parents should not be doing the legwork for their athletes, especially at the beginning of the recruiting process. So, is it bad for a parent to call a college coach? During a Positive Coaching Alliance panel, Stanford’s head men’s golf coach Conrad Ray said that “the worst thing for [coaches] in our world is if we get a phone call and it’s the mom or dad of a high school freshman or sophomore telling me how good their kid is.”

Some other situations parents should avoid include:

• Calling coaches to ask questions about the team

• Calling coaches about campus life or campus culture

• Calling coaches early in the recruiting process to ask about scholarships

• Answering the phone for your athlete when a coach calls

Parents should avoid calling college coaches and speaking on behalf of their athlete. There are other opportunities for parents to communicate with coaches. At the end of the day, college coaches aren’t recruiting parents–they’re recruiting student-athletes. They want to get to know their potential recruits and build a relationship with them first. The more involved parents are, the more it detracts from the athlete connecting with a coach, and ultimately, hinders their chances of getting recruited. A surefire way to get noticed, and remain on a coach’s radar? Allow the athlete to take the lead, from sending that first email, picking up the phone or approaching a coach at a recruiting event.

Read the full article here

Kickstart Your Journey: Send Your Recruiting Video to Every College Soccer Coach in the Nation!

Elevate your recruiting game by sending your video to college soccer coaches nationwide! We hold the ultimate key: the contact information of every college coach in the nation, ready to unlock endless opportunities. Choose to target specific regions or focus on Division I, II, or III. Our unique newsletter, packed with college soccer updates, ensures your video gets noticed. For more details simply send an email to [email protected]

Ten Things No One Tells You About College Recruiting!

Ten Things No One Tells You About College Recruiting! For many college-caliber recruits, talent and prep/club success are not enough to get recruited as a college athlete. I raised two college athletes in two different sports – and made a lot of mistakes along the way.  Here are a few things I wish I had known before we started the recruiting process.

1. College coaches have limited time and even more limited budgets.  Remember this throughout the process.  It means you need to work harder than prospective coaches will to get your athlete seen and noticed.  It also means that the farther away you are from a school your athlete is interested in, the more time and money you will need to spend to get their attention.

2. NCAA recruiting rules will complicate your life. They will make you want to scream, in fact.  The NCAA has been working very hard to limit “early recruiting.”  There are some good reasons for this, but it comes at a cost. Currently, it means college coaches cannot engage with you, your athlete, or your athlete’s prep/club coaches until much later than they used to.  This makes it harder to get your athlete noticed and even more difficult to get any feedback from college coaches. 

Read the full article

State of College Recruiting in 2025: Opportunities for Uncommitted Players

*The programs in red are at risk of pulling verbal offers if the 28-player roster limit applies to their conference as several teams have over-recruited.

To view this list on Twitter/X visit - @ImYouthSoccer

As we venture into 2025, the landscape of college recruiting presents both challenges and opportunities for uncommitted athletes. The dynamics have shifted with changes in conference rules, particularly the 28-player roster limit that's causing ripples across many programs. Understanding which conferences still have opportunities and how to navigate these changes is crucial for athletes aiming to secure their spot.

Conferences with Opportunities

While some programs have already filled their rosters, certain conferences are still fertile ground for uncommitted athletes. Conferences in the Northeast (NEC and the MAAC) and Midwest in particular, have shown flexibility and are actively seeking talented players to complete their rosters. These regions often have schools with strong athletic traditions but may not have overextended themselves in the recruiting race.

Challenges of Over-Recruiting

The 28-player roster limit has become a critical factor in the recruiting process. Programs that have over-recruited are at risk of having to rescind verbal offers, creating a precarious situation for athletes who thought their futures were secured. This over-recruiting often stems from the competitive nature of college sports, pushing programs to hedge their bets with multiple commitments. For athletes, this means staying vigilant and understanding the stability of their offers.

Recommendation: Explore all levels of college soccer, as the talent pool exceeds D1 opportunities.

Where are you on your recruiting journey?

If you're a 2025/26 athlete and starting to feel uneasy about the lack of interest, it's time to take action. Remember, most schools will have their rosters locked at 28 players by 2025 and 2026. This means players could face cuts or decommitments due to limited roster spaces. Don't wait until it's too late—email me now to schedule your free 20-minute analysis and get ahead in your recruiting process.

Simply send an email to [email protected]

Your Go-To Websites

• RPI - Check out the Women's College Soccer RPI by clicking this link.

• RPI - Check out the Men's College Soccer RPI by clicking this link.

• NCAA Eligibility Center - Click Here 

• United Soccer Coaches - Awards and Rankings 

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

Navigating the college recruiting timeline can be overwhelmingly complex, especially with the recent rule changes adding to this confusion. The rapid spread of misinformation often leads to misguided decisions, resulting in frustration and disappointment over time.

When is the right time to start? The sooner, the better, but it's never too late to take action. Our College Soccer Network provides extensive support and guidance throughout the entire recruiting process. We aim to help you grasp the timeline, steer clear of common pitfalls, and optimize your chances of playing soccer at the collegiate level.

Currently, we are evaluating qualified players and will be selecting 5 candidates for the month of September. If you're seeking assistance in your college soccer journey, we're here to support you every step of the way.

Interested? Book your FREE 20-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