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First 3 Steps for Successful College Recruitment

By Jennifer Dunaway | Soccer Moms and Dads


Let’s just say it: college recruitment is hard. Like, really, really hard.


As a soccer parent who's living this in real-time—with countless conversations under my belt with college coaches, recruitment experts, and other families who’ve made it through—I can tell you: it’s not getting easier.

Between NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) changes, NCAA roster caps, and the sheer number of high school graduates now playing competitive soccer, it’s a brutal, competitive space. Good players get overlooked all the time. Talented athletes go unseen simply because there are too many players, too few coaches, and too little time to evaluate everyone.


The Apple Picker Problem

One college coach once described recruiting as being an apple picker. He said, “I can’t search every tree in every orchard. I go to the orchards that have grown good apples before, pick from the trees I’ve heard about, and hope I can make a great pie with what I find.”


Translation: Coaches scout at trusted showcases, familiar clubs, and networks that have proven value in the past. They don’t have the time or resources to find hidden gems at random. So unless your kid is standing on a tree labeled "Best Apples Here" with a blinking sign, they could get missed—even if they’re the juiciest one out there.


That’s why I say—and I mean this with love—recruitment is more about marketing and networking than it is about talent. That may sound gross or transactional, but it’s just the system we’re in.


The Peanut Butter Stand

Let me break it down another way.


If your kid makes the best peanut butter in the world, but they only sell it at the top of your driveway, who’s going to know about it? Your family? Your neighbors? Maybe the mailman?


Now picture that same peanut butter sitting on the shelf next to JIF and Nutella at Kroger. Different story. More people see it. More people talk about it. Someone tries it. Someone buys it.


That’s exposure. That’s marketing. And that’s how college recruitment works.


So… What Can You Do?

Here are the 3 most important things any parent can do—at any age or stage—to help their soccer player on the college path.


1. Stop Believing the Naysayers

Just because someone says:

  • “That division is out of reach.”

  • “Only transfers and international players get recruited now.”

  • “ID camps are just money grabs.”

...doesn’t make it true.


Are there money-grab ID camps? Yes. Are there camps where a coach is truly building their next class? Also yes. Your job is to do the research and trust your instincts, not blindly follow the cynics on the sidelines.


2. Talk to Your Child

And I mean really talk to them.


Whether they’re in 7th grade or 11th, ask:

  • “What do YOU want?”

  • “Where do you see yourself?”

  • “Is soccer part of your college experience, or your career path?”


If your child says, “I want to be a pro,” the response isn’t “that’s unrealistic”—it’s “okay, what’s step one?” Often, that first step is playing college soccer—especially if they’re not in Professional Academy already.


But maybe your kid has no interest in a big city. So sending them to Ohio State’s Summer ID Camp—one of the most intense, physically demanding camps I’ve ever seen—as a rising freshman might be exactly the wrong move.


Know your kid. Talk to your kid. Make decisions with your kid.


3. Build a Brand

This is not just for influencers. Your soccer player is a product—and it’s time to package it.


Here’s how to start:

✅ Set Up an Email

✅ Buy a URL

  • Head to GoDaddy, search for their name, and grab it.

  • FirstnameLastname.com or something close. Cheap and worth it.

  • Bonus: If you use Rakuten, you’ll get 2.5% cash back. Every penny counts.

✅ Build a Website

  • It doesn’t have to be fancy.

  • Include: highlight reels, stats, academic info, and contact info.

  • Add to it over time—this is a living résumé.

✅ Create a YouTube Channel

  • Use the email you set up.

  • Upload highlight reels regularly.

  • If your player is under 15, set it to private. Over 15? Public is an option.


Let me be clear: This is how my son got found. Not by accident. Not by luck. But because we built something, and the right coaches found it. Multiple college soccer offers came from schools he wasn’t even looking at—because they were looking at him.


Final Thoughts

This journey isn’t linear. It’s emotional, frustrating, expensive, and at times, completely overwhelming. But it’s also exciting, rewarding, and an incredible opportunity for growth—for your player, and for you as a parent.


There is no magic formula. But if you believe in your kid, listen to them, and commit to the long game—your chances of success go way up.


And hey—you’re not alone. The path is crowded, but that doesn’t mean your player won’t find their place.


Let’s make sure they have the tools to do it.


Got questions or want more resources on college recruitment?

Follow Ohio Soccer Moms and Dads on Facebook and @ohsoccermomsanddads on Instagram and let’s keep this conversation going and let us know what college soccer topic you would like to cover next.

 
 
 
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