{"id":681,"date":"2013-01-02T22:11:03","date_gmt":"2013-01-02T22:11:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncsasports.org\/?page_id=681"},"modified":"2025-03-06T12:17:27","modified_gmt":"2025-03-06T18:17:27","slug":"womens-soccer","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.ncsasports.org\/womens-soccer","title":{"rendered":"Women&#8217;s Soccer Recruiting Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-for-many-soccer-players-competing-at-the-college-level-is-the-result-of-a-lifetime-of-work\">For many soccer players, competing at the college level is the result of a lifetime of work<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">From running around freshly cut grass as a young kid to playing under the bright lights on a competitive club team, for most women\u2019s soccer players, the road to playing in college began many years before their recruitment. And that\u2019s why gathering the necessary information and picking the right college to play ball is so important. Fortunately, we\u2019ve compiled this informative guide to help readers find the women\u2019s soccer program that\u2019s just right for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">We\u2019ve outlined the major sections that will help guide student-athletes along the way on their college recruitment journey. The recruitment process for women\u2019s soccer is becoming increasingly competitive, and college coaches are recruiting prospects earlier than ever\u2014even as early as 8th grade. NCSA\u2019s own survey of college coaches states that 7% of D1 women\u2019s soccer coaches begin evaluating talent in 8th grade or earlier. That\u2019s why student-athletes need to start early on obtaining club and tournament experience and make sure they ace the recruitment process every step of the way. To do that, they\u2019ll need to know exactly what college programs are looking for, and that\u2019s why this information is invaluable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Readers should use this sport-specific information along with our&nbsp;<a href=\"\/recruiting\">College Recruiting Guide<\/a>, which outlines the recruiting process from the start to Signing Day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Review the college women&#8217;s soccer recruiting rules and calendar<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">The NCAA rules prohibit D1 college coaches from actively recruiting a women\u2019s soccer player before their junior year. However, there are many athletes committing to programs before this time. How is that possible? Read up on the written\u2014and unwritten\u2014rules of women\u2019s soccer recruiting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><a href=\"\/womens-soccer\/recruiting-rules-calendar\">Understand how to use the women\u2019s soccer recruiting rules and calendar<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Stack up against other athletes using the women&#8217;s soccer recruiting guidelines<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">It\u2019s important for athletes to accurately gauge their own athletic talent. By having a good idea of what coaches are looking for in their players, recruits can compile a list of target schools that they\u2019re more likely to get into, and also determine which division level is the best fit for them. Playing against stiff competition in the&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.ussoccerda.com\/home.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">U.S. Development Academy<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/theecnl.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Elite Clubs National League<\/a>, or&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.usyouthsoccer.org\/olympic-development-program\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Olympic Development Program<\/a>&nbsp;is a great way to match up against other top recruits. Comparing physical attributes and skill sets to college players is another good way to gauge talent. We\u2019ve compiled guidelines that will help athletes find a program where they can be competitive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><a href=\"\/womens-soccer\/recruiting-guidelines\">Discover the best division level for you by reviewing the women\u2019s soccer recruiting guidelines.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Learn how college women&#8217;s soccer scholarships work<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Athletic scholarships are available for collegiate women\u2019s soccer players at the Division 1, Division 2, NAIA and junior college levels. However, the number of athletic scholarships varies by division level, and coaches can choose to give out partial or full-ride scholarships. In this section, we explain more about scholarship opportunities, how they are divided up and how Division 3 athletes can find scholarship dollars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><a href=\"\/womens-soccer\/scholarships\">Learn more about how much women\u2019s soccer scholarship money you might qualify for.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Get discovered by college women&#8217;s soccer coaches<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Like so many families, Molly Kornblit and her family had no idea where to start the college recruiting process. Watch her story to see how NCSA&#8217;s guidance and tools gave her the confidence she needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<style>.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }<\/style><div class='embed-container'><iframe src='https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JX1-OXUrr5E?rel=0' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><br>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">College coaches are looking for athletes who are fast, skilled and have extensive club experience. From there, the only way a recruit can make sure college coaches know who they are is if they\u2019re proactively reaching out to coaches. In this section, we go over what staying proactive in the recruitment process looks like, including how to find the right schools, contact women\u2019s soccer coaches, develop relationships with programs that would be a good fit and much more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><a href=\"\/womens-soccer\/how-to-get-recruited\">See what it takes to get recruited for women\u2019s soccer<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Create an eye-catching recruiting video coaches will respond to<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">While college women\u2019s soccer coaches prefer to see prospects play in person, the vast majority of them use highlight videos as part of their evaluation process. Our former collegiate coaches offer insider tips on how to make athletes\u2019 highlight videos stand out, including how to begin each video, the right footage to use and how to film during a game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><a href=\"\/womens-soccer\/recruiting-video-highlights\">Check out these guidelines for making your highlight video.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Attend women&#8217;s soccer tournaments, showcases and ID camps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Club tournaments are the most popular means for coaches to gauge recruits at the D1 level, while ID camps and clinics can also be used for evaluation. Gaining experience on the field against other elite players is valuable, but the real draw to attending tournaments and camps is being seen by college coaches who rely on these events to evaluate a large number of recruits in a single weekend or event. It\u2019s smart to attend, but recruits will want to pick the right event for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><a href=\"\/womens-soccer\/tournaments-camps\">Find the right event for your women\u2019s soccer recruiting process.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-can-attending-a-sports-boarding-school-increase-your-chance-of-competing-in-college\">Can attending a sports boarding school increase your chance of competing in college?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">There\u2019s no foolproof way to ensure a student-athlete will be recruited for college soccer, but NCSA has noticed a strong correlation between having a strong support system and being successful at the next level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">One of the best ways to solidify that robust support system is through boarding school enrollment. Our partner, IMG Academy&nbsp;has dedicated college placement advisors, experienced coaches, academic teachers, Athletic &amp; Personal development trainers, mentors, counselors and other on-campus staff available to student-athletes to ensure they\u2019re prepared and equipped for the next level. IMG\u2019s soccer student-athletes will experience a schedule mirroring that of a collegiate environment, so they\u2019re already familiar with that schedule from the moment they step foot on a college campus.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Within IMG\u2019s college-preparatory environment for 6-12<sup>th<\/sup>&nbsp;graders, as well as gap year student-athletes, athletes will:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">Study, train and compete in an environment surrounded by other dedicated student-athletes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Have access to a competitive academic curriculum, including Honors and AP courses and dedicated study hours<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Increase their exposure to college coaches<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Have access to unparalleled facilities and resources within an all-inclusive campus<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Have a defined competition schedule and annual developmental track<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Participate in annual student activities events, such as Homecoming, Prom, clubs and organizations, beach excursions and more<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">In addition to leveraging NCSA\u2019s resources, families who supplement their recruiting efforts with IMG Academy\u2019s proven boarding school experience can incrementally help student-athletes get recruited for collegiate soccer.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Looking for that extra boost to your performance, but not ready to commit to boarding school? IMG Academy+ offers mental performance and nutrition coaching honed by the experts at IMG Academy from anywhere in the world, on your own device. <a href=\"https:\/\/plus.imgacademy.com\/memberships\/essentials\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Click here to start your Essentials membership<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Find Division 1, Division 2, Division 3, NAIA and NJCAA women&#8217;s soccer colleges<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">There are more than 1,500 colleges across the U.S. that have women\u2019s soccer teams. The real challenge for student-athletes is to find the one that\u2019s the right fit. In this section, we\u2019ve laid out the differences between divisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><a href=\"\/womens-soccer\/colleges\">Learn more about the different college divisions.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For many soccer players, competing at the college level is the result of a lifetime of work From running around freshly cut grass as a young kid to playing under the bright lights on a competitive club team, for most women\u2019s soccer players, the road to playing in college began many years before their recruitment. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":1491,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"sidebar-hero","meta":{"tracking_event":"21218","ncsa_post_menu":7192,"ncsa_post_menu_title":"Women's Soccer","ncsa_ch_large_screen_images":[{"id":171833,"url":"https:\/\/www.ncsasports.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/womens-soccer-1.jpg"}],"ncsa_ch_large_screen_video_type":"","ncsa_ch_large_screen_video_url":"","ncsa_ch_inner_blocks":"<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":1,\"placeholder\":\"H1 text...\",\"style\":{\"elements\":{\"link\":{\"color\":{\"text\":\"var:preset|color|white\"}}},\"spacing\":{\"margin\":{\"bottom\":\"var:preset|spacing|15-x\"}}},\"textColor\":\"white\",\"fontSize\":\"xlsix\"} -->\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-white-color has-text-color has-link-color has-xlsix-font-size\" style=\"margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--15-x)\">Women\u2019s Soccer Recruiting Guide<\/h1>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->","ncsa_ch_large_screen_video_url_webm":"","ncsa_ch_large_screen_video_id":0,"ncsa_ch_large_screen_video_id_webm":0,"ncsa_ch_small_screen_image":{"id":171832,"url":"https:\/\/www.ncsasports.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/womens-soccer.jpg"},"ncsa_ch_use_optimal_image_sizes":false,"ncsa_breadcrumbs":[{"label":"Women's Soccer","postId":null,"postType":null}],"ncsa_breadcrumbs_schema_only":false,"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":""},"content_category":[527],"class_list":["post-681","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","content_category-sports-hq"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ncsasports.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/681","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ncsasports.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ncsasports.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ncsasports.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/34"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ncsasports.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=681"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.ncsasports.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/681\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ncsasports.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=681"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"content_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ncsasports.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content_category?post=681"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}