The MLS NEXT guy gives four ways young players without access to elite clubs can reach college soccer: send highlight videos to request tryouts, attend local college ID camps, play up an age group with better competition, and stay open to traveling for academy opportunities.
What if there is no MLS NEXT or ECNL team in your area and you still want to play college soccer and you're between the ages of 7 years old to 13 years old? I'm the MLS NEXT guy and I help you play college soccer by playing MLS NEXT or ECNL. Okay, I'm gonna tell you in under 45 seconds. When there's no team nearby, one option is to send them video anyways and say, hey, I would like to come try out for your team. And you may say, why would you do that if you're not going to go actually try out for the team? Well, if they respond and they really like your video, they go, yes, we'd like to have you for a tryout. Now you've been invited to a tryout. So now in your emails that you will future send, you can say, I was invited to an ECNL tryout, but due to where I live, I cannot go. And that's really helpful for college coaches because ECNL and MSX matters. You want to get to that level, so it's in your subject line, so it's in your email. Number 2, go to college ID camps that are local. Those coaches often know where the best club teams are locally, and if they see you do well at their camp, that would be awesome. And I'm talking middle school camps specifically because of your age. Or even if they're doing a kids camp, go to the kids camp that's related to the college. College world is really small. All those coaches there one day want to be a head coach somewhere. So stay in that community. And then finally, if you can play with players older than you or players in your community that are better than you and you can play older sooner, get into the older age groups. Even if there's no MLS Next or ECNL, play up an age group. It will help you get better faster. Watch lots of soccer obviously as well, and then you've got to make sure that you're open-minded maybe to traveling to an academy and moving. Would you consider moving? If you want more help, give me a call. Link's in the bio. Talk soon. Bye.
