High school freshmen aiming for college soccer should start recruiting early, skip single-school camps unless they're in elite pathways like MLS Next or ECNL, and always send coaches at least one minute of highlight video before showcases. Multi-school events like Future 500 and Exact get more college scouts.
3 things I would never do as a freshman if I want to play college soccer. Number 1, I wouldn't listen to the people who are telling you you should start the recruiting process later in your career. Yes, it is true that Division 1 and Division 2 schools are not supposed to respond to you, but if you're a high-level player, they sometimes break the rules. Sometimes they do so accidentally. So don't listen to your peers who are telling you to start later. You will always lose opportunities every day you wait. That is the reality. Number 2, I would not go to any mass ID camps of individual schools. So let's say you really want to play UCLA. I probably wouldn't recommend going to UCLA Mass ID camp as a freshman, unless you are playing MLS Next or ECNL. Instead, I would tell you to go to a Mass ID camp with multiple schools. A Future 500, I don't love Exact, Masters ID camp, 60 ID camp, Totally About It ID camp. These are really great for freshmen because there's a lot of schools there. They get to know you and there's other schools that you get to interact with, and then you can start the email process with them. Number 3, I would make sure despite what everyone tells you, if you have a showcase or if you're going to an ID camp, make sure you message them and you have to have video. Even if you think, oh, I don't need any video because I'm only a freshman, you are incorrect. You are wrong. You need 1 minute's worth of video, which is about 30 clips. I'm sure you have 30 really good clips, and you need to share those with the college coach. If you want more help, comment "call," and we can schedule a call with you and your parents.
