Elite 8th-grade soccer players aiming for Division I or top academic Division III programs need to start recruiting now. One student committed to Duke after beginning in 7th grade. Only 2-3% of players reach Ivy League or top academic D-III schools, so waiting until junior year leaves too little time to build a highlight video and school list.
It's a good question whether or not you should get started in 8th grade, and this really depends on your level. Like, if you're an exceptional level player for 8th grade and you're playing for— at MLS Next, or you're playing ECNL, then there's a large argument you should get started with this process in a very aggressive way as an 8th grader. If your parents think it's too early, then what I would recommend doing is taking a step back and understanding what are your goals. Because if you want to play at the Division I level, or a top academic DIII level, then you don't have a choice. This is non-negotiable. This is not an opinion. And the reason I say this is because one of our students who just got committed to Duke started in 7th grade in order to get recruited to Duke. It is extraordinarily competitive. Less than 2 to 3% of kids are going to go to those Ivy League schools or the top academic D3 schools. So you have to get started early. Well, first of all, if you were to start with me, say, as a junior, right, when normal people think they should start the process, and I look at your information and go, your video's bad, your emails aren't good, you haven't even picked your list of schools, you're going to be in a lot of trouble. So as an 8th grader, all I'm saying is start. Start your list of schools. Start your highlight video. Think about which ID camps you would go to. And you know, now you're in 8th grade in their second semester. Now all of a sudden that summer you're going into your freshman year. That's time. It is time to get started. So it's time to start thinking about it. If you want more help, comment, call, and we can schedule a call with you and your parents.
