High school soccer players should contact college coaches months before MLS Next Fest through phone calls, ID camps, and in-person visits. When emailing, ask to meet face-to-face instead of just sending a schedule. Start recruiting early and use multiple channels to get noticed.
Is MLS Next Fest a good place to get recruited? Yes, MLS Next Fest is an incredible place to get recruited. It's probably one of the most recruited events of the year. Generation Adidas might be the other one. There'll be hundreds of college coaches, so if you're going to plan to go to MLS Next Fest, make sure not only do you send your emails to the schools attending, which may not be out yet or you may not be able to find it, but it doesn't matter. Send it to every school you are interested in, in addition to the schools you know may be attending. You may say, I only wanted to send to schools that I want to go to. For those of you that are sending out your first email expecting coaches to come to your game without them knowing who you are, you're crazy. The reason you send your schedule out to college coaches is because before the showcase, maybe months before, you've already spoken to the coach. You've already gone on a visit. You've had a phone call. Then you tell them your schedule. Then they'll come to your game. Maybe you've been to their ID camp. Then they're gonna come to your game. You cannot have your first initial message be, "Hey, here's my schedule, coach. Hope you come." They don't know who you are. They've got another list of kids they gotta watch. They can only watch so many kids. You have to get in touch with these coaches before the showcase. Well before the showcase. To get interest before the showcase, phone calls of course are important. ID camps can help you do that as well. And then you need to send them lots of video. So if you haven't already, you could send them a couple videos leading up to the showcase. But since now it's showcase time, you're gonna have to send your schedule. Now when you send the schedule, you're also gonna wanna have a pamphlet that you can hand out to the coaches. Your clubs will usually have one for you, but it's good to have one in your pocket in case you run by a coach. When you send the email out to college coaches, make sure you ask the question, "May I shake your hand in person?" Do not just send them your schedule. Ask a question. And that's the question to ask. If you want more help, comment "call" and we can schedule a call with you and your parents.
