A former pro soccer player maps the typical path to Division 1: start at 4-5, join club soccer by 7-9, move to ECNL or MLS Next, then progress to academy teams like LA Galaxy or LAFC by 12-16. Coaches spot talent at trials, and college recruiters watch from there.
What is the recruiting journey of almost every single Division 1 soccer player starting at the age of 5 years old? 99% of soccer players who are now playing Division 1, including myself who used to play Division 1 and then went on to play pro, all started around the age of 4 to 5 playing with kids older. So the first thing they were doing was playing with kids better than them already at a very young age. By 7, 8, 9, they were all playing club soccer and they were getting affiliated with the ECNL and MLS Next teams, which is really important. By around 12, 13, they were playing either pre-ECNL or MLS NEXT on the B team or flirting with the A team. Some of them were already on the A team or playing with the LA Galaxies, the LAFCs, the Chicago, the Chicago MLS teams by the age of about 14, 15, 16. At this point, they've started their college soccer recruiting process. But before I get into that, how is it that they got into the MLS NEXT and ECNL teams? And this was because not only were they a good soccer player, obviously, but they were going to trials to get exposure by coaches. And those coaches self- obviously want those teams to do well and win, so they pick the best kids. So you want your kid to be picked by that coach so they will be developed, taught, and eventually be in an environment where they can get seen by college coaches. If you want more help, give me a call. Links in the bio. Bye.
