An Occidental college soccer coach explains what Division III programs want to see: clear on-field impact, a distinctive technical skill, and confident body language. Goalkeepers should organize defense and play with their feet. Forwards should chase the ball and show positive energy. A 20-minute camp session is enough to demonstrate these traits.
If you want to play at Occidental, listen to this video. This is from the Occidental coach himself, exactly what he looks for in a player. This is also true for all high academic D3s. If you're a sophomore or junior, please do this.
Next level to play college soccer. So it's important that you utilize the day, but you also understand the important parts of camps like this. One, in addition to connecting with coaches and us, you also, when it gets on the field, you have to make an impact, right? You have to make a difference. You have to show your personality. That is the part that coaches need to know when they're Selecting a team, selecting a player. I know what I'll get from this guy. This guy is going to add something, right? He's got to add something to my team that I feel I need or I want. You have to be solid. You have to be good at all the normal things, right? He has to be able to count on you. That's definitely a thing. But you also need to have something, you know, that thing that he can say, okay, this guy is super good technically, he's tricky in the air, tricky on the ground, whatever, you know. He's good on set pieces, he's a good passer, good dribbler, he's tough, tackles, he runs hard, you know, all those things. So whatever you're— I'm gonna ask you to make it up. I'm gonna say whatever your thing is as we're playing these games. So you all now played one round of games. You all have another round of 11v11 games before we get into our 9v9s. But I don't want you to miss the opportunity in the next 11v11 game. So if you're a goalkeeper, even if you don't get a chance to make saves, talk, organize your group, stay connected, play with your feet, you know, even if you don't get a shot on it. Right? There's still ways. If you're a forward and you don't touch the ball, work hard. Work, have good body language, try to get the ball back, try to find it. In addition to all these, you can't tell me even in 20 minutes of time that it's not more than enough time to show something about your personality positively. So as we go back into these next set of 11 dilemmas, you'll have one more today. I want you to keep that in mind. Another thing is I also want you to understand, we coaches notice body language things. Not just like on the field, everywhere, you know? Just what does your body language present, you know? Or are you kind of, you lose the ball and your head's down, shoulders down? Generally speaking, are your shoulders down, head down kind of guy? You know, chest up, have big wide open communication with your body, saying, right? Even on the field, don't hide, don't have slumped shoulders, you know, those things. Have a smile on your face, head up, those things. Those things matter too. We want confident players, big personality type players, guys that we feel can fill a room. That's beneficial, that's positive, not full of arrogance. I'm just saying, don't hide, right? So want the ball in those areas.
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