In this conversational Q&A, Speaker B rates common college soccer recruiting choices on a 1‑to‑10 scale and offers practical guidance. The discussion covers selecting schools like Wake Forest, Duke, or NAIA, emphasizing that the quality of the coach matters more than the program’s prestige. It warns against choosing a school solely because a friend attends, assigning a high risk rating. Financial concerns about ECNL fees are addressed by suggesting alternatives such as ID camps, creating highlight videos, and proactive emailing. Advice on email subject lines stresses standing out with relevant information rather than aggressive language. The topic of inflating height on highlight reels is dismissed as ineffective except for dating profiles, with a note for goalkeepers. The importance of attending ID camps and showcases is highlighted, while also recommending pre‑camp outreach to coaches. The segment ends with a light remark about picking schools based on food, underscoring the need to prioritize soccer‑related factors.
On a scale of 1 to 10, how bad are these things? Wake Forest.
1. It's amazing.
Playing at Duke.
Amazing. 1.
Playing NAIA.
Amazing. 1. But mind you, 1, but remember it's about the coach. You could go play NAIA and eventually go pro if you find the right coach. You could also go to Wake Forest and not play a single minute and the coach may not like you. That coach is fantastic, but make sure you find the right coach.
Going to a school because your friend goes there.
7, you do not want to just follow your boyfriend or girlfriend or any friend for that matter because you may not like the experience.
Asking mom why she won't pay ECNL fees.
Hahaha. Unfortunately, they are expensive, these ECNL fees. So instead of asking mom why she can't, because she's probably trying to help you tremendously, so prioritize a strategy. Think of ID camps and write emails and make video so you don't have to maybe pay for ECNL. But also recognize you may not play at the highest levels of Division I.
Putting in the subject line of an email to a college coach, "You will regret this if you don't pick me." Put it in all caps if you never want a response.
Do not do that. However, mind you, the first part of your subject line should be different. Could be a showcase, could be your GPA. Make it stand out, and I do like the idea of saying something wild in your subject line.
Saying you're 6'7" on your highlight video when you're 5'3".
Only do that for your dating profiles, otherwise it does not work in the college soccer recruiting world. So make sure if you give yourself a couple inches because of your cleats, fine. Especially if you're a goalkeeper.
ID camps.
A 1. You have to go to ID camps to do what's in your control. I know they're money grabs. I don't want you to go to camps if you don't have to. Hence why I want you to make video. Hence why I want you to go to showcases. But if you want to ensure that a Wake Forest-like school actually watches you, you You need to email them beforehand and go to the camp.
And finally, picking a school based off their food.
It is an important factor what the school's food is like, especially if you have allergies or something like that. So you definitely want to go for a visit. What I would tell you is go see the grocery stores around the area, but most of all, pick the right coach. If you want to play college soccer, comment the grade you're in and I'll send you a bunch of tips based off your grade.
