In this YouTube segment, the hosts compare university club soccer to NCAA Division I‑III varsity programs, using a UCLA vs. LMU club match as a case study. Speaker B assesses the match as roughly Division III level, noting that many players could have played varsity but chose UCLA or LMU for academic prestige. The discussion then shifts to recruiting logistics: club teams recruit once, typically by a student’s sophomore or junior year, and senior‑year recruitment is usually too late. Prospective players are advised to apply to their dream academic schools first, then pursue club soccer if admitted, leveraging video submissions and contacting club coaches. The hosts stress that club teams are competitive and not walk‑on opportunities, highlighting specific skilled players as examples. Finally, the video ends with a call‑to‑action asking viewers to comment the word “club” (e.g., “C‑A club”) to receive a list of clubs in their state.
What is the difference between club soccer at a university and playing at a Division 1, 2, or 3 college soccer team?
This is a club soccer game playing inside of the UCLA stadium.
I'm gonna tell you the difference right now.
So if you were to ask me what is the level of quote-unquote this game, I would say this particular game as I'm watching it is probably lower than Division 3 soccer, but pretty darn close, maybe even better than many Division 3 teams. This is UCLA versus LMU. These are very good players. I think all of them probably could have played college soccer but chose to to UCLA or LMU for academics because maybe they weren't good enough for the quote-unquote Division I team. Playing on these teams is a lot of fun. Like, you're gonna watch UCLA now play out of the back. They get to play in their stadium, which is really freaking cool. And when I talk to my students about deciding which one you pick, the biggest thing I will tell you guys is you can always play club soccer. You still have to try out and make it, and often send in a video because 500 kids try out for these teams. But you can only get recruited once, and typically you must get recruited within your sophomore, junior year. Getting recruited in your senior year basically means it's too late. So what What I tell families is always apply to your dream schools like UCLA, and if you end up getting into UCLA, know that you could still play club soccer. But otherwise, what you want to know is if you say senior year, you know what, I really want to play college soccer, and that's when you decide to do that, or junior year, it can be too late and you won't have a choice and you'll only get to play for the club team if you even make the team, which you may not. Because to make the club team, all these players got recruited at some point by some Division III or Division II program. Maybe even Division I, but chose to come to this school because it's UCLA and the other school is LMU, which are really high academic schools. So for you guys, always do your part to get recruited first and then also apply to the other schools. So if you do get recruited by a DIII or DII program, or maybe even a D1 program that's not your top academic big, big D1 program, you can always decide later, you know what, I ended up getting into UCLA, I'll go play for the club team. In which case you would email the club coach and say, I was recruited by other college coaches. Can I come try out? And you'll have a much more likely chance of making it because this is a very good team, this club team. And it's— you don't just get to walk on just because. These club teams are really good. Like, this number 10 is a good player. I know he lost it there, but he's good. Um, and this guy too on the far side, he's really good as well. I've watched them, I've trained with them even before. So this level is good. Like, there's the number 10 doing the number 10 stuff. So he's good, but he chose to go to UCLA academically. So just make sure that you still do the recruiting process this. Otherwise, it could be too late and you won't even have a choice.
If you want more help playing college soccer, I want you to comment the word club, and I'll be able to tell you every single club within your state. I'm sorry, you have to comment like this: C-A club, one word, and then it'll work. Or I-N club.
