Recruiting Tips & Blog

What the NCAA Just Announced

On May 13, 2026, the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Oversight Committee adopted legislation splitting the men’s soccer playing season across two semesters — a significant departure from the sport’s traditional fall-only model. Pending final review by the Division I Cabinet in late June, here’s how the new structure breaks down: Fall segment: Up to 18 contests, beginning in late August and running through the Saturday before Thanksgiving Spring segment: Up to 10 contests, beginning in mid-February National Championship: Moved from December to the spring The change is effective August 1, 2027, meaning it applies to the 2027–28 season.

You’re talking to a coach who’s recruiting you hard. They say all the right things: “We love your game,” “You’d be a great fit here,” “We see you contributing right away.” But have you actually looked at their roster? Reading a college soccer roster is one of the most important research skills you can develop during recruiting. It reveals playing time opportunities, coaching patterns, and red flags that coaches won’t tell you about in recruiting conversations. This guide breaks down how to analyze a college roster so you can make smarter recruiting decisions.

Where to Find College Rosters

Every college soccer program posts their roster on the team’s athletics website.

If you’re like most soccer families navigating the recruiting process for the first time, you’ve probably asked yourself: “When should we start emailing coaches?” “Can college coaches contact freshmen or sophomores?” “What even IS a dead period?” You’re not alone. The NCAA recruiting calendar is one of the most confusing aspects of college soccer recruiting, and getting it wrong can cost you valuable opportunities—or worse, put your eligibility at risk. Here’s the good news: Once you understand the recruiting calendar and what’s allowed at each grade level, you can strategically plan your recruiting timeline to maximize exposure while staying completely within NCAA rules.

You’ve been emailing coaches, attending showcases, and building your recruiting profile. Now a coach invites you to visit campus. Should you take an official visit or an unofficial visit? What’s the difference? And how do you use your limited official visits wisely? Campus visits are one of the most important—and most misunderstood—parts of the recruiting process. Make the wrong choice, and you could waste valuable opportunities or miss red flags about a program. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about official and unofficial visits so you can make smart decisions.

What Is an Unofficial Visit?

An unofficial visit is any campus visit you arrange and pay for yourself.

Athletic scholarships are only one piece of the financial aid puzzle. For most college soccer players, the real money comes from academic merit aid, need-based grants, and institutional scholarships—not just athletic money. But here’s the problem: Most families don’t understand how financial aid works, miss critical deadlines, or leave tens of thousands of dollars on the table because they didn’t file the right forms. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about FAFSA, CSS Profile, and financial aid so you can maximize your college funding—whether you’re getting an athletic scholarship or not.

What Is the FAFSA?

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is a form that determines your eligibility for federal financial aid, including grants, work-study programs, and federal student loans.

The Social Media Recruiting Guide: What Coaches Are Really Looking At Your social media accounts are part of your recruiting profile—whether you like it or not. College coaches are scrolling through your Instagram, checking your Twitter, and Googling your name. One bad post can cost you a scholarship offer. But used strategically, social media can actually help your recruiting. This guide breaks down how to use social media during the recruiting process—what to post, what to avoid, and how to make your accounts work for you instead of against you.

Do Coaches Actually Check Your Social Media?

Yes. Absolutely. Most coaches do.