Navigating soccer scholarships for college

I'm a high school junior interested in playing soccer in college. How do soccer scholarships work? What should I focus on to improve my chances of getting one?

It's fantastic that you're considering collegiate athletics alongside your academic journey! Soccer scholarships can be a great stepping stone toward this goal. Here's a basic outline of what you should know:

Athletic scholarships are awarded based on a student's athletic abilities, determined by various criteria, including their success in high school sports, performance in tournaments, and impressions made at college athletic camps. In your case, your soccer skills and performance would be the focus. There are both full and partial scholarships available, depending on the institution and their athletic programs.

To improve your chances of getting a soccer scholarship, here are some points to consider:

1. Skills Development: First and foremost, continue honing your soccer skills. Work on both your strengths and weaknesses.

2. Academic Performance: While your athletic prowess is paramount, maintaining good grades is also crucial as most universities have a minimum GPA requirement for scholarship recipients.

3. Exposure: Attend camps and showcase events where college scouts are likely to be present. These events expose you to a wider audience and can increase your chances of being spotted by a scout.

4. Develop a Highlights Reel: This contains clips showcasing your soccer skills and your on-field performance. This can be distributed to college coaches for their assessment.

5. Recruitment Process: Depending on the division-level, active recruitment by the athlete - reaching out to college coaches with your athletic resume and interest in their program - is often necessary. Be proactive and establish communications with multiple potential colleges.

Remember, though soccer scholarships can make a significant impact on financial aid, they often do not cover all college costs, especially at the DIII level which does not offer athletic scholarships at all. Other forms of aid, like academic scholarships or financial aid can cover any remaining costs.

Good luck with your soccer and college journey!