David Robertson

One thing I care deeply about in youth soccer is honesty. Families deserve transparency — not hype, not slogans, not cherry-picked examples. Here’s a snapshot of just some of the 100+ colleges our Nationals players have gone on to compete at, across all levels of the game. We don’t exaggerate. We don’t curate reality. We show the full picture. Every logo here represents a real player, a real journey, and a real next step. 🔗 Full college placement list: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d… 🔗 ECNL Tryout Registration (2026–27): tinyurl.com/NationalsECNLT… Proud of what our players have built — and where they’re going next.

Held back 5 copies of my new album The Way I Am on vinyl and CD to autograph and give away to y’all! Like and repost this photo, then comment your favorite song from the album and I’ll pick random winners!

HOWAY NEWCASTLE! 👊

Great first day for our 2009 & 2010 Ballers at Jefferson Cup. Great competition and our groups had incredible college turnouts: 2009s: 84 programs 2010s: 68 program Thank you to the 118 programs & US Soccer for watching today, we will see everyone again tomorrow!

OMG KENTUCKY THIS IS MARCH 🤯🤯🤯

⚽️ BracketVille USA is underway at the Jefferson Cup 2026. Come join the @09NationalsBlue for some March Madness! @NationalsGA @ECNLgirls @USYouthSoccer @TopDrawerSoccer @PrepSoccer @ImYouthSoccer @wearesoccershow @CoachDR7 @ImCollegeSoccer @wearesoccer_mi @TheSoccerWire

@17SophiaRose This is fantastic and a great example to other players too. Keep up the great work 💪

Why haven’t you committed yet? I get asked every day. Thought I’d share my answer, hope it helps other players. Quick summary of my journey: Gymnastics was main sport until 9th grade Played NLC soccer until 11th grade Joined Michigan Hawks, first season of ECNL fall 2025 NLC Championship at ESPN in Orlando last June. Just named 2nd Team All-State and decided I want to play soccer in college. Too late, you aren’t under the radar - you aren’t even ON THE RADAR, not good enough, average speed, poor foot skills, low soccer IQ, never played good competition. Haters gonna’ hate:) My ‘Get Recruited & Prove Em' Wrong Starter Kit’: 1. Brutal choice to change teams = MI Hawks ECNL 2. Switched to center back, where I was born to play 3. Created YouTube channel, now over 100 highlights 4. Created X account, goal to post every day for a year 5. Asked coaches for ‘brutal honesty’, listened, worked 6. Daily foot skill practice, lived in the gym 7. Researched colleges, created my selection criteria 8. Emailed coaches from my top 50 2-3 times a month 9. Signed up for College ID Camps Selection criteria, the most important step: 1. Academics & top rated healthcare program 2. Soccer, Playing > Division, Win, Coach, Facilities 3. Location (Weather, water or big city) 4. School Size - Ideally 5k to 15k students 5. Be Honest - Bottom D1, Top D2, high academic D3 6. Stretch Schools - Belmont, Coastal Carolina, College of Charleston, UNC Wilmington, Mercer, UNC Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, Florida Gulf Coast, George Washington, Boston University, Univ of Tampa, Emory. 7. Plan B - 4.0 gpa, if soccer doesn’t work out, play club at Michigan, Indiana, North Carolina, Florida. Fast Forward to Now: (June 2025, 0 highlights, 0 twitter, 0 coach interviews, 0 showcases, trap player) 1. 70+ schools contacted me: 30 D1, 25 D2 (10 in Top 15 Rankings), 15 D3 2. 12 ID Camps - Coin flip. Half started recruiting, half ghosted. Trust the process, not the silence. 3. 20 calls with coaches, 10 programs actively recruiting, multiple offers I’m excited about Why Haven’t I Said 'Yes'? 1. I’ve played 1 fall season of ECNL and 1 showcase. The world is still meeting me. 2. Improving too rapidly to stop process, betting on me 3. Refuse to trade top degree for a jersey or division 4. What I’m doing is working. I started later, I’m not caught up in other people’s timelines. 5. Not much interest from my stretch schools yet. Late Bloomers, Off the Radar Underdogs, Not Good Enoughs & Too Lates! 1. Invest more in grades than cleats. GPA = options 2. Don’t quit and prove the haters were right 3. Trust your gut. Losing team, lots of transfers, not vibing w/coach, too far away, politely move on. What's Your Story? Would Love to Hear It! #2027CenterBack #UnCommitted @TopDrawerSoccer @thesoccerwire @theecnl @elitesoccerplay @wearesoccershow @toppreps @uncommittedGrls @discover_cs @wearesoccer_mi @csaprepstar @idmyathlete @COLSOCStats @ECNLgirls @ImCollegeSoccer @G2CollegeSoccer @misoccernetwork @co11egesoccer @playsbigger @ImWomensSoccer @valued_stars @myrecruitinghub @keyplayernation @RealmRecruiting @D1ProScouts @ImYouthSoccer @usclubsoccer @sportsrecruits @CollegeSoccerID @frontrowsoccer @PrepSoccer @girlssoccernet @socceraddicts @get2collegath @premierplaybook @justwsports @RecruitSoccerXP @Internespo @valued_sports @vosrecruitng @METNational @recruit_route @Scout_ScottC @YAthletesF @Women_Coaches @TotalSoccerShow @ProspectID_ @RemarkablesFC @TheUncommitted0 @ColSportSheets @ncsa

Your Mags at the Camp Nou ✊

Excited for this weekend’s Jefferson Cup showcase in Virginia! Let’s go Nationals!! @NationalsGA @CoachDR7 @TopDrawerSoccer @PrepSoccer @jeffersoncup @ECNLgirls

@CoachDR7 real deal. Many coaches in know a select few college coaches and advocate for their players. Dave seems to be a real champion for his players looking for proper fit and goals to reach higher levels. Also big proponent of the extra step of social media hype.

Does your club do IDPs?

@kdj26 @NationalsGA @IHateSoccerPod There is no better endorsement than that, keep loving it!

@CoachDR7 @NationalsGA @IHateSoccerPod My daughter has trained with Jason since she was 10. Now works his camps with him. Gwen has always said no one makes her love the game more than him!!

This past Saturday, we got together some players whose birth years included 2008, 2009, 2010 & 2011 (ECNL & ECNL RL) from our @NationalsGA to mix and play 11v11. I have always felt one of the best tests of a programs identity is can players from a variety of teams, step in together, play.. and it looks like your intended product. The proof is ALWAYS in the product; always ask for receipts. #TheNationalsWay @ImYouthSoccer @IHateSoccerPod @ImCollegeSoccer

@kdj26 @NationalsGA Thanks Ken! I really appreciate you checking it out and the kind words. @IHateSoccerPod did a great job of leading the convo and covering all sorts of stuff.

@CoachDR7 @NationalsGA Loved your podcast with Jason Collinsworth!!!

Forwards play defense too. Here's a clip from my game against Fairfax VA Union ECNL at Jefferson Cup this weekend. @NationalsGA @ECNLgirls @TopDrawerSoccer @ImYouthSoccer @wearesoccershow @CoachDR7

So excited to head to Virginia this upcoming weekend with my team for some great competition. I hope to see you there! @NationalsGA @CoachDR7 @coach_johnarndt @TopDrawerSoccer @PrepSoccer @wearesoccer_mi

Their club has partnered with a technical training company to give their ECNL and RL girls teams a 4th day of training. 48 additional sessions per year. How many of you would do this with your clubs? Too few I’m guessing.

Link to the full episode! youtu.be/QdLkj6MmgIA?si…

A MASSIVE THREE POINTS AT STAMFORD BRIDGE! 😍

The best brace in @PremierLeague history 💥🔙

Cade Cunningham on how much he loves Detroit. “I love the people here. I love the camaraderie. It’s such a hardworking city. Everybody loves the sports teams, and the sports teams love the city because it has so much life and character to it. So there’s nowhere else I would have chosen to play. I didn’t know I was going to love it as much as I do, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.” Via @FanDuelSN_DET