Soccer Recruiting Data (SRD)

Location is a critical part of figuring out where you want to attend college & play soccer. This heat map shows the number of WSOC D1 programs per state. CA, TX, NY & NC are the biggest. Hope this info helps you #FindYourBestFit💪⚽️📊 @ECNLgirls @GAcademyLeague @USYouthSoccer

@ImYouthSoccer @cwponton It looks like over 60% of D1 WSOC find a home based on the link, no?

@cwponton It is actually 62-69% for D1 and 35% to 43% for D2 per the #NCAA ncaa.org/sports/2022/4/…

Transfer portal opens today. over 50% of players who enter never find a home! be open to all opportunities before you close any doors.

@CleatsOffFc @ImYouthSoccer I think when you look at the data in the link for D1 it’s 62-69% find a home after entering the portal. Am I reading this wrong?

My thought is what happens when parents and kids who aren't involved in athletics say we aren't going to help subsidize sports anymore, it isn't worth it. My kid is there to get a degree, they can watch sports on ESPN. The cost of allowing revenue sharing will only increase and for some institutions there is only so much you can squeeze out of various funding sources.

Again... Why are we *still* giving athletic scholarships to those NCAA athletes who make millions in NIL deals and have no real academic interest? If that's the case, these scholarships should be reallocated; students and taxpayers should not be subsidizing their athletic careers

@ImYouthSoccer The model is unsustainable and will lead to more than just Olympic sports being cut at some schools and at some point. College is not a pro league which a fixed, small ecosystem. The expensive sports like college FB might also feel the impact.

If a university with $266M in athletic revenue is going to reduce the number of athletes, budget and Alston awards it gives a glimpse into what the #NCAA settlement will mean for olympic sports at the 250 D1 programs that will opt in with lower (many WAY lower) revenue.

Respectfully adding to this conversation: One: many clubs don’t necessarily do a great job supporting players in the recruitment process. A process that is vague, difficult to navigate and filled with ups and downs. It doesn’t matter the alphabet before your team’s name if your club isn’t vested in helping you as an individual player achieve the right place to continue your soccer journey. Given ECNL focused marketing toward college placement, this seems like a gap they could improve. Two: data doesn’t replace your coaches or mentors wisdom. But it does help families develop a starting point(where might I fit), adjust their list/thinking(after learning something during the process) and develop questions for coaches and programs(roster, playing time, etc). It can be a valuable tool to support your journey, IMHO but in the end soccer is subjective and you need the support of people who know your game—see number One above.

@ImYouthSoccer @SeanFlanders9 Data is nice But please understand that does nothing for a family when it comes to knowing where the right fit is for their specific players situation

Just talked to the dad of an ECNL girl class of 2026 She’s been in tears She was promised being a starter for her ECNL club would get her recruited to good D1 schools She’s done everything she’s been asked Now It’s not happening Girls are having promises made to them, by folks that cannot fulfill those promises Why? To use them to get what they want & then not being given the proper guidance @SRUSA_Official

It seems like a product of our culture: education specialization, sports specialization, etc. everything incredibly competitive and intense: AP, Dual Credit, travel sports, the word elite thrown around, outside the sport coaching, even HS sports aren’t for fun. The whole ecosystem for kids is turned up to volume 11, deciding your life at 16, 17 or 18 is a symptom of it.

I think it’s ridiculous that we ask children at 16-18yrs to decide what they want to study & do with the rest of their lives It's one of many reasons that a gap year might be a good idea for some kids @SRUSA_Official gapyearsoccer.com/gender

The Eligibility Center is not just for giving out your NCAA number, it has key guidance information for your recruitment process.

@karenzmirak Some level of parity in women’s soccer is not a rare exception. It extends from club (RL teams can beat NL teams) to college (mid-majors beat P4). The beauty of that is the right fit exists in many places/programs!!

Spoke with a “D1 or Bust” family the other day. We went over academics, finances, film and discussed the college landscape. How there are more divisions and schools that would be a good fit. Just heard from them and several schools are looking to sign this player now. Don’t eliminate your options, ask questions and be open to different schools at all levels. @SRUSA_Official @Don_K_Williams @Co11egeSoccer @UncommittedGrls

Stay connected to the NCAA Eligibility Center for useful information.

@ImYouthSoccer This is fantastic data for players still looking for a home.

🚨 Uncommitted 2026's - Obviously, there is some nuance based on individual programs but here is where each conference sits on average with 2026 verbal commits & notice how higher RPI leagues have more verbal commitments. Important to focus where there is REAL opportunity

It is interesting that he mentioned how this will hurt the professional ranks too. Maybe programs closing because they can’t stay in this new financial model (less athletes in the pipeline) and stunted development due to players constantly moving (lack of consistency, same problem with club sports) might lead to this issue? The NFL needs a robust college system since they don’t have any development league—they benefit from a tax payer funded development process, HS and college football. Other sports like soccer, baseball and even basketball have some type of alternate HS and post-HS pathway.

@NILvsNLI Is this a joke? Where were they months ago when the harm was actually being inflicted on the athletes? Being in limbo is not harm. It is just inconvenient for those schools that didn’t do the right thing soon enough. Maybe step up - like Notre Dame did - and protect the athletes?

Certain NIL lawyers and media outlets drool over this NCAA NIL chaos. But college coaches, who genuinely care about their students aren't holding back, revealing the damage it's inflicting on a superb system designed to provide educational opportunities

Freshman playing time is a question many recruits ask college coaches. We thought we would share the Big East data on freshman playing time again! Let us know if this information is important to you. #CollegeSoccer

A look at the ACC Conference, its schools, student populations, and campus settings. Details matter when creating your first big list of schools. #CollegeSoccer

Percentage breakdown of small, medium, and large universities or colleges with Division I women's soccer programs. Student body size impacts your college experience. #CollegeSoccer

Interested in the America East Conference? Key facts on campus settings, public vs. private status, and football. Let us know if this helps. Follow us for more. #CollegeSoccer #WSOC

Understanding the roster, including transfers and international players, reveals how a coach manages their team. Below are the ASUN Programs. #CollegeSoccer #CollegeWSOC

Are you interested in ASUN Conference schools for your student-athlete experience? Below are the schools and their student populations.

Check out the 2025-26 Division II recruiting materials⬇️ 🔗on.ncaa.com/RecCal

It is unfortunate the DA was dissolved. It tried to address many of these issues: practice vs game volume, style of play, coaching standards, guaranteed starts/minutes, focus on development and maybe most critically-no cost or very little. It was probably more important for girls than boys given MLS has academies that fill this gap.

⚽️ General Consensus Most pro soccer coaches agree that training is the foundation for developing players’ skills, fitness, tactics, and team cohesion, while matches are opportunities to apply and test what’s been learned. A common rule of thumb is that players should spend significantly more time in training than playing actual games—often at a ratio of 3:1 or even 4:1 (training:games). 👉 For example: •For every 1 competitive game, players might have 3 or 4 days of training. •During the week, especially in a typical pro setting, teams often train 5–6 times per week with 1–2 days set aside for rest or regeneration. ⸻ 🎯 Why Training Dominates •Tactical Preparation: Coaches need time to teach systems of play, pressing triggers, set-piece routines, and team shape. •Technical Development: Even at the pro level, players refine passing, dribbling, finishing, etc. •Physical Conditioning: Maintaining peak fitness, injury prevention, and recovery all require structured training. •Mental Preparation: Training helps build confidence, focus, and team chemistry, which can’t be fully achieved in games alone. ⸻ 📝 Key Coach Insights •Pep Guardiola has emphasized that training allows for fine-tuning and implementing his detailed tactical plans. •Jürgen Klopp uses training to instill his famous “gegenpressing” system and adapt to different opponents. •Carlo Ancelotti often tailors training to individual players’ needs, focusing on quality over quantity as the season progresses.

@ImYouthSoccer Agree on all counts. One additional thought: how many “revenue generating” sports/teams lose money too. And how much more money will they lose once the system is set to spend more to field a team. This could impact all sports even 🏈🏀.

Texas A&M soccer with a top venue and high attendance LOSES $2.3 Million a year which would surprise a lot of people. It is the reality of women's soccer programs which is why the #NCAA settlement is not a good thing.