Broomfield SC College Program High School Timeline
Freshman Year
· Start Now! What you should be doing to prepare for college and college soccer!
· Academics are VERY important! Get a Great start on your GPA!
· Evaluate your academic weakness & work on improvement!
· Study-Study-Study!
· Meet with your guidance counselor to discuss a solid academic load.
· Identify Core Classes at your HS- GPA based on these! Check with counselor for NCAA Approved Classes.
· Take “academic” electives- languages/mathematics/sciences.
· Consider ACT, SAT/PSAT study materials and tutoring services.
· Involve yourself in extracurricular activities- clubs, student council, community service/volunteer work, honor society and church group, ect.
· Think about 3-4 criteria that represent the Ideal School For You (location, size, major, program level, ect.). Develop a list of 10-15 target schools.
· Development IS #1 soccer priority- Practice Fundamentals on your own. “Fall in love with the process of becoming great.”
· Create a Player Profile.
· Attend a local College ID Camp for experience and exposure.
· Attend a local college games to see what the next level is like.
Sophomore Year
· Study--Study--Study. One more point on your GPA means 40% more schools can recruit you!
· Meet with your guidance counselor to discuss your academic curriculum.
· Concentrate on the core courses- GPA based on these classes. Challenge yourself with Honors/AP classes if you can.
· Take “academic” electives- languages / mathematics / sciences!
· Register for NCAA Eligibility Center (If you plan to play NCAA DIV I or DIV II) and NAIA Eligibility Center.
· Involve yourself in extracurricular activities- clubs, student council, community service/volunteer work, honor society and church group, ect.
· Take the PSAT-- Experience taking tests!
· Consider ACT, SAT/PSAT study materials and tutoring services.
· Update your player profile and prepare your cover letter.
· Revisit your your 3-4 criteria that represent the Ideal School For You (location, size, major, program level, ect.), as it may change and evolve.
· Identify schools that interest you. Assess your abilities (academic and soccer) - find schools that “FIT” your needs.
· Develop your college “wish list” academically and athletically - list of 10-15 target schools.
· Participate in college showcases and other tournaments. Recruit yourself by sending your player profile, cover letter and showcase/tournament schedule by email to coaches/colleges who may fit your academic and soccer needs. This lets the coaches know you are interested in their program/college and introduces you to them!
· Attend college ID camps in summer and college games.
· Identify soccer developmental goals and Create An Action Plan! “Fall in love with the process of becoming great.”
· Make a highlight video- post to youtube and send to coaches.
· Do NOT place too much emphasis on athletic scholarships!
Junior Year
· Study--Study--Study-- Your GPA is VERY important!
· Meet with your guidance counselor to discuss your academics.
· Concentrate on the core courses- GPA based on these classes. Challenge yourself with Honors/AP classes if you can.
· Take “academic” electives- languages / mathematics / sciences!
· Involve yourself in extracurricular activities- clubs, student council, community service/volunteer work, honor society and church group, ect.
· Get learning- Disabilities documented!
· Take the SAT and ACT- again and again scores will approve (1st time in fall and then again in spring, submit scores).
· Become familiar with Financial Aid and Scholarship process!
· Register for NCAA Eligibility Center (If you plan to play NCAA DIV I or DIV II) and NAIA Eligibility Center.
· Update your player profile and prepare your cover letter.
· Continue your player development!
· BE SEEN- WITH YOUR PEERS/TEAM - this is the year to travel to showcase/tournaments! Recruit yourself by sending your player profile, cover letter and showcase/tournament schedule by email to coaches/colleges who may fit your academic and soccer needs. This lets the coaches know you are interested in their program/college and introduces you to them!
· BE SEEN- ODP, college ID camps (schools most interested in), video and take unofficial visits! Remember coaches do very little scouting of HS games.
· SEE- watch college soccer games of schools most interested in attending. See what the it’s like at the next level. What is the right level for you?
· Build Relationships with college coaches through regular emails and phone calls (practice leaving voicemails). Recruit yourself!
· Start a Excel Database to track communication with coaches.
· Keep a list of your Big Questions to ask coaches. Does the school offer your intended major? Do you want to live away from home or stay close? What is the graduation rate of that sport? Are tutors available? Where does the coach see me fitting in? What is the academic advising situation like? ect…... Take notes during conversations.
· Start choosing schools- narrow your college search academically and athletically, if not finalize your college “wish-list” to 5-8 schools.
· Make a highlight video- post to youtube and send to coaches.
· Start considering who will provide you Letters of Recommendation. Building relationships with teachers and coaches takes time.
· End of year , ask counselor to Upload Your Official Transcript to NCAA Eligibility Center.
· “Fall in love with the process of becoming great.” (on and off the field).
Senior Year
· Improve your GPA! Last chance to move the needle!
· Track your eligibility progress with NCAA & NAIA. Avoid bad surprises!
· Complete your required core courses.
· Take SAT & ACT again- scores improve. Colleges take highest score!
· Finalize your school “wish list” both academically and athletically down to 2-4 schools. Know your Academic & Soccer abilities (be honest with yourself). Will you be happy there? Even without soccer? Without the academic/social environment?
· Hit deadlines and apply early- Admissions, Financial aid (FAFSA Form), Scholarship apps, Camp Registrations, etc. Use a calendar. Work on your plan.
· Do NOT place too much emphasis on athletic scholarships!
· Become familiar with the Financial Aid process- www.ed.gov
· BE SEEN- travel with your club team to showcase/tournaments, highlight video, ODP, camps and campus tryouts, unofficial and official visits. Recruit yourself by sending your player profile, cover letter and showcase/tournament schedule by email to coaches/colleges who may fit your academic and soccer needs.
· Continue to train, play at the highest level available to you.
· Have your counselor submit your Final Official Transcript to NCAA Eligibility Center after graduation.
· Choose your school and Commit!
NCAA Rules for Freshman and Sophomores
· Correspondence- Written or email.
· College coaches may only send you a questionnaire, a letter explaining the rules, a referral to admissions and a camp brochure
· However, a player can write to a college coach as often as you like! Return the questionnaire to be placed on their mailing list. Telephone college coaches, but the coach may not telephone you at all, not even return a message. You may initiate contact as often as you like.
· College coaches may watch you play a limited number of times (7) during the academic year.
· Coaches may not have any off campus contact with you and your parents other than a civil greeting, at a showcase/tournament they can say “Hi”, after the showcase/tournament you can have a conservation with them (only when your team is finished competing).
· A player may visit the college campus and talk with the college coaches as often as you like at your own expense (“Unofficial Visit”) the coach can make you a scholarship offer while you are on campus.
Insider tip: Student-athletes can reach out to college coaches at any time and should take advantage of this by sending introductory emails to coaches, complete with their highlight videos. We also recommend that student-athletes call college coaches, as they can always answer the phone, no matter how old potential recruits are. Freshman or sophomore recruits calling a D1 coach who doesn’t answer should leave a quick voicemail and say when they’ll be calling next. Team coaches can also help coordinate with the college coach a time that works for both player and coach. Coaches can’t call back, but they can make sure to pick up the phone next time.
NCAA Rules for Juniors and Seniors
· Starting June 15th between sophomore and junior year in high school, college coaches may begin to send you recruiting letters, emails, incoming/outgoing telephone calls, other information on the school and soccer program
· Off-Campus Contact: (August 1st of junior year)
· Unofficial Visits: (August 1st of junior year)
· Official Visits: (August 1st of junior year)
· Verbal Offer: (June 15th between sophomore and junior year)
· Evaluation and Contacts: Seven recruiting opportunities (contacts and evaluations combined) per PSA between September 1 and May 31. Beginning August 1st before PSA’s junior year, not more than three of the seven opportunities may be contacts each year.
· A player may visit the college campus and talk with the college coaches as often as you like at your own expense (“Unofficial Visit”) the coach can make you a scholarship offer while you are on campus.
NCAA Women’s Soccer Dead/Quiet Periods
· November 11-14, 2019 (Monday through Thursday of the initial week for the signings of the National Letter of Intent).
· December 15, 2019-January 5, 2020
NCAA Men’s Soccer Dead/Quiet Periods
· November 11-14, 2019 (Monday through Thursday of the initial week for the signings of the National Letter of Intent).
· December 13-15, 2019 (Friday through Sunday of the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship). A coaching staff member may attend an event conducted in conjunction with and in the host city of the championship.
· Quiet Period: December 23-25, 2019.