In our second installment of our college preparation series, we covered how make yourself standout in the college soccer recruiting process. In the final installment, we are going take on the final step which is making your decision. It's not something that should be taken lightly or rushed. See how some experienced goalkeepers dealt with making the final decision. Take a few minutes out of your day to learn a bit more about getting recruited!
Patience is key.
I've said it before and I'll say it again; THIS IS A MARATHON, NOT A SPRINT. You don't get extra cool points for being the first player on your team to commit to a school. There isn't a special prize for beating everyone to the "announce your commitment on Instagram" post. This is going to be a massive decision in your life so don't take it lightly and don't rush it.
I've been in your shoes before. I was extremely excited to announce my commitment to UNC Wilmington. I talked to the coach at 9 am on a Saturday morning and by 9:15 I had announced it all over the internet. It's exhilarating. I get it. But don't let the euphoria of getting offers cloud your better judgement.
Weigh your options. Measure the pros and cons, both on and off the field. Do the research. It's important to remember that everything may not happen when you want it to. Don't fret, just relax and stay focused on the things you can control. On the flip side, everything may happen all at once and you feel overwhelmed when it comes to making the correct decision. Just breathe. There is nothing wrong with having options.
Trust your instincts.
You have to be able to trust yourself and the decisions you make throughout this process. It's going to be a rollercoaster of emotions that you'll have to learn how to manage. You'll be excited about all the interest you are getting one day and the next you'll feel overwhelmed by the daunting task of deciding the destination for the next four years of your life. Through it all, you have to keep your eyes on what is important to you.
You've made the list of schools that are in a location that would best suit you. You've researched academic areas of interest. You've spoken with the coaching staffs about your potential fit in the program. At this point, you've done this with multiple schools and gotten a good sense of what works for you and what doesn't. Whether you've gotten multiple offers or you're simply trying to narrow down to the final school to make a decision, it's all about how you feel at this point. What campus do you feel most comfortable with? When you spoke with the various coaching staffs, who put you most at ease about your future decision? Where do you see yourself thriving on and off the field? There are so many questions but at the end of the day, the only one that matters is this one; what is best for you?
Coastal Carolina goalkeeper Hope Morrow recently spoke with our blog about her recruiting process and her decision to de-commit from the University of South Carolina and start her recruitment process over again. She was an early commit who decided that the school she was planning to go to simply wasn't the right fit for her. You're allowed to make those decisions. It's about trusting your gut. If you don't feel right about it, then don't do it. If a you're feeling pressure to make your decision quicker than you feel comfortable with, take some time to yourself. If your dream school no longer feels like such a dream for you, don't force it.
Lean on the advice of family, friends, and coaches. But don't let them make your decision for you. No one knows what is best for you better than you do. It is important to have a support system throughout recruiting to help you sift through the weeds but ultimately there is only one opinion that truly matters. You instincts will help you make the right decision for you.
Have questions like how does college soccer recruiting work? Check out our Ultimate Guide to College Soccer Recruiting available FOR FREE on our website!
Enjoy the process.
Just like most things in life; if you can't enjoy it, it's going to be tough to get the most out of it. Remember, you're going through a a process that not everyone at your age gets to experience. Be grateful but don't put too much pressure on it. This decision doesn't determine the rest of your life, you do.
There is a popular phrase that says "fall in love with the process". I generally tend to agree with it but that doesn't apply here. Don't be so enamored with the attention you're getting that you all of a sudden forget what's important. Enjoy the moments. Relish the opportunities to visit different campuses and experience different ways of life at various schools. Bask in the glow of athletic excellence you've been able to achieve up to this point that has afforded you the chance to be in this position. Just don't lose sight of who you are and what you want to achieve in the short and long term.
I tell you all of this; not to scare you, but to do my best to save you from some of the pitfalls I experienced. It was a frustrating process for me at times but in the end, I loved it. Throughout the ups and downs, make sure you have plenty of fun. Enjoy this process because there are very few like it afterwards.
And that wraps up our three part series on college recruiting. Be on the lookout for more content to help you navigate this interesting journey. If you didn't get a chance to read parts one or two of the series, check out this series and more on our blog now! You can also connect with us via social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok .
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