With the pandemic and the NCAA’s decision to allow seniors to choose an extra year of eligibility, the recruiting process for the 2021 and 2022 recruiting classes will be much different than pre-pandemic years. There will be fewer roster sports available to graduating high school seniors.
College club soccer teams are university-sanctioned teams that compete against other colleges on a regional and national level; they are the bridge between intramural sports and varsity athletics.
Club soccer is not the same as intramural soccer. Club teams are more competitive, play against other schools, and require tryouts to join. If you want to continue your experience in organized soccer after leaving high school, club soccer and other club sports are a great option. The growth in club soccer has been tremendous over the last ten years.
One reason for the growth is that so many male and female players leave their youth soccer landscape with years of extensive experience in the sport. Many are not ready to give up competitive soccer. But opportunities in NCAA soccer are limited, and even if students are good enough, they may prefer a less stringent commitment to sports.
Once you have selected the college you will attend, you should contact the club soccer manager and or coach to let them know you will be attending that school in the fall. Club soccer teams have tryouts, and If you are selected for a club team, you’ll play with other skilled student-athletes and have a club coach. Schools sometimes sponsor club teams.
The Western United States has an organization called the West Coast Soccer Association. Their website lists all the schools that field teams.
