College Program
About the Program
The Florida Rush Soccer Club is proud to provide a number of programs outside the normal realm of training, competition, and soccer related activities. One of those programs is the College Advisory Program or C.A.P. This program is provided to our boys and girls teams U15 to U19.
The program is set up to serve the college bound player in a number of different areas. Starting with the freshman year of high school and continuing through their senior year, this program provides information and guidance in such areas as
College Recruiting Links
» NCAA Eligibility Center (formerly known as the Clearinghouse)
» College Board – SAT Registration & Great Search Tool
» ACT: Resources for Education and Workplace Success
College Recruiting Student Athlete Timeline
(Some of these items pertain to NCAA schools only. It’s always best to check with the umbrella organization to verify recruitment rules. The governing organizations meet on a regular basis and can change rules).
Sophomore Year
Coaches cannot call or write you yet, only send general information and camp information, so don’t be disappointed if you write a coach and they do not write you back
- Keep your grades up!
- Begin compiling a list of possible colleges or universities that meet your interests and research their academic and athletic programs
- Take the PSAT test.
- Write a cover letter and soccer resume and send it out to possible schools.
- Review NCAA Clearinghouse eligibility requirements. The summer before your junior year, register with the NCAA Clearinghouse.
- Select junior year courses to fulfill these requirements.
- Play at the highest level possible. Keep a record of athletic achievements.
Junior Year
As of September 1, coaches can return correspondence and write letters, but cannot call until on or after July 1 before your senior year.
- Keep your grades up!
- Send coach’s updated resume and player profile send dates of tournaments and league games.
- Organize a filing system on colleges that respond to your inquiry and indicate interest. You will need names and phones numbers of coaches and also when they indicated interest.
- Make a list of all the colleges/universities you have been in contact with and rank them in order starting with your favorite school (based on what you know at this point) down to your least favorite school. Start by calling the coach at your least favorite school. You will probably be nervous when you talk to this coach however, by talking to a coach at your least favorite college/university, you will gain confidence for when you contact the coaches who are higher on your priority list.
- Most likely, if you are calling a coach, you will get his or her voicemail. Practice leaving a message before hand. You can even call yourself and leave a practice voicemail on your cell phone. If you do get in touch with a coach, make sure you take notes on the conversation. Also, keep a list of your top five questions to ask and make sure that these questions cannot be answered by looking on the Web site.
- Play in College Showcase tournaments, summer tournaments or participate in ODP events.
- Attend any recruitment seminars at these tournaments. Also attend College Fairs and register your sport with each college.
- Consider attending the summer camp of a school of interest, or one which has a lot of college coaches on staff.
- Narrow your search to 10 or so schools and engage in regular correspondence with the coach.
- Make unofficial visits (at your expense) to selected schools. Meet with the coach and see the team play, if possible.
- Take the SAT or ACT tests. Make sure scores are sent to your schools of interest.
- Check your status with the NCAA Clearinghouse.
- Select senior year courses to complete Clearinghouse requirements.
- Stay in touch with your high school counselor.
Senior Year
As of July 1, you can now talk on the phone with a coach. If you are a top-level player, expect some phone calls. If not, call the coach yourself. A letter followed by a call shows interest in the program. Only one call per week is allowed.
- Don’t let down in your class work. Finish strong.
- Check your status with the NCAA Clearinghouse.
- Narrow your search to 5 schools.
- Respond immediately to any interest shown by colleges
- Schedule and complete official visits (at schools expense). Meet with the coach and the team and stay overnight if possible, see the team play.
- Stay in touch with your high school counselor.
- Narrow down your choices and get your applications done early.
- Keep coaches updated on your achievements by sending them your resume through the fall and play in high-level events in November and December.
- Provide your coach and counselor with your interest college list. Discuss college interest with your coach and counselor.
