Sophomore Year:

1) Create a soccer resume and cover letter to send to schools (stay away from most recruiting services as they are very generic and do not have the personal touch).
2) Begin to research schools academic and athletic programs via your counseling office, college web sites, and comprehensive sites such as www.NCCA.com.
3) Take classes that match your high schools NCAA List of Approved Core Courses. The NCAA Eligibility Center will only use approved core courses to certify your initial eligibility.
4) You can access and print your high schools NCAA List of Approved Core Courses at www.eligibilitycenter.org and clicking Resources at the top of the screen.
5) Begin to explore with your parents how you will finance your education.
6) Take PSATs.
7) Keep up your grades. Play, Play, Play.

Coach & College:

1) NCAA regulations do not allow college coaches to send out any information about their programs until September 1st of your junior year. If you mail coaches something as a sophomore they can only send you a questionnaire and a soccer camp brochure in return.
2) Prior to September 1st, Junior Year: Until this point, college coaches must follow strict recruiting rules. Coaches can only send you questionnaires, sport brochures, and NCAA education information. You are, however, allowed to call coaches; they just can't call you back. (Be aware of this if you intend to leave a voicemail message.) In addition, you can make unofficial visits to college campuses. Any meeting with coaches must take place on campus.
3) NCAA regulations do not allow college coaches any off campus contact during your sophomore and junior years. When college coaches see athletes or their parents at soccer tournaments they are only allowed a formal greeting.

Junior Year:

1) Send out soccer resumes and cover letters to prospective coaches/schools (many do this their freshmen and sophomore year).
2) Send out soccer update letters (or emails) that outline where you will be playing so coaches can evaluate you throughout the year.
3) Research scholarship opportunities (athletic and non athletic), if necessary. (www.collegeboard.com)
4) Take unofficial visits (unpaid by the school) to schools. Talk to students, admissions offices, and soccer coaches. Take campus tours and begin to narrow your list of schools.
5) At the beginning of your junior year, log on to the Eligibility Center Web site at www.eligibilitycenter.org and register.
6) Register to take the ACT, SAT or both and use the Eligibility Center code 9999 as a score recipient.
7) Double check to make sure that you are taking courses that match your high schools NCAA List of Approved Core Courses.
8) Request that your high school guidance counselor send an official transcript to the Eligibility Center after completing your junior year. (The Eligibility Center does NOT accept faxed transcripts.)
9) Prior to registration for your senior year, check with your guidance counselor and the Eligibility Center to determine the number of core courses that need to be completed your senior year.
10) Send out for college applications at the beginning of the summer.
11) Attend college soccer camps.
12) Keep up your grades. Play, Play, Play.

Coach & College:

1) After September 1st, Junior Year: NCAA recruiting rules become slightly less strict. Coaches can now send all kinds of information about their school. They can even send personalized letters. Coaches can also now initiate email contact with you. You are still permitted to take unofficial visits to campus. Reminder coaches still cant call, but you can call.
2) July 1, between Junior and Senior Year: This is the date after which college coaches are allowed to make phone calls to you. And, coaches are finally allowed to make personal contact with you off the college campus.

Senior Year:

1) Register for the NCAA Clearinghouse through your high school counselor. Make sure your transcripts meet the proper admissions requirements and athletic eligibility for your schools.
2) Decide and set your official visits with five schools. You will have to send transcripts and test scores to the schools before you can visit officially.
3) You may take the SAT and/or ACT as often as you feel necessary. The Eligibility Center will use the best scores from each section of the SAT or ACT to determine your best cumulative score.
4) Continue to take core courses.
5) Check to make sure that you are taking courses that match your high schools NCAA List of Approved Core Courses.
6) Request that your high school guidance counselor send an official transcript to the Eligibility Center after completing your junior year. (The Eligibility Center does NOT accept faxed transcripts.)
7) Review your amateurism questionnaire responses and request final amateurism certification beginning April 1 (for fall enrollees) or October 1 (for spring enrollees).
8) Graduate on time (in eight academic semesters). If you fall behind, use summer school sessions prior to graduation to catch up.
9) After graduation, ask your high school guidance counselor to send your final transcript to the Eligibility Center with proof of graduation.
10) Request recommendations from your teachers/counselors, if necessary.
11) Write essays & mail applications. If your application is getting tagged by the school, meaning you will get a special look from the admissions office, make sure you turn in the appropriate application.

Coach & College:

1) Coaches are allowed to phone recruits on July 1st after your junior year. Coaches are allowed one call per week per household.
2) Coaches are allowed to visit the home of the recruit on or after July 1st. This will count as one of the three contacts coaches are allowed to have. On campus visits dont count.
3) Coaches will try and set up official visits (where the soccer program pays for your visit on campus for 24 hours) during your senior year or perhaps even at the end of your junior year.
4) During the senior year, NCAA recruiting rules reach their most relaxed state. You can have as many as five NCAA official visits (or, you can take NCAA unofficial visits) to college campuses after the first day of your senior year. These visits cannot last longer than 48 hours (unofficial visits have no time restrictions). Before you can make a visit, a coach must have both an official copy of either youre SAT or ACT scores and a copy of your high school transcript.

GOOD LUCK! MARKET YOURSELF! STUDY! BE PATIENT AND PERSISTENT!