Don’t forget! The person at the top of the leaderboard on December 1st wins the highly sought-after CSN Beanie! 😉 @Duncan Parsons – I haven’t forgotten about you; it’s in production! Currently, the top 4 are not eligible, so it’s a tie between @Johnathan Corsetti i and @Garrett Hofer with @John Daniels not far behind. Remember: To climb the leaderboard, you need to post and comment! Type away and good luck!

I came across an old CSN newsletter today about how you evaluated players at your ID camps and it resonated. https://steves-newsletter-07aa53.beehiiv.com/p/so-you-want-to-play-college-soccer-id-clinics-through-a-college-coaches-eyes-my-player-evaluation-pr I think I am checking the blocks, but one area where I struggle with is personalizing emails. When I write things it feels generic - I admire the strong academics and high-level soccer, or your record. Or how you build out of the back. Even trying to say something about their psychology program, the programs often look the same from school to school and I'm not sure which field of psychology I want yet, so I can't dive into that either. What were some examples of personalization that resonated with you as a coach?

Welcome to Day 5, the final day of the 5-Day Recruiting Challenge! You have accomplished so much this week. You created a highlight video, built a target list of schools, started coach outreach, and established a professional social media presence. You have built a powerful foundation for your recruiting journey. Now, it’s time to take your efforts from the digital world to the field. Attending the right events is crucial for getting direct exposure to coaches and showing them your skills in a live setting. Today’s Mission: Plan Your Event Calendar Visibility is key. While videos and emails are essential, coaches need to see you play in person to truly evaluate your potential. A strategic event calendar shows your commitment and gives you opportunities to connect with programs on your target list. The goal is to be strategic, not overwhelmed. A good rule of thumb for the class of 2027 is to aim for one high-impact event per month, if possible. This could be a showcase with your club team or a college ID clinic. ⚽ Step 1: Understand the Value of ID Clinics ID clinics are hosted by colleges and give their coaching staff a chance to identify and evaluate potential recruits on their own turf. They are a fantastic way to: - Get in front of coaches from schools you are targeting. - Experience the campus and get a feel for the program's culture. - Show coaches how you respond to their specific coaching style. - Demonstrate your skills alongside other talented prospects. ⚽ Step 2: Research and Select the Right Events Your time and resources are valuable. Don't just sign up for every clinic you see. Be intentional. How to do it: - Review Your Target List: Look at the websites for the schools on your list from Day 2. Most will have their clinic dates posted under the "ID Clinics" section. - Check Team Schedules: Factor in your club team's showcase tournament schedule. These are also prime recruiting opportunities. - Balance Your Choices: Choose a mix of ID clinics at schools that are a good fit athletically and academically. Include some "dream" schools and some "likely" schools.

Welcome to Day 4 of the 5-Day Recruiting Challenge! You’ve come a long way in 3 days—creating your highlight video, outlining your college target list, and starting outreach to coaches. Now, it’s time to make your journey visible by building a focused, professional social media presence that can truly set you apart in the recruiting process. Today’s Mission: Create Your Soccer-Only Social Accounts Coaches regularly check social media to get a real sense of who you are. A carefully curated digital presence gives them a front-row seat to your growth, achievements, and dedication—all in real time. The key: keep everything soccer-specific and professional. The only personal info should be accolades or key details like grad year or position. No unrelated content, private info, absolutely NO DRAMA. ⚽ Step 1: Set Up Your YouTube Channel Your highlight video from Day 1 needs a home, and YouTube is the easy destination for coaches looking to see you in action. How to do it: - Create a new YouTube account with a professional email address. - Name the channel after yourself and your grad year/position (e.g., “Sam Lee – 2027 Center Mid”). - Upload your highlight video with a clear, professional title. - In the description, list your position, team, GPA/academics, and link to your player profile. ⚽ Step 2: Launch Your Soccer Instagram Instagram is where you can showcase your talent, personality, and commitment through short video clips, photos, and stories. Keep it all soccer: training, matches, tournament results, and honors. How to do it: - Create a new Instagram handle like @SamLee_Soccer2027. - Set your profile bio with details: Grad Year | Position | Team | Accolades. - Use a quality action headshot as your profile picture. - Your first post: a highlight from your video, a great photo from a recent match, or a “College Soccer Journey Begins” announcement with a positive, soccer-focused caption. ⚽ Step 3: Create Your X (Twitter) Account X (formerly Twitter) is essential for updates, networking, and getting your content in front of coaches—many of whom use X daily. One powerful bonus: I can repost your content to amplify your reach to my coaching network.

Welcome to Day 2 of the 5-Day Recruiting Challenge! Yesterday, you set the foundation with your highlight video. Today, you’ll build the framework for your college recruiting journey. By the end of the five days, you’ll be organized, confident, and “Scholarship Ready!” ⚽ - Let’s get started. Today’s Mission: Build Your Targeted College List Many college prospects make the mistake of casting too wide a net, emailing dozens of coaches at random. This “spray and pray” approach is rarely effective, as coaches can quickly spot when you haven’t done your research. Today, you’ll create a smart, focused list of schools that truly fit you—academically, athletically, and personally. A solid, realistic list is one of your best recruiting tools. ⚽ - Step 1: Honest Self-Assessment Before you start building your list, take stock of what you offer and what you want. Academics: - What are your favorite subjects, and what might you want to study? - What’s your GPA and standardized test score (if you have one)? - Do you prefer big lecture halls or small classes? Athletics: - What’s your current soccer level? (ECNL, GA, NPL, high school varsity, etc.) - What are your strengths and areas for improvement? - Ask your club or high school coach: “At what level of college soccer do you think I could make an impact?” Personal Fit: - Do you want to be close to home or far away? - Would you rather be at a large university in a city, or a small college in a quieter place? - What are your family’s financial parameters for college? Use these answers as a filter. Let them guide you as you narrow down from thousands of college soccer programs to those that truly fit your unique profile. ⚽ - Step 2: Organize by Tiers A well-crafted college list has three sections. Aim for 25-30 programs divided among these tiers: 1. Target Schools (10-15 schools) Schools where your academics and soccer skills are an excellent match for their current roster. You’ll likely be a strong recruiting candidate at these programs.