5 truths every club soccer player should know about college ball
Playing club soccer myself, college soccer was always the next step.
But I still wonder to this day: was it the right step ?
Here are five truths about the college game that every player should consider before making the jump.
Just because it is a level higher, doesn’t mean it is a higher level
As a youth player, you are a product of your environment.
I first learned to play the sport in Los Angeles, where Central and South American influences shaped my understanding of the sport’s identity. The ball is played on the floor in tight spaces. You don’t panic under pressure, instead you invite pressure. That’s what breeds creativity. Even trainings are riddled with rondos and juggling competitions, forcing players to become more technical, and more patient.
But the game has become faster. Teams find more success in their transitions forward.
So it’s no surprise that the American college system has tried to keep up with the speed. Yet, when put into perspective, it is only the speed of play that really separates college ball as the next level for most players (and maybe the 40 yard pings).
Overall, most top programs lack actual quality of play. Things like technicality and individual skill fall by the way side, as prehistoric coaches push their teams to race forward in an intense match of jungle ball. This is not to say you won’t find masterfully skillful players in the American college soccer system. Fortunately, more modern coaches of the game are infiltrating the system at all levels. With that comes a new set of values for technicality and soccer IQ, instead of athletes built to run through wallls. But to find a team full of autonomous players ? Players that can read the game, players that can dictate the pace of the game - that’s a rarity in our system
As a youth player, it becomes so natural to look up to college soccer as the next best thing. Expectations raise. Players define their worth based upon their division, and the size of their facilities. But it’s not that simple. It never is. There’s more nuance.
To play football at a faster pace, well…every motivated player needs to be tested with this element. Yet there is still so much more for a player’s development that’s not being met in competitive American college soccer.
health helps
You are stepping into a new arena. The demands are higher, and the stakes are greater. A faster pace means more strain on your body. You are not in Kansas anymore sweetheart.
While most club soccer players train 3 times a week with the team, most college programs train daily, and that's a minimum. It can take some time to adjust to. Waking up sore becomes habitual. It's crucial that as players continue to push themselves physically, they collect as much information and data on their bodies as possible.
If a high performance sports car requires a different level of maintenance, then what makes you any different?
DIET
Food is your fuel. One of the biggest threats you may face becomes the dessert line in the cafeteria. Be intentional to eat real food. Find the fruits and vegetables that you like, and will give you energy. Protein is essential, nourishing muscle fibers and allowing recovery. Don't eat too much before training, and make sure to put something in your body after training. ALWAYS drink water.
STRENGTH
With fuel comes strength. Don't ignore the gym. There's a mentality among youth soccer players that the gym is an unnecessary component of their game. They fear too much muscle will slow them down. However, the gym is not just for weightlifters and big bodies. The variety of exercises that could be tackled in the gym are endless. Exercises that incorporate resistance work, core strengthening, and balance are not only necessary tools that players need for the next level, but are essential for avoiding injury.
FLEXIBILITY
On the subject of avoiding injury, STRETCH ! If you turn stretching into a routine, your will see the difference in your body’s ability to take on work load and your body’s ability to recover. Yoga is not just for middle aged women in the park.
EDUCATION
Most schools have training rooms. Make it a goal to ask your trainer questions about pains, aches, and sore muscles. There will be things they don’t have answers to. That’s ok. Their college trainers, not the Bayern Munich medical staff. There is a whole world of the internet dedicated to teaching you more about developments in kinesiology. Rolling and icing, while still helpful, may be advice of the past, especially as professionals continue to study the effectiveness of mobility exercises.
you are on the clock
It is important to remember that you are not signing a pro contract. You have a limited amount of time to play soccer at each given school. I always remembered it as having five years of eligibility to play four. With this said, eligibility rules change among division, and even alter when transferring schools. Maybe you are facing the dangers of missing a season due to injury, grades, or simply not being selected for roster. Go find out how you can make your eligibility work for you at the link of the bottom of this page !
you must know your role
….AND THOSE AROUND YOU !
Ok really quickly… let’s talk about roles.
As you start to study your responsibilities on the field, which spaces to occupy in your position, and your tasks on the ball, it’s equally important to understand the roles of your other teammates and even, your coaches. Learning what is expected of an outside back helps you understand where a winger should be. Understanding a center back’s options can force you to become a more proactive player. Broadening your understanding of tactics is essential.
Soccer aside, your role as a student athlete requires you to meet grades as well. And just as you are expected to balance athletics and school, you coaches are balancing progress on the field, and the logistics off the field. A college coach is not only focused on the tactic board but a million other responsibilities to keep the program afloat. Take this into account during your interactions with all staff.
seriously…. you are on the clock !
Your time as a college athlete is over before you know it. It is important to remember that not everyone gets the opportunity to play football every day in world class facilities. Not everyone has the opportunity to travel and collect new experiences on the road. Not everyone has the opportunity to play with teammates from different parts of the country (or world). While college soccer has its flaws, it certainly has its benefits.
Personally, I was blessed to attend an institution, where football paid for my education. And while programs around the globe set out to build better players, our country offers a packaged deal with an attached degree. That’s not a bad deal.
So if I can end with a final truth, college ball becomes a quick chapter in your life. If this is your path, enjoy your time and appreciate every experience.
