Skip to main content

From Player to Student-Athlete

At Nashville United Soccer Academy, college placement is more than exposure, it’s education and long-term support. Our College Advisory program helps players and families navigate the recruiting process with confidence.

The college recruiting process can feel overwhelming. Timelines, communication, video, academics, showcases, eligibility, and finding the right fit. NUSA’s College Advisory program exists to simplify that process.

We support players and families by providing structure, guidance, and honest feedback throughout every stage of recruitment. Our goal is not just to help players get recruited, but to help them find programs that match their soccer ability, academic goals, personality, and long-term development.

From first interest to final commitment, we walk alongside our players as they grow into student-athletes.

NUSA College Pathway

1. Foundation (u13-u14)

Players focus on technical development, game understanding, work habits, and academic responsibility. At this stage, the priority is growth, not recruiting pressure.

2. Education (u15)

Players and families learn how recruiting works; timelines, levels, eligibility, and expectations of college soccer.

3. Preparation (u15–u16)

Athletes create profiles, develop highlight video, and begin identifying schools that match their goals and playing level.

4. Exposure (u16-u17)

Players compete in matches and events where college coaches evaluate performance, character, and consistency.

5. Communication (u17)

Athletes learn when and how to contact coaches, follow up professionally, and build relationships with programs.

6. Commitment (u17-u18)

Players narrow choices, visit campuses, compare opportunities, and commit with confidence and guidance from NUSA staff.

Supporting the Recruiting Process

Guiding players and families through every stage of the college soccer journey.

Pathway education

Player evaluations

Timeline guidance

Highlight video support

Communication

Showcases & events

Eligibility awareness

Recommendations

The College Soccer Landscape

Finding the Right Fit

College soccer is about more than the logo on the jersey. Players must consider playing style, coaching philosophy, academic programs, campus culture, location, and opportunity for growth.

Levels of College Soccer

There are many pathways: NCAA Division I, II, III, NAIA, Junior College, and more. Each offers different athletic, academic, and scholarship structures. Success comes from matching the player to the right environment.

Communication Matters

Learning when and how to contact coaches is a major part of recruiting. We help players understand professionalism, email etiquette, video sharing, and relationship building.

What College Coaches Look For

Commitment

College coaches value players who consistently show up ready to improve. Daily habits, effort in training, and a willingness to push through challenges separate serious athletes from the rest.

Commitment

College coaches value players who consistently show up ready to improve. Daily habits, effort in training, and a willingness to push through challenges separate serious athletes from the rest.

Download our FREE College Recruitment Handbook

Our College Recruitment Handbook is designed to guide families through every part of the process, from understanding timelines and eligibility to creating video, communicating with coaches, and evaluating opportunities. Whether your player is just beginning to think about college soccer or already in the recruiting window, this handbook serves as a trusted reference throughout the journey.

Learn More

DOWNLOAD NUSA'S FREE COLLEGE RECRUITMENT HAND BOOK

COLLEGE RECRUITING FAQ

Talented high school athletes are actively recruited by Division I Schools?

The majority of high school athletes and parents believe that talented High School/Club athletes are actively recruited by Division I college coaches. The reality is that only about 2% of these athletes are “actively recruited” by leading college coaches, leaving the remaining 98% to “recruit themselves” through self-directed efforts.

Most Division I schools give players full rides?

Division I men’s soccer has A MAXIMUM 9.9 scholarships.

Division I women’s soccer has A MAXIMUM 14 scholarships.

Not all schools provide their soccer programs with the full allotment. Before disbanding, Vanderbilt University for example had less than 3 scholarships for its men’s program. Scholarships are usually divided amongst 22 to 30 players. Most schools shy away from full scholarships, because it is a large investment in one player, and it often costs a team potential depth. As well, many schools choose to increase individual player scholarships year by year, based on performance.

Scholarship money can only be found at Division I and Division II schools?

While only Division I and Division II NCAA schools offer scholarships, many Division III schools have money available based on need, academic merit, grants, etc. Many schools take a holistic approach to recruiting students, and being an athlete at Division III might increase your chances of receiving other forms of aid. NAIA schools also offer scholarships and might be a direction to consider. Whichever Division you choose, approach the economic aspects of college from every direction.

Being on the National Team, a Provincial Team or a good club team, is all you need to do to get recruited?

Do not leave anything to chance. On a given weekend in the US, college coaches see 300 to 400 players. If your team is going to a US tournament, make yourself seen. Write letters. Give coaches your schedule, your jersey number. Make phone calls. It is much easier for coaches to evaluate you when they know of you ahead of time. This will only increase interest and exposure. The school you want to go to will now make an effort to see you play. Don’t send poor quality videotape of games or “highlights.” When sending highlight video, make sure it is high quality, edited, brief and showcases your various skills in game action. If a coach wants to see footage of a whole game they will request it. Don’t send expensively packaged player packets containing headshots, stats, awards and honors from the age of 5 through middle school. (from personal experience, most of it went into a trash can immediately).

Players need Parent Agents?

A parent agent is considered a red flag, and often means an immature recruit, or an unenthusiastic recruit. To put it simply, college coaches are weary of parents who are the initiators in the recruiting process. Coaches want to hear from the student-athlete personally. They want to know if student-athletes are well spoken, mature, intelligent and enthusiastic about their university. In other words, coaches do not want to recruit the parent.

Some schools are simply too expensive to consider?

“Discounted tuition” is a term used to describe the amount of money you are paying after you receive your financial aid package. Schools will often work with coaches to provide a package for a student-athlete, whom they believe will be a positive addition to their institution. However, don’t wait for the college coach to work through your financial need. Contact the schools of interest and get a pre-read from financial aid. The worst thing to happen would be your student-athlete falls in love with the school and you can’t afford it.

Division I is Always the Best

“Many families don’t have a good understanding of what Division I is,” say some college coaches. Every level of college soccer has conference and national champions. There are many occasions where a ‘lower division/team’ will beat a ‘high division/team’. This happens within the same division vs crossover of divisions. Determining the division, a college plays soccer in has more to do with the size of the school, the money it offers (and how it is offered) and other factors away from the athletics field.

All Programs Are The Same?

Every division/level has different recruiting and communication rules. Use your NUSA College Handbook as a reference for these rules. Many student-athletes are worried they will break the rule and somehow risk their college soccer career. That is simply not true for one offense. Most of the rules pertain to the coach and not the player. If you call a coach, say hello and introduce yourself. Then ask them if you are allowed to speak with them. If they are not allowed to talk with you, they will let you know. If they don’t, they are the ones breaking the rule.

I Can’t Call the Coach?

Every division/level has different recruiting and communication rules. Use your NUSA College Handbook as a reference for these rules. Many student-athletes are worried they will break the rule and somehow risk their college soccer career. That is simply not true for one offense. Most of the rules pertain to the coach and not the player. If you call a coach, say hello and introduce yourself. Then ask them if you are allowed to speak with them. If they are not allowed to talk with you, they will let you know. If they don’t, they are the ones breaking the rule.

High School Stars Automatically Become College Stars?

No, there are no guarantees you will be a college star. The pace of college soccer is like nothing else they’ve seen before, and even players who come from some of the top club teams aren’t used to the demands in college. If you are recruited by a major college, chances are you were one of the best players on your competitive team. You’ve been the “go-to player,” the one who dictates the pace, the one everybody counts on. It’s been a nice ride, but it’s over. Some student-athletes assume that since they were the star of their competitive team, that they will be the star in college, too. They don’t fully understand the level of college soccer until you are training at that level every day. Trust the process to learn and grow into the college game.
Traducir »