I am always surprised at how many recruits/ families are not familiar with the fundamental, common sense ‘guidelines’ and instead struggle successfully navigating the do’s and don’ts of the fall college season. The guidance that follows is drawn primarily from conversations with college coaches with whom I have developed trusted professional relationships over the past 15–20 years, combined with best practices I have refined while advising players through this critical stage of the recruiting process.
The key is striking the right balance: remaining visible and engaged with coaches on a player’s target list without over-communicating or creating the impression that the recruit feels they take priority over a coach’s current roster and ongoing season. These guidelines are intended to help recruits and families maintain that balance effectively.
Prioritize Noticeable Development Between Late August and the November-January Showcases
This single factor influences a recruit’s chances of receiving a Division I offer more than any other. College coaches evaluate progress carefully. For 2027 and 2028 recruits that were evaluated/scouted after last club year’s spring and summer showcases yet remain uncommitted, it means coaches on their target list did not see enough to extend an offer or move them higher on the board. If those same coaches evaluate those same recruits during the upcoming November-January showcases and the recruits look exactly like they did last Spring/Summer with NO NOTICEABLE DEVELOPMENT, it would make no logical sense to think those same coaches will suddenly completely change their mind and previous evaluation.
Worse yet, with ECNL and Girls Academy programs added hundreds of additional recruits at the same exact time the NCAA LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT reduced college rosters to a maximum of 28 players, and also at the same exact time the five-in-five rule granted current players a fifth year of eligibility, meaningful improvement during the fall is no longer optional. It is essential. Recruits who fail to show clear development will be removed from consideration at a huge majority of the D1 programs on their target lists.
Avoid Excuses for Lack of Development
College coaches have heard every possible explanation for why a player did not improve during the August-to-November window. In conversations among my 150+ D1 college coaching friends, the message is consistent and direct: no excuse will reverse a prior evaluation. Coaches have not reconsidered a player that did NOT use the 3 months during the Fall season to develop their game, in more than 15 years, probably ever, and they will not start now.
The Most Damaging and Common Excuse
The least effective explanation a recruit can offer is: “I was too busy adjusting to the high school schedule of fall high school and club soccer, academics, and social activities. I simply could not find time for extra training.”
Why This Excuse Carries Extra Weight
Recruiting evaluations increasingly include off-field assessment. Coaches carefully examine whether a recruit demonstrates the organization and discipline required to succeed at the college level. If a high school player cannot manage athletics, academics, and social activities, coaches reasonably question whether she can handle the greater demands of college soccer.
In addition, coaches now have access to a large pool of fifth-year eligible players who have already proven they possess the necessary work ethic, organization, and discipline. When a high school recruit cannot demonstrate those same qualities, coaches will overwhelmingly choose the experienced college player they already know can meet the standards.
Proper Communication During the Fall College Season
Communication protocols during the college season are stricter than many recruits realize. Unless a matter is urgent or a coaching staff has established a clear deadline for a response, email is generally discouraged. As one Power conference coach recently explained, the simplest test for college coaches, as well as the player/family, is whether the content of a message is important enough to justify interrupting a coach’s complete focus on training, match preparation, and team performance. Other than very rare exceptions, Coaches will always prioritize their current season and job responsibilities over a non-essential message from a prospective recruit. Sending unnecessary emails can create the impression that the recruit believes her needs outweigh those of the team.
Other forms of communication may be more appropriate in certain situations and are not held to the same strict standards as email or text during the season.
**A related caution: Multiple D1 coaches have reported growing concerns about notifications from some recruiting services claiming that a coach “opened” or “viewed” an email. Follow-up messages based on these alerts have frequently proven inaccurate; in many cases, coaches and their staffs had not opened any recruiting emails for several weeks, or all Fall season. (A shift back to recruiting, including more communications from some assistant college coaches will typically begin in mid-October)
Instead of sending any risky, non-emergency emails during the Fall college season, the better plan will always be using practices included to help recruits stay visible and professional while respecting the demands of the college season. Consistent development and disciplined communication remain the most effective ways to keep options open as the process continues into the November-January showcases.
Contact the author, Jerry Penkala at [email protected]
