The Recruiting Process

[Ejay]

Messiah has a great page on their website that outlines their recruiting process.  Is this unique to Messiah, or do other schools implement a similar process? No open tryouts, position specific-recruiting, finalization of recruits sometimes as early as September. This sounds more like a D1 basketball process than D3 soccer. 


POSITIONAL NEEDS
We have completed our 2019 recruiting and have filled all of our spots for the fall.
We are looking to bring in 6 field players and a goalkeeper in our 2020 recruiting class.  Although this is subject to change we are looking for the following positions:  -Target    -Winger  -Center Midfielder   -Center Back

THE RECRUITING PROCESS
The team is chosen through the recruiting process as opposed to open tryouts when school starts. Therefore, it is important for interested high school student-athletes to understand both the process and the timing.  The following are some steps you can take to help in the recruiting process:

1. Contact Us:  Fill out our online recruiting form so we will have your information. Then follow up with a personal e-mail to our Recruiting Coordinator/Assistant Coach Aaron Faro at afaro@messiah.edu and copy Head Coach Brad McCarty to the e-mail at bmccarty@messiah.edu.

2. Come to our ID Camp:  Our Christian College ID Camp in June is a great way for you to learn more about us and allow us to see you compete in our system and style of play.  There are also a number of other Christian colleges that attend the camp that provides you exposure to a variety of schools.  Over 90% of the players on our roster attended our ID Camp and were offered a spot based on their play at camp.  More information and online registration can be found on the camp website: www.messiahboyssoccercamp.com

3. Send us Tournament Schedules:  If you will be attending one of the tournaments in the right hand box, then send us your game times, field locations, opponent, and jersey number.

4. Visit Campus:  You can get a campus tour, meet with Admissions, and spend time with the coaching staff.  Contact our Admissions Office at 717-691-6000 to set up the visit, and be sure to let them know you wish to meet with the coaching staff.

5. Send us Highlights:  Although we don't typically offer spots based on video alone, it can sometimes be a good starting place for the recruiting process.

6. Come to a Game:  It is of great benefit for you to see us play and get a first hand look at the level of play, the team's style, and the atmosphere surrounding a game.
TIMING

We spend the fall, spring, and summer of a player's junior year to identify and evaluate players who we think would be an excellent fit for Messiah--spiritually, academically, and athletically. By August the identification phase of our recruiting process is complete and we begin to offer spots.  We have finished our recruiting for the following year as early as September and as late as January, but for the most part it finishes up in the fall.

[rangerfan]

As the parent of a committed 2019 NESCAC recruit, I can say that this was pretty much my son's process, but of course, every school is different.

A few more insights:

Some schools track how many times you are on campus or reach out to the school for more info. Helps the coaches gauge a player's true interest in a school.

Some schools wait longer to hand out offers. It's really up to the coach. Some coaches are hoping a D1 kid ends up deciding that it's better to be a star in D3 instead of a bit player in D1. I've heard from a few people of a NESCAC coach who is late with offers (August) because he is hoping some national team pool kids decide that D3 is for them. Some D3 schools can't fill offers until December because the players they want are hoping for offers from 'better' schools.

Even if you get an early spring offer in Junior year, it still isn't 'final' until admissions signs off, which in most cases will not happen prior to July 1st. If the admissions office is behind or going through personnel changes, that can push things back a few weeks more. And even then, it isn't final. Depends on the coach. Of course, if they screw a kid and don't provide support after pledging it, the reputation of the coach will suffer. D3 soccer is a small world. I know of a player that was screwed a few years ago, and that coach has since left the school in question.