SoccerWire has launched a content series featuring advice from anonymous college recruiting experts, including coaches with extensive experience at the highest levels of the college game. SoccerWire’s recruiting experts will provide answers to some of the most common and challenging questions that come up from players and parents on issues surrounding the recruiting process. To read more college recruiting posts from SoccerWire, click here.
Continue reading for a look at the newest edition of the series, which answers the question of what college coaches look for when watching potential recruits for the first time. New recruiting questions can be submitted anytime to [email protected] or via direct message on social media on X, Facebook or Instagram.
QUESTION: What are the most important things that will make a college coach notice a recruit they see at a showcase game, that they do not know and have never seen play beforehand?
ANSWER: The most common things that college coaches say they first notice about players when watching showcase games are: speed in open spaces, foot speed in tight areas and comfort on the ball. College coaches are extremely talented at DEVELOPING technical skills and developing a recruit to fit into their specific system, but what they always look for is if a recruit has the ability to develop these areas BEFORE they commit. Players can develop these skills on their own through constant extra touches on the ball, and individual training with a focus on improving acceleration to increase speed.
