How Do I Commit to Playing Soccer for a College?

Committing to a School

Once youve gotten an excellent gauge of a schools interest, and that school seems like a good fit for you, you can do what is called, a verbal commitment. A verbal commitment is an agreement between you, and the coaching staff, saying youre going to attend that school in the fall.

A verbal commitment can be made at any time during high school; some wait until their senior year, and some know what they want and commitment much earlier. One is not better than another, just make sure you have done your research and have spoken with your family about it before you make your final decision.

Depending on what was spoken about, your verbal commitment can mean two things, both which are great, and will get you to be a student-athlete at the school.

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The first is a verbal commitment with scholarship money on the table. What happens here is youve talked to the coaches, they have seen you play, you visited the school, and you have decided this is the school you want to go to.

Before ever giving your commitment, an offer is put on the table for the student-athlete to consider. Money can range from 1% to 100% of school attendance cost. Once the offer is looked over, then it is up to that student-athlete to call the coach and express their desire to attend the University. Either accepting or denying the scholarship offer.

If accepted, the coaches will take you through the logistics, so that come February of your senior year, you sign your National Letter of Intent (NLI). The NLI is, a binding agreement between a prospective student-athlete and an NLI member institution.

What a lot of parents do not know is that you can still make a verbal commitment, and not get a scholarship.

Remember, there are only 9.9 full scholarships, for roughly a team of 30. (Division 1 Mens Soccer)

PLAYERS ON SCHOLARSHIP LIMITS

The term used for a player that doesnt get money, but is recruited and makes a verbal commitment is called a preferred walk-on. You will still have to do your research, talk to coaches and see if interest in your services is still there regardless of scholarship money. Though a very tough reality, it is also an excellent opportunity.

I have had so many teammates that didnt get an athletic scholarship, but they either got some financial aid, or worked hard and earned a scholarship later in college. There are endless possibilities, and everyones finances are different. Like I said above, people find ways to make their situation work. It might not be easy, but everything youve done up to this point to put yourself in a position to play college soccer hasnt been easy either.

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If you need more information on the NLI, visit their website at, http://www.nationalletter.org

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