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TRANSCRIPT
OVERVIEW
SPACE COAST UNITED
SOCCER CLUB
COLLEGE PREP PROGRAM
Club Director: Scott Armstrong
May 3rd, 2016
Be a better player.
When you think you're good enough - work harder, learn more.
Space Coast Alumni
Age Bracket Mandate
The College Decision
Academics
Financial Aspects
Checklists (9, 10, 11, 12th grades)
Researching Schools
Where do you fit
ID Camps
Contacting Coaches (Email content, resumes)
Summary Additional Resources
The easy way to give the student (your child) the
greatest opportunities and choices is to create the
strongest possible academic and extracurricular
portfolio/resume
Presented by
Scott Armstrong
AGENDA
Kristin Grubka
5’10” National Team: U23
Professional:
Sky Blue FC
College:
Florida State
High School:
Dairy Farmers 6A Player
of the Year
Florida Girls HS 6A Player
of the Year
ESPN RISE All-
American team in 08-09
President of the National
Honor Society
Student Body VP
SPACE COAST ALUMNI
Michaela Hahn
5’4” National Team: U23
Professional:
Western NY Flash
1st round 2016 draft
College:
Florida State
High School:
Fl Today All-Space Coast first
team honoree ‘10 & ‘11
All-Cape Coast Conf team as a
freshman
Region ODP camp ’08 & ‘09
Katie Stengel
5’8” National Team: U23
Professional:
Washington Spirit
College:
Wake Forest
High School:
Florida Girls HS 4A Player of
the Year
2010 Fl Soccer Gatorade
Player of the Year
2010 Space Coast Player of
the Year
All-Space Coast Team (3x)
Valedictorian, Member of
National Honor Society.
Toni Pressley
5’10” National Team: U23
Professional:
Orlando Pride
College:
Florida State
High School: Region ODP Pool Player ‘06-
’08
2008 PARADE All-American
NSCAA/Adidas Youth All-
America Team
All-Space Coast Team 2007
Top 50 recruit by Soccer Buzz
Presented by
Scott Armstrong
Jackie Stengel
5’9” National Team: U23
College:
NC State
High School: Florida Class 4A Player of the
Year in 2013
Second-highest rated player in
the state of Florida, and 33rd
nationally at the forward
position
Region 3 ODP team (4x)
SPACE COAST ALUMNI
Katie Jackson
5’7” College:
UCF
High School: Florida Gatorade Player of the
Year (2007, 2008)
Orlando Sharks 2007-08
Annual Elite 11 Pro Prospect
Satellite's Golden Boot Award
All-Space Coast Conference
Florida Today Player of the
Year
Florida ODP 2004 - 2007
Tishia Jewell
5’6” Semi Professional:
Women's Premier Soccer
League Cocoa Expo
Team
College:
UCF
High School: ODP 2005 – 2008
2007 FHSAA 5A Most
Valuable Player
All-Space Coast First Team
Cape Coast All-Conference
Team
Ella Stephan
5’7” National Team: U23
Professional: Glasgow City,
Pali Blues
College:
Florida State
High School: ODP Region Team 04-05
NSCAA/adidas High School All-
America
Gatorade Player of the Year 2007
All-Space Coast Player of the Year
five-time All-Space Coast Team
Top 25 recruit by Soccer Buzz
Presented by
Scott Armstrong
TYPICAL PLAYER PROFILE FOR AN ACC TEAM LIKE FSU
Presented by
Scott Armstrong
HIGH SCHOOL:
* Three-year captain and two-time MVP
* 2014 NSCAA High School Girls Soccer All-American
* Member of the 2014 FHSAA Girls All-State Soccer Team
* Participated in the 2015 Girls High School All-Star Classic
ODP/CLUB:
* Participated in the Florida ODP in 2011, 2013 and 2014
* Invited to the Region III ODP Thanksgiving Interregional in 2013 and 2014
* Invited to the Region III International Trip in 2013 and 2014
* Named to the Regional All-Star Team in 2014
U.S. NATIONAL TEAM:
* Played on the U-17 National Team
* Called into camp with the U-20 National Team
COMMITMENTS FROM U17 SPACE COAST
Presented by
Scott Armstrong
Tiana Caffey (2017)
Alex Vandegrift (2017)
Sydney Lau (2018)
Brook Bollinger (2018)
Macy Hedelund (2017)
Jordan Walsh (2016)
Keli Lindquist (2017)
Chynna McGirt (2017)
Caroline Larsen (2017)
Hollyn Knight (2017)
Katie Kenward (2017)
Expected Commits:
Shannon Gosule
(Rice University, UNCG, Wingate)
Amanda Brust
(Lincoln Memorial University)
SCHOOLS SPACE COAST HAS SENT PLAYERS
Presented by
Scott Armstrong
American Univ Emory Rollins
Armstrong
Florida Gulf Coast
Univ
Savannah College of
Art
Barry Florida Tech St Leo
Citadel Florida State Univ of Tampa
Coast Guard George Mason Univ of Florida
Davidson Greenville Univ of North Florida
Duke Jacksonville Univ
University of
Pennsylvania
Eastern Florida Lincoln Memorial
University of West
Florida
Eastern Tennessee St
Univ
Merchant Marine
Academy Vanderbilt
Eckerd Nova
AGE BRACKET MANDATE
Presented by
Scott Armstrong
While we are well aware of the birth year mandate passed on by US Soccer, Space
Coast United age brackets of 02/03 and up will be reviewed independently to ensure
player development and team formation follow our current model and are aligned with
our organization's philosophy and mission of providing the highest quality soccer
experience for every member.
As a club, we want to be able to provide the best structure while still allowing us to
maintain the elevated standards required by the NPL and other leagues/programs.
Age
Group
Birth Year
U18/U19
‘98-'00
(these three birth years form 1 team)
U17 ‘00-'01
U16 ‘01-'02
U15 '02-'03
U14 '03-'04
Using a flexible (birth year mandate) helps provide the
following:
• Best opportunity for player development.
• Strength of team formation and exposure to
tournaments.
• Flexibility to place players in different age groups that
we, as a staff, feel is best for each individual player.
AGE BRACKET MANDATE
Presented by
Scott Armstrong
THE COLLEGE DECISION
Do you want to be in a certain geographical area of the country
Are there some places you definitely don’t want to be?
How far from home would you like to be?
Do you want your parents to attend your home games?
Do you want a school that is <2,500 students, 2,500-5,000, 5,000-10,000, >10,000?
Do you have a specific major that you think you want to pursue (for example, engineering)?
Finances (total cost of attendance)
If playing athletics NCAA Div I, II, III, NAIA, or NJCAA
Student life – campus activities (football games)
Meeting admission standards
Student 51% lead, Parent 49%
Think about the following items that may influence your
decision to attend a particular school, or not:
Presented by
Scott Armstrong
ACADEMICS
Unweighted GPA
Weighted Core GPA – Higher Selective/Competitive Schools use
these
Standardized Entrance Exam Scores (SAT or ACT)
Difference between ACT of 28 and ACT of 30 can be as much as $30,000
National Merit Scholarship Program
Magic GPA is 3.55 for Student Athletes attending NCAA schools
Presented by
Scott Armstrong
WHY IS MY GPA IMPORTANT?
Indicators that can predict your academic success in college:
GPA, SAT/ACT Scores, AP Courses, Volunteer/Extracurricular
Shows Player:
Will not have difficulties being accepted by the college's admissions office
Can be a contributing member of their squad on every level – athletic, emotional, social, mental,
etc.
Knows how to establish healthy priorities in their life, can set/reach goals, manage time
effectively, etc.
Handle the pressures of school and your sport, while still taking part in other activities
Presented by
Scott Armstrong
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Scholarship and Grants:
Maintain certain academic/other
requirements.
Academic (minimum gpa, enrollment hours,
good standing)
Athletic (player’s performance on and off
the field)
Free $$
Federal Aide Financial Student
Application (FAFSA)
Not Free $
Presented by
Scott Armstrong
FINANCIAL INFORMATION (CONT’D)
Total cost of attendance
$18,000 (per year) (Tuition, Fees, Board, Food, Books, Pers Exp)
Financial Aid Package
Financial packages will be combination of –
Academic Scholarship
Athletic Scholarship
Bright Futures (if any)
Grant (if any)
Stafford Loan (subsidized and unsubsidized)
The difference between the sum of the above minus the total cost of attendance is what your expected out of pocket cost will be.
Example Financial Aid Package
$ 2,000 Academic Scholarship is $2000 per year for 4 years
$ 2,000 Athletic Scholarship is $2000 per year (annual renewable basis**)
$ 1,000 Grants each year
$ 5,500 Student Loan (subsidized and unsubsidized)
$ 10,500 Total financial aid package for this student athlete (freshman year)
Out of Pocket Cost
$ 18,000 - $ 10,500 The student will still need $ 7,500 out of pocket to pay for their Freshman year
**Each year athletic scholarships are renewed and there is no guarantee that amount of athletic scholarship will be constant. Renewable based on player’s performance on and off the field.
Presented by
Scott Armstrong
FINANCIAL INFORMATION(CONT’D) MAGIC GPA NUMBER – 3.55
If your GPA is lower than 3.55 the coach and school must count
all MONEYs (academic scholarship, grants, etc…) provided to you
at that school against that sport’s budget
So using the earlier example the freshman entering college will have the
$2,000 – academic
$2,000 – athletic
$1,000 – grant
= $5,000 counted against the coach’s and sports budget
Presented by
Scott Armstrong
9TH GRADE CHECKLIST (FOCUS ON TRAINING & ACADEMICS)
Academically: Meet your guidance counselor and discuss your plans for the next 4 years, research college
requirements for high school courses
Build strong academic, language, mathematics and critical thinking skills by taking challenging courses
Work on improving your GPA
Visit the NCAA Eligibility Center (see last slide in packet for reference material)
Athletically: Work hard during your HS soccer season, talk with your coach & find out what you need to
work on specifically to be a better player
Find a club and coach that has history of success in getting girls onto college teams
Participate on a top level club soccer team with top level training
Participate in top quality tournaments with your club team (Disney Showcase)
Participate in Olympic Development Programs (ODP) with your state association
Create initial ‘Potential list’ of schools. Cast a wide net (D1, D2, D3, large and small, etc.)
In spring and summer, begin attending clinics and camps. Remember, you are always being evaluated, both on and off the field. Coaches are watching to determine how you will affect their team chemistry
Go to the college’s athletic website and register as a prospective athlete
Presented by
Scott Armstrong
10TH GRADE CHECKLIST (FOCUS ON TRAINING & ACADEMICS – START RESEARCHING POTENTIAL COLLEGES)
Academically: Make an appointment with your guidance counselor so that you can discuss your plans for high
school and college, inform them if you are considering a military academy upon graduation
Participate in a volunteer/service activity and other extracurricular activities both at school and in
the community. A depth of involvement is important
Take the PSAT, begin SAT/ACT preparation studies
Athletically: Need to be thinking seriously about making the decision and commitment of being a
Student/Athlete
Discuss with your club coach as to your realistic levels of college play
Attend at least one clinic and seriously think about attending at least one summer camp
Look for camps that will have the schools or similar type schools represented at the camp
Assemble your “Potential College List”, 8-10 colleges you may be interested in attending
You may send emails to “Potential College” coaches stating your interest in their program
Create a soccer resume, Start creating a video library (clips of plays)
Begin unofficial visits (10th – 11th grade) for campus experience, visit other campuses locally to
understand difference in size of campus
Enroll with the NCAA Eligibility Center
Presented by
Scott Armstrong
11TH GRADE CHECKLIST (BEGIN THE RECRUITING PROCESS)
Academically: Make an appointment with your guidance counselor so that you can discuss your plans for high school and
college
If you are interested in a military academy or ROTC scholarship, begin the application process
Participate in a volunteer/service activity and other extracurricular activities both at school and in the community.
A depth of involvement is important
Check with local school counselor for SAT & ACT registration deadlines, take SAT/ ACT
Obtain “Letters of Recommendations” & develop a “Reference” list
Athletically: (D1, D2 coaches can email after July 1 of junior year, D3 coaches can communicate with you at any
point)
Continue with a top-level soccer club, attending quality soccer tournaments & participating in ODP
Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center
If possible, watch your target schools play during the fall. Make sure the coaches know you watched their teams
(in emails for upcoming tournaments, etc.)
Determine which schools are truly interested. If you are being actively recruited, you will know it; if you’re unsure if
a coach is interested, they probably aren’t. But there is no reason to guess, ask direct questions
Based on coach feedback, further narrow your list. Decide if you are aiming too high academically or athletically;
if you are (i.e., none of the coaches on your list are actively recruiting you) adjust your list and get noticed by
different coaches
Then be proactive! Send emails to “Preferred College” coaches stating your interest in their program with your
tournaments and league schedules
Presented by
Scott Armstrong
12TH GRADE CHECKLIST (COLLEGE COACHES AND PLAYERS MAKE THEIR DECISIONS)
Academically:
Write college essays (check college websites for essay requirements)
Fill out Transcript Release forms and provide to your guidance counselor for each college you are applying
Some colleges, as well as some college majors, require an admission interview. Be organized -make sure that you have met all
the requirements for the interview
Review your financial package(s) (it will be a combination of funding sources)
Get financial aid forms: Federal Application Free Student Aid (FAFSA) which is required by all colleges (available in December) if
you want to be eligible for financial aid. Parents should complete the FAFSA as soon as possible, but not before January
File Financial Aid Forms by January 1st
Read your respective Financial Aid Handbook in your county (usually distributed to seniors in February) for scholarship
opportunities
Write schools if you will not accept their offer of admission
Complete housing and health forms
Athletically: (D1 and D2 coaches can call you after September 1. D3 coaches can communicate with you at any point)
Most D1 and D2 programs will have made their decisions by the start of your senior year. Some D1 and D2 programs will have
openings if one of their candidates changes her mind. The more competitive D3 programs will also have finished their recruiting
by September 1
Lower level D1 and D2 programs could still be trying to fill their roster, especially if they found that most of their top prospects
took other offers. Many D3 programs will be trying to complete their recruiting
You need to be cleared and declared eligible by the NCAA (Status is posted on your NCAA Eligibility Center account)
Arrange for Official visit & interviews
Apply to at least three schools for possible admissions & inform your school counselor
Review acceptances & soccer offers--- if you have not already, then choose the school of your choice
Notify the college you have chosen & notify other “Preferred Colleges” coaches of your decision
Sign “National Letter of Intent” --- signing begins in February
Suggestion: Take time to thank all the coaches, mentors, & others that may have helped you along the process!
Presented by
Scott Armstrong
RESEARCHING SCHOOLS
School Research Major - area of academic interest
Quality of the school
Meeting admission standards
Size of school
Finances (total cost of attendance)
Local vs. Distant | Urban vs. Rural | Commuting vs. Residential | Campus Size (Lg/Sm)
Student life – campus activities
Soccer Program Research Realistic Expectations (Where do I fit in choosing NCAA Div I, II, III, NAIA, or NJCAA)
Open Mind (Great athletic and educational opportunities are available at smaller schools and many offer combinations of
athletic scholarships and financial aid)
Research the existing roster (# of players graduating same year as you) and committed players for your graduating year
1. How many seniors are graduating, Are there red shirt players returning?
2. Where would I play in the team?
3. How much playing time should I expect as a freshman? (Research past game statistics)
4. How many other players are playing that position?
5. Have other committed for the position?
Coaching Style
NCAA Div I, II, III, NAIA, or NJCAA (understand difference in time/etc. commitment)
•Would you come to this university if
you didn’t make the soccer team?
•Pick your school based on
academics, not soccer
Presented by
Scott Armstrong
NCAA REQUIREMENTS/EXPECTATIONS
ACC SEC BIG 10 Smaller D1 Div II Div III Ivy League International
Min 2.3 GPA
Sliding Scale based on GPA/SAT/ACT Scores
Example: 2.5 core GPA to have a minimum 1,000 SAT score
DUKE: Average GPA required for the team
3.8 + GPA
2100 SAT, 2
SAT IIs in the
700s (or 32
ACT plus 2
SAT IIs in the
700s.
Primarily uses
GPA (less weight
on SAT/ACT) due
to international
focus
UNC:
Nat’l Team U21
Recruited at
U15
UCLA:
Nat’l Team
Recruited at
U15
Some as
competitive
Smaller D1’s
Some as
competitive
DII’s
Florida Institute
of Technology
Florida
International
University
Rollins Univ
All-American, All-state, All-league/district
Three-to-four-year varsity starter
Olympic development program experience
Three-to-four-year varsity
starter
See (ACC,
etc.)
Division I coaches will have already identified their top recruits
by the end of their sophomore year.
Only
Academic Scholarships
Harvard: Only
academic
scholarships
Playing any sport in college requires a time commitment (10-15 hours in sport, 3+ hours weight training, 10 hours
study hour, travel time (missing class), film/meetings) – Each school and/or conference has unique requirements.
Also, your major of study has an impact on the # of hours spent studying and homework
Presented by
Scott Armstrong
WHAT DOES A DIVISION I PLAYER LOOK LIKE?
Intrinsic Commitment
Plays 1 sport in high school years (commits to soccer)
Attends private training for position
Ability to commit to next level expectations
Commits to a physical fitness regime
Gets up early to workout on own
Love of the game and your teammates
Academic Commitment
Maintains a 3.5+ GPA
Well Rounded Athlete
Presented by
Scott Armstrong
WHERE WOULD I FIT?
Source:
A Player and Parent’s Guide to Women’s College Soccer Recruiting
Version 2.0 (Oct 2013) https://beachfc.demosphere-secure.com/_files/college-alumni/WomensCollegeSoccerRecruitingGuide.pdf
Presented by
Scott Armstrong
WHERE WOULD I FIT? Source:
A Player and Parent’s Guide to Women’s College Soccer Recruiting
Version 2.0 (Oct 2013)
Presented by
Scott Armstrong
ATTENDING ID CAMPS, BEST EXPOSURE
IMPORTANT: Coaches do not come to tournament games to identify prospects from random games. Coaches are there to watch players who have contacted them prior to the tournament #1 – Email the coach prior to each tournament, clinic/camp;
Remember to update the coach should your schedule change. See future slide on email content
# 2 – Attend ID camps hosted by the colleges you may want to attend
At the college campus
At a locally run camp where they will be http://www.firstcoastsoccer.com/home/796237.html
#3 – Compete at events/tournaments where college coaches attend
USYSA State/Regional Championships
Major National Tournaments (Disney Showcase)
ODP
Presented by
Scott Armstrong
EMAIL CONTENT / RESUME CONTENT
Name, position, number, phone, email *create new email account for recruiting purposes: ex:
All Coaches contact info (phone,email)
Interest in their college
Upcoming game schedule
Highlight Video URL (optional, but recommended)
Individual Accomplishments
(soccer, academic, test scores)
Goalies
number of games started
win/loss record, # of shutouts
goals-against average
total goals against for a season
shots on goal saves
saves percentage
Presented by
Scott Armstrong
Shannon’s Recruiting Video
Video
Presented by
Scott Armstrong
HIGHLIGHT VIDEO
No college coach will choose a player based on video highlights. What you're trying
to do is convince the college coach that it will be worth their time to come watch
the player at a game.
Use an arrow or a circle to identify your child in video
Post on YouTube, Share URL with coaches, monitor analytics
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=soccer+recruiting+video
3 minutes (ideal maximum)
Presented by
Scott Armstrong
WHAT’S AFTER THE EMAIL?
Most important factor is reaching out to the schools you would
like to consider
Follow up with a phone call
Coaches may not be able to return a phone call
Leave a message that you will call again on specific date/time.
College coaches CAN communicate with club and high school coaches
Face-to-face script (practice) with coach
College Coaches will do their best to make you feel at ease
Ask about openings for your position (in your graduating year)
Presented by
Scott Armstrong
SUMMARY
Keep your grades up (more opportunities with higher GPA)
Pick your Top 5 schools
Research the schools and resume’s of players on
the team
Review roster/graduating players and history of
freshman playing time
Academic Minimums
Take a campus visit, visit 2-3 schools
Attend an ID camp
Player needs to drive the process and will need
support from parents Presented by
Scott Armstrong
College Research US News and World Report College Ranking
Recruiting Sites Free/Paid sites to load your profile to increase exposure
Kick2College.com BeRecruited.com CaptainU.com
NCAA Eligibility/Registration NCAA Eligibility Registration
NCAA Steps for achieving eligibility
DI, DII, DIII Eligibility Requirements Reference Sheet:
DI, DII Initial Eligibility Standards (Core Course Checklist)
Recruiting Guides A Player and Parent’s Guide to Women’s College Soccer Recruiting
Age Bracket Mandate Space Coast Town Hall Presentation April 20, 2016
QUICK LINKS
Presented by
Scott Armstrong