>>> Introduction
In America, there aren’t any major soccer formation centers like Europe. College Soccer is the best school there is to become a professional soccer player. The competition within the « NCAA Soccer Championship » is getting really tough and the increasing level of play has drawn the attention of many international players. College Soccer remains the best way to turn professional and enter the Major league Soccer. All the best players from the Men’s and Women’s USA National Soccer Team played NCAA soccer. Since their home victory during the 1995 World Cup, Women’s Soccer occupies a special place in college sports. As for Men’s Soccer, their 1/4 final in the 2002 Korean Wold Cup shows that the quality and level of American players has improved greatly.
--- Who can obtain an athletic scholarship ? ---
- Non profesional Men and women’s soccer players of national and club level.
- High-School students (last year of H-S, 12th grade) and university students
- There is no age limit
--- The Season / Calendar ---
The NCAA season takes place between the end of August and December. The frequency of the games is very high. During the regular season, teams play an average of 2 games a week
- July and beginning of August: Practice and pre-season matches
- September-October: 16 to 20 Regular season games
- November-December: Conference and NCAA Championships
- January-May: Recovery period (rest) and practice
- May: Some teams travel abroad to prepare for the next season (expenses are covered by the university)
---The Staff ---
In most US universities, the team’s staff is composed of:
- The “Head Coach”
- 2 assistant-coaches
- 1 Team Manager
- 1 fitness coach
- 1 trainer (physical therapist)
- 1 doctor
--- Practices ---
Usually, practices are divided in two sessions, morning and afternoon, depending on the evolution of the season. Their length and intensity depend on the team level and the Head Coaches routine. On average, teams practice 3 hours a day; composed of individual workouts, tactics, game situations and fitness.
--- Road Trips ---
Teams travel by private bus or by plane, depending upon the distance. Generally, they travel the day before the competition and stay in high-quality hotels. While traveling, all expenses (hotel and food) are paid by the university, in addition to the existing scholarship.
