What is a Soccer Resume and How to Build One
In today’s hyper-competitive soccer landscape, most college players don’t get recruited based on their athletic accomplishments alone. They draw the attention of college programs by building relationships with coaches, usually via the Internet.
The reality is, college coaches don’t have the resources to travel across the country and meet every potential recruit in-person. They choose from a pool of players they’re already familiar with. These are players who have taken the initiative to introduce themselves and provide hard evidence that they possess the qualities of helping the program succeed.
The start of the process is building a resume of your accomplishments in soccer and academics. With this vital tool for college recruitment, you can explain why you’re worthy of a coach’s attention by painting an accurate picture of your skills and character.
Here’s what to include in a soccer resume:
Basic Athletic Information, Statistics and Achievements
The first building blocks of your soccer resume will be basic information, such as:
• Your Name & Graduation Year
• Positions Played
• Your Height & Weight
• Club team name & league
• Coach’s name & contact info
• GPA
Next, compile any relevant statistics, awards, or achievements about your academic and soccer history thus far. Are you your team’s captain? Did you win a major tournament? Are you an honor student? Your soccer resume should also include a few references from coaches who can speak to your abilities and work ethic.
Academic Information
We can’t harp on this one enough – yes you want to play soccer in college but you are going to get an education. Coaches love to see players that are academically excelling as they won’t have eligibility problems and can likely qualify for some academic scholarships. So, it’s absolutely crucial to include an academic section on your soccer resume. In addition to the name of your high school and your graduation year, this section should feature your GPA, best test scores on the SAT or ACT, and any other academic achievements (like class ranking).
Short and Sweet Highlight Reel
Another essential component of a soccer resume is a quality highlight reel showcasing your best moments on the field. The underlying purpose of this collection of video clips is to show that you’re a well-rounded player as well as a great teammate.
To check this first box, put together some clips of you fulfilling the various duties of your position. For example, a defender’s highlight reel should focus on defending, distribution, and positioning.
Keep your highlight reel short, no more than three minutes in length. You should also start your reel with an introduction in which you state your name, the name of your team, your league, your position, your jersey number, your graduation year, and your contact information.
To make sure coaches know which player to watch in each clip, we recommend adding a circle or an arrow indicating exactly where you are on the field. That way it’s easy to show your off the ball work and not just beautiful goals.
Personal Statement
Much like a traditional resume, your soccer resume should begin with a brief personal statement explaining why you’re a great fit for their college soccer program. This is your opportunity to highlight your unique personality and your athletic strengths so coaches can get an idea of what to expect from you. Your personal statement should ultimately convey a deep passion for soccer, a solid work ethic, and your dedication to the team’s success.
At Beyond Goals Mentoring, we understand that not every high-level athlete is just as proficient at promoting themselves and building relationships. That’s why we focus on guiding young athletes through the various steps of the college recruitment process.
So, if your athlete wants to play college soccer but isn’t sure how to get on their dream school’s radar, let’s set up a mentoring session today.
