Why is Visibility so Important for Players Who Want to Go to the Next Level?

Aspiring college soccer players face a harsh, humbling reality when it comes to their visibility. No matter how well they perform in U13, U14 or U15 soccer, their dream schools probably have no idea they exist – yet.  

College soccer coaches don’t have the resources to travel the country and gather footage of talented players from all over the U.S. So, if you want your dream school to notice you, it’s your responsibility to make yourself visible and command the coach’s attention. Highly talented soccer players get overlooked by top programs all the time because they don’t make enough effort to promote themselves, establish connections, and ultimately show the college soccer programs they want to play for that they belong.

Increasing your visibility is an entire skill set in itself, and it takes time. But it’s an incredibly valuable skill to learn, one that will continue to pay massive dividends throughout your entire soccer journey and beyond.

Here are a few ways soccer players can increase their visibility:

1.  Create a Social Media Profile for Soccer

Social media is a powerful tool for self-promotion in the digital age, and soccer is no exception. Many coaches use social media to study potential recruits, so it’s highly recommended to dedicate your Instagram account exclusively for soccer.

This is where you’ll post game highlights showcasing your best moments on the field as well as training sessions and other content that shows why you’d make a great teammate. Someone should be able to get a good sense of who you are as a player, your skill set , and your character as a person with a quick scroll through your profile.

In terms of highlights, coaches want to see players who understand the various responsibilities of their position and go out of their way to help out their teammates. For example, a midfielder should include clips of their ball-handling skills, their ability to identify passing lanes on offense and defense, and that they know how to receive the ball and play between the lines. To show what a great teammate you are, you might also include a clip of you shifting back to cover a teammate’s spot on defense.

2.  Stay in Touch with Your Old Coaches

Another easy way soccer players can increase their visibility is staying in touch with their previous coaches. These people have seen you work hard and evolve, and they can personally vouch for your skills and character. If you stay in touch with them via email and/or social media, they’ll be more inclined to recommend you to other coaches in their professional network.

One of your previous coaches might not personally be a coach at a top program, but they could easily know someone who is. And thanks to your soccer Instagram account, a coach just has to share a single link to show a connection how skilled and athletic you are.

Also, when coaches are considering you for recruitment, they’re going to speak to your previous coaches before making a decision. If is much harder to get a strong recommendation if your coach can’t remember you very well.

3.  Distinguish Your Appearance on the Field

When you start going to college showcases, of course it’s important to play well. But it’s also important to use the showcases to increase your visibility. If a coach you want to recruit you is attending, showcases are some of the best opportunities to make a lasting impression. Make it easy for them to remember you – with a unique haircut, wearing a headband, sweatbands on your wrists or something else unique and easily distinguishable.  

The idea is to get the coach to remember you clearly. When coaches are looking at a dozen or more players at a showcase, they’re naturally going to have trouble remembering an individual player’s performance. Any way you can do to distinguish yourself from other players could be the difference between being remembered and being forgotten.  

At Beyond Goals Mentoring, we understand that not every soccer player is a natural at promoting themselves and building relationships. That’s why we’re dedicated to helping young athletes develop these invaluable skills while navigating the various stages of the college recruitment process, from building a quality highlight reel to reaching out to coaches.

So, if your athlete wants to draw attention from their dream school but isn’t sure where to start, let’s set up a mentoring session today.