Recruiting Is a Market, Not a Reward

Parents like reward systems. Work hard, get rewarded.Stay loyal, get rewarded.Spend money, get rewarded.Train more, get rewarded. College recruiting does not work that cleanly. Recruiting is supply and demand. There are many players.There are fewer roster spots.There are fewer impact roles.There are even fewer meaningful scholarship opportunities.There are academic filters.There are financial filters.There are positional filters.There are timing filters. A coach may like a player and still not recruit them. Why? Because the roster already has three players in that position.Because the player’s grades do not fit admissions.Because the school is too expensive for the family.Because the coach needs speed, and the player is technical but slow.Because the coach needs a left back, and the player is a central midfielder.Because the player is good but not better than current targets. Because the player’s graduation year is not a priority.Because the team is overloaded after transfers.Because the staff changed.Because the player communicated too late.Because the player’s film is weak.Because the player was not seen enough.Because the fit is not there. That is not personal. That is roster construction. The Parent Mistake The parent mistake is asking: “Is my child good enough to play college soccer?” That question is too broad. There are many levels of college soccer. A better question is: “At what level, in what role, at what type of school, with what academic profile, at what cost, would my child realistically be recruited?” That is the adult question.