January College Recruiting Newsletter 2025

Welcome to the Kings Hammer January College Recruiting Newsletter! The club is excited to work with you to accomplish all of your player’s goals for this upcoming soccer year, on and off of the soccer field. Each month, we will be providing this resource to help you navigate the craziness that is the college recruiting process. We hope you find value in this newsletter and we are excited to assist in this exciting process for your family!

We’re kicking off the new year by diving into things you should consider when starting your college search as well as exploring effective goal setting.

Starting the Search

Do you think you may want to play college soccer? If you are reading this, there is a strong chance that the answer is yes, at least for now. Continuing to play soccer while attending college can be an exciting and rewarding opportunity for any student athlete. But, while there are over 1200 men’s soccer programs and 1400 women’s soccer programs, the pathway to finding the opportunity for you can be daunting. Playing at the next level will require some time and effort on the athletes part. With proper planning, preparation, and research, each athlete can find a school and level of soccer that fits what they are looking for in all aspects of their collegiate life. For many of you reading this month’s newsletter may be the start of your journey. Here are some keys to get you started.

Remember, it’s not just about Division 1

When many athletes begin to consider the possibility of playing college soccer, they only have one goal in mind-D1 baby!

It is important to keep in mind that there are a number of levels of college athletics each with their own requirements, benefits, Pros and Cons. A great place for any prospective Student-Athlete to start there college journey is to find out more about these levels.

NCAA – The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is most likely the governing body for collegiate athletics that is the most familiar for potential student athletes. There are three divisions that make up the NCAA, and these were created in 1973 to align like-minded campuses in the areas of philosophy, competition and opportunity. Click here to learn more about the NCAA and its division.

NAIA – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is another governing body of athletics programs that are dedicated to character-driven intercollegiate athletics. Since 1937, the NAIA has administered programs and championships in proper balance with the overall college educational experience. Each year more than 65,000 student-athletes have the opportunity to play college sports at NAIA member institutions. Click here to learn more about the NAIA.

NJCAA – The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) has played a vital role in collegiate athletics for the past eight decades and continues to be at the forefront of championing academic and athletic opportunities for student-athletes. At NJCAA institutions, athletes will compete for 2 years before moving onto a 4 year institution to complete the remainder of their education and athletic eligibility if they choose to do so. Click here to learn more about the NJCAA.

Each of these governing bodies for collegiate athletics offers potential student athletes a different experience. Competition, balance in lifestyle, location, and cost of attendance as well as financial aid opportunities are all differentiating factors among each division as well as each institution.

Having a better understanding of all options will only increase the chance that you will select the perfect fit for your college soccer experience!

Additional Resources

Personal Development – Goal Setting

Setting goals for yourself will be a is a key part of your success. If you are looking to crush it on the field and in life, you need clear, actionable goals. Let’s recap this great article on Student Athlete Goal Setting from Fury Athletic.

The Impact of Goal Setting on Success

Provides Direction and Focus

Think of goals as your GPS. Without them, you’re driving blind. Clear goals give you laser focus and ensure every move you make is pushing you towards your ultimate destination. Without goals, you’re just spinning your wheels.

Enhances Motivation

Goals light a fire under you. When you know exactly what you’re aiming for, every training session, every late-night study session, has a purpose. For student athletes juggling sports and school, motivation is the fuel that keeps you going.

Boosts Confidence and Self-Esteem

Crushing your goals builds confidence. Each win reinforces your belief in yourself, making you even more unstoppable. Success breeds success.

Enhances Decision-Making Skills

Goals provide a clear framework for decision-making. When faced with choices, you evaluate them based on how well they align with your goals. It’s a no-brainer.

Promotes Continuous Improvement

Regular goal assessment encourages a culture of continuous improvement. Analyze what worked and what didn’t. Refine your strategies. Keep leveling up.

Drives Long-Term Success

Consistently setting and achieving goals lays a rock-solid foundation for long-term success. It instills discipline, resilience, and a growth mindset.

How to Set Effective Goals – The SMART way

Specific

Be Specific – Vague goals are useless. Get specific. Instead of saying, “I want to run faster,” say, “I want to add one additional shuttle run to my time each week.” Instead of, “I want to improve my first touch,” say, “ I want to get in 10 minutes of Techne ball control 4 times each week.”

Measurable

Make Them Measurable – If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it. Use concrete metrics like time, weight, or scores. You may need some help with some of these. For example, “I want to complete 90% of my passes each game.”

Achievable

Ensure They Are Achievable – Set goals that stretch you, but are still within reach. Unrealistic goals lead to burnout and frustration. Know your limits and push them, but don’t set yourself up for failure. Aim to “maintain a 3.5 GPA while training for the state championships.”

Relevant

Keep Them Relevant – Your goals should align with your overall mission. For student athletes, goals should complement both your athletic and academic ambitions. Balance is key

Time-Bound Objectives

Set Time-Bound Objectives – Deadlines create urgency. Without them, you’re just procrastinating. Timelines keep you moving forward.

Additional Goal Setting Resources

Upcoming SportsRecruits webinars

Recent College Commitments

Congratulations to the most recent Kings Hammer soccer players to make college commitment decisions! Remember to post your commitment to your Sports Recruits account, send a commitment photo to info@kingshammer.com, and include or tag your club’s local Kings Hammer page on any social media posts so that we can be recognize you for your achievements!