September College Recruiting Newsletter 2022

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Welcome to the Kings Hammer September 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 not only help you navigate the craziness that is the college recruiting process, but also provide personal development materials and resources to assist in growing individually while living a more purpose and value driven lifestyle. We hope you find value in this newsletter and we are excited to assist in this exciting process for your family!

Narrowing Your College List

At this point, if you have been following along with each monthly edition of the college recruiting newsletters, you have hopefully gained some valuable information and knowledge which will have assisted you in your process. We have covered a variety of topics, including how to market yourself to programs, how to communicate to coaches, and how to decide which schools to contact in the first place. What we have yet to discuss is the following: “What am I looking for?”

While a lot of the college process is about gaining interest from programs, it is just as, if not more important for you to have an idea of what you want. As you gather your list of schools, there will come a time that you must narrow your list and focus on a few select schools. There are many factors that could determine your decision in narrowing your list, but below will list 5 questions you can ask yourself when doing so.

How much do I want to play right away? Is it important for you to step on the field right away and contribute, or are you okay with not playing from the moment you step foot on campus? The level, recent success of the program, as well as the number of players graduating from the program can all play into your ability to impact on the field from day 1.

How much time am I willing to invest? At any level of college soccer, you will be required to spend a certain amount of time training, lifting weights, watching film, and traveling. However, at each school, and each level, the required time can vary. Be sure to think about how much you want to balance your schedule when narrowing your list.

What type of program do I want to go to? Would you rather go to a top school and continue a tradition of success, or take on the challenge of a bottom of the conference program and build a legacy of turning the program around? Each has its own appeal and presents its own challenges and opportunities.

How important is playing close to home? With colleges and universities all over the country, the opportunities are endless. Make sure you know how serious you are about being close to family and friends for your playing experience vs. wanting to explore a new location.

How well do I know the team? These newsletters have discussed at great lengths about speaking to college coaches, but meeting and interacting with the players in the program is of massive importance. When narrowing your list, make sure you have an understanding on the personalities, disciplines, and habits of the schools you are choosing to focus your efforts on.

All of these questions are valuable to ask yourself as you work to narrow your list. If you didn’t catch on, these questions were all focused on the soccer side of things, but there are many questions you should ask yourself from an academic standpoint as well. Thinking about programs of study, campus size, as well as cost are a few of many factors that we have already discussed and should be thought about when narrowing your list. Most importantly, being proactive (an overall theme of all of these articles) as well as being educated should be at the forefront of your mind when narrowing your list! Best of luck!

Additional Resources

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT: Time Management

Time is a finite resource. Balancing responsibilities at your job, home, and school is not easy. No matter what, you’re always left with the same 24 hours in a day to check items off to-do lists, spend time with family and

friends, and unwind. By planning ahead and using your time wisely, you’ll be able to accomplish more and enjoy added free time. Below are 5 things to think about to help you improve in your time management skills.

Identify Time Wasters and Set Goals: It’s easy to get distracted. Pay attention to what draws your focus away from your studies and assignments. No matter what is wasting your time, set a goal to not engage in that behavior during dedicated study time. Instead, use those activities as a reward for staying focused and accomplishing the tasks you set out to complete.

Plan Ahead by Creating a To-Do List: Identify what you need to do, and then prioritize the tasks based on when the assignment is due and how much time you need to complete it. This gives you a set plan for the day. Whether it’s just a list of priorities or a full

schedule for the day, having a plan will ensure that you know what to do and when.

Tackle Small Tasks to Start: It’s easy to get overwhelmed by large projects and big exams, and the anxiety can make you want to procrastinate. Start with shorter, simpler to-do items and then move on to larger projects or assignments.

Only Do One Thing at a Time: If you’re trying to juggle multiple assignments and tasks, you’ll likely end up being less productive. To combat the urge to multitask, ask yourself:

What are your most common distractions? (social media, electronics, etc.)
Can you turn off the devices or applications? Turn off any devices that you can. And no matter what, don’t switch to another task until the one before it is complete. This may be a hard habit to break, but it’s worth it.

Establish Routines: A set routine can also help you accomplish the things you need to do. Is your home quietest in the early morning? You may want to get in the habit of regularly using that time to study or read. The more often you do this, the less you’ll have to think about when you’ll accomplish the tasks you need to finish that day.

Even if you struggle with time management, it’s a skill you can build. Using these time management techniques, you can successfully balance the demands of school, soccer, and life!

Additional Resources

Monthly Help Links from SportsRecruits

Upcoming Webinar – Preparing for an Interview with a College Coach – Tuesday, Oct 18^th, 7PM
Article – Messaging College Coaches to Let Them Know You Are On Sports Recruits

College Commitments

CJ DeBra – Youngstown State University
Riley Arnold – Ohio Dominican
Ellie Greenwell – Ohio University
Zara Graff – Wright State University
Abby Unkraut – University of Georgia
Mia Fiore – Xavier University
Victoria Zappasodi – Cleveland State
Ella Smith – Miami University
Jordan Church – Arkansas State University
Amanda Schlueter – Ohio State University
Sophie Decker – Marian University
Ruby Dunlevy – Eastern Kentucky University
Margo Roberts – Ohio Dominican University
Olivia Parmer – Marian University
Emma Morrison – Kentucky Christian University
Shannon Ott – Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
Rose Vigran – George Washington University
Jill Planeaux – Ohio Dominican University

Remember to post your commitment to your Sports Recruits account and send commitment photos to info@kingshammer.com so that you can be recognized for your achievements.