11 Things You Should Know Before Post-Secondary Soccer

Plenty of players dream of earning scholarships to play post-secondary (University/College) soccer at the end of their youth career, but few know what it truly takes to play at that level. Many grow up believing it's an easy feat, that life as a post-secondary student-athlete shouldn't be too much different from youth soccer -- but they're gravely wrong.

And so, with post-secondary soccer starting up last month, here are 13 tips you should know prior to playing post-secondary soccer!

1. Player Development Comes Second

College soccer is not about player development.

Coaches, teammates, and athletic faculty are all there for the same reason.

To win (and keep their jobs).

The quicker you understand this, the easier the transition will be.

The coach will not give you eight or nine opportunities to adapt to college soccer.

You get one, maybe two, opportunities to impress, compete, and play consistently.

Approach each day with an aggressive intent to compete and impress, with the aim of getting results for your coach, the team, and the school.

2. Not Everyone Is There For The Same Reason

Each player on your team will have different goals (personal and professional).

Some will arrive with the intent to become a professional soccer player, others will want to compete and win, some want to add it to their professional resume, and some want to party.

This will be the case in almost every collegiate soccer program, men's and women's, around North America.

If your goal is to play professionally, understand that not every teammate may have the same intention.

Focus your attention on what you can control, and don’t let another player’s goal deter you from your own.

Stay focused on your own process and execute actions that take you one step closer to your goal’s every day.

3. Don’t Let Your Coach Ruin Your Love For The Game

Unfortunately, there will be coaches that you don’t get along with.

You will have coaches who are commanding, forceful, angry, and downright mean.

Sometimes it’s the pressure, while other times it's just who they are.

I've often heard stories where a poor relationship with a coach can create an amass of emotions, leading to a hateful relationship with soccer.

Never, ever, let a disrespectful coach ruin your love for the game.

I’ll say it again!

NEVER, EVER, let a negative, hateful relationship with your coach ruin your love for the beautiful game, and always remember why you started playing in the first place!

4. Don’t Let One A****** Scare You

Not only may you experience an unpleasant coach, often times it can be a teammate who’s the mean and nasty one.

They may mumble disrespectful comments to your coach, teammate's, or directly to your face.

However, don’t let a negative teammate bring you and your game down.

Don’t be afraid to train hard, get on the ball, and make mistakes just because of this one person.

Chances are they’re acting this way because they’re scared, jealous, and envious of you.

They’re threatened by your skill, meaning you may take their place in the starting eleven or in media headlines.

Focus on yourself, your goals, and ignore the haters!

5. Don’t Let One Bad Practice or Match Ruin Your Season

We’ve all had a bad practice or match performance.

It's part of the game – making mistakes is inevitable. You’re human, you’re allowed to have a bad performance!

Don’t let this single performance snowball into several bad sessions and games.

You deserve to play college soccer. You’ve played well before, and you will have great performances again!

Take a breath, refocus your attention on getting little things correct again in practice sessions, and you’ll be on track for a positive performance next match.

6. Take A Second To Stop And Enjoy

It’s easy to get caught up in everything going on in our lives as a collegiate athlete.

Academics, soccer, social networks, professional ambitions.

Yes, there’s A LOT going on, and easy to get overwhelmed.

But remember to take moments to reflect and be grateful for this life.

Be grateful for the powerful learning opportunities, life-long friendships, and the experience playing the sport you love full-time while surrounded by an empowering community!

7. Your Coach (95% Of The Time) Isn’t Out To Get You

Most times, your coach isn’t out to get you.

I say most because some coaches will unfortunately go out of their way to make things harder for you (why? I have no idea...)

They may not select you to be in the starting eleven, to travel with the team, or play you at all!

They’re not doing this to anger or attack you personally; ultimately, they want the team to win games, and they’ll do what they think is best for their team.

Don’t be afraid to respectfully approach the coach regarding your thoughts and have an honest conversation, which puts the team first. Always approach the coach with the ultimate goal of helping them and the team win – don’t make it about you and the issues you’re personally having.

Ask what you can do to help the team, where you are in their short- and long-term plans, and what their expectations are for you moving forward.

8. Strength & Fitness Training Is VERY Important

It may not seem relevant, but strength and conditioning training is VERY important as a collegiate athlete.

University/college soccer is physically demanding and requires you to be in top physical condition.

For instance, during the Fall competitive season you’ll play 1 or 2 games every week from August till November/December.

During this time, you must be able to perform physically at your best every practice and game.

You must be able to sprint, change direction and jump thousands of times, while being pushed, tackled, and kicked every game.

Ensure you strength train before, during, and after the season, to perform your best while avoiding injury.

9. Arrive To Pre-season Fitter Than Everyone Else

This ties into the previous topic – arrive to pre-season in better condition than everyone else.

Be sure to perform conditioning exercises such as intervals and distance runs with and without the ball the spring and summer before pre-season.

If you can arrive in optimal condition, it will give you an edge in training, impress your coach, and give you a better chance of making the starting eleven for the beginning of the season.

Ultimately, your fitness levels are the easiest to control, but take consistent hard work - coaches will always be impressed by the players who come in fitter than others, and give you a great first impression.

10. Set (And Always Revisit) Personal & Professional Goals

This ties into the previous topic – arrive to pre-season in better condition than everyone else.

Be sure to perform conditioning exercises such as intervals and distance runs with and without the ball the spring and summer before pre-season.

If you can arrive in optimal condition, it will give you an edge in training, impress your coach, and give you a better chance of making the starting eleven for the beginning of the season.

11. Respect And Get To Know Every Teammate Every Year

One of the great sides of soccer is the network of friends you create every season, especially during your collegiate soccer years.

Every season you'll see players leave, whether they’re graduating seniors or outgoing transfers, and new faces arriving as transfers or freshmen.

Go out of your way to meet and connect with every teammate.

Find out their likes, dislikes, their inspirations and motivation, what their personal and professional goals are, and their experiences prior to college soccer.

These created connections are tremendously valuable, and each relationship can offer you an insightful learning experience.

These relationships will influence you for the rest of your life.

Create authentic stable relationships, and you’ll be grateful you did later in your life.