By Pat Grecco
January 14, 2025-In my more than three decades of placing high school athletes into colleges and universities to play soccer, there have been times when the decision to attend the high-profile university superseded the opportunity to playing soccer at the collegiate level. The decision then had to be made, “Do I play club soccer in college?”
In the pecking order of college sports there is 1. Varsity, 2. Club and 3 Intramural. If you love the game of soccer, don’t give up if were not recruited by the coach at the school you plan to attend. Like many types of club programs, they have President, Vice-President and Treasurer as club programs are student-run and student-led. Club soccer is not governed by the NCAA or any sanctioning organization.
What club soccer can do for you:
• Keep you in the game that you love
• Obtain leadership skills
• Maintain fitness level
• Make friends and develop commitment
Fundraising is an important part of club sports. In order to provide funding, events are hosted, donations requested, usually from parents and family. This money attempts to make the club program independent and self-supporting. Depending on your college’s funding structure, you might have to pay some of the costs associated with participating in a club sport. This can include equipment, uniforms and even travel costs for away games.
Keep in mind that playing club soccer in college is most likely not a bridge to getting onto the Varsity the following year. There is usually a faculty member who is in charge of club and intramural sports at a college, but please understand that most of the club sport activity is student-run.
Some college club teams might be highly competitive, feeling almost like a varsity team, while others might be more relaxed. You’ll want to check in with the team culture and commitment level at your school and ensure it fits with your expectations and course schedule. Club sports are less demanding of your time but a great way to make friendships and feel a part of the campus community.
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Pat Grecco is an Eastern New York and Long Island Junior Soccer League Hall of Famer who is CEO of the College-Bound Athlete Scholarship Service. For more info, log on to www.collegeboundathlete.com or contact Pat directly at soccervol@aol.com
With over 100,000 youth soccer players––both boys and girls––and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) stretches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border. Members are affiliated with 10 leagues throughout the association, which covers the entire state of New York east of Route 81. ENYYSA exists to promote and enhance the game of soccer for children and teenagers between the ages of 5 and 19 years old, and to encourage the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees and administrators. All levels of soccer are offered––from intramural, travel team and premier players as well as Children With Special Needs. No child who wants to play soccer is turned away. ENYYSA is a proud member of the United States Soccer Federation and US Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/