| In today's competitive sports world, self-promotion is | | | | soccer video) of a player who's spent nine months |
| more important than ever. When you're competing | | | | abroad training daily under professional coaches. This is |
| against 500 players for a spot on a university team, a | | | | a great way to distinguish yourself from your soccer |
| scholarship, or pro trial, you need a way to stand out | | | | peers and get your foot in the door by doing |
| from the crowd. A lot of players out there have talent, | | | | something different and unique that is more likely to |
| but you need talent and something more. | | | | influence a decision make in your soccer future. |
| So what can you do to really make an impression with | | | | World-class name dropping: |
| coaches? What really catches their attention? | | | | My friends in NCAA or Division I, II, and III colleges are |
| Soccer promotion - Back to basics: | | | | inundated with soccer videos and resumes. By |
| First, make sure your basics are in order. You need an | | | | attending an international soccer training program under |
| updated, modern soccer resume that combines | | | | internationally-recognized coaches, you can set |
| education stats with soccer stats. Get letters of | | | | yourself apart from the pack politically, while also |
| recommendation, technical evaluation reports by | | | | developing dramatically as a soccer player. |
| high-level or professional coaches when possible, a | | | | Think about it. If you were a decision maker in soccer, |
| well-edited highlight video to showcase your skills | | | | who would you choose to consider? A soccer player |
| during training and matches. Remember, there's a lot of | | | | who ran though a camp somewhere in New Jersey or |
| politics in soccer. You can use that to your advantage | | | | a soccer player who traveled abroad to train under |
| when promoting yourself. | | | | Bolton Wanderers coaching staff or another high-level |
| Leverage your soccer academy experience: | | | | football academy? |
| High-level camps domestically are a dime a dozen, and | | | | Soccer academy bonus - technical excellence: |
| they don't really raise eyebrows on your soccer | | | | Training under world-class soccer coaches for |
| resume. A lot of soccer players attend these camps | | | | prolonged periods of time will help perfect your |
| and programs and it's unlikely to impress a university | | | | physical stamina, tactical awareness and knowledge, |
| soccer coach or of professional club, scout or agent. | | | | and overall technical football skills. There's no substitute |
| International soccer academies are another story. Few | | | | for sustained professional football training- and |
| coaches see a soccer resume (and associated | | | | coaches will see the difference in you on the pitch. |