Menifee Youth Soccer League

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NCSA RECRUITING CORNER

Kicking the School Season Off Right

With school starting again, life can get a little hectic for a high school student-athlete.  Here are a few topics to keep in mind as you get back into the swing of things this fall.

Priority of Academics:  It can be difficult to balance school work, soccer, and extracurricular activities.  Make sure that you are using your time wisely and keep in mind that school work is most important and should be the first thing that you tackle every day after school.  If your grades start to slip, it is time to reevaluate how you are spending your time.  Get extra help if needed or stay after school, but ensure that enough time is devoted to maintaining good grades.

Set Goals:  Goal setting is a habit of highly successful people.  Write down on a piece of paper a few academic and athletic accomplishments you hope to achieve this semester. Make sure that your goals are specific and measurable.  Instead of, “I want to get a good grade in biology,” think of a measurable goal such as, “I want to get a 92% on my biology test next week.”  Then think about how you want to accomplish that goal.  Are you going to study for an hour after school each day?  Or make flash cards?  Make sure your athletic goals are set the same way.  Instead of, “Get in better shape,” consider, “I want to be able to run one mile in under seven minutes.”  Keep your goals in a location where you will constantly be reminded of what you are trying to accomplish this semester.

Go watch a college match:  There are many colleges and universities located in Southern California, and chances are that you are located within a few hours drive of at least one of them.  Drive to campus and watch a game!  Watching a live college soccer match will give you a great idea about the competitiveness and intensity at the collegiate level.  Watching a game is also a fun way to spend a few hours on campus and see the soccer facilities.  If you have time, contact the admissions office to schedule a campus tour or to meet with an admissions counselor and always let the coach know that you will be there prior to your visit.

Keep up the hard work on the field:  Make sure you always give 100% in practice as it will reflect on the game field.  Find out from your coach what skills you should work on and make a point to practice those areas on your own.  Not only is your performance at practice important, but taking care of your body is as well.  Make certain to stretch after workouts, always stay hydrated and eat well-balanced meals.

The beginning of the school year can be a stressful time for any student-athlete.  Keep these pointers in mind and the rest of the school year will be just as easy as the beginning!

About NCSA
NCSA, the “Official Scouting Organization and Provider of Recruiting Education” for Cal South, is the premier source for matching high school scholar – athletes with colleges and universities across the country. NCSA is the "Eyes & Ears" of more than 35,000 college coaches, who rely on NCSA's experienced scouting team and instant response capabilities to provide them with quality prospective recruits. NCSA prides itself in educating high school student-athletes and their families about the college recruiting process. Visit www.ncsasports.org for more information about NCSA.