Soccer

 August-December  In Season

The official NCAA men’s soccer season typically starts in mid-August, with teams beginning preseason training and exhibition matches. The regular season begins in early September and runs through early November. Teams typically play 1-2 games per week, usually on weekends, with some midweek games as well. The regular season typically ends in early November, with teams wrapping up conference play and preparing for the postseason tournament if they qualified. The NCAA postseason tournament typically concludes in early December.

 January-May  Off Season

While the official NCAA season is over, teams hold offseason training and conditioning programs during the winter and spring months. Major emphasis is given to physical conditioning development. Teams participate in exhibition games and indoor or outdoor tournaments, usually with a maximum of 6 games, but these are typically not official NCAA events.

Each individual coach has his/her own game philosophy and approach when it comes to recruiting. According to their game-play model and roster needs, certain player characteristics are preferred. Therefore, other than being a profile that suits their program, timing is also of great importance. For example, if a coach allocates full scholarships to two freshman central defenders in 2023, then most likely their 2024 budget allowance for a third central defender will not be a priority.

Even if you don’t like the program you chose to commit to, you can transfer to another institution while still competing. College soccer players may choose to transfer to a different program for a variety of reasons, such as a desire for more playing time, a better academic fit, or a change of scenery. The transfer process typically involves communicating with coaches and administrators at both the current and prospective institutions, submitting transfer paperwork, and adhering to NCAA transfer rules and regulations.