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College Soccer
About
+31 sports
Our Mission
Personal guidance for athletes in the college sports recruiting process.
Dutch Roots
The name +31 Sports represents our Dutch roots (+31) and the sports in which our country excels globally.
Experience and Expertise
Over ten years in soccer and hockey recruitment for America. Strong network ensuring the right placement for our talents.
Comprehensive Support
Tailored assistance every step of the way. Success in placing athletes in top American colleges.
Christoph Willemsen
College Athlete
Played at Lincoln Memorial University (2017-2019)
Education
Earned an MBA Lincoln Memorial University
Recruitment Experience
5 years in college recruiting
2 years as a NCAA DII coach
Lars Blenckers
College Athlete
Played at Urbana University (2015-2017)
Education
Earned an MBA from Urbana University
Recruitment Experience
7 years in college recruiting
College Soccer
What is College Soccer?
College soccer in America means you can play for an
American university (college) while also pursuing a degree on a scholarship.
It's a unique opportunity to continue playing at a high level after high school
and simultaneously earn a diploma in the U.S.
The opportunity
Play at a High Level
Compete against some of the best college teams in the country.
Experience Playing Like a Pro
Benefit from professional coaching, intense training programs and access to top facilities.
Earn a Degree
Graduate with a valuable degree that prepares you for future careers.
Chance to Get a Scholarship
Financial assistance available for talented players.
more than just soccer and school..
Overall Development
Develop time management, leadership, and teamwork skills.
Unique Experience
Enjoy the vibrant campus life and extracurricular activities.
Making Friends
Form close bonds with teammates and fellow students.
New Cultures
Experience diverse cultures and perspectives. Enhance your global awareness and understanding.
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life as a
college soccer player in the usa
Daily Schedule
- School/Classes
- Training/Games
- Homework
- Social Life
Academic year
- Fall semester (August - December)
- Winter break (4 weeks)
- Spring semester (January - May)
- Summer break (3 months)
Facilities
Soccer Stadiums
Exceptional playing surfaces maintained to the highest standards.
Fitness Centers
Fully equipped with the latest workout machines and free weights.
Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Centers
On-campus facilities staffed by professional physiotherapists.
Nutrition Centers
Expert nutritionists available to create personalized meal plans.
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Soccer divisions
The soccer system in the U.S. is different from Europe. Especially at the college level.
In America there are different organizations that offer competitive college soccer.
The universities play under one of the following organizations:
What are Scholarships?
A scholarship is a grant that covers a significant portion (or even all) of the costs associated with studying at a university. There are both soccer and academic scholarships available.
Soccer Scholarships
- Awarded by the athletic department (coach)
- Based on and dependent on your athletic level
Academic Scholarships
- In addition to soccer scholarships
- Based on your GPA and/or SAT scores
University costs
a scholarship can cover
The total cost of the items below is called 'cost of attendance'.
The cost of attendance can range from $50,000 to $90,000 per year.
TUITION
Covers the costs of classes & fees and is often calculated per credit hour or semester.
HOUSING
Provides accommodations, such as a dorm room or off-campus housing.
MEALS
Offers a meal plan that includes a set number of meals per week, usable at campus cafeterias.
BOOKS
Helps cover the cost of textbooks and other required academic materials.
Insurances
Provides health insurance to cover medical needs during your studies & sport.
success story
Wes bottenburg
Life as a student-athlete at Tulsa is a dream come true for me. Here, I have the opportunity to develop myself every day in the realms of sports, academics, and personally.
Traveling for exciting away games, living independently, and being part of a university family are unique experiences I could never have had in the Netherlands. In our team, filled with diverse nationalities, we are on a promising path to compete for top honors this year. Additionally, I receive excellent guidance to push myself to the fullest academically.
Meet our soccer athletes
Studying in the USA
academic degrees
In the US, you can complete different type of degrees.
Associate's degree
- Typically completed in two years at community colleges
- Offers a foundation in a specific field
- Prepares students for entry-level jobs or further study
Bachelor's degree
- A four-year degree provided by colleges and universities
- Covers a broad range of fields
- Essential for entry into many professional careers and higher education opportunities
Master's degree
- Advanced degree in a specialization.
- Requires one to two years of study beyond the bachelor’s degree
- Designed to deepen knowledge and skills in a particular field
academic requirements
U.S. universities set different academic requirements based on the school.
These typically include considerations like your GPA, SAT scores, and whether you have a high school diploma.
High School Degree
- Must have completed high school or hold an equivalent degree
- Foundational education
GPA and Grades
- Standards vary by university
- Higher GPA can enhance your application, showing academic success.
SAT and/or ACT
- Standardized tests providing a common measure of academic readiness. Testing English and Math skills.
Life on an AMerican Campus
Life on an American campus offers a lively and inclusive atmosphere. Students typically live in dorms, creating a tight-knit community.
Campuses provide meal plans and various dining options, ensuring food availability is convenient. There's always something happening, from sports events to club activities, enriching the student experience.
Additionally, campuses feature well-equipped gyms and other facilities to support both academic and personal growth.
Getting started
Athletic & Academic
Evaluation
Determining eligibility for a soccer scholarship involves assessing several key factors.
Before starting the recruiting process, we evaluate the following to map out your potential and set clear expectations.
You will receive the findings in a comprehensive recruitment plan.
Soccer level
Your soccer level is arguably the most important factor to determine whether or not you qualify for a soccer scholarship. College coaches only recruit top international players to their programs.
We can help evaluate which Division is a good fit for you.
Academic background
To be able to study in the USA, you need to maintain a GPA of at least 2.0. It's also important that you graduate with your high school degree.
In addition, you may need to take certain tests like the SAT or English proficiency tests. These results also impact your chances.
finances
Full scholarships are rare and are only reserved for the absolute top athletes.
Based on your soccer level and academic background we can give you a good idea of what scholarship offers you can expect.
This way you're prepared before getting started
What are the steps in the recruiting process?
Step 1
Intake &
Evaluation
Step 2
Recruiting Profile &
Highlight Video
Step 3
Introduction
to Coaches
Step 4
Scholarship Offers & Decision Making
Step 5
Paperwork and Preparations
Step 1: Intake & Evaluation
Intake
Firstly, it's important that you understand everything about playing college sports in the USA. During an intake we will explain to you how everything works and you can ask all the initial questions you have on your mind.
Evaluation
During this step, we also start a thorough evaluation. We look at your sports level and game videos, your grades and what you are looking for as an athlete and a student.
Recruitment plan
Based on our conversations and our evaluation we will create a recruitment plan for you so you understand what your opportunities are, what your recruiting timeline looks like and you will get an overview of the costs.
The above is free and meant to make sure you and your family can make an informed decision before starting the recruiting process.
Step 2: recruiting Profile & highlight Video
When we are all on the same page you're ready to officially start the recruiting process.
Recruitment profile
We kick off by building a recruiting profile for you on our website. See this as your athletic and academic resume. Your recruiting profile is the go-to page for coaches to learn more about you.
View here an example of a recruiting profile on our website.
Highlight video
Your highlight video is your biggest piece of marketing material throughout this process. We put a lot of effort into making the perfect video for you as a good highlight reel is the main trigger for coaches to reach out to you. Check out an example of a highlight video.
Step 3: Introduction to Coaches
After setting up your recruiting profile & highlight video, it's time to start reaching out to coaches.
Target Universities
We don't want to randomly connect you with schools that aren't a good fit, so we start by creating a list of target universities that we want to reach out to. With our expertise and extensive network we make sure you get connected to the right coaches.
Interview preparations
When a coach is interested, they want to set up a meeting with you to get to know you better. We are here for you to get you prepared for your first conversations.
Follow ups
It's important that we help you manage the communication with the coaches and work with a timeline that works for you and the coach to make decisions. We are the middleman that follows up with the coach and with you to make sure everyone is on the same page.
Step 4: Scholarship offers & Decision making
The more you proceed to speak with the coaches, the more likely it will be that you will receive a scholarship offer. We are here to help you making the right decisions and help you receive the best scholarship offers possible.
University Visits
If you start this process early, you may get invited to visit the interested university for an official visit. This is the ultimate way to make the best decisions. However, most scholarship offers are accepted without a university visit.
Decision Making
Our goal is to establish a personal relationship with you and your family so we can help you making a decision based on what you're looking for. With our years of experience we know which school is a good fit for you and which isn't.
NLI & Scholarship Offer
After you make your decision it's time to officially commit. You will sign your NLI (National Letter of Intent) and your scholarship offer. We will help you go through these formalities.
Step 5: Support with Paper work
There is an overlap with all the paper work and the previous steps. The paper work part is boring, but crucial in the recruiting process.
With us on your side, you don't have to research each and every step. We take the lead and tell you exactly what to do.
Test Registration
We usually start with this at the beginning of the process. Together we determine which tests you need to take like the SAT or an English proficiency test.
Eligibility Center
Becoming eligible to compete at the college level is crucial to get recruited. We evaluate your eligibility beforehand and support you with the registration.
University application
Typically, we only apply to the university you have committed to. This means sending in transcripts, essays, and finalizing the university application.
Visa application
After acceptance, you will receive the I20 document. With this document we can start the visa application. We will apply for the F1 student visa.
Final Preparations & Support in College
Scholarship signed, accepted into the university, and your F1 student visa is approved. You're now ready to leave for America to start your college journey.
Final Preparations
You're starting a new chapter, and we know what awaits you. We will help you to prepare all the little things before your departure. Think about insurances, cell phone plans, bank accounts an more.
Support in College
In college, you're far away from your family and friends. But we're here close by to support you when you're in the USA. We follow your achievements but we're also here when things aren't going as planned. We want to make sure you're having the time of your life.
Transfers
Sometimes an athlete is looking for a new challenge or just a different environment. We can then help with the process of transferring to a new university.
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R.J. DE JONG
Parent of Niek de Jong | CSU