Club soccer and recruiting: ECNL, MLS NEXT, GA and high school

Which club soccer leagues do college coaches watch?

College coaches watch every level, but they spend the most time at the top national leagues' showcases: ECNL and Girls Academy for girls, MLS NEXT and ECNL for boys. ECNL Regional League, DPL, NPL and US Youth Soccer state leagues come next, and coaches recruit from all of them, especially below Division I.

These are general patterns, not rules. Coaches go where the players they want are, and a strong player in any league can draw them.

Can you get recruited playing only high school soccer?

Yes. Plenty of college players come from high school soccer only, most often to Division II, Division III, NAIA and junior college programs. Without club showcases, you have to bring coaches to you: send film, email first, and go to ID camps at the schools on your list so their coaches see you in person.

In the NCAA's 2024-25 figures, 7.9% of high school girls and 5.9% of high school boys who play soccer go on to an NCAA team, and those counts leave club-only players out. Ask your high school coach to film full games, and keep your stats for the season. The steps are in how to get recruited for college soccer. A strong full-game film matters even more when coaches can't see you at a showcase.

Should you switch clubs to get recruited?

Only if the move puts you in front of the coaches on your list and gets you real playing time. A bench spot in a top league can show coaches less than starting in a league below it. Weigh travel, cost and coaching too, and talk with your current club coach before deciding.

Ask the new club which colleges its players went to in the last two years, which showcases it attends, and how many minutes a player at your position gets. Then compare that with your school list. The right league is the one the coaches on your list actually watch.

How do you use your club team in coach emails?

Put your club, team or age group, league and jersey number near the top of every coach email, followed by your next showcase or tournament with dates. Coaches plan their weekends around events, so telling them where to watch you is often what gets you seen. Add your club coach's name too.

A week before a big event, email the coaches on your list your schedule: team, field if you know it, game times and jersey number. Example emails are in how to email college coaches, and what to film at those events is in the soccer recruiting video guide.

Does club soccer cost too much to be worth it for recruiting?

It depends on your goals and your family's budget. Top club teams can cost thousands of dollars a year with travel. If cost is a stretch, a regional league plus film, ID camps at schools on your list and steady emails can get you recruited too, especially at Division II, III, NAIA and junior college.

Whatever you spend on club, put some of the same energy into fit: schools where your grades are in range and the cost after aid works for your family. How the money works on the college side is in soccer scholarships by level.

How REACH helps club and high school soccer players

When you sign up for soccer, REACH asks where you play: high school, club or both, then your club, team or age group and league. That goes on your profile and into your coach emails, so coaches know where to see you. REACH is not affiliated with any club or league. More is on the soccer recruiting page.

Questions

Is ECNL better than MLS NEXT for college recruiting?

They serve different players. MLS NEXT is boys only and tied to pro academies; ECNL has girls and boys leagues. Both draw many college coaches. Pick the club where you'll play and be seen by the coaches on your list.

Do Division III coaches recruit from club soccer?

Yes. Division III coaches recruit at showcases across many leagues, and they also respond to emails and ID camp visits from high school players.

How many kids play high school soccer?

NFHS counted 393,048 girls and 484,908 boys in high school soccer in 2024-25. Club-only players aren't in that count.