Finding a place to play college athletics is not as easy as many people think. Finding the RIGHT place to actually PLAY is even harder. Former University of Chicago soccer coach Avi Stopper offered tips for high school students who are looking to extend their playing careers.

While Stopper’s points are genuine, they miss some critical points that recruits need to know. Stopper tells students to find colleges by talking to friends and family, using books and on-line guidance tools Top Prospects and speaking with college counselors. These methods can be useful, but student-athletes need to understand that just because they like a college and may qualify academically, that does not mean they will be a fit for the team. Stopper continues by preaching that student-athletes should research the team website, narrow down a list of ten to twenty colleges and then visit 5 of these colleges.

We are missing a vital step here!

In order to be recruited and find out where you stand, you MUST communicate directly with the college coach.

Speak with your high school and/or club coaches or Top Prospects to get an honest assessment of what divisions you qualify for. Then, you must introduce yourself to the college coach. You should never narrow down your options until you know exactly where you fall on those coaches’ recruiting boards. If you want to select a college and try to walk on, Stopper’s advice may work, but if you want to PLAY, a lot more work and scrutiny must go into your college selection process.