What it takes
Measured numbers barely matter. Soccer recruits on club level and film.
- Club level (such as ECNL, MLS NEXT or Girls Academy) and showcase exposure.
- Full game film plus a highlight reel.
- Speed and fitness that hold up at the next level. The only college data are single team studies.
- Grades and core courses.
ProvenPlayer's summary of the sources on this page.
At each level
Division I
Roster up to men 28, women 28 at schools that opted in; men 9.9 equivalency, women 14 equivalency scholarships at schools that did not
- 30 meter sprint, field players: 4.58 to 4.9 s (D1 women, study)
- Pro agility, field players: 4.9 to 5.24 s (D1 women, study)
- Vertical jump, field players: 18.1 to 21.3 in (D1 women, study)
Division II
Up to men 9, women 9.9 scholarships a team, often split
No published range for this level.
Division III
No athletic aid
No published range for this level.
NAIA
Up to men 12, women 12 scholarships a team, may be split
No published range for this level.
Junior college
Up to men 24, women 24 a team
No published range for this level.
Each range is the first one a source gives for that level; the full table with every source is below.
Ranges by measure and position
No governing body (the NCAA, NAIA or NJCAA) publishes a number by division that a player must reach. A range is guidance, and no number promises a roster spot or a scholarship.
30 meter sprint
| Level | Position | Range | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| D1 women | Field players | 4.58 to 4.9 s | Study: Risso, Lockie et al. 2017, one D1 women's team of 22 (2017)Mean plus or minus one standard deviation; one team |
| D1 men | All | 4.18 to 4.52 s | Study: Multani et al. 2022, 17 D1 men (2022)Mean plus or minus one standard deviation |
Pro agility
| Level | Position | Range | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| D1 women | Field players | 4.9 to 5.24 s | Study: Risso, Lockie et al. 2017, one D1 women's team of 22 (2017)Mean plus or minus one standard deviation; one team |
Vertical jump
| Level | Position | Range | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| D1 women | Field players | 18.1 to 21.3 in | Study: Risso, Lockie et al. 2017, one D1 women's team of 22 (2017)Mean plus or minus one standard deviation |
Roster and scholarship limits
Since July 1, 2025, Division I schools in the five defendant conferences or that opted in to the House settlement follow a roster limit instead of a scholarship limit, and may fund any or all of the roster. Schools that did not opt in keep the old scholarship limit. Division III gives no athletic aid.
| Team | D1 roster | D1 not opted in | D2 | D3 | NAIA | Junior college |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men | 28 | 9.9 equivalency | 9 | None | 12 | 24 |
| Women | 28 | 14 equivalency | 9.9 | None | 12 | 24 |
- Official: NCAA Proposal 2026-73, Bylaw 17.2 roster limits (Adopted August 25, 2026)
- Published data: ScholarshipStats, NCAA Division I scholarship limits (Page dated 2026)
- Official: NCAA Division II athletics scholarships (Page dated 2026)
- Official: NAIA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete, aid limits table (March 2019)
- Official: NJCAA 2026-27 Sports Procedures Chart (October 27, 2026)
The odds
| Team | Any NCAA | Division I | About 1 in | Division II | Division III |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men | 5.9% | 1.4% | 71 | 1.7% | 2.8% |
| Women | 7.9% | 2.8% | 36 | 2.2% | 3% |
High school counts leave out club only athletes, so the real odds may be lower. No official odds exist for the NAIA or junior colleges.
Official: NCAA Research, Estimated Probability of Competing in College Athletics (March 2026)When college coaches may reach out
| Division I | Calls, texts, email | Contact off campus | Official visits |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | June 15 after sophomore year | August 1 before junior year | August 1 of junior year |
Other levels
- Division II: Calls, texts and email at any time (since August 1, 2024). In person contact off campus and official visits from June 15 before junior year. Official: NCAA Division II Manual 2026-27 (Printed October 30, 2026)
- Division III: No time limit on recruiting materials. In person contact off campus after sophomore year. One official visit per school from January 1 of junior year; unofficial visits any time. Official: NCAA Division III Manual 2026-27, Bylaw 15.01.3 (Printed October 30, 2026)
- NAIA: Few restrictions on contact between an athlete and a coach. Official: NAIA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete (2026)
- Junior college: Letter of Intent signing from November 1 (February 3 in football). We have not researched a contact start date. Official: NJCAA 2026-27 Sports Procedures Chart (October 27, 2026)
When athletes commit
In a 2017 NCAA survey of recruited Division I athletes, those in soccer who committed early did so in grade 11.5 (men) and 10.8 (women) on average, where 11.0 is the start of junior year. The survey came before rules that pushed contact later, and athletes who committed before 11th grade were less likely to enroll where they committed.
Official: NCAA Division I SAAC Early Recruiting Survey (October 2017)Grades and core courses
NCAA Division I
A 2.3 core GPA in at least 16 core courses: 4 English, 3 math at Algebra I or higher, 2 natural or physical science, 1 more English, math or science, 2 social science and 4 more academic. 10 of the 16, 7 of them English, math or science, must be done before senior year, and those grades lock when senior year starts. A 2.0 core GPA allows aid and practice but no games in the first year. No test score is required.
Official: NCAA Division I Manual 2026-27 (Printed October 30, 2026)NCAA Division II
A 2.2 core GPA in at least 16 core courses.
Official: NCAA Division II Manual 2026-27 (Printed October 30, 2026)NAIA
Graduate from high school with a 2.3 GPA or higher, or meet two of three: an 18 ACT or 970 SAT, a 2.0 GPA, the top half of the class.
Official: NAIA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete (2026)Junior college (NJCAA)
A high school diploma or a state recognized equivalency.
Official: NJCAA Bylaws 2026-27 (October 27, 2026)
Plan the years ahead
The scholarship roadmap turns this into a year by year plan from your child's age to senior year. See all sports for the money, the odds across sports and the scholarships families do not know about.