Roadmap to College Soccer : Temple Athlete Advisory Group

The comments keep coming, so in Episode 33 Grant and Erik keep answering them.

They open with Erik’s first season in a new conference, including a scoreless tie against Messiah, one of the most decorated programs in D3 history, and what a program’s rise changes about how a coach recruits. Erik explains why recruiting to an identity matters more than chasing the best player at every position.

Then an update on the D1 year-round vote, which is due November 6th. Erik breaks down something most people don’t realize: every D1 school votes, including schools that don’t sponsor men’s soccer. They also discuss what the decision could open up for other sports, and why the weeks after the vote and the start of the transfer portal could reshape recruiting heading into December showcases.

Erik’s advice to families priced out of the top leagues: be selective with ID camps, be honest with coaches about your situation, and consider starting at a level where you’ll play, then working your way up.

Got a question or a take you want us to answer on air?

Email: admin@templeathlete.com or drop it in the comments.

New episodes every Friday.

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Our clip on the D1 year-round season got more comments than anything we’ve ever posted. Some of you agreed. A lot of you didn’t. So in episode 32, Grant and Erik read your comments and an email from a listener and answer them directly, no edits.

They start with the gap year clip that got cut right at the wrong moment, and Erik explains what he actually meant when he said a recruit telling him “I want to go pro” can end the conversation.

Then a listener pushed back on the idea that “D3 is the new D1” and pointed out how talented southern D2 conferences are. Erik explains where that idea came from, where the listener is right, and how the top of D1 moving toward a semi-pro model is pushing strong players into D3 and D2.

From there they take on the biggest topic in the comments: international players. How American players can compete, why international recruits often arrive with a different mindset about going pro, why sending American kids overseas for a gap year may not get them seen by the right people, and why the new age-based eligibility clock could narrow the age gap.

They also respond to comments claiming 2027 recruits are “screwed,” that most D1 programs will be cut “by design,” that no D1 player goes pro, and that most recruits stay within 150 miles of home. Plus a player’s question: can D2 or D3 still lead to professional soccer?

The theme running through all of it: playing college soccer is a privilege you earn, not something you’re owed.

Got a question or a take you want us to answer on air? Email mailto:admin@templeathlete.com or drop it in the comments.1

The biggest recruiting events of the year are coming. ECNL Phoenix. ECNL South Carolina. MLS Next Fest in Arizona. Thousands of players, hundreds of college coaches, and most families walking in with no plan.

In episode 31, Erik takes you inside how a college coaching staff actually builds its showcase schedule. Which events a staff chooses and why, how coaches split up when two major events land on the same weekend, and how a coach decides which of the dozens of games in a single time slot is worth walking to.

He explains why the player who emailed ahead of time draws a coach to the field (and their teammates and opponents along with them), why goalkeepers need to tell coaches exactly which half they’re playing, and why D3 programs are now showing up at MLS Next events they would have skipped a few years ago.

He also covers what coaches see in person that film never shows: warmups, body language, coach-ability, how a player responds after giving the ball away or getting subbed off.

Then he lays out a simple three-step framework for the next six to eight weeks: identify, prepare, execute. Plus how to find which coaches are registered for each event, and a real client story about what a genuine official visit looks like compared to one that signals low interest.

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On October 7th the NCAA Division I Cabinet affirmed the proposal to move D1 men’s soccer to a year-round model. Fall and spring competition segments. A spring championship. One transfer window after the season ends. It is now in a 30-day rescission period, and if it survives, it takes effect for the 2027-28 academic year.

In Episode 30, Grant and Erik break down what actually happened, why the vote was close, and what this means for families in the recruiting process right now.

Erik explains why nearly every coach loves the idea from a pure soccer standpoint, and why the decision will come down to athletic directors, presidents, budgets, and facilities. They walk through the real risk that some mid- and low-major programs cut men’s soccer entirely rather than absorb the cost, and what that does to the number of D1 roster spots available. They also get into how a single spring transfer window and the fifth year eligibility rule could collide on D1 rosters, how the showcase calendar is likely to shift, and what this means for D2 and D3 coaches who recruit at the same events.

And they cover the women’s side, where the oversight committee declined to propose the same change.

The bottom line: you cannot control what the NCAA decides. You can control finding your best fit.

New episodes every Friday.

Join the Roadmap to College Soccer Operating System: https://www.skool.com/temple-athlete-advisory-group-7525/about

The Five-for-Five eligibility rule changed the landscape. And now more families than ever are asking the same question — should my athlete take a gap year?

In Episode 29 Grant and Erik give you the most honest take on gap years you are going to hear anywhere. Not the version the prep school program sells you. Not the version the club coach suggests when they want to keep your kid on the roster for another year. The actual version.

They cover what is actually driving this conversation right now, what the Five-for-Five eligibility clock means for families considering a gap year and why getting this wrong can cost your athlete eligibility rather than preserve it, the specific circumstances where a gap year genuinely makes sense versus where it is almost always a reactive emotional decision, what coaches actually think when a recruit tells them they are taking a gap year, the bridges that get burned in that moment and how hard they are to rebuild, and the pro and con framework every family should run through before making this call.

They also announce a new school directory inside the Roadmap to College Soccer community with all college coach contacts and a best fit filter built in.

New episodes every Friday.

Five weeks left in the college soccer season. In episode 28 Grant and Erik pull back the curtain on what is actually happening inside programs right now and what it means for families navigating the recruiting process this fall.

They get into how the schedule works and why it matters for recruiting, what coaches are evaluating about their rosters as the season winds down, how the decision to bring someone back for a fifth year gets made and when those conversations actually happen, and why the Five-for-Five eligibility rule has created genuine chaos for coaches who are trying to build their classes without knowing the rules that will govern them.

They also share a real client story about resetting not restarting when a commitment falls through and what that actually looks like in practice.

And they close with the most actionable advice of the season for families who still have time to move the needle before November.

New episodes every Friday.

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In Episode 27 Grant and Erik sit down with Lauren Ruhl, Licensed Professional Counselor and Sport Psychology Clinician at Greenepsych in Haverford Pennsylvania. Lauren is the Director of the Injury Recovery Program and has worked with athletes from middle school through professional levels on the mental and emotional side of sport, injury, and performance.

She has also lived it. Three ACL tears of her own. A college career at Lebanon Valley College interrupted by injury. A career path that changed entirely because of what she experienced and what she saw was missing for athletes going through the same thing.

This episode covers everything the physical side of recruiting does not. What prolonged uncertainty and pressure actually do to a young athlete's mental state. What mind chatter is and how it shows up in the worst possible moments. The difference between real confidence and performed confidence. What happens to an athlete's identity when a serious injury hits during the recruiting process. How fear of reinjury actually shows up when an athlete returns to play. And what parents do that helps versus what they do that makes it worse even when it comes from a place of love.

One of the most important episodes we have recorded.

New episodes every Friday.

Three weeks into the college soccer season and Erik is in the thick of it. In Episode 26 he and Grant pull back the curtain on what the first few weeks of the season actually look like inside a program — how a freshman recruiting class gets evaluated in real time, what culture looks like when the pressure is on, and why the first three weeks tell a coach more about a player than twelve months of recruiting ever could.

They also get into campus visits. Fall is the best window to get on a college campus and watch a program play live — and most families are not doing it. Erik breaks down exactly what a recruit should be observing, what parents should understand about their role on a visit, and why there is no substitute for actually being in the building when the game is happening at full speed.

And they announce something new — the Roadmap to College Soccer Community is live. For families who want the insider knowledge without the one-on-one advisory, it is all in there. Tools, resources, live office hours, and a direct path through the process without the noise.

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In Episode 25, Grant and Erik sit down with Zach Bittner — a current college goalkeeper, former Sporting Delaware standout, and someone Erik coached and advocated for through the entire recruiting process firsthand.

Zach has trialed with DC United at 14, Cincinnati at 17, Atlanta United, and most recently LAFC this past summer. He started at Hofstra, transferred to Queens College, and is still actively pursuing professional soccer while finishing his degree. His path is anything but linear — and that is exactly why this episode is worth your time.

He talks about splitting minutes with a good friend on one of the best club teams in the country and how they both got recruited anyway, what it actually looks like to transfer from D1 to D2 and why it was the right move, how a day in the life of a college athlete actually goes, what the goalkeeper position demands that no other position does, and what he would tell his 16 year old self knowing everything he knows now.

He also talks about what having someone advocate for him with college coaches actually changed in his process. That part alone is worth the listen.

New episodes every Friday.

Chapters

• 00:00 Journey from Club to College
• 03:29 Trials at MLS Academies
• 12:31 Transition from D1 to D2 College Soccer
• 19:49 College Recruiting Process
• 23:27 Role of a College Pathway Director
• 26:21 Daily Life of a College Athlete

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Erik just finished his first ten days of preseason. In episode 24 he and Grant pull back the curtain on what that actually looks like inside a college program — the scrimmages, the roster decisions, the eighteen hour days, and why coaches go silent the moment August hits.

Then they get into the conversation most families are not having until it is too late — the commitment. What a verbal commitment actually means and what it does not. What should happen before a family says yes to any program. The cost of committing too early. The cost of waiting too long. What happens inside a coaching staff the moment a recruit commits. And what nobody tells you about the period right after you commit.

They also share real stories from current clients who are going through this process right now.

Chapters

• 00:00 Preseason Grind
• 02:58 Scheduling and Conference Changes
• 10:09 Preseason Challenges and Mindset
• 22:58 Recruiting and Commitments
• 24:34 College Soccer Recruiting Timelines
• 25:32 Understanding Early Decision and Early Action
• 28:20 Transparency and Communication in Recruiting
• 29:10 Evaluating Offers and Commitment Process
• 39:15 Navigating the Final Decision
• 46:41 The Game Beyond Competition

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In episode 23, Grant and Erik sit down with two of the most recognizable names in the Dallas soccer world — Dillon Vedral, founder of Vedral Soccer Academy and head coach of West Ham United at The Soccer Tournament, and David Balyeat, better known as Soccer Dave, with 257,000 Instagram followers and a playing career that took him from Mississippi College to Bolivia to Spain.

They talk about what they actually see from the kids they train every day, why playing at the highest club level does not automatically mean the recruiting will come, what social media does and does not do for a recruit, how to make yourself more recruitable off the field, and why the mindset you carry into this process matters more than most families realize.

They also get into the question nobody wants to answer honestly — what percentage of kids actually make it and what does that mean for the 99 percent who do not.

One of the most honest conversations we have had on this show.

Chapters

• 00:00 Unique Pathways to College Soccer
• 08:47 The Importance of Finding the Best Fit
• 24:31 The Impact of Social Media on Recruiting
• 31:54 Navigating the College Recruiting Process
• 34:09 The Reality of Pursuing Professional Soccer
• 37:19 The Importance of Personal Development and Mindset
• 39:16 The Role of Parents and Coaches in Player Development
• 48:05 The Grind of College Soccer
• 59:40 Insights and Advice for Aspiring College Soccer Players

Twenty two episodes in and we have never made this the main topic. Until now.

In Episode 22, Grant and Erik get into the one factor in college soccer recruiting that nobody talks about directly — the parent. What the best soccer parents actually do. What the ones who are hurting their kid's process look like without realizing it. What college coaches are clocking on the sideline during the recruiting process. What happens inside a program when a parent crosses the line. And why the sunk cost of ten years and a hundred thousand dollars in club fees can lead families to force decisions that cost their kid everything.

This one is not a knock on parents. It is a guide for them. Every college coach who has been on this show has touched on this topic. Today it gets its own episode.

No guests. No filter. New episodes every Friday!

Chapters

• 00:00 Exciting Upcoming Guests
• 01:14 The Role of Parents in College Soccer
• 03:18 The Impact of Parents on College Recruiting
• 04:06 Qualities of Supportive Soccer Parents
• 05:58 Negative Impact of Overbearing Parents
• 08:29 Guiding from the Back
• 09:27 Strategic Parental Involvement
• 13:53 Observing Parental Behavior
• 17:29 Consequences of Parental Behavior
• 21:39 Parental Dominance in Recruiting
• 25:00 Balancing Parental Involvement
• 27:54 Parental Perspective
• 31:22 Coaching and Parenting Parallels
• 35:09 Communication and Boundaries
• 36:16 Sunk Cost Fallacy
• 41:22 Financial Pressure and Decision Making
• 43:47 Financial Impact on Recruiting
• 45:30 Reframing Financial Perspectives
• 46:30 Impact of Financial Pressure

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In Episode 21, Grant and Erik sit down with Marsha Lycan, Associate Head Coach of Women's Soccer at William and Mary — and the first female coach to appear on the podcast.

Marsha played at William and Mary in the 1980s, spent decades coaching at the youth and college level, and returned to her alma mater eight years ago to build something alongside her former teammate and head coach Julie Shackford. The result is a program that just sent eight players home who came in together as freshmen and left together as seniors — something almost nobody is doing in college soccer right now.

She talks about what the women's recruiting timeline actually looks like, why confidence and parent dynamics matter as much as talent, the story of a recruit who sent an email with the subject line "Is the ink dry yet?" that changed everything, why chasing the D1 label is one of the most expensive mistakes a family can make, and what she would tell every junior year female athlete right now who feels stuck.

Every coach we have had on this show says the same thing. This episode is no different.

Chapters

• 00:00 Journey from Player to Coach at William and Mary
• 03:04 The Evolution of Recruiting for High-Academic, High-Athletic Programs
• 06:00 The Role of Mentality and Character in Player Selection
• 08:59 The Significance of Personal Connections in Recruiting
• 14:59 Beyond D1: Relationships, Life Lessons, and Character Development
• 27:00 The Impact of Parental Influence
• 28:21 Challenges in College Soccer Recruiting
• 31:15 The Role of Leadership and Team Dynamics
• 34:14 The Importance of Finding the Right Fit
• 38:56 The Misconceptions of College Soccer Recruiting
• 37:21 The Importance of Confidence and Support System
• 49:00 Recruiting Advice and Insights

College soccer is officially back. Preseason is underway and the season is right around the corner. In episode 20, Grant and Erik break down exactly what is happening inside college programs right now and what that means for families in the middle of the recruiting process.

They cover why silence from a coach during the season is not a red flag, what a college coach’s actual week looks like hour by hour, how to communicate with coaches during the season without being annoying or invisible, why fall is one of the most underrated windows to visit campuses and watch games, and what the one percent looks like when you feel stuck and overwhelmed in the process.

20 straight weeks. No signs of stopping. New Episodes every Friday!

Chapters

• 00:00 Episode 20 Kickoff
• 01:39 Preseason Preparation
• 03:11 The Chaos of Preseason
• 04:42 Communication During the Season
• 15:45 Understanding Coach's Daily Routine
• 20:31 Assistant Coach Communication
• 24:29 Building Relationships in the Industry
• 25:04 The Importance of Assistant Coaches
• 26:12 Leveraging Relationships for Job Placement
• 28:15 The Value of Networking and Proximity
• 29:09 The Significance of Titles and Relationships
• 30:19 The Importance of Campus Visits and Game Attendance
• 31:04 The Impact of In-Person Experience
• 34:17 Taking Control of the Recruiting Process
• 39:49 The Long-Term Nature of Recruiting

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The market for college soccer recruiting help has exploded. There are platforms, agencies, advisors, AI tools, and overseas professional placement companies all competing for the same families. In episode 19, Grant and Erik break down every category honestly — what each one actually does, who it is built for, what it cannot do, and where the lines get blurry.

They also get into something nobody is talking about publicly — the growing trend of committed players walking away from college programs at the last minute to chase professional opportunities overseas, what is actually behind that trend, and what it reveals about where youth soccer culture is heading.

This one gets real. No guests. No filter.

Chapters

• 00:00 The Evolution of College Soccer Recruiting
• 01:25 The Emergence of College Soccer Recruiting Services
• 02:11 Changes in Youth Soccer Space
• 04:01 The Need for College Soccer Recruiting Services
• 05:26 Challenges in the Recruiting Process
• 08:29 Professional Opportunities in Soccer
• 09:15 The Role of College Coaches
• 11:15 The Impact of Recruiting Services
• 12:28 Different Types of Recruiting Services
• 13:43 Accountability in the Recruiting Process
• 18:15 The Value of One-on-One Time
• 24:49 Transparency in Recruiting Services
• 32:39 The Impact of NIL on College Soccer
• 33:11 The Influence of Sponsorship and Deals
• 34:07 Motivation and Decision-Making
• 36:40 Navigating College Recruitment Services
• 37:40 The Importance of Personal Growth
• 39:07 The Impact of Decisions on Future Outcomes
• 43:12 The Role of College Coaches
• 41:05 The Importance of Personal Character
• 44:08 The Commitment and Loyalty Dilemma
• 49:40 The Influence of College Roster Construction
• 54:00 The Impact of Personal Decisions
• 57:23 The Roadmap to College Soccer

In Episode 18, Grant and Erik sit down with Alessio Crisanetti-Walker, a rising senior at the University of Rochester and former Sporting Delaware player who Erik coached through the recruiting process firsthand.

Alessio talks about what it actually felt like to wait for June 15th and hear nothing, how he broke out of the D1 or nothing mindset, why Rochester checked every box on his best fit list, what the transition from elite club soccer to the college game really looks like, and why three years in he has zero regrets about choosing a top academic D3 program over a Division 1 offer.

He also talks about spending a semester abroad in Milan, being a research assistant helping a professor write a book, and what none of that would have looked like if he had chased a logo instead of a fit.

If you have ever questioned whether D3 is worth it — this episode is the answer.

Chapters

• 00:00 Early Soccer Journey
• 01:27 Transition to College Pathway
• 03:05 Overcoming Adversity
• 09:17 Recruiting Process
• 14:59 Finding the Best Fit
• 18:27 Coach's Perspective
• 23:53 Networking and Warm Connections
• 25:56 Breaking Out of the D1 or Bust Mindset
• 26:18 Choosing Best Fit
• 28:07 The Division Label
• 34:45 Transition to College Soccer
• 44:43 The College Experience

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Nobody prepares athletes for what actually happens when they step onto a college soccer field for the first time. In episode 17, Grant and Erik pull back the curtain on everything families don't talk about — the off-field life shock, the physical and tactical gap between club and college, competing against older and more experienced players, navigating team culture as a freshman, and what actually determines whether a kid earns minutes in year one.

They also get into the US men's national team's World Cup exit, what it reveals about the deeper structural problems in American soccer development, and why the college game's current format may be part of the problem.

If your athlete is preparing for this transition — or you want to understand what they are actually walking into — this episode is required listening.

Chapters

• 00:00 Transitioning to College Soccer
• 05:35 Challenges for Freshmen Athletes
• 11:23 Differences in College Soccer
• 21:04 Adversity and Mindset in College Soccer
• 26:00 Tactical Considerations in College Soccer
• 28:59 Fitness Demands and Role Acceptance
• 30:04 Understanding Your Role and Accountability
• 32:22 Differences Between Club and College Soccer
• 34:10 Challenges in College Soccer Culture
• 36:15 Fitting into the Team Culture and Leadership
• 39:21 Development for College vs. National Team Soccer

Book a call today : https://templeathlete.com/strategy

It is early July. Club season is winding down. College coaches are six weeks from preseason. And most families are taking their foot off the gas at exactly the wrong time.

In episode 16, Grant and Erik break down what is actually happening in the college soccer world right now — what coaches are doing, what they are looking for, and why this specific window between seasons is one of the most underutilized opportunities in the entire recruiting process.

They also get into why so many families end up in a hamster wheel of uncertainty, what unofficial summer visits actually look like, how to build a real target list before August, and why treating recruiting advisory as a luxury instead of a necessity is one of the most expensive mistakes a family can make.

No guests this week. Just real talk about what is happening right now and what to do about it.

Chapters

• 00:00 The World of Soccer
• 05:00 Recruiting and Commitment Timelines
• 10:21 Time Management and Visits
• 17:23 Opportunity Cost of Inaction
• 24:17 Building Relationships and Progress
• 30:04 Confidence and Preparation
• 39:36 Taking Control of Recruiting
• 46:29 Hope and Expectations for the USA Game

Book a call today : https://templeathlete.com/strategy

The episode features a discussion on the World Cup excitement, updates from the NCAA, the impact of the five-year rule, recruiting implications, roster management challenges, coaching decisions, recruiting strategy, considerations for student-athletes, impact on youth soccer and college programs, challenges for coaches, recruiting realities, discussion on the full-year season, concerns and questions on the season schedule, committee and NCAA decision-making, momentum and impact of the World Cup, and updates on rule changes including the transfer portal and roster adjustments.

The conversation covers a range of topics, including the personalized recruiting landscape, finding the best fit, relief and reassurance in the recruiting process, the cultural impact of the World Cup, the global growth of soccer, the impact of the expanded World Cup format, the high stakes and unpredictability of the game, the World Cup experience in LA, anticipation for the next game, and the conclusion and gratitude for the support. The hosts also discuss the unifying power of the World Cup and the diversity of play styles, emphasizing the impact of MLS on CONCACAF and the global growth of the game.

Chapters

• 00:00 World Cup Excitement
• 05:35 Roster Management Challenges
• 10:45 Coaches' Approach and Recruiting Guidance
• 16:37 Committee and NCAA Decision-Making
• 22:13 Personalized Recruiting Landscape
• 28:22 World Cup Cultural Impact
• 33:49 Diversity of Play Styles
• 40:14 World Cup Experience in LA

Book a free strategy call with TAAG: https://templeathlete.com/strategy

June 15th just passed — the date D1 and D2 coaches can officially start communicating directly with rising juniors. In Episode 14, Grant and Erik break down what that date actually means in today's recruiting landscape, why it is not the milestone most families think it is, and what a sophomore going into junior year should actually be doing right now.

They also get into ID camps. It is summer. The emails are flooding in. And the question every family is asking is the same one — is this school actually interested or are we just filling a roster spot for the weekend? Erik answers that directly and breaks down the difference between camps that move the needle and camps that drain your wallet.

No guests this week. Just two brothers with real answers to the questions families are actually asking.

Chapters

• 00:00 The Significance of June 15th
• 15:20 The Communication Window
• 21:51 Proactive Decision-Making
• 29:36 Maintaining a Strategic Approach
• 36:22 Preparation and Execution

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