How Claire Wasted 6 Months Chasing "Exposure" Before Finding the Right Fit!
When families first start the college soccer recruiting process, there’s a word that gets thrown around constantly. You see it in camp brochures, hear it on the sidelines, and read it in email subject lines.
That word is exposure!
For the longest time, Claire thought exposure was the golden ticket. Maybe you’ve felt the same way—that if you just show up to enough places, wear the right jersey, and play in front of enough clipboards, the offers will magically roll in.
But that idea led to six months of wasted time, energy, and money.
The Struggle: The "Spray and Pray" Method
Let’s be real: Claire’s story probably feels familiar. Like so many others, she fell into the trap known as the "Spray and Pray" method.
The approach sounded simple enough—go everywhere. Sign up for massive showcase tournaments where hundreds of teams play on dozens of fields. Register for generic ID camps that promise "50+ College Coaches in Attendance!" Send copy-and-paste emails to every school in a three-state radius, swapping out just the coach's name (and sometimes forgetting that, too).
Busy? Yes. Productive? Not so much.
Weekends turned into a blur of travel, hotel rooms, and expensive registration fees. Tired parents, tired players, and in the end?
Radio silence.
Picture this: Claire standing on the sideline of a huge showcase in New Jersey. It's freezing cold. There are supposedly forty coaches watching the game. Maybe three actually are on the sideline—two of whom are scrolling their phones.
It’s easy to feel invisible. After all those months chasing “exposure,” assuming visibility would lead to interest, the reality hits: the crowd is full, but no one is really watching. Just another jersey in a sea of thousands.
The Realization: Relationships Beat Randomness
Then—the turning point came. During a conversation with a coach from a small D3 school (one that wasn’t even on her original list), something clicked. The coach hadn’t spotted Claire at a giant showcase, but at a small, focused league game.
And the coach didn’t talk about exposure. Instead, he discussed movement off the ball, grades, and academic interests.
Suddenly, it’s clear: Recruiting isn’t a lottery; it’s a relationship.
Claire realized she was treating college coaches like lottery machines instead of people building teams. Trying to be seen by everyone meant never truly connecting with anyone.
So, her approach changed. Claire made a focused list of 10 schools that fit both her academics and playing style.
Gone were the generic emails. Instead, Claire started watching school games online, referencing specific things in recent seasons, and sending thoughtful questions (and the right highlight clips).
Instead of five random ID camps, she targeted two hosted by schools from that tailored list.
The difference? Night and day.
Now, Claire wasn’t just a number. Conversations moved past simple thank-yous to real discussions about roster spots, financial aid, and campus visits.
The Lesson: Targeted Trust Wins
So, if you’re exhausted from chasing every showcase and ID camp invite that pops up, take a breath.
The lesson here—and one I hope you’ll take to heart—is that precision beats volume.
You don’t need 50 coaches to like you. You need one coach to love you.
1. Do Your Homework First
Before registering for another camp, do your research. Does the school need someone at your position for your grad year? Do your grades match their admissions needs? If you can’t answer yes, you may want to save your money.
2. Personalize Your Outreach
Coaches recruit people, not just stats. When you reach out, show that you’ve taken the time to understand their program. Real trust comes from showing genuine interest in them, not just what they can do for you.
3. Focus on Fit, Not Flash
It’s easy to be distracted by big names and logos. But the best stories come from players who find the home where they can thrive—on the field, in the classroom, and in life beyond soccer.
Don’t waste six months like Claire did. Let go of the chase for exposure, and start making real connections with programs that fit you.
Ready to stop guessing and start targeting the right schools?
1
0 comments
How Claire Wasted 6 Months Chasing "Exposure" Before Finding the Right Fit!
powered by
skool.com/steve-coxon-soccer-network-4997
Navigate the college soccer recruiting journey: Build a clear plan, generate coach interest in 6 months, and avoid costly mistakes.
Suggested communities
Powered by