Wednesday Soccer Roundup: Recruiting Wisdom and the Freezing Temps!!

Welcome to your Wednesday soccer briefing!

⚽ NCAA and ECNL Under Fire for Freezing Conditions

The NCAA and ECNL are facing heavy criticism for hosting the NCAA finals and the ECNL event in freezing Kansas City. A post by @AvaTibor summed up the frustration perfectly:

"NCAA, you put our athletes in freezing conditions on the biggest weekend of their college careers. WHY?"

Michele Kang’s perspective resonates here: women’s soccer must be athletically entertaining to draw fans who say, “I have to go see this game,” rather than simply supporting women’s sports out of obligation. Cold weather, however, undermines this goal. Studies show that cold conditions reduce sprint speed and power by 5-10%, directly impacting the quality of play.

Football, by contrast, understands the importance of protecting its product. NCAA D1 FBS playoff games and championships are held in warm cities or climate-controlled stadiums to ensure the game remains fast, loud, and elite. They also create a party-like atmosphere for fans, broadcasting that energy to engage viewers. Cold weather, on the other hand, kills crowd attendance and engagement.

The athletes delivered elite performances on Friday and Monday night despite the conditions, but now it’s time for the NCAA to step up. Returning to Cary for the next two years feels like a step backward. As @AvaTibor asks, “What am I missing?”

⚽ Words of Wisdom: Recruiting Tips

@d1scholarship on X shared some valuable advice for college recruiting:

"How early is too early in college recruiting? The simple answer is that as long as your athlete is in high school, you're good to start."

⚽ Remember: “It’s not how good you are, but who knows you’re good!” Take action today: