Welcome to the D3Direct Newsletter, your go-to source for reliable D3 college recruiting & admissions information. Today, we’re covering the core D3 recruiting terms that recruits and their families should know. This topic was suggested by a parent who wanted to better understand the terminology at the D3 level. If there’s another term you’re struggling with, reply to this email and let us know! We’ll define it and add it to the full glossary on our website. Core Division III Recruiting Terms Division III (D3)Definition: The NCAA division that emphasizes academics and the overall student experience. D3 schools do not offer athletic scholarships, but athletes can receive merit-based scholarships and need-based financial aid.In practice: A coach says:“We’re D3, so we don’t offer athletic scholarships, but most of our players receive academic or need-based aid.” No Athletic ScholarshipsDefinition: D3 programs cannot award money specifically for athletic ability. Financial aid is awarded independently of athletics.In practice: An athlete receives: - Academic merit aid - Need-based aid (FAFSA) - Institutional grants…but nothing labeled “athletic money.” Supported / Support LetterDefinition: A written confirmation from a coach stating that the athlete is being supported in the admissions process. This is one of the strongest signals of real recruiting interest at the D3 level.In practice: A coach emails:“We will be supporting your application with admissions.”This often means the athlete has a high likelihood of admission if academic standards are met. Likely Letter (D3 Context)Definition: While more formal at D1/D2, some D3 schools provide informal likelihood confirmations indicating admissions alignment.In practice: A coach says:“Based on your transcript and test scores, admissions is comfortable with your profile.”This is effectively a verbal “green light,” though not binding.

Starting your college recruiting journey without a solid foundation can lead to costly mistakes. It only takes one misstep—whether it’s an incomplete highlight video, the wrong email approach, or targeting the wrong schools—to derail your entire recruiting process. That’s why I’ve created a 5-Step Foundation Process to ensure you’re set up for success: 1. Highlight Video: Grab coaches' attention. 2. Social Media: Post with purpose. 3. Coach Emails: Stand out in inboxes. 4. School List: Target reach, solid, and backup schools. 5. ID Camps: Plan your next 6 months. Each step is critical, and missing just one could mean missed opportunities. Don’t leave your future to chance. Build a recruiting plan that generates real coach interest within 6 months. 👉 Start Here to Build Your Foundation Special Offer: Join now at the Founders price of just $29—cancel anytime! Take control of your recruiting journey today!

Got questions? Post them here, and Steve or one of our team members who’ve been through the process will get you a straight answer. Remember, there are no dumb questions on this complicated journey—so don’t hesitate, fire away!

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.

Congratulations to Fred King on his new role as head coach at Wagner! Fred previously worked at Penn and brings a wealth of experience to the program.