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Los Gatos United Soccer Club logo
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BEYOND THE FIELD / LOS GATOS UNITED

COLLEGE RECRUITING

Your next chapter.
A plan that fits you.

For players who want to keep soccer part of their college experience, LGU offers a place to ask questions, understand the process and take purposeful next steps.

Start with your education and the life you want to build, not just the team you hope to join.

Start your recruiting conversation

FOR EVERY LGU PLAYER

SUPPORT INCLUDED.

College recruiting support is available to every LGU player at no additional LGU program fee.

Led by Shawn Blakeman
LGU Sporting Director

This refers to LGU recruiting support, not third-party camp, travel or application charges.

Explore the high-school roadmap

COLLEGE COMMITMENTS

Next chapter. Always United.

Celebrate LGU players taking their next steps in college soccer. Explore their commitment announcements, then find the support for your own journey below.

These announcements span multiple graduating classes and reflect the destination announced at the time, not a live college roster. Class years are included where shown on the original graphic.

Skip to recruiting support · Explore the high-school roadmap

CHOOSE A COLLEGE.
NOT JUST A SOCCER TEAM.

Keep your options open across NCAA divisions, NAIA and community colleges. The right fit is the place where your education, daily life and soccer goals work together.

ACADEMICS FIRST

Look at subjects you want to study, academic expectations and the support available. Work with your school counselor on course planning and admissions requirements.

LIFE ON CAMPUS

Think about location, size, community and the experience you want outside training. Would you still choose the school if your soccer circumstances changed?

THE SOCCER ENVIRONMENT

Discuss your level honestly with your coach. Ask colleges about their coaching approach, team culture, positional needs and expectations for incoming players.

Make affordability part of the conversation. Compare the full cost with your family and each college’s financial-aid office, rather than judging an opportunity by an athletic-aid headline alone.

YOU LEAD THE PROCESS.
YOU DO NOT DO IT ALONE.

College coaches want to get to know the player. Take the lead in your emails, questions and follow-up, with the people around you helping you prepare.

Use your LGU support network for realistic conversations about level and fit, your school list, recruiting materials and outreach.

YOUR TEAM COACH

Start with the person who sees you train and compete. Your coach can speak to your ability, personality and approach, and is an important first contact for coach-to-coach outreach.

SHAWN BLAKEMAN

Shawn leads LGU’s college recruiting support. Bring him your questions and schools of interest; he works with club coaches and his college contacts to help you understand interest, opportunities and next steps.

YOUR SCHOOL AND FAMILY

School counselors help with academics, applications and eligibility planning. Parents and trusted adults help you consider costs, edit messages and weigh decisions while keeping your voice at the center.

FOUR HIGH-SCHOOL YEARS.
YOUR OWN PATH.

Use this as a planning guide, not a promise of when offers arrive. Your next step should match your goals, readiness and the rules for the colleges you are considering.

09 / BUILD YOUR FOUNDATION

Establish strong study habits, plan your courses with your counselor and keep developing on the field. Learn about college life, watch college soccer and start noticing the environments that interest you.

10 / EXPLORE AND PREPARE

Build an initial school list, create a concise player profile and gather useful match footage. Discuss your level with your coach, learn the applicable contact rules and begin thoughtful player-led outreach.

11 / REFINE AND CONNECT

Refine your list as you learn about school fit and team needs. Keep coaches updated, follow up after events and select camps or visits with a clear purpose. Stay in touch with your LGU coach and school counselor.

12 / CLARIFY AND DECIDE

Confirm where you stand with each program. Track application, eligibility and financial-aid deadlines, update your profile and discuss visits and written offers. Compare the whole college experience before making your decision.

MAKE IT EASY FOR A COACH
TO GET TO KNOW YOU.

Be clear, specific and prepared. A useful introduction gives a coach the information needed to understand who you are and where to watch you play.

YOUR PLAYER PROFILE

Prepare your graduation year, team, position, jersey number, relevant academic information, coach contact, video link and upcoming match or showcase schedule. Share sensitive documents only through an agreed, appropriate channel.

YOUR OUTREACH

Complete the college’s recruiting questionnaire. Write a personal introduction explaining why the school interests you, share your schedule before events and follow up afterward. Parents can help edit; the message should be yours.

Check with LGU before spending on recruiting services or a long list of camps. Start with the support already available to you.

THE LANDSCAPE IS CHANGING.
ASK BETTER QUESTIONS.

Do not build your plan around an old scholarship chart or a single recruiting date. Check the rules for your division, entry year and intended activity, then ask each college how its own program works.

ROSTER SPACE AND FINANCIAL AID

At Division I schools participating in the House settlement, roster limits replaced sport-specific scholarship caps. The option to fund more scholarships is not a promise that a particular program will do so.

Ask how returning players, transfers and incoming recruits affect openings for your position and class, and what aid the school is actually offering.

NCAA: roster and scholarship changes

KNOW WHAT YOU ARE SIGNING

Division I moved away from the National Letter of Intent system. Ask the college to explain its current written offer, conditions, signing dates and financial commitments.

Treat admission, athletics eligibility, a roster opportunity and financial aid as separate questions. Get clear answers from the appropriate college offices before deciding.

NCAA: recruiting and signing information

USE THE OFFICIAL SOURCES.

Use these resources alongside your LGU coach and school counselor. A college’s admissions, financial-aid and athletics compliance offices are the places to confirm school-specific requirements.

NCAA Eligibility Center
Account options, academic and athletics eligibility, and planning resources.

NCAA Recruiting
Recruiting guidance, contact rules and current signing resources.

NAIA: High School Students
NAIA opportunities and the route to its eligibility process.

Considering community college?
Ask the college’s athletics and counseling offices about eligibility and your academic transfer plan.

START WHERE YOU ARE.

Tell us your LGU team, graduation year and what you need help with. You do not need a finished highlight video or school list to start the conversation.

Recruiting support helps you prepare and make informed choices. Admission, roster places and financial aid are decisions made by colleges, not guarantees from LGU.

Email the recruiting team

For general club questions, contact the club office.