5.1 Soccer organization Colleges play in a Regional Conference. The overall association is the NCAA. They set the rules and regulations. There are 3 divisions in college soccer.

5.2 Fall season You only play official games from the end of August until the beginning of November. The national play-offs go until the beginning of December. There are only 20 official games allowed by the NCAA. Usually, you play about 8 games against opponents in your Conference and the other games are ‘non-Conference’ games. In order to make it to the national play-offs, you need to qualify for the Conference Tournament. If you win the Tournament you will travel to the national play-offs. So it is possible to finish fourth during the regular season and still go to the national play-offs. You only play your opponents once a year. The non-Conference games have no influence on the Tournament. Even if you lose all non-Conference games you can still qualify for the Tournament and therefore go to the national play-offs. The only reason to win the non-Conference games is local status and a State or Regional ranking. During the season you play 2-3 games a week and you practice almost every day for 3 hours!

5.3 Expectations Since you will probably receive a full scholarship people will expect more from you than from someone who doesn’t. Combined with a performance culture in the USA people will expect that you stand out and bring something extra. If not, it will not be easy! Be prepared that expectations are high.

5.4 Media coverage Although soccer is not one of the major sports in the USA, college sports are the highest possible between 17 and 23 years old. Therefore, there is definitely media coverage. From a college newspaper to the local newspapers (sometimes 2-3 million readers) to games live on local television and even national television if you advance to the national play-offs.

5.8 Spectators Depending on the university, you draw between 100 and sometimes 3000 spectators.