How to make a soccer resume for college coaches

A clear, modern soccer resume is the single most useful tool in college soccer recruiting. This guide walks through exactly what to include, how to format it, what coaches actually read, and the mistakes that get profiles deleted in seconds.

What is a soccer resume?

A soccer resume is a one page recruiting profile players send to college coaches, club scouts and ID camps. It is the soccer version of a CV, sometimes called a soccer player profile. Most American coaches expect to receive one before they ever watch you play.

The job of a soccer resume is to answer five questions in under 30 seconds: who are you, what position do you play, when do you graduate, where do you play right now, and where can the coach watch you on video.

What every soccer resume needs

• Full name and graduation year: class of 2026, 2027 etc.
• Primary and secondary positions
• Height, weight and dominant foot
• Current club and team: ECNL, MLS NEXT, Girls Academy, USL Academy, ODP
• High school and varsity status
• Jersey number for video identification
• Key stats: goals, assists, shutouts, appearances
• Highlight video link: YouTube or Hudl
• Academic info: GPA, SAT or ACC, intended major
• Coach references with email and phone
• One short bio paragraph describing playing style

FootballersCV captures all of this in a single profile builder. Try the soccer resume builder if you want a ready made layout.

Academics: GPA, SAT, NCAA Eligibility

For NCAA and NAIA programs, academics matter as much as soccer. Include your unweighted GPA, latest SAT or ACC score, intended major and your NCAA Eligibility Center ID if you have one.

Players targeting Ivy League or strong academic D3 programs should highlight class rank and any AP or honors course load. Players targeting JUCO programs should list any community college credits already taken.

Highlight video that coaches actually watch

Coaches receive hundreds of links per recruiting cycle. Three rules: keep it three to five minutes, lead with your two best clips in the first 20 seconds, and make yourself easy to find with a static jersey number or arrow on every clip.

Show full game context where you can: receiving under pressure, defending in transition, building from the back. Highlight reels of only finishing rarely get a follow up watch.

Emailing college coaches

NCAA rules allow recruits to contact coaches first. Keep the email short, around five sentences plus a clear link to your soccer resume.

ID camps and showcases

When you register for an ID camp, paste your soccer resume link in the notes field every time. Most camp registrations only ask for basic info, but coaches scan the notes for serious recruits before camp starts.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Sending a PDF that goes out of date the day after you create it
• Burying your graduation year and position below personal info
• 10 minute highlight videos with no jersey number on screen
• Generic "Dear Coach" emails sent to 50 schools at once
• Listing every camp you attended instead of meaningful results
• Missing academic info entirely, coaches assume the worst

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