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California Community Colleges
There are so many soccer prospects in California that is it mathematically impossible for all of them to play at in-state Division I, II, III or NAIA institutions. If attending a California college/university is a high priority, but academics and athletics at a four-year college is not possible, it is time to consider a two-year community college.
There are many reasons why California Community Colleges are a good route after high school. First and foremost, four-year colleges are not for everyone and the academic experience a two-year community college offers is the best route for many students. Two-year colleges can help students ease into college and become better prepared if they want to transfer to a four-year institution. Plus, the education that California Community Colleges offer is a quality one! Many professors also teach at neighboring four year institutions.
The athletics at California Community Colleges are extremely competitive. Think about the competitive youth soccer scene in Southern California. That competitiveness transfers over to the community college circuit, as it is the same players competing, now just at a higher level.
Location is also hard to beat. There are nearly 25,000 student-athletes playing in 12 California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) conferences spread throughout the state. Most of those student-athletes are close to home. California Community College’s can only recruit student-athlete’s who go to a high school in their “district.” This means that the majority of student-athletes at any community college in California come from the area. Keep in mind that if you are interested in attending a community college outside of your district, the coach cannot contact you initially. In this case the student-athlete must make the first contact.
Many student-athletes transfer easily to in-state four-year institutions. If you are a student-athlete considering a California Community College make sure you know the rules and the facts. The CCCAA’s website is http://www.coasports.org/. You can also find transfer rules on the NCAA’s website at http://www.ncaa.org/wps/portal.
NCSA, the “Official Scouting Organization and Provider of Recruiting Education” for Cal South, is the premier source for matching high school student – athletes with colleges and universities across the country. NCSA is the "Eyes & Ears" of more than 35,000 college coaches, who rely on NCSA's experienced scouting team and instant response capabilities to provide them with quality prospective recruits. NCSA prides itself in educating high school student-athletes and their families about the college recruiting process. Visit www.ncsasports.org for more information about NCSA.
