Hi everyone, I’m currently studying at Santa Barbara City College and plan to transfer in to UC Santa Barbara next year. I’ve been playing soccer since I was 8, and did club teams all through high school. I’ve always loved the sport but never really had any structure provided by my parents to pursue it fully - it was pretty much a casual past time in their eyes. Despite that, I’ve been playing for a club team at SBCC and have been independently training as well with a colleague constantly. I have a resume and amazing footage, my academics are on par as well, but I’m unsure as to whether or not it would even be worth pursuing considering I’m 19, and will be 20 by the time I’m at Santa Barbara. I was just wondering whether or not it’d be possible to play for Santa Barbara if I got in contact with the coach? I need advice. It sounds like a pipe dream right now, but I’m dedicated and just need some guidance. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Contact the UCSB coach and send him your recruitment video. Worst thing that can happen is the coach says no, but it’s better than not giving it a shot. No one here can tell you whether you can make it or whether you can’t. It will depend on whether the team has spots available, the incoming recruits, and your skill level. There have been cases when people walk on to the team. It will all depend but best answer you can get is from the UCSB coach.
I think you are posting way too much identifying info for your own good.
UCSB has a pretty good team year in, year out. I’d think it’s a shot in the dark, but I think it’s worth it. I know someone who plays D1 college soccer, started as a freshman, but s/he came up through the US soccer development system and was a “known.”
Unknown is a tough road, so you would obviously be a walk-on and they might not have any spots. They do retain 25 +/- players on the sideline, so even if you were to make the team, playing time may be non-existent.
I’d agree with the above, try and reach the coach and the assistant coaches and send them your soccer resume. I’d do it in a heartbeat. Just try and get out there NOW, be seen, if possible, because if in-season training hasn’t already started, then it starts very soon. Best of luck.
Definitely do it! Don’t look back. no regrets B-)
The UCSB coaches sometimes recruit from SBCC and will also sometimes have a prospective recruit who needs to bring their GPA up attend SBCC for a year or two and then transfer. Did you try out for the varsity team at SBCC? UCSB recruits early in the process so probably already has their slots filled for next year, but there is no harm in trying . You should also look at their club team as it is very competitive- won the national championship last year. I think try-outs take place before school starts so you should check into it asap.