News & Guides
College soccer in the USA, explained
In-depth guides on US college soccer scholarships, eligibility, recruiting, visas and training — written for UK and overseas student athletes who want the honest detail, not the hype.
New NCAA Gap-Year Rules: The Age-Based Eligibility Clock Explained
The NCAA has changed how Division I and II eligibility is timed. Here is what UK football players considering a gap year need to know.
Read guide →Starting in 2026 or 2027? Which NCAA Eligibility Rules Apply to You
A clear guide to the NCAA transition period, including what changes for Division I and Division II football recruits.
Read guide →Taking a Football Gap Year? Your NCAA Eligibility Checklist
Organised competition, paid football, overseas study and Division III differences: what to check before delaying university enrolment.
Read guide →How US College Soccer Scholarships Actually Work
A jargon-free breakdown of how athletic aid is awarded across US college soccer — from equivalency awards to walk-ons.
Read guide →NCAA vs NAIA vs NJCAA: Which US College Soccer Division Is Right for You?
The three main governing bodies for US college soccer compared — divisions, scholarship rules and where you fit.
Read guide →The NCAA Eligibility Center: What Student Athletes Need to Know
Registering with the NCAA Eligibility Center, amateurism certification and the academic box-ticking no recruit should skip.
Read guide →SAT and ACT: What Test Scores Do US College Soccer Recruits Need?
How SAT/ACT scores interact with college soccer recruiting, sliding scales and why a good score still raises your value.
Read guide →How to Get Scouted by US College Soccer Coaches
Coaches do not find you by accident. The practical steps to put your name, footage and grades in front of the right programmes.
Read guide →The US College Soccer Recruiting Calendar and Key Dates
When coaches can contact you, when the season runs and the windows that quietly decide your recruiting timeline.
Read guide →How to Write a Recruiting Email That Gets a College Coach's Attention
A simple, repeatable structure for the first email to a US college soccer coach — what to include and what to cut.
Read guide →Building a Highlight Video US College Coaches Will Actually Watch
Length, structure, what to lead with and the production basics that separate a watched video from a skipped one.
Read guide →Core Courses and GPA: The Academic Eligibility You Need for US College Soccer
Core-course requirements, the GPA that matters and why your subject choices from age 14 quietly shape your eligibility.
Read guide →Amateurism Rules: What You Can and Can't Do Before College
Contracts, prize money, agents and appearance fees — the amateurism mistakes that quietly end a recruit's eligibility.
Read guide →Official vs Unofficial Visits: What's the Difference?
Two kinds of campus visit, what each one can and can't include, and how to use both to test a programme's real fit.
Read guide →The National Letter of Intent (NLI) Explained
What signing an NLI actually binds you to, the signing windows and the practical steps once you commit.
Read guide →How Much Does a US College Soccer Scholarship Cover?
Tuition, housing, meals, books and fees — what athletic aid can include, and what families usually still pay for.
Read guide →Full Ride vs Partial Scholarships in College Soccer: The Reality
Why full-ride soccer scholarships are rare, how partials actually work and how to stack aid to close the gap.
Read guide →Walk-On Opportunities: Earning a Roster Spot Without a Scholarship
What a walk-on is, the two types, and how to use a non-scholarship route to earn your way onto a college soccer team.
Read guide →Junior College and Transfers: Another Route to US College Soccer
How two-year NJCAA programmes and transfers create a second route to a four-year US college soccer scholarship.
Read guide →International Student Athletes: Visas and Eligibility Steps
The visa process, eligibility paperwork and timeline for UK and overseas players chasing US college soccer.
Read guide →What US College Soccer Coaches Look For by Position
A positional scouting guide — what coaches actually value in a centre-back, full-back, midfielder, winger and striker.
Read guide →Pre-Season Fitness: How US College Soccer Pre-Season Really Works
What to expect from a US college soccer pre-season — fitness tests, double sessions and arriving ready, not broken.
Read guide →From Assessment Day to Scholarship: How Trials Open Doors
How a live assessment day turns into a realistic US college soccer pathway — what coaches see and what happens next.
Read guide →Is My Child Good Enough for US College Soccer? An Honest Parent's Guide
The question every parent asks — and why an independent assessment answers it better than guesswork, club opinions or social media.
Read guide →How to Get a Football Scholarship in the USA from the UK
A step-by-step route for UK players aiming for a US university soccer scholarship — starting with an honest assessment of your level.
Read guide →Video Assessment vs In-Person Match Assessment: Which Should You Choose?
Comparing Stride USA's £75 video review and £150 in-person match assessment — what each shows and who each suits.
Read guide →What Happens in a Stride USA Football Assessment?
From booking to feedback — exactly what to expect when our team assesses your football and academic potential for US college soccer.
Read guide →What Is the Best Age to Start College Soccer Recruitment?
When UK players should start planning for US university football — and why an early assessment saves time later.
Read guide →Girls' Football Scholarships in the USA: The Opportunity Explained
Why women's college soccer offers UK girls some of the best scholarship opportunities in world sport — and how to start.
Read guide →What Does It Really Cost to Study in the USA on a Soccer Scholarship?
Tuition, housing, flights and insurance — how athletic and academic aid combine, and how to know your likely package before you commit.
Read guide →7 Mistakes UK Players Make in College Soccer Recruitment
The avoidable errors that cost UK players scholarships — and how an honest assessment helps you sidestep them.
Read guide →US College Soccer vs Staying in UK Semi-Pro Football
Weighing a US university pathway against non-league or academy football at home — degree, development and long-term options.
Read guide →How to Prepare for Your Football Assessment
Practical tips to show your true level in a Stride USA video or in-person assessment — footage, fitness, grades and mindset.
Read guide →Why the Las Vegas Trip Is Great for Your Recruitment
Playing in front of US college coaches at the Las Vegas Mayor's Cup puts you where recruitment actually happens — here's why the trip works.
Read guide →Why the North Carolina Tour Is Great for Your Recruitment
Our annual Easter tour plays and trains at NCAA and NAIA venues across North Carolina — a recruitment opportunity most UK players never get.
Read guide →Experience American College Life Before You Commit
A scholarship is a four-year decision. Our USA tours let you taste American college life first — campus culture, competition and independence.
Read guide →Playing Against US Players: What Coaches Notice
When UK players face American opposition on tour, coaches are watching specific things — and it is rarely the highlight-reel skills.
Read guide →Las Vegas or North Carolina — Which Trip Is Right for You?
Both Stride USA trips build recruitment and college experience, but they suit different players and different times of year. Here's how to choose.
Read guide →How to Make the Most of Your USA Showcase Trip
A tour to the USA is a significant investment. These habits turn a week of matches into a genuine recruitment opportunity.
Read guide →Want your story featured? Get in touch.
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