ASG College Program

ASG is fully committed to helping each and every one of its members be prepared for the next level of education as well as growth on the field. When our young members enter high school we have the ASG four-step program which uses the resources of our Executive Director and our colleagues at The Sports Source along with ASG College advisory board to ensure you have the best opportunities that fit your academic and ability level. To get a copy of the ASG Four-step program click here. In High school it is important to monitor academics, as it is critical that every student athlete understand that the work done in the classroom gives student athletes the greatest opportunity to attend a school of their choice.

Because eligibility standards are constantly changing it's an athlete's responsibility to make sure their class schedule fulfills NCAA core course requirements and we take great pride in making sure you have access to all the information needed to head in the right direction. Even with this assistance the athlete must be pro-active in the recommended steps outlined below if they want to have the best possible chance to attend the university of their choice. Starting August 1, 2008, NCAA Division I student-athletes will be required to take 16 core courses—this applies to any student first entering a college of university on or after August 1, 2008. Division II will remain with a 14 Core-Courses rule.

The SAT and ACT have changed their writing tests; SAT writing section is mandatory and the ACT writing section is optional. Go to the NCAA web site to see specific course and test breakdown.

The best way to make sure you meet all requirements is to schedule an appointment with a high school guidance counselor to ensure your course schedule is in-line with the approved high school core course list. It is important to have a meeting with your high school guidance counselor each year to be sure that you are staying on track with your academic course schedule.

We ask that each of our members narrow their choices to around 5 universities/colleges before they send their list to the coaching director for contact. To pick this list we suggest you use the following common criteria

1. Universities/Colleges you have a realistic chance of attending academically
2. Universities/Colleges that are realistic options from a playing perspective for you to attend
3. Universities/Colleges that you are interested in that are not your first two categories

When choosing a program based on your soccer background it is important that you have a discussion with your coach and your executive director about your list in category 2 to see if in their expert opinion the program fits your abilities. It is important at all times to make informed decisions so we suggest The Sports Course guide to Men’s and Women’s athletics which gives you a break down of all academic programs, athletic programs, size of school, location, cost and any available scholarships specific to your school choice.

It is very important to be sure the school is a good fit academically, and in terms of size, scope, location etc. In this process we suggest, like most things, that you do your research by visiting the school web-site and reading all material pertaining to your interests.

Your coaching director likely has contacts for you to speak with who have already been through the recruiting process at that particular university or a similar institution. Quite often referrals that come from the school itself will be quite one-sided so we suggest you use the assets of the club to your greatest advantage. This is just part of what makes ASG special.

Finally it is important that you visit the NCAA Eligibility Center. Students must register in order to validate their status as an amateur athlete.

The registration process is fairly simple. The fee is $50 and requires a social security number. ASG members interested in attending college should be sure to register by their Junior Year in high school.