Come back every Monday for Coaching Staff's Advice on the college recruiting process, what they look for in athletes, and what to expect as a college athlete.

Stepping foot on a college campus as a freshman can be scary and stressful, especially as a college soccer player. Soccer is a very competitive sport with multiple high school graduates competing for positions and adjusting to an exciting new environment. Oftentimes, incoming freshmen don't get as much play time as they expect or had hoped for, and aside from the sport you play, being a freshman poses other challenges such as meeting new people and adjusting to a new way of living.

Going into his fourth year at Bard College, head men's soccer coach, TJ Kostecky, is a perfect source for anyone aiming to play soccer in college. With his time at Bard as well as spending twenty years as head coach for the DI men's soccer program at LIU Brooklyn, TJ has had countless experiences with coaching young men and developing players. While guiding many athletes over their four years in college, he has learned the do's and don'ts when it comes to being a new member on a soccer team. We spoke with TJ to discuss what freshmen can do in their first year to stand out and be successful:

1. What is the first thing you would tell an incoming freshman joining your team?

To breathe, enjoy this moment and to begin connecting with their teammates and our staff in a meaningful and authentic way. This is the first of several major transitional moments in their lives. The others will be choosing a job, a location to live…There will be certain expectations and perceptions they'll have about where they fit in and what they would expect to achieve. Make sure you're open to the new information you're receiving, embrace criticism and just focus on being the best version of yourself.

2. What is something a freshman can do to grab your attention right from the get go?

To be positive, selfless, giving, and help lift everyone around them. Working hard and grinding are baseline expectations which every coach has, by serving others it shows you deeply care and you're an authentic human being. These are important and attractive qualities that help build a healthy and powerful culture.

Related: Soccer Recruiting Advice

3. How important is performance during preseason for players who are looking to start or get a good amount of minutes?

First and last impressions are the two moments that we remember best. If your plan is to get on the field early, then naturally it's important to perform well in pre-season. An important quality I'm looking for is consistency. I had a defender last year that surprised me by having a real good first day performance. The great news is that he kept it up throughout our training sessions and friendly games. Therefore he earned major minutes throughout the season.

4. What is the most challenging thing you would say freshman must get accustomed to once entering college? 

The most challenging thing is that everyone is good, unlike in high school or club ball where you're one of the best. Players are faster, stronger, the game is much quicker than high school or club ball. The second part is balancing time between your sport, academics and social life. Since you're only going to class for 15-18 hours a week, you'll have a lot more time on your hands then you had in high school. It's essential that you build structure and discipline in your day and not let yourself get behind.

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5. Do you believe it to be hard for most freshman to click with other players on the team?

If your team culture is inclusive it's actually easy to click. We provide everyone with a platform to find their voice. We want freshmen (1st years) to know that they are just as important in building our culture and contributing to our success as the upperclassmen. Mentorship generally goes top down…in addition, we expect it to go bottom up and side to side. Therefore, I'm leaning in and expecting all my players to offer insight and advice which will help me and our staff become better at what we're all striving to accomplish.

6. Do you believe in seniority and does age/class affect how you view players?

I expect our seniors to make sure we're striving to live our team ethos every day. These include: Integrity, Community, Heart and Vision. But I expect the younger players to hold us all accountable. We have a leadership council composed of one representative from each class that is selected by his peers. The council meets weekly with my staff. Everyone's voice is valued regardless of seniority, age or class.

Related: Thinking Ahead: 6 Tips for Senior College Athletes

7. Does the high school that a player comes from play a role in the decisions you make when they enter college?

On the academic side, yes! Bard College is one of the top liberal arts colleges in the nation. Therefore, it's important that a prospect has very good grades and is taking a rigorous course load which should include AP courses. On the soccer side, no! There are only a small number of top high school programs that consistently send players

to compete in college. My primary focus is identifying players from top youth clubs from around the nation.

8. What is a mistake you see freshman make that could easily be avoided?

Don't measure your personal value strictly by how much you're playing your first season. Your body and skillset may develop and improve at different stages in your careers. I had a first-year player that saw very little playing time because he was not as physically mature as his peers and upperclassman and did not come from a top youth club. During the off-season he made a personal commitment to get stronger, faster and improve his technique and decision making. By the time we had our spring games in May he raised his game and became a starter.

Related: Don't Make These 5 Common Recruiting Mistakes

9. What would you say your philosophy is when it comes to being a head coach?

My philosophy is to help each player on my team to improve, grow and become the best version of themselves. In regards to my team, I want them to have fun and enjoy themselves, to compete, yet support each other and to be thankful for the opportunity we have to learn together.

10. How can freshman prepare themselves for the next four years after experiencing their first season?

First and foremost shortly after the season is over, they need to meet with their coach and get a clear assessment as to what specific areas they need to improve upon. Next, they should build in time in the off-season on their own and with teammates to hone their deficiencies as my first year player had done. In the summer, they should find the best training and competitive environment to play in. If they live in a city or suburb this may include playing pick-up games with seasoned older players. This I found is the best way to learn and improve. A summer of training/competing with experienced players will put you in a great position to be the best version of yourself once pre-season begins.

If you are an incoming freshman looking for advice, it's important to not get overwhelmed and stressed out about all the moving parts of being a student-athlete. TJ's advice shows how hard work, dedication, and passion for your  sport will only make you a better player and person in general. If you set your mind to improving and developing on your own journey no matter your skill level, you will already be one step ahead when entering into collegiate athletics.

End: Have a story idea or know an awesome athlete/coach we should interview? Email us at [email protected]

* Originally published on November 7, 2022, by Sarah Borer