Dorian Bailey is a professional soccer player for the Washington Spirit. She attended the University of North Carolina and was drafted 8th overall in the first round of the 2019 NWSL College Draft, but she was once a recruit like you. Dorian was able to share with us some information on the recruiting process and what it takes to be a great teammate in college.
2aDays: Being that you competed at the college level, what was the hardest part about the recruiting process, and what would you have done differently?
Dorian: The hardest part about the recruiting process is probably communication between the college coaches and the players. Especially in women's soccer, where players are getting recruited around the age of 14, it is difficult for there to be clear and informative communication between the two parties. College coaches aren't even allowed to reach out to the players at this point in time, and if/when the player contacts a coach, a lot of stuff can be lost in translation. If I could go about the process differently, I would allow my parents to join in on the calls and discussions with the college coaches to ensure that everyone is on the same page.
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2aDays: How active do you think parents should be in their child's recruiting process? What are some do's and don'ts as far as them helping?
Dorian: I do think that parents should be involved in their child's recruiting process to an extent. Like I stated in the earlier question, the recruiting process for women's soccer takes place at a very young age, so I think it is important to have parents involved at that stage. Obviously they should not be overbearing, but they should be involved. Parents should reach out to the college coaches that are interested every once in a while, but not too often. They should ask for full transparency with the coaches and mostly assist with the communication between the coach and player.
2aDays: What advice can you give to the high school athletes who are not being recruited but want to play at the college level?
Dorian: I think it may seem discouraging for athletes who aren't being recruited, but I would encourage them to send an email, highlight tape, or even make a phone call to coaches and universities that they are interested in. Obviously, you don't want to be overbearing, but I think it is acceptable to reach out and promote yourself. There is always a chance that a coach will take an interest. Even if a player doesn't initially get scholarship money, walking on to a team and proving oneself to be a positive addition could ultimately warrant some scholarship money throughout the years.
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2aDays: Sometimes high school athletes don't understand teamwork the way that college athletes do. What makes a great teammate at the college level?
Dorian: A great teammate at the college level has to be selfless. In high school, athletes are used to being the star and center of attention. In college, everyone around you is just as good, if not better. It is crucial that athletes understand that the team comes before the individual, and they need to be willing to accept their role on the team at that point in time.
2aDays: What are the three characteristics that high school athletes will need to compete at college athletes in order to be successful in their sport?
Dorian: I think the first and most important characteristic would be discipline. There is a lot of freedom in college, and it is crucial that an athlete is able to balance their life. Along with this characteristic comes time management. Being able to manage one's time to be successful in all areas of one's life is extremely important, as well. Lastly, I would say that confidence is necessary to be successful in one's sport. Coming from high school—a situation where an athlete was most likely a star—it is important to be confident in one's self when surrounded by other equally talented players. Encompassing these traits will help an athlete be successful through the course of their college career.
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* Originally published on October 3, 2022, by Kate Morris
