Jason Tenner is the women's soccer assistant coach for Skidmore College. Coach Tenner has coached at the college, club, and high school levels, so he really knows his stuff. Skidmore College has a Division III athletics program where athletes are able to prioritize both sports and school. If you are interested in becoming a Division III women's soccer player, Coach Tenner has some great advice for you!

1. What are some of the most important qualities you look for in a women's soccer recruit?

The ability to express their playing personality on the field. We want recruits' off-the-field personalities to mesh well with our culture. Also, recruits should have at least one exceptional positional trait.

2. What is the best way for a recruit to get on your radar?

E-mail us, especially before showcases that we will be at. Attend our clinics or the camps/clinics we will be at. 

3. When and how should an athlete contact you? 

Sophomore year is a good time for D3, and an email is the best way for initial contact. Additionally, fill out a recruiting form if the college has one.

4. What platform(s) do you use to discover or recruit athletes? 

NCSA, SportsRecruits, and SRUSA.

5. What are the main do's and don'ts for a recruit's highlight tape?

Start with your best highlights to catch the coach's attention. Extend each highlight a bit so we can see a little before and a little after the play. Show a range of abilities that are critical to your position. One highlight of you taking a corner kick… at most. Keep the highlight video to 3-4 minutes.

6. When do you recommend recruits share their highlight reels with you? 

As often as possible. Make multiple shorter highlight reels and send them along – it's a good way to keep us updated and to keep us interested.

7. Can you tell us the importance of highlight reels vs seeing an athlete in person at events such as showcases and camps?

Seeing an athlete in person is critical. Highlight reels are important to initiate contact and to get us interested, but we won't recruit a player if we haven't seen them live at least once but preferably multiple times.

8. What do you look for when viewing the highlight tapes?

It's positionally specific, so it's difficult to answer this question in a general way. For instance, for a center back, we want to see tackling, heading, positioning, distribution, coverage, dribbling upfield, etc. And, of course, context matters.

9. What can women's soccer players expect when they enter college? 

Expect a faster, stronger version of soccer, so be physically prepared and resilient. You will have to manage your free-time and responsibilities in a much different way than in high school – utilize your supports. Playing soccer in college is a fantastic way to create memories, have a built-in social circle, and establish a support system. You will most likely get overwhelmed at some point – that's normal, that's ok, and that expresses itself differently for every player. It's ok to ask for help.

10. What advice would you give an athlete to help them do well both on the team and in class?

Establish routines and stick to them. Create processes for your homework, recovery, and self-care. Use your support – your academic advisors, older players, coaches, tutoring and studying services, etc. Get to know your professors – stay in contact with them and utilize office hours.

11. What is the top advice you can offer a recruit?

Stay in consistent contact with the programs you're most interested in. Get to the school's ID clinics. Talk to the coaches AND the players.

Image Credit: Skidmore Athletics

* Originally published on July 24, 2023, by Bella Nevin