WHAT'S A BLAZE  
October 2011
Newsletter
 
I'm a little late getting this month's Newsletter out but as you can see from the article at the bottom, we've been a little busy!!

Thank you for taking the time to read through this issue of the WHAT'S A BLAZE newsletter.  I hope you will find the information helpful.  Each issue will have information on a variety of subjects; information that I hope will be of interest to soccer players, coaches and parents.  Please feel free to send me emails and let me know what information you would like to see in future newsletters.  And send in your questions.  I will be answering submitted questions in each newsletter. 

Sincerely,

Mike Getman
Head Coach Men's Soccer at UAB
Mike Getman Soccer Camp Logo 
2012 Schedule
 
Winter Elite Camp  January 21-22
Day Camp  June 11-15
Day Camp  July 9-13
Residential  June 17-21
Residential  June 24-28
Team Camp  June 17-21
Advanced Mini Camp July 27-29

Does attending camp improve my chances of playing at UAB?


Attending camp will not ensure you of making our team. Having the academic ability and the soccer ability are both needed to play at UAB.

Camp does allow us to get to know each other and help us both figure out if we would be a good fit.

This season, 17 of our 24 players were past campers.  Some had been to our winter Elite Players Camp, and others have been to our summer camp.

Participating in a College Camp is a great way to get to know college coaches.  They can work with you on the field and see how you handle yourself off the field as well. You will also get to know the coaches much better when you are spending that much time together.  How do you fit with the personality of the coach? Is this someone you want to spend the next 4 years of your life with? Camp is a great way to find out. 
UAB Men's Division I Soccer
2011 CONFERENCE USA CHAMPIONS!!!

This year's UAB Soccer Team has been working hard, knowing that they would like nothing better than to be one of the teams at this years College Cup.  As of 11/7/11 the UAB Soccer Team with a record of 12-3-3 is Ranked #13 in the country in the NCAA RPI. The Blazers also won a share of the Conference USA Championship while going 7-0-1 in their last 8 games.  Come cheer us on as we progress toward the College Cup!

UAB will be the host of the 2011 College Cup.  College Soccer's "Final Four" will be played in Birmingham at Region's Park, December 9-11, 2011. 

 

This is a great honor for the Birmingham area and it will be a great benefit for the Soccer Community.  While taking a rest from your own season, as a coach or player, you can now spend a weekend watching the top college teams compete for a National Championship.  There will also be coaching clinics and a Showcase Tournament as part of the week long festivities.

 

 

 
 
RECRUITING
FINDING YOUR PLACE
By Coach Getman


Hopefully you have already read, in past newsletters, the steps to take in the recruiting process.  If you missed any of these, click here to access archived issues of Whats A Blaze. 

I firmly believe there is a place in college soccer for anyone who wants it badly enough.  There are over 1,000 college soccer programs. But the key is to find the right one for you. Luckily even if you are not the next Messi, there are all levels of soccer out there.  Division I, II, III, NAIA & Junior College.

I get asked often about the different divisions in the NCAA and what that means to a soccer player. First, it is important to know that the different Divisions only tell you about the size of the Athletic Department.  Div. I gives more scholarships than Div. II.  Div. III gives no Athletic Scholarships. That doesn't mean a better team, just more money within the entire Athletic Dept.  There tend to be more good teams in Div. I but that is only a generalization. There are many teams in Div. II that can beat teams in Div. I.  That's why each student should research schools at all levels before making their final choice.

The NAIA has completely different rules from the NCAA but are mostly smaller colleges.  Some have great soccer teams and others are not so good.  Junior Colleges offer a second chance to students who were not so successful academically. Again there are all levels of play so you have to check each school out individually. Most of the top teams in Division I have some players that started their college career at the Junior College level.

Google is a great way to find Colleges in your area. All soccer programs have websites that will give you useful information. Soccer America, College Soccer News, and TopDrawerSoccer all provide insight into college soccer.

Once you have identified what you are looking for, send an email to the Coaches and give them some information about yourself and ask for information on their program. The more detail you give on yourself the more detail you are likely to get back. Academic, Soccer, and family are all important details to give to the college coaches.

Check out our Winter Elite Camp (for boys ages 15 & up) where you will get a chance to work with all of my Coaching Staff as well as the Soccer Coaches from several other colleges.  If those dates don't work for you, then check out our Summer Camps.


Sign up to read my step by step guide in future newsletters and send in your questions.  I will answer your questions and more in each edition.  Click here to access past newsletters with articles about the recruiting process.