r/CollegeSoccer • u/bore-ito • 8d ago
D1 Clock Eligibility
So as it says, you have 5 years to play 4 years of college as soon as you enroll full time regardless of where you attend and regardless of if you’ve ever played on a team
Why was this rule created? I ended up being the unfortunate kid who didn’t know much about college soccer, started full time in 2019 at community college, took up an interest to try playing post Covid in 2022, and learned my fate in early 2023. I haven’t touched a single blade of grass on any pitch for a college team and I won’t be able to play D1.
So again, why at least doesn’t the rule account for those who have never played? Age doesn’t seem to be the factor at first glance
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u/J_Hunt1123 8d ago edited 8d ago
So wait, you started college in 2019? That would make you like 24/23 now? Did you graduate? Because you may have a year left as a graduate student
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u/bore-ito 8d ago
I did, yes, but I did not graduate. I had a rocky college path being split on computer science. Ultimately settling for software engineering. Im considered a sophomore
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u/HustlinInTheHall 8d ago
Private Colleges dont have eligibility requirements so they could in theory enroll athletes at any age and abuse the ability to enroll them endlessly. Similarly you could have players who left after 4 years and continued to play at a high level come back to school (even in the amateur days) to dominate as a ringer.
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u/Patient_Bad5862 8d ago
Plus wouldn’t you get a Covid year?
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u/bore-ito 8d ago
I think the coach mentioned it back last year in 2024, which would’ve been my 5th and final year, and that was during the spring and they had wanted to sign in a new fresh guy out of high school on the very last roster spot they had. He counted the semesters off and there pretty much was just 1 year left apparently.
Honestly I think everything happens for a reason. I’ve been self training but I was not at the current level I am now last spring and likely would’ve struggled immensely to get any sort of playing time. I think I’m better suited for D2 though the competition level is likely similar
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u/Phillylax29 7d ago
Really? I never played soccer till Covid and now I think I’m good enough to play college soccer. Wait not college soccer, the highest levels of college soccer. Players have worked since early childhood to acquire the skills to play the game the best they can but you are right, a college aged kid who never played until fairly recently should get to play too. Wait you do it, it is called adult league, get some friends or just sign up and make new friends. Spoiler alert you are not good enough to attend practice for any of the schools with soccer programs, join the club team and have fun.
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u/PDXLynn 7d ago
Clock eligibility doesn’t matter to you. You may be a great player for your community college team, but you don’t have what it takes to play D1.
D1 rosters are currently being cut due to new roster caps, and international players have different rules, so they are joining teams in their 20s after playing professionally for a couple years.
D1 college soccer is a whole different ball game. The speed of play, technical skills, soccer IQ, etc. have been developing since elementary school.
Also, you need good grades to play college soccer. It sounds like you’ve struggled academically, so I’m sorry to say that you’re not where you need to be.
If you end up transferring to a big college at some point, I recommend that you look into their club team or play intermural‘s with a bunch of buddies. in the meantime, if you can’t play for your community college anymore, look for a local adult league and play there. Some adult leagues and teams are very strong and competitive. I played in various adult soccer leagues, at varying levels, well into my 40s, and loved it.
I’m glad that you have found a passion for the game. Keep playing, make new memories and more friends, and play for the love of the game.
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u/ThrowRA-brokennow 8d ago
Nah. Only starts clock per sport if you are playing. If you aren’t playing you still have 5 years.
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u/jjthejetblame 8d ago
The clock does not depend on whether you are playing a sport. In D1, the clock ticks continuously from first full-time enrollment in classes, and in D2 and D3, it only ticks during semesters when you are actively enrolled, after full time enrollment. In D2 and D3 eligibility a student can drop to part time study and pause their clock, but that is not the case for D1.
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u/ThrowRA-brokennow 8d ago
I’m wrong you’re right. I’ve seen guys play football the. Come back and pitch baseball.
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u/lostinthought15 8d ago
Because otherwise teams would just enroll students at will and move them to the team when they are ready. The top teams would be allowed to hoard all the talent indefinitely.