UPPER PROVIDENCE, Pa. – Steve Small, director of the college prep program at West-Mont United Soccer Association, along with his team of coaches, works hard to help players reach their college goals.

At West-Mont, most of the players aiming for collegiate play begin with club at the U7 and U8 “Academy” level. Once players reach U13, the college prep-program begins in earnest.

At U15, Small’s primary zone, players begin to really start diving into the preparations, and schedule, that go into marketing themselves to college soccer programs. At U15 and beyond, players’ practice schedules don’t change so much, but the type of play they experience does. Instead of participating in normal league tournaments, there’s much stronger emphasis on college showcases — tournaments specifically created, as the name suggests, to showcase the players to prospective colleges. This is where Small begins really helping players work through the new things they will have to experience.

“You’re going to have college coaches sitting on the sideline watching your games,” Small said, which the players have rarely experienced up to this point.

Small and the other coaches at West-Mont provide in-depth information for players, helping them to understand what to expect over the next four or five years as they begin picking schools and trying to get recruited. Small himself has been a college soccer coach for nearly 20 years, and West-Mont’s staff includes 11 other college coaches, high-level high school coaches and four former Division I soccer players. It is safe to say that they are familiar with the process.

But the lessons they provide the players have utility outside of the soccer recruitment process.

“We’re not just here to coach soccer, we’re here to teach life lessons,” Small said. “Get them ready for the next chapter in life.”

The goal of the college-prep program is for players to play soccer in college, but Small understands that may not be for everyone.

“We want the kids getting to college, soccer is just a bonus,” he said. “We want everyone to play in college but we’re still going to help every single player, whether they continue playing or not.”

Some of the largest switches for players when they begin the true college-prep program at West-Mont comes in the form of scheduling. Unlike the rest of the club, college-prep teams don’t take off during the summer, because this is when the big showcases are. Instead, they take off in the fall so the athletes can focus on their high school soccer programs. But they pick right back up in late October and run straight through to Christmas. Another change is that they practice outside exclusively. Small was adamant about the importance of that to prepare the players for numerous outdoor games.

Small also pointed out that this is the age and skill level at which players begin “losing” holidays. Thanksgiving weekend, for example, is the biggest recruiting weekend of the year; on Memorial Day weekend, Small said, “You want to play in college, you need to be playing that weekend to get seen.” Holidays are essential because colleges know that everyone is off, and everyone is available, and therefore it is important for players to get used to that.

The experience that Small and his other coaches bring to the table is invaluable; all the recruiting events that he brings his players to are the same ones that he as a coach would be attending. He and his staff can draw on their own robust web of information and contacts. As an example, Small recounted that one of his girls was interested in college in Arizona. While West-Mont couldn’t get the whole team out there, they contacted a local club and got her the opportunity to guest-play.

While Small provides the tools the players need to succeed, he firmly believes the work is 100% on them. The staff provides help where they need it, but it is the players who communicate with colleges and coaches.

“We put it on our players to take the ownership. They’re responsible,” Small said. “You want a coach to come watch you play? Contact them.”

Another thing he made very clear: “As a college coach, I don’t want to talk to parents during the recruiting process.” He understands that parents are going to be involved financially and with support, It’s the players who are going to be coming to play for the next four years. “That’s who I want to get to know.”

Steve Small and his fellow coaches have a genuine love for helping players achieve their college goals. He also said it’s fun, as a college coach, to be on the other side — being able to help players get recruited, instead of trying to recruit. It also allows him advise players, “Here’s exactly what a college coach wants to hear.”

Small mentioned a quote he heard a long time ago and still uses today when talking to his aspiring college players: “Talent will get you noticed, character gets you recruited.”

“We push the character side of things big time,” Small said.

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