The Premier College Combines were started in 2004 to help high school aged players get recruited to college programs throughout the winter months without having to travel a great distances. We also understood that a great many college programs had limited travel budgets for recruiting. We knew from our experience in running a soccer club that most high school students typically enroll in colleges within 1-4 hours of their home. Because of this, our combines allow players to play in front of college coaches who are within that distance. We have set up combines in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Illinois, and Michigan so players can travel to areas in the winter months and be seen by coaches who would not otherwise see them play. That is how the Premier College Combines got their start.
Before our combines, the only way to be seen by college coaches in the winter was to travel south for a tournament. With registration, travel, hotel, meals, and leaving work / school early to make the games on time, it would cost a family a great deal of money per player. Also, quite often the schools from the north were not represented at the events.
What makes the Premier College Combines different from most other showcase tournament and combines is that all players in the College Combine sign up individually. This insures the coach that every player at the combine wants to play soccer in college and is considered potentially "recruitable". You are also not relying on the entire team to be available in order to participate. With using a smaller venue and only 2 to 4 fields at one time, college coaches can watch every player and will not miss anyone. If you go to a large tournament showcase there is always a possibility that a coach may miss a game because he/she is at another location watching another player. With our combines, the coaches never have to leave to watch another game.
Once a player is entered into the College Combine, the player should then contact coaches of potential schools they are interested in and pre-arrange with the coaches to be seen at our events. The first thing coaches do at our events is circle the names of all the players who contacted them in the “player resume book” we provide for College Coaches Only. The Coaches will watch those players who are interested in their school first and then watch everyone else. We also work hard on creating a list of coaches who will be at the event and we will continuously update that list as it gets closer to the combine date. Contacting coaches is a very important part of the process. Players want to know that coaches will be in attendance and coaches want to know that there are potential players in attendance who are interested in their program. Please note that we are NOT a recruiting service. We merely provide an avenue for players and colleges to hopefully find each other.
Every college coach gets a player resume book with all the information, required online, for every player in the combine. The players jersey number, that is assigned by us, is the page number in the resume book so the coach can easily find the players information. Make sure to fill out the info as best you can. The more information the coach has the better the coach can get to know each player.
During the College Combine, each player will have the opportunity to play in a minimum of 3 games. In the early years, we sometimes got complaints from players about the “caliber” of team he or she was put on. We came up with the idea several years ago to not fill up the roster of each team but to leave holes so that players could volunteer to play extra games as well as make sure teams did not stay stagnant and players could be seen with other players. This has worked quite well. Every team is randomly selected in an attempt to create balance. We assign positions to each player based on the information provided to us at registration.
So go out there and play as hard as you can. THE COACHES ARE WATCHING
Prior to the Event:
Please make sure you register and pay online in advance of the event. We create your resume from the information you provide at registration. We are not set up for onsite registration.
Schedules and team assignments will be posted at the event with player's numbers, field assignments, and the names of all the participants.
If there are colleges you are interested in, contact the coach and inform them you are participating in the event. (Links to all NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA Colleges are listed in the "College Links" page of this web site) There will be a good number of college coaches in attendance so contact any and all coaches you are interested in playing for. Tell them about the event and that all players in the event will be playing throughout the day. Depending on your grade, the coach may or may not be able to speak with you at the event.
The Day of the Event:
Please arrive to check-in, pick up your shirt and get any other items being handed out. (Check in will take about 2 minutes per player)
Make sure you are well rested and ready to play.
Although you register as an individual, once you are on the field you are with a team. Play your best during every game! Coaches notice individual skills as well as team players.
Refreshments and food are available at the facility concession stand.
After the Event:
We will post a list on the web site of all the college coaches that were at the event. If there are any colleges you are interested in, contact the coach and express your interest.
Where do I send my registration form?
You must use the online registration. Do not mail registration information.
Who can I contact with questions about the event?
If you have questions, contact Ed Bernstein via e-mail or call 216-781-1010. Do not call any of the Facilities with event questions.
I am a parent, can I watch the combine?
Yes, parents can watch from the lower level area near the walkway. Parents are not allowed on the fields or in the balcony.
What is Sport Source?
The Sport Source is a company that produces a guildline for high school kids to get recruited by college coaches. They also make a book which lists soccer information from every college in the USA. It is a great resource for a player to gain information about schools.
When will I hear from the colleges?
There are specific rules about college coach contact with players. Please visit the NCAA website for information. If a coach is interested in a player and the coach is permitted to contact the player according to NCAA rules, then it is up to that coach when the contact occurs. Parents and players may be able to contact coaches for schools of interest, please review the NCAA rules for clarification. There are no guarantees that any of the attending coaches will contact your player.
Will my son/daughter be playing with his/her current teammates?
No, this is not a team event. All players register as individuals. Players are assigned to teams by the event director based on age and position.
How long will my son/daughter be at the combine?
Plan on being at the facility for at least 3 hours.
When will we get schedules and team assignments?
You will receive schedules, team assignments and numbers at check-in. Unlike at outdoor schowcases, because we are indoors at 1 location, college coaches only need to know your name to find you.