Women's soccer · college recruiting

Where the women's soccer spots turn over this season

We read the rosters of 996 college women's soccer programmes from the schools' own sites - D1, D2, D3, NAIA and junior colleges. Here's what they show, position by position.

996

programmes

26,956

players on rosters

6,201

in their final year

76%

of underclassmen returned

See the programmes at your position · 3 days free

By position

Final year = seniors and grad students at four-year colleges, sophomores at junior colleges. Some come back for another season; most move on.

Midfielder

946 programmes

2,012 / 8,775

in their final year

Defender

948 programmes

1,987 / 8,378

in their final year

Forward

944 programmes

1,526 / 6,675

in their final year

Goalkeeper

946 programmes

626 / 2,825

in their final year

By division

D1

NCAA Division I

303

programmes · median roster 28

7.9% of players from outside the US and Canada

D2

NCAA Division II

228

programmes · median roster 30

7.7% of players from outside the US and Canada

D3

NCAA Division III

334

programmes · median roster 28

1.8% of players from outside the US and Canada

NAIA

NAIA

85

programmes · median roster 27

18.4% of players from outside the US and Canada

JUCO

Junior college (NJCAA)

46

programmes · median roster 22

15.3% of players from outside the US and Canada

Where players come from

7% international, 2% Canada, 91% US (players with a listed hometown).

  • 1CA2,242
  • 2NY1,768
  • 3TX1,756
  • 4PA1,507
  • 5NJ1,208
  • 6IL1,169
  • 7OH1,095
  • 8FL879

Find your spot

Calldup matches you with women's soccer programmes in your divisions and regions, shows how many players at your position are in their final year at each one, and gives you the coaches' published contacts with an email drafted for you.

  • ✓ Programmes ranked by turnover at your position
  • ✓ Coach contacts exactly as each school publishes them
  • ✓ Contact dates and eligibility for every division
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What coaches look for, by position

Goalkeeper

  • Shot-stopping: set position, footwork and handling on shots from different ranges
  • Dealing with crosses and command of the penalty area
  • Communication and organising the back line
  • Distribution with hands and feet, including playing out from the back under pressure
  • Decision-making on when to come off the line, including one-v-one situations
  • Composure after mistakes

Defender

  • One-v-one defending and body position
  • Positioning and reading of the game, including covering for teammates
  • Aerial ability
  • Passing out of the back and composure on the ball
  • Recovery speed
  • Communication
  • For fullbacks/wingbacks: getting forward and crossing

Midfielder

  • First touch and receiving on the half-turn
  • Passing range and accuracy under pressure
  • Scanning and awareness before receiving
  • Ball-winning and defensive work rate
  • Fitness to cover ground across the match
  • Chance creation and shooting (attacking midfielders)

Forward

  • Finishing with both feet and with the head
  • Movement off the ball and timing of runs
  • One-v-one attacking ability and pace
  • Hold-up play and link-up with teammates
  • Pressing and defensive effort from the front
  • Composure in front of goal

Sources

Counts from each programme's latest varsity roster on the schools' own sites. Not rankings. Latest rosters as read on 2026-10-15. A programme with players in their final year isn't a promise of a spot - coaches decide.