Recruiting Advice: What college soccer coaches look for in midfielders

Former Saint Joseph's College (Maine) midfielder Rory Twomey. (courtesy photo)

As college coaches line the sidelines at youth games and showcases, it can be intimidating.

They're the proverbial gatekeepers in the recruiting process, the ones who determine if a player is desirable for their program or not. But what are these coaches hoping to identify?

To help answer that, New England Soccer Journal has solicited answers from eight local college coaches across men’s and women’s spaces, plus all three divisions. The below insight pertains solely to midfielders, but speaks to a broader audience as well.

This installment is one part of our new recruiting series, which will act as a resource for aspiring student-athletes who seek a home at the next level. Answers present and future relate to on-field and off-field matters.