The vast majority of athletes use an agency to help land their college scholarship. Many of these agencies charge thousands, but are they actually worth it?
Agencies provide a range of services for their athletes, and it varies largely between companies. At their core, agencies provide exposure and support with the recruitment process. This typically includes promotion to the agencies network and some support with the application process.
Not all agencies are born equal though. Many provide a range of other services to help increase your chances of securing an offer. This can include support with the visa process, scholarship negotiation, personalised training programs, and much more.
Technically, no - many players are able to secure an offer on their own . However, it is much harder. You typically need to already have established connections with coaches in the U.S., or you need to attend showcase events, which can often be expensive. (And even players with established connections or who attend showcase events often still struggle to secure an offer).
Here's the thing: college soccer in the USA is quite different than a lot of European countries. Because of the huge finances involved, American coaches have a responsibility to recruit real talent. If they fail in their recruitment, their team is unlikely to meet the schools athletic expectations - which could cost the coach their job.
Because of that, coaches often rely on agencies to support with their recruitment. We understand the European game well, so we are able to assess players during the recruitment window to see whether they would be a good fit.
So no, you technically don't need to work with an agency - and we actually encourage you to try it on your own before signing with an agency! But don't be disheartened if you don't get the offers you're looking for; many players turn to agencies when the see how difficult it can be on their own.
Truthfully, there isn't really a fine line between a "good" vs a "bad" agency. Most will be able to provide the same basic service (connecting you with potential schools and supporting with some of the process). But, there are some key things to consider when it comes to picking your agency:
Most agencies do not offer a money back guarantee. (In fact, I don't know of any that do). The reason is that it is out of the agencies control whether or not you secure an offer - it is ultimately up to the coach.
Some agencies do provide some form of guarantee to help you feel secure that you're getting what you pay for. At Statebound, we offer a lifetime membership, which means that if you don't secure a scholarship in your first year of trying, we'll continue providing our service until you do. Find out more about what Statebound offers here.
