In this interview, college soccer player, Wilfred Munn, speaks about his experiences and how the USA contrasts to the UK when it comes to college soccer. Continue reading or watch the interview to learn how to play college soccer in the USA.
The European Soccer Background
Wilf started playing soccer in Herefordshire and was a part of the Hereford United youth academy growing up. In 2018, Wilf decided to attend Leeds Beckett University to Study Sports Business Management. He also played soccer on the side for the university team.
Whilst at university, Wilf started playing futsal for Leeds Beckett through mutual friends helping to develop his game. As a central midfielder, moving the ball quickly is crucial to Wilf’s game. He said that his experience playing futsal only helped him develop as a player. Wilf explained that the fast-paced futsal game helped develop physical fitness levels and his control of tempo during soccer matches.
The Process of how to play College Soccer
Partway through his undergraduate degree, Wilf decided to look into the idea of playing college soccer in the USA. Shortly after, Wilf joined semi-professional soccer cub Ilkley Town FC near Leeds to gain video footage of his matches.
After collecting video footage of matches, Wilf decided to accept a soccer scholarship to study at Seton Hill University in the NCAA D2, based in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. This was as a postgraduate student. Wilf explained this was the best option to increase the time he would be allowed to play college soccer.
The College Soccer Experience
During the interview, Wilf explained that he enjoyed being in a new location and experiencing a new culture. Due to Wilf’s postgraduate degree being over two years rather than one, Wilf explained that there was plenty of free time away from studying. This maximized the opportunity for him to settle into his new environment.
Wilf mentioned that an aspiring college athlete who wants to play soccer in the USA has to build up their fitness before arriving so they can hit the ground running. This is because of the intense initial fitness testing that players have once they go over.
Another advantage of doing this is the short but intense nature of the college season. Games are considerably more frequent than in the UK (usually two a week). Despite the college season being shorter than in the UK, in reality, with the concept of the playoffs, the more success that your college team has, the more games you play and the longer your season will be.
How is playing College Soccer different from the UK
Comparing the styles of football, Wilf described the USA as a more physical league and up-tempo style of football. Compared to the UK, which is slower and more technical. One of the challenges that Wilf has embraced is adapting to different cultures, new players, and different playing styles. Wilf has acknowledged that this hasn’t just helped his game from a performance perspective but also helped him develop as a person.
For the future, Wilf is planning on using his college experience to return to the UK after finishing his degree to play semi-professional soccer. To conclude, Wilf’s one piece of advice is to do it! It is an opportunity of a lifetime and an experience that you won’t regret.
Apply now for a FREE evaluation of your sports scholarship opportunities in the USA – athletesusa.org/apply
Interview with James Percival, Scout in the UK for Athletes USA
